IV. Reminiscences of life as an undergraduate at Harvard College from 1793 to 1797, 1837

This memoir, written by White in 1837, describes his undergraduate years at Harvard from 1793 to 1797. It contains lengthy passages about a wide variety of experiences White had as a student. He wrote about his classes and professors, student life, American politics, politics in the world at large, food, his classmates, and many other topics. The memoir includes passages from a diary that White seems to have kept as a student, as well as reflections clearly written later in life. White wrote this memoir in 15 separate notebooks, each embossed with "Platner & Porter, Congress" in the upper left-hand corner. Platner & Porter was the manufacturer of the notebooks.

Book receipt of John Mellen and William Bentley, 1780 June 16

This half-page slip contains receipts for two Harvard College Library books received by Harvard College Tutors John Mellen (1752-1828; Harvard AB 1770) and William Bentley (1759-1819; Harvard AB 1777).

Petition of John Wyeth to the Harvard Corporation, 1780 August 23

In this brief petition of John Wyeth to the Harvard Corporation, he requests the ability to borrow books from the "Publick Library" of the College.

Bill from Phillips Payson to Harvard College, [1780 August]

This undated bill was rendered to the College by Phillips Payson (died 1809; Harvard AB 1778) for work done in the College Library equaling £720. The document was originally housed in a folder with the note, "This was from the old trunk."

Letter from Steward Caleb Gannett to President and Fellows, [1780]

This letter from Gannett, written shortly after he assumed the duties of the Steward, contains questions to the President and Fellows regarding his duties as Steward. He also discusses the impact of the post-Revolutionary War economic situation, describing the rapid rise of prices of goods.

A statement of facts, relative to the late proceedings in Harvard College, Cambridge, published by the students, Boston, April 10, 1807

Written in defense of the students’ actions, this publication sought to clear the students in the eyes of the public. They argued against the stern disciplinary stance of the Corporation, warning that "it is possible to kill the spirt by too rigorous an adherence to the letter of the law." According to the students, the cause of the upheaval was the "black, nauseous and intolerable" food served in Commons. Although they admitted that there were some students who "delight in mischief, anarchy, and confusion," they argued against the whole student body being charged for the crimes. Instead, they held that their offense, "retiring peaceably from the hall," should be punished, as usual, only by the "small fine of fifty or one hundred cents."

Report of a Committee of the Corporation of Harvard College appointed “to consider the expediency of making further regulations relative to Commons,” May 19, 1807

This report expressed the opinion of the Committee that, despite the students' complaints, Commons should be not changed in any meaningful regard (save for the method of purchasing beef). Among other reasons for explaining the inflexible position of the Corporation, they stated, “alacrity, cheerfulness and docility are the companions of temperance; petulance, disquietude and perverseness are the intractable offspring of indulgence.” In addition, they suggested that students should refrain from sampling delicacies in town to better appreciate the "plain, simple, and wholesome food of the hall."

1733, Catalogus eorum qui in Collegio Harvardino, quod est Cantabrigiæ Nov-Anglorum, ab anno 1642. ad annum 1733. Alicujus gradus laurea donati sunt.

The Triennial Catalogues are chronological and cumulative lists of Harvard graduates published every three years from 1674 to 1875. The Catalogues represent Harvard’s first efforts to comprehensively document its graduates and were considered the official record of degree recipients. A dedicated group of alumni used the Catalogues as a basis for collecting additional biographical information.

E. Committee to frame rules, directions, and statutes of the Boylston Professorship of Rhetoric and Oratory, 1804

This subseries consists of a paper notebook containing a handwritten draft of the report presented to the Harvard Corporation on April 30, 1804 by the Committee to frame Rules, Directions, and Statutes of the Boylston Professorship of Rhetoric and Oratory. The handwritten report provides a numbered list of rules related to the Boylston Professorship and is dated April 16, 1804. The report is followed by a certification signed May 1, 1804 from President Joseph Willard that he was unable to attend the meeting of the Corporation to discuss the professorship.

Accounts with Harvard College, 1719-1722

The thin paper-covered notebook contains the Steward's accounts with Harvard College kept by Steward Andrew Bordman II from 1719-1722. Arranged by quarters, the entries list money collected by the Steward from students, and money paid for food supplies, household provisions, the Butler's salary, and for services provided to the College.

Account with Harvard College, 1770-1771

The one page document records Harvard's debit account with Steward Hastings for nails and brads purchased between September 1770 and March 1771.

Quarter bill book for the Classes of 1689-1723 and ledger, 1687-1720

Parchment hardcover bound volume arranged into two parts: Quarter bill book and the Steward's ledger. The Quarter bill book contains quarter bill tallies for the Classes of 1689-1723 arranged by seniority, and covers the bill period ending on October 21, 1687 through the period ending March 11, 1720.