Ledger for the Classes of 1795-1804, 1795-1804

The leather bound folio account book kept by Steward Caleb Gannett contains accounts for members of the Classes of 1795-1804, as well as accounts for President Joseph Willard, Tutors, Fellows, and Faculty. The volume also contains the Steward's accounts with the Harvard Treasurer, as well as his "Cash" accounting. The volume does not have the detailed transaction descriptions found in earlier ledgers; both Credit and Debit entries are described as being paid by, or being owed to, cash, balance, sundry accounts, or the Treasury.

Ledger, 1795-1804

The large leather-bound volume contains a final monthly accounting of Steward Gannett's financial transactions from December 1795 through September 1804. The journal records four types of transactions: "Sundry accounts dr to Treasury," "Cash dr to sundry accounts," "Treasury dr to sundry accounts," and Treasury Dr to Treasury orders." The pages are arranged into columns for account numbers, transaction descriptions, and associated amounts. The entries reflect the movement of funds between the Steward's cash and sundry accounts and the Treasury. Transaction descriptions include student names and amounts based on quarterly bills, specific scholarship and salary allocations, and the names of individuals paid for services, from wood suppliers to medical instructors.

Draft of the Rules, Directions, and Statutes of the Boylston Professorship of Rhetoric and Oratory in Harvard College, [ca. 1804]

This original draft was probably written by Eliphalet Pearson (1752-1826) as a member of the committee charged with the task of establishing the rules, directions, and statutes for the Boylston Professorship by the Harvard Corporation and the Board of Overseers. This draft is heavily edited and contains many cross outs through the text.

I. Sermons, 1709-1724

This series contains seventeen handwritten sermons composed by Nicholas Sever and delivered in the Boston area between 1709 and 1722. Following the completion of his Master's degree at Harvard in 1704, Sever preached in towns around New England including Haverhill in 1709, Dover, New Hampshire (where he was ordained in 1711 and remained until 1715), and in Cambridge as part of his duties as a Harvard Tutor between 1716 and 1728. During these years, Sever also filled in for ministers in nearby parishes. Sever's sermons reflect these engagements, and he occasionally noted the dates and locations where the sermons were delivered in the margin of the first page of the sermon.

[Admittatur of Benjamin Merrill (Harvard AB 1804)], 1800 August 12

Published copy of the 1790 College Laws with the admittatur of undergraduate Benjamin Merrill signed by President Joseph Willard on August 12, 1800. Four pages of amendments of and additions to the Harvard Laws "enacted since the Summer of 1798, and are now in force Dec. 1, 1800" are tipped in at the beginning of the volume.

[Admittatur of John Law (Harvard AB 1804)], 1802 March 1

Published copy of the 1798 College Laws with the admittatur of undergraduate John Law signed by President Joseph Willard on March 1, 1802.

Letter from Caleb Gannett to Eliphalet Pearson, 6 December 1804

College steward Caleb Gannett wrote this letter to interim Harvard president Eliphalet Pearson outlining supply and labor needs for an on-time completion of the new college, Stoughton Hall, in Spring 1805. Supplies include lumber for staircases, corners, and doors; lime and hair for masonry; window weights, oil, paint, nails, hinges, and locks. Gannett also requests the services of a workman to complete a coating for the roof.

Salaries & grants voted, 1804 October 5

One folio-sized leaf containing a handwritten copy of certain votes of the Harvard Corporation on October 5, 1804 related to salaries, grants, and appointments.

References to certain articles in Coll. Books, [1804]

Nine small scraps of paper used by Pearson to note references to certain articles in the College Books. The notes are brief, for example "Professors' salaries p. 112," and refer to professorship rules, inductions, or salaries. The slips were originally folded into a little packet labeled "References to certain articles in Coll Books." One note was written on a scrap of a letter dated October 1, 1804.

Sundry extracts on the subject of the taxation of College &c., ca. 1798-1801

Notebook with brown paper cover containing handwritten extracts from the charters and related legislation of New England academic, charitable, and commercial institutions regarding their ability to hold real estate and related tax exemptions. Most of the listed documents are dated in the 1780s and 1790s. The notebook also contains extracts from "Argument in the case of Poor's rate, charged on the College of Christ & Emmanuel in the University of Cambridge 1768." The item title is transcribed from a handwritten inscription on the back cover.

Early considerations proposed to Corporation relative to choice of Professor, [1804]

Small leaf containing handwritten notes outlining the guidelines that should guide the selection of a new Professor. Title transcribed from verso.

Character of the Mr. Appleton, 1804 November 12

Small leaf containing a handwritten extract from a November 12, 1804 letter by Rev. Joseph Lathrop to Rev. John Lathrop recommending Rev. Jesse Appleton as the successor to Dr. Tappan.

[Notes on Christianity], 1803-1804

Three pieces of paper consisting of a one-leaf handwritten summary of unidentified lectures about the divinity of Christ titled "lect. 62 to 66, page 51, March 22, 1803," and two slips of paper with handwritten copies of two declarations about the Christian trinity and divine nature. The copied declarations are in two different hands, and one copy is dated "Cambridge Novr 14th 1804."