Arguments prepared by Daniel Appleton White for meetings of Phi Beta Kappa, 1796-1797

Three handwritten arguments prepared by Phi Beta Kappa member Daniel Appleton White (1776-1861; Harvard AB 1797) for discussion at meetings of the Alpha chapter at Harvard University in 1796 and 1797. The documents consist of a small paper notebook with a response to the prompt, "Whether the deeper studies, such as metaphysics, mathematics & natural philosophy, are entitled to our chief attention?" dated September 27, 1796, and prepared for debate with classmate Isaac Wellington (died 1797); a one-leaf document with a disputation on, "Whether civilized nations have a right to drive uncivilized nations from the lands they occupy?" dated December 8, 1796; and a small paper notebook containing White’s argument to the prompt, "Would a national university be beneficial for America?" that he debated with John Collins Warren (1778-1856; Harvard AB 1797) during the chapter’s May 16, 1797, meeting.

James Mann, AM, 1779

Degree received in 1779; diploma granted in 1782.

1794, Catalogus eorum qui in Universitate Harvardiana, Cantabrigiae, in republica Massachusettensi, ab anno MDCXLII, ad annum MDCCXCIV. Alicujus gradû laureâ donati sunt.

Modern hardcover binding around original handsewn paper binding. Missing title page and first page of text. Key to abbreviations titled "Explination" on flyleaf with abbreviations for Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Long Island, New York, Martha's Vineyard, New Jersey, Pensylvania [sic], Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, West Indies, Great Britain, Episcopalian, and Baptist. Heavily annotated with residence locations. Asterisks added next to the names of alumni who died after the Catalogue's publication, generally in 1795. Also includes a tipped-in page at front of volume with the names of thirteen alumni of various classes from 1650 through 1756, in one hand, a note "Joseph Lovett was of Beverly, and a minister in a town of Connecticut the name of which I do not recollect. JW" in a different hand, and a final note "I believe there was a Lovett at Norwich" in the original hand.

1794, Triennial catalogues annotated by William Winthrop, 1794-1812.

Leather and marbled hardcover binding. Substantially annotated. The volume consists of pages from the published catalogues pasted into a blank volume. The bulk of the volume is comprised of the printed list of graduate names found in the Triennial Catalogue accompanied by handwritten biographical information, usually a sentence in length. It begins with a handwritten section titled "Settled Ministers (in the first Parish in Cambridge)." The entries generally contain a residence, date of death (abbreviated ob), age of death (abbreviated ae), and professional information. While the 1794 Catalogue comprises the majority of the volume, names were added from Triennial Catalogues through the 1812 edition. An example of an entry, for John Hancock (Harvard AB 1754), reads “Rep. for Boston, Maj. Gen. Militia. Ob. Octo. 8. 1793 AE 57 Son of Rev. John of Brantree [sic]." A March 27, 1798 letter to Judge Richard Cranch (1726-1818) from Jeremy Belknap (1744-1798, Harvard AB 1762) pasted into the back of the volume. Written only two months before his death, Belknap describes his plan to "go thro’ the whole Catalogue of the graduates of Harvard College, & relate all that’s proper to be related." Four leaves of biographical notes for the classes of 1642-1686 towards the beginning of the volume are in a different hand with the note "Rev Dr. Holmes's handwriting."

1794, Catalogus eorum qui in Universitate Harvardiana, Cantabrigiae, in republica Massachusettensi, ab anno MDCXLII, ad annum MDCCXCIV. Alicujus gradû laureâ donati sunt.

Marbled paper cover. The catalogue is annotated with the residence locations for alumni, becoming more sporadic for the later classes. Asterisks are added next to the names of alumni who died after the Catalogue's publication through the end of the 18th century. On inside of cover: "for the first 58 years from 1642 to 1700 inclusive, 448 persons were graduated." Note on last page: "84 died from 1791 to 1794."

1797, Catalogus eorum qui in Universitate Harvardiana, Cantabrigiae, in republica Massachusettensi, ab anno MDCXLII, ad annum MDCCXCVII, alicujus gradû laureâ donati sunt.

Hand-sewn binding with marbled paper cover. Annotated throughout with the number of members in each class, and through the 1660 class, with sporadic notes on residence. From 1732 until 1782, the age of entry as a Harvard freshman is noted next to each name. There are few biographical notes in this volume. Asterisks are added next to the names of alumni who died after the Catalogue's publication through approximately the late 1810s.

1800, Catalogus eorum qui in Universitate Harvardiana, Cantabrigiae, in republica Massachusettensi, ab anno MDCXLII, ad annum MDCCC, alicujus gradû laureâ donati sunt.

Marbled paper cover. Includes a biographical note on Joshua Moody (Harvard AB 1707), and a few additional annotations. Asterisks added next to the names of alumni who died after the Catalogue's publication.

1806, Catalogus senatus academici, eorum, qui munera et officia gesserunt, quique alicujus gradûs laureâ donati sunt in Univaersitate Harvardiana, Cantabrigiae, in republica Massachusettensi.

Hand-sewn marbled paper binding. Catalogue interleaved with unlined pages holding occasional biographical notes.

1809, Catalogus senatus academici, eorum, qui munera et officia gesserunt, quique alicujus gradûs laureâ donati sunt in Univaersitate Harvardiana, Cantabrigiae, in republica Massachusettensi.

Hand-sewn marbled paper binding. Catalogue interleaved with unlined pages holding occasional biographical notes. Annotations appear to be written in more than one hand.

1809, Catalogus senatus academici, eorum, qui munera et officia gesserunt, quique alicujus gradûs laureâ donati sunt in Univaersitate Harvardiana, Cantabrigiae, in republica Massachusettensi.

Hand-sewn marbled paper binding. Catalogue interleaved with unlined pages holding occasional biographical notes.

1815, Catalogus senatus academici, eorum qui munera et officia gesserunt, quique alicujus gradus laurea donati sunt in Universitate Harvardiana, Cantabrigiae, in republica Massachusettensi.

Hand-sewn marbled paper binding. Catalogue interleaved with unlined pages of biographical notes. Asterisks are added next to the names of alumni who died after the Catalogue's publication.

1815, Catalogus senatus academici, eorum qui munera et officia gesserunt, quique alicujus gradus laurea donati sunt in Universitate Harvardiana, Cantabrigiae, in republica Massachusettensi.

Hand-sewn marbled paper binding. "J. McKean" inscribed on title page. Catalogue interleaved with unlined pages holding occasional biographical notes. Handmade tabs with class years are cut into the right edge of the catalog pages. Asterisks are added next to the names of alumni who died after the Catalogue's publication.

1818, Catalogus senatus academici, eorum qui munera et officia gesserunt, quique alicujus gradus laurea donati sunt in Universitate Harvardiana, Cantabrigiae, in republica Massachusettensi.

Hand-sewn paper binding. Catalogue interleaved with unlined pages holding obituary information collected for graduates who died in 1818 through 1821, beginning with the Class of 1744. The catalogue pages are annotated with asterisks next to the names of alumni who died after the Catalogue's publication.

1818, Catalogus senatus academici, eorum qui munera et officia gesserunt, quique alicujus gradus laurea donati sunt in Universitate Harvardiana, Cantabrigiae, in republica Massachusettensi.

Hardcover binding. Includes loose handwritten notes with biographical information. Bound with Catalogus eorum qui adhuc in Universitate Harvardiana ab anno MDCXLII ... gradus laurea donati sunt ..., 1813, a published alphabetical index of Harvard graduates; an additional handwritten, alphabetical index follows with the names of members of the Classes of 1814-1818. A list of "Mem. of those persons who have deceased since the last edition was printed in 1818" includes death dates through 1820.