[Draft of a committee report, 1790]

Two folio-sized leaves containing a handwritten draft of a report of a committee explaining proposed changes to the academic schedule of Harvard undergraduates. The report discusses the rearrangement of lectures, exercises, disputations, and recitations and the specific reasoning behind the changes. The first page of the report is written on the verso of an essay by student Henry Daingerfield titled, "Wishing of all employments is the worst," and the second page of the report is written on the verso of an essay on the importance of teaching morals to the young by Bradstreet Story (later known as Dudley Story Bradstreet, Harvard AB 1792), dated 1790.

Account book, 1786-1790

Entries in this volume record the costs of Shapleigh's purchases from the Harvard Buttery, expenses incurred while traveling, sundry goods and services (including dozens of visits to a barber, John Goodwin), payment for room and board in Cambridge, funds received from Samuel Leighton, and many other receipts and expenditures made over the course of several years.

Lists of Phi Beta Kappa's new members, 1790, 1793, and 1797

Shapleigh served as Secretary of Harvard's chapter of Phi Beta Kappa in 1797.

College Book 6, 1726-1790

College Book 6 is often referred to as the Hollis book, reflecting its contents. It was created following an April 4, 1726 Corporation vote that "Mr. Treasurer procure a Book, into which shall be transmitted, and a Register kept of, Mr Hollis's Rules, orders, Gifts & Bounties past & to come; together with ye Names & age, & Charecter of his Scholars, ye time of their Entry and Dismission; and also all ye Votes of ye Overseers & Corporation from time to time relating to ye said orders, Bounties & Scholars of the said Mr Hollis." Entries are primarily in Benjamin Wadsworth's hand and record donations from Thomas Hollis and his descendants, with transcriptions of related Corporation minutes. They also provide detailed information about the allocation of Hollis funds and scholarships, and the rules governing the Hollis Professorship of Divinity (established in 1721) and the Hollis Professorship of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy (established in 1727). The volume also contains inventories of books in the official library of the Hollis Professor of Divinity and two inventories – created in 1779 and in 1790 – of the mathematical and philosophical apparatus purchased with Hollis funds. Many entries related to the purchase of scientific instruments and supplies include the cost in sterling of each item. Also included are entries related to financial accounts and expenditures, as well as copies of letters from Nathaniel Hollis.

IV. Promissory Notes, 1790-1793

This series consists of handwritten slips written by the borrower with the promise of repayment with interest to a specified lender. Some of the notes reflect loans made to the Butler by members of the community, and others are promissory notes to Adams signed by Harvard students.

VII. Harvard College Papers, 1st series, Volume 7, 1811-1815, 1819

The seventh volume of the College Papers contains original documents dating from 1811 to 1815, spanning the tenures of president John Thornton Kirkland and treasurer John Davis. Much of the volume consists of general administrative correspondence exchanged between Kirkland and Davis. It also contains one document from 1819.

VIII. Harvard College Papers, 1st series, Volume 8, 1815-1820 (bulk 1815-1819)

The eighth volume of College Papers contains original documents dating from 1815 to 1819, spanning the tenures of president John Thornton Kirkland and treasurer John Davis. Much of the volume consists of general administrative correspondence exchanged between Kirkland and Davis. It also contains a document from 1820.