Commonplace book of John Holyoke, 1662 - May 1663

This unbound commonplace book was kept by John Holyoke during 1662 and 1663. The volume contains chiefly religious quotations and sermon notes (possibly of sermons preached by Holyoke himself), in English, Latin and Greek. Both ends of the volume were used to begin writing: the front page reads “Johannes Holyoke, adjunctu occupatu, May-1663” and the rear page reads “Johannes Holyoke [illegible] 1662.” The texts do not follow a straight tête-bêche model, where one text is upside down in relation to the other; rather, the texts change direction several times within the volume. The volume also includes part of letter sent to Holyoke’s grandfather Pynchon, September 16, 16?? [date illegible], as well as a series of alphabetically arranged quotations.

Student notebook of John Tufts, 1705

Small vellum-covered notebook containing handwritten transcriptions copied by Harvard undergraduate John Tufts from two Harvard textbooks. The notebook is divided into two sections with the first, numbered 1-100, containing an English transcription of "Compendium of Logick" compiled by William Brattle, and the second, numbered 1-66, containing an untitled Latin transcription of Charles Morton's "Compendium Physicae." The flyleaf is inscribed "John Tufts His Book 1705."

Quaedam Theses extractae potissimii ex Enchiridio Metaphisico ca. 1718

Small paper notebook with a handwritten copy of a Latin text titled “Quaedam Theses extractae potissimii ex Enchiridio Metaphisico” attributed to John Clark and J. Remington and copied by a Harvard student, likely Richard Dana (Harvard AB 1718). The text is a précis of sections of Jean Le Clerc's "Ontologia et Pneumatologia" prepared by Harvard Tutor Jonathan Remington (Harvard AB 1696). The paper cover is inscribed “Carpenter” and the first page includes the inscriptions “Rosewell Saltonstall,” “Ezra Carpenter,” and "R. Dana” indicating the book was once owned by Harvard students Richard Dana (Harvard AB 1718), Roswell Saltonstall (Harvard AB 1720), and Ezra Carpenter (Harvard AB 1720).

Student notes of Elijah Dunbar, 1792-1793

Three unlined pages with notes written by Harvard undergraduate Elijah Dunbar. The documents consist of two pages of chemistry notes compiled in September 1792 when Dunbar was a junior and an undated, untitled list of theological themes. The chemistry notes include a summary of the discipline and a set of laws regarding the "affinity of composition." The verso of the second page was later annotated: "Borrow- He that discerneth Youth & Beau[ty] Elij. Dunar 2'd 1793. Rec'd David Tappan, Professor of Divinity in the University--Elijah Dunbar, jun." followed by a list of students identified as "Alchemists" in the "Ridiculous Society": Joseph Perkins, Isaac Braman, William Biglow, and Elijah Dunbar. The second document is an untitled list of 27 theological themes beginning "1. Doctrine of the Trinity," and ending "27. Family worship," and may refer to sermon or lecture topics.

Grammatica graeca, 1763

Bound volume containing a handwritten Greek grammar compiled by Joseph Drury beginning in 1763. The last sixteen pages contain a historical poem beginning, “Mason might once assert a Poets Claim. / But he must needs write.” The poem contains references to the “Great Patriot P—,“ the Roman conquest of Gall, Caeser, Versailles, and includes the verses, “How the King doth all his Cooks excel / Besides he longs to kiss his P / Saving your presence Louis keeps a whore.”

Notebook concerning mathematical equations : manuscript, 1769-1774

Notes on measuring height and distance, trigonometry, spherical projection, and other mathematical equations. Probably William Winthrop (1753-1825; Harvard AB 1770).

Voyage et campagnes au Canada / par M. le chevalier de D. L. P. : manuscript, 1757-1760

Describes his voyage to Canada from Brest, and his observations of military operations and Indians while in Louisbourg, Québec, and Fort Carillon.

Letter from William Bentley to William Tudor,

One letter from Bentley, a Unitarian minister in Salem, praising Tudor’s work on James Otis and offering his recollections of Otis from the late 18th century.

Twentieth century manuscript copies of correspondence between Thaddeus William Harris and Edward Everett, 1847 August

One letter from Harris, the University Librarian, to President Everett, enclosed with a historical account of the Great Salt and its donor, Richard Harris, and sketches of the new engravings on the Great Salt, Stoughton Cup, and Browne Cup bearing donor names. Harris writes that he hopes to have his account of the Great Salt published in the Cambridge Chronicle and is gratified to hear of Everett’s plans to use an excerpt in his Commencement dinner speech. In a short note of reply, Everett writes that Harris’ account of the silver was "received with great favor" during the dinner.

Twentieth century transcription of inventories by Thaddeus William Harris, 1845 July 25-1852 July 3, and undated

Transcription of inventories of College silver completed by Harris in 1845 and 1852, as well as an undated list of silver.

Address of Middlesex County Harvard Alumni to John T. Kirkland upon his resignation,

This folder contains three copies of the same handwritten document which presumably were circulated in order to collect signatures.