Letters from Delia Jarvis Tudor to her son, William Tudor,

Four letters written from Gardiner, Maine, describing the activities of the family and comings and goings of the Tudor siblings. Several allude to the financial difficulties of Tudor’s sister, Delia, while her husband was at sea. One letter includes a missive from Robert Hallowell Gardiner.

Letters from Delia Jarvis Tudor to her son, William Tudor,

Four letters written from Gardiner, Maine, in which Mrs. Tudor comments on the marital troubles between Delia and Charles Stewart, and general happenings at Oaklands.

Letters from Delia Jarvis Tudor to her son, William Tudor,

Three letters written from Gardiner, Maine, discussing the movements of Tudor’s sister Delia, disposing of the late William Tudor’s clothing, and the activities of her grandchildren.

Letters from Delia Jarvis Tudor to her son, William Tudor,

Five letters sent from Gardiner, Maine, Boston, and New York. In several, there are messages included from Emma and Robert Hallowell Gardiner. One letter includes anectdotes regarding the late William Tudor and the American Revolution. One letter written to Tudor while he was chargé d’affairs in Rio de Janeiro relates news that his brother, Henry James (Harry), was setting up a salt-making business; it also includes a message from Delia, anticipating his return to the United States. Two additional undated letters, addressed to Tudor in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, likely before Tudor’s father died in 1819, contain family news and local gossip.

Letters from William Tudor to his father, William Tudor,

Three letters written from Birmingham, England, New York, and Gardiner, Maine. In one letter he discusses the ongoing war with England. One letter written from Gardiner addresses financial matters; the letter includes a note to his mother, as well, reflecting on his sister Delia’s character and providing other local news.

VI. [Announcement for Elisha Sylvester], 1815 April 25

One leaf containing a one-page handwritten announcement for a Boston visit by book distributor Elisha Sylvester of Turner, Maine.

Letter from Samuel Willard, Exeter, New Hampshire, to William Willard and Katherine Willard, Petersham, Massachusetts, June 1, 1804

Willard discusses his brother Ephraim Willard’s death.

Letter from Samuel Willard, Harvard College, Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Sophronia Willard, Lancaster, Massachusetts, October 18, 1805

Willard describes his current job working at Harvard, where he is paid “to keep order in one of the buildings.” He mentions that he can attend medical lectures free of charge, and refers to a preacher, Mr. Parker, a former classmate of Willard’s. He explains that he is currently with his brother Solomon, who is ill, and that he is living in the College House, where he resided his first year of school.

Letter from Samuel Willard, Exeter, New Hampshire, to William Willard and Katherine Willard, Petersham, Massachusetts, November 25, 1805

Willard describes his usual daily routines relating to teaching at Philips Academy and his plans to leave Exeter.

Letter from Samuel Willard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Catherine Willard, Petersham, Massachusetts, May 14, 1806

Willard asks his family to write to him more often, and discusses his plans to begin preaching at Hingham.

Letter from Samuel Willard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Abigail Willard, Petersham, Massachusetts, September 29, 1806

Willard discusses family issues then explains that he was preaching in Lexington for three weeks and turned down an offer to stay longer. He says that instead, he will “make Cambridge my headquarters.” Willard asks his sister to pick up his clothes for him.

Letters from Daniel Bates to William Jenks, May 1795-September 1798

Daniel Bates wrote these five letters to his friend and classmate, William Jenks, between May 1795 and September 1798. In a letter written May 12, 1795, Bates informs Jenks, who was then employed as an usher at Mr. Webb's school, of his studies of Euclid, the meeting of several undergraduate societies, and various sightings of birds, gardens and trees. In a letter written in November 1795 from Princeton, where he was apparently on vacation with the family of classmate Leonard Jarvis, he describes playing the game "break the Pope's neck" and tells Jenks what he was reading (Nicholson, Paley?, and Thompson) and what his friend's father was reading (Mirabeau and Neckar).

Letters from John Hubbard Church to William Jenks, 1795-1798

John Hubbard Church wrote these twelve letters to his friend and classmate William Jenks between 1795 and 1798. Church wrote the letters from Boston, Rutland, Cambridge, and Chatham in Massachusetts and from Somers, Connecticut; they were sent to Jenks in Cambridge and Boston, where for a time he worked as an usher in Mr. Vinall's school and Mr. Webb's school. Church's letters touch on various subjects, ranging from his increased interest in theology and his theological studies under Charles Backus to his seasickness during a sailing voyage to Cape Cod. Church also informs Jenks of what he is reading, including works by John Locke, P. Brydone, James Beattie, John Gillies, Plutarch, and Alexander Pope. He describes his work teaching that children of the Sears family in Chatham, Massachusetts, where he appears to have spent a significant amount of time between 1795 and 1797. Church's letters are at times very personal, and he often expresses great affection for Jenks and their friendship.

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.

Papers of David Sewall, 1753-1756

Three letters written to David Sewall (Harvard AB 1755). The first letter, written on September 21, 1753 by Samuel Sewall in York, to his brother at Harvard sends general news, asks after a hat sent to David, and requests he have a wig made for him. The second letter, written by Harvard student David Wyer on August 28, 1756, enthusiastically thanks Sewall for his past advice. The third letter, also sent from his brother Samuel in York on December 9, 1766, offers David advice on love. The two later letters were sent to Sewall while he was a schoolmaster in Wells, Maine.