Papers of William Merchant Richardson, 1797-1806

The collection contains a four-page handwritten poem titled "Invention" composed by graduate William Richardson for the 1797 Harvard College Commencement, and an 1806 letter of introduction written by Richardson. The rhyming poem begins, “Long had creations anthem peal been rung…” and contains classical references, and mentions scientists and philosophers including Voltaire, Franklin and Newton. The poem is accompanied by a one-page handwritten letter of introduction for lawyer Benjamin Ames (Harvard AB 1803) written by William M. Richardson to Reverend William Jenks (Harvard AB 1797). The letter is dated November 10, 1806.

Letters to Ebenezer Hancock from his mother, Mary Perkins, and his stepfather, Daniel Perkins, 1758 June 27 and 1758 November 16

These two letters were written to Ebenezer Hancock while he was an undergraduate at Harvard College. His stepfather, Daniel Perkins, wrote on June 27, 1758 and his mother, Mary Perkins, wrote on November 16, 1758. Both letters were sent from Bridgewater, Massachusetts, where the Perkins lived. The letters contain general greetings and wishes for Hancock's well being, as well as parental advice regarding his behavior and comportment.

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.

Letters from Timothy Pickering to his brother and father, 1797-1798

These two handwritten letters by Timothy Pickering were written on February 14, 1797 and June 14, 1798 to his brother John Pickering and his father Timothy Pickering, respectively. The letter to his brother, John, discusses mutual friends, classmate Thomas Lee, and John’s recent attendance at a sermon by Dr. Joseph Priestley. The letter from Timothy to his father includes a discussion of Timothy’s expenses and the amount of money needed to pay his debts, a request for new shoes for commencement, the news of Timothy’s invitation to join honor society Phi Beta Kappa, and a few comments on his forensics course at Harvard.

Benjamin Gerrish letter to an unidentified correspondent : manuscript, 1759

Concerns the preparations for the reduction of Quebec.

Puducherry, India, 1759 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: A plan of Pondicherry in the East Indies, subject to France. It was published by London Magazine in 1759. Scale [ca. 1:14,000]. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Kalianpur 1975 India Zone IV projected coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, drainage, built-up areas and selected buildings, fortification, ground cover, and more. Includes index.This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.

Boston, Massachusetts, 1797 (Image 4 of 4) (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: An accurate plan of the town of Boston and its vicinity : exhibiting a ground plan of all the streets, lanes, alleys, wharves, and public buildings in Boston, with the names and description thereof, likewise all the flats and channels between Boston and Charlestown, Cambridge, Roxbury & Dorchester with the two bridges and causeway, and the boundary lines beween Boston and the above mentioned towns from ... by Osgood Carleton ; I. Norman, sc. It was published and sold by Osgood Carleton in 1797. Scale [ca. 1:4,170]. This layer is image 4 of 4 total images, representing the southeast portion of the four sheet source map. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Massachusetts State Plane Coordinate System, Mainland Zone (in Feet) (Fipszone 2001). All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, drainage, selected public buildings, city ward boundaries, wharves, and more. Relief shown by hachures.This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps of Massachusetts from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates (1755-1922), scales, and purposes. The digitized selection includes maps of: the state, Massachusetts counties, town surveys, coastal features, real property, parks, cemeteries, railroads, roads, public works projects, etc.

Boston, Massachusetts, 1797 (Image 3 of 4) (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: An accurate plan of the town of Boston and its vicinity : exhibiting a ground plan of all the streets, lanes, alleys, wharves, and public buildings in Boston, with the names and description thereof, likewise all the flats and channels between Boston and Charlestown, Cambridge, Roxbury & Dorchester with the two bridges and causeway, and the boundary lines beween Boston and the above mentioned towns from ... by Osgood Carleton ; I. Norman, sc. It was published and sold by Osgood Carleton in 1797. Scale [ca. 1:4,170]. This layer is image 3 of 4 total images, representing the southwest portion of the four sheet source map. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Massachusetts State Plane Coordinate System, Mainland Zone (in Feet) (Fipszone 2001). All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, drainage, selected public buildings, city ward boundaries, wharves, and more. Relief shown by hachures.This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps of Massachusetts from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates (1755-1922), scales, and purposes. The digitized selection includes maps of: the state, Massachusetts counties, town surveys, coastal features, real property, parks, cemeteries, railroads, roads, public works projects, etc.

Boston, Massachusetts, 1797 (Image 1 of 4) (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: An accurate plan of the town of Boston and its vicinity : exhibiting a ground plan of all the streets, lanes, alleys, wharves, and public buildings in Boston, with the names and description thereof, likewise all the flats and channels between Boston and Charlestown, Cambridge, Roxbury & Dorchester with the two bridges and causeway, and the boundary lines beween Boston and the above mentioned towns from ... by Osgood Carleton ; I. Norman, sc. It was published and sold by Osgood Carleton in 1797. Scale [ca. 1:4,170]. This layer is image 1 of 4 total images, representing the northwest portion of the four sheet source map. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Massachusetts State Plane Coordinate System, Mainland Zone (in Feet) (Fipszone 2001). All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, drainage, selected public buildings, city ward boundaries, wharves, and more. Relief shown by hachures.This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps of Massachusetts from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates (1755-1922), scales, and purposes. The digitized selection includes maps of: the state, Massachusetts counties, town surveys, coastal features, real property, parks, cemeteries, railroads, roads, public works projects, etc.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1797 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: This plan of the city of Philadelphia and it's environs (shewing the improved parts) is dedicated to the mayor, aldermen and citizens thereof, by their most obedient servant John Hills surveyor and draughtsman ; May 30th 1796 ; engraved by John Cooke of Hendon Middlesex near London. It was Published and Sold by John Hills Surveyor and Draughsman in 1797. Scale [1:7,200]. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to Pennsylvania South State Plane Coordinate System NAD83 (in Feet) (Fipszone 3702). All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, drainage, built-up areas, selected public and private buildings, schools, churches, industry locations (e.g. mills, factories, mines, etc.), docks, fortification, ground cover, and more. Relief shown by hachures. Includes also references to points of interest. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps of New England from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.

Boston, Massachusetts, 1797 (Image 2 of 4) (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: An accurate plan of the town of Boston and its vicinity : exhibiting a ground plan of all the streets, lanes, alleys, wharves, and public buildings in Boston, with the names and description thereof, likewise all the flats and channels between Boston and Charlestown, Cambridge, Roxbury & Dorchester with the two bridges and causeway, and the boundary lines beween Boston and the above mentioned towns from ... by Osgood Carleton ; I. Norman, sc. It was published and sold by Osgood Carleton in 1797. Scale [ca. 1:4,170]. This layer is image 2 of 4 total images, representing the northeast portion of the four sheet source map. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Massachusetts State Plane Coordinate System, Mainland Zone (in Feet) (Fipszone 2001). All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, drainage, selected public buildings, city ward boundaries, wharves, and more. Relief shown by hachures.This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps of Massachusetts from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates (1755-1922), scales, and purposes. The digitized selection includes maps of: the state, Massachusetts counties, town surveys, coastal features, real property, parks, cemeteries, railroads, roads, public works projects, etc.

Battle of Quebec, Canada, 1759 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Plan of the military & naval operation under the command of the immortal Wolfe, & vice admiral Saunders, before Quebec, J. Wyld, Sculp. ; Alfred Hawkins. It was published by Jas. Wyld, May 1, 1841. Scale [ca. 1:23,700]. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Zone 19N NAD 1983 coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, drainage, built-up areas and selected buildings, fortifications, troop and ship dispositions and places of military interest for the Battle of Quebec, 1759, and more. Relief is shown by hachures. Includes indexes, notes, tables, views, and inset: Detail of the action fought on the plains of Abraham Septr. 13th. 1759. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from The Harvard Map Collection as part of the Imaging the Urban Environment project. Maps selected for this project represent major urban areas and cities of the world, at various time periods. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features at a large scale. The selection represents a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates, scales, and purposes.

Quebec, Canada, 1759 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: A plan of Quebec. It was published by E. Oakley in Oct. 1759. Scale [ca. 1:3,700]. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Zone 19N NAD 1983 coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, drainage, built-up areas and selected buildings, fortification and places of military interest, ground cover, and more. Relief is shown by hachures. Includes text, index and insets: The port and environs of Quebec as it was when attacked by the English -- A draught of part of the River St. Laurence. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from The Harvard Map Collection as part of the Imaging the Urban Environment project. Maps selected for this project represent major urban areas and cities of the world, at various time periods. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features at a large scale. The selection represents a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates, scales, and purposes.