Address to the Freshmen, 1796 September 30

6-page handwritten copy of an address by Eliphalet Pearson to the freshman class regarding "the misdemeanors & rudeness, of which some of you were the last friday guilty, while sitting in this room, while retiring from it, & immediately after in the College yard."

Address to the students in general, 1797 March 13

Handwritten copy of an address by Eliphalet Pearson made "in ye middle of public lecture 13 Mh. 1797, in consequence of repeated scrapings, shuffling, & thumping with various other noises; all which appeared to be confined to the freshmen."

[Address made to the class of Freshman], 1805 March 8

4-page handwritten copy of an address by Eliphalet Pearson to "my young Friends & Pupils," made to the Freshmen class on March 8, 1805 "the day, oh which Adams 2, a Senior Sophister, was interred at Londonderry." The address focuses on the "unbecoming noise" made by students going to class and mentions "this mark of inconsideration" in the context of "this day of sorrow, which commits to the tomb another of your number."

Address to the students read in the Chapel, 1805 April 23

2-page handwritten copy of an address by Eliphalet Pearson relaying the votes of the Faculty recommending that students avoid "mixing with the inhabitants of the town" on election days following the students disruption of town election meetings on April 1, 1805.

[Address by the Government of the College on disorderly behavior at public declamations], undated

4-page handwritten copy of an address to the students.

The Memorial of Nicholas Sever, and William Welsteed (manuscript copy), 1721 June 21

One folio-sized leaf containing a handwritten draft of the June 21, 1721 memorial from Nicholas Sever and William Welsteed to the Harvard Board of Overseers. The document is labeled "a true copy" and begins, "Sheweth That ye next &..." and contains struck-through words and edits.

Memorial to Overseers (manuscript copy), 1721

One folio-sized leaf containing a one-and-a-half-page handwritten draft of a memorial to the Overseers in Nicholas Sever's hand requesting the resident Fellows receive membership in the Corporation. The text of the memorial begins, "Shewith That by ye Charter of 1650, whc: ye College is now upon ye Next & Immediate Governm't : of ye Society is limited to ye Corporation."

Salutatory address of Jonathan Trumbull, 1759

Three-page manuscript copy of the salutatory address composed in Latin by graduate Jonathan Trumbull for the 1759 Harvard Commencement. The item is dated June 29, 1759.

Valedictory address of Jonathan Trumbull, 1762

Four-page manuscript copy of the valedictory Commencement oration composed by Jonathan Trumbull for the 1762 Harvard College Commencement.

Valedictory address of Stephen Hooper, 1761

Unattributed and undated handwritten Latin valedictory oration likely composed by graduate Stephen Hooper for the 1761 Harvard College Commencement. In the oration, Hooper praises Massachusetts Governor Francis Bernard, Thomas Hutchinson, Professor Edward Wigglesworth, and Tutor Belcher Hancock. The oration mentions classmate John Chipman (1745-1761) who died of illness on April 15, 1761.

Salutatory address of Abiel Abbot, 1792

Six-unlined pages containing a handwritten copy of the salutatory address composed by Abiel Abbot in Latin for the 1792 Harvard College Commencement. The text includes edits and struck-through words. The first page includes the title "Autore Abiele Abbot" and has a penciled note: "This must be gr. grandfather's Latin oration when he graduated from Harvard, with honors, in 1792."

An oration upon genius : Commencement address, 1797

Sixteen-page paper notebook containing a handwritten copy of an essay titled "An Oration upon Genius" composed by AM candidate Joseph Perkins for the 1797 Harvard Commencement. The verso of the last page contains the handwritten title: "Oration on Genius first Copy. July 17th Commencement 1797." The essay discusses themes of republicanism and education and begins, "To mark the peculiar operation of liberty on mental exertion and improvement..."