Preaching Book, 1768-1777

Small soft-cover notebook containing handwritten entries made by Caleb Gannett between 1768 and 1777. The notebook consists of a one-page "An Account of my eating at the Steward's from August 7th, 1772" consisting of a short list kept between August 7 and September 21, 1772 of coffee, milk, tea, and meat consumed; twenty-two pages used as an accounting ledger for personal expenses between 1769 and 1775; and ten pages listing preaching fees received from 1768 to 1777. The entries listing ministerial fees generally follow the format: "April 3. Mr. Eliot to preaching at S. Cambridge 6..15..0."

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.

[Letter from Andrew Eliot to Alexander Hill, Newbury, November-December 1777]

One-page letter providing news about the Revolutionary War, including General John Burgoyne's arrival in Watertown, Mass., rumors of General Howe's army being taken prisoner, the success of General Stark, and the failed Rhode-Island expedition of 1777. Eliot also mentions the role of divine direction in the war.

Letter from James Walker to Francis Sales, 1852 January 30

One-page handwritten letter from James Walker, in his capacity as a member of the Harvard Corporation, responding to Sales's letter of resignation due to health problems.

Letter from Lemuel Shaw to Susanna Shaw, January 3, 1797

This single page handwritten letter was sent from Lemuel Shaw to his mother, Susanna, during his freshman year at Harvard. In the letter, he requested that his mother wash and return his dirty laundry and send him clothes, including a pair of overalls, some neck-handkerchiefs, and a new hat. Shaw also asked for money to be sent to pay off his debt of $21.25 to Mr. Richard Hunnewell for board and rent, $18.93 for the previous quarter’s bill, and $1.15 for Mr. Timothy Alden, the College Butler.

Letter from George Richards Minot to Daniel Kilham, 1777 December 1

Three-page handwritten letter from Harvard undergraduate George Richards Minot to his friend and Harvard graduate Daniel Kilham, dated December 1, 1777. The letter describes the discipline inflicted upon Minot and seven of his classmates by the Harvard government following a “Thanksgiving frolic,” and the retributions carried out by the students against a Tutor who recommended harsh measures for the accused students. The Early Faculty minutes for 1777 (UAIII 5.5, Volume 4, pages 75-76) describes the students’ crime as “making riotous & tumultuous noises in the Hall…committed in Presence of a number foreigners, & and on a day appointed by Authority for public Thanksgiving.”