All Items 34

Copy of James L. Merrick and Emma Taylor marriage certificate, 1839 March 11

Merrick, James Lyman, 1803-1866

An unattributed copy of the marriage certificate for James L. Merrick and Emma Taylor. It is noted that the couple were married at the dwelling of Alexander Nisbet in Tabreez (Tabriz) and signed by Justin Perkins. This item may have been enclosed with a letter from Emma Taylor Merrick to Justin Perkins in Box 1 Folder 11 of the collection in which Taylor references sending Perkins a copy of her marriage certificate.

Copy of James L. Merrick and Emma Taylor marriage certificate, 1839 March 11
Mar Yohannan transcript of Mathew 5, verses 3 & 4 in Syriac, 1842 July 9

Yohannan, Mar, -1874

Mar Yohannan text in Syriac with English annotations stating "Mathew Chap. 5th 3 & 4th verses. Down to the four dots" and "Translated by Mrs. C.B. Perkins." Mar Yohannan's name, a date, and a location are also provided.

Mar Yohannan transcript of Mathew 5, verses 3 & 4 in Syriac, 1842 July 9
Notes regarding telegrams

Perkins, Justin, 1805-1869

Unattributed notes, possibly about or drafts of telegrams, regarding a variety of topics including old postage and Turkish stamps, the journeys of several women to and from Smyrna (İzmir), the Protestant community in the United States, the Bulgarian missionaries, and the Civil War. The notes are labeled as a copy. These may have been sent or received by Justin Perkins.

Notes regarding telegrams
John Lancaster 1978 transcript of Sidney Brooks letter to Obed Brooks, 1838 December 20

Lancaster, John, 1943-

A typed transcript created in 1978 by John Lancaster of a letter from Sidney Brooks to his father Obed Brooks dated December 20, 1838. Sidney writes regarding his health and related expenses. He states that he trusts his sickness is about done with, and he now begins to consider himself as well as anyone can expect to be after recovering from this type of illness. He elaborates on how he is feeling lately, and then goes on to discuss the expenses relating to his illness. He discusses particular bills including payment to a classmate, Mr. Hutchinson, who attended to him after Mr. Eaton had left and before Harriet came, doctor's bills, several bills to Mr. Sandford who owns the boarding house, the club bill, and the college bill. Presumably Mr. Hutchinson and Mr. Eaton refer to classmates Prosper Kimball Hutchinson and Joseph Eaton and Harriet stands for Harriet Newell (Brooks). The identity of Mr. Sandford has not been determined. This document is a transcript of a letter in Box 1 Folder 3 of this collection.

John Lancaster 1978 transcript of Sidney Brooks letter to Obed Brooks, 1838 December 20
John Lancaster 1978 transcript of Sidney Brooks letter to Obed Brooks, 1838 June 28

Lancaster, John, 1943-

A typed transcript created in 1978 by John Lancaster of a letter from Sidney Brooks to his father Obed Brooks dated June 28, 1838. Sidney writes in order to give Obed an account of his expenses as he states his father had requested. He explains that the following account covers his expenses from the time he commenced studying to the present (first at Phillips Academy in Andover and then at Amherst College). The left side of the account provides details regarding income received and the right lists details regarding expenses. Following the account Sidney writes a few explanatory notes pertaining to particular expenses. He justifies the expenses by writing that he is laboring and in so doing he trusts that he will not want for means of a livelihood hereafter. He also discusses how he is doing in Amherst in general and with his studies in particular. This document is a transcript of a letter in Box 1 Folder 3 of this collection.

John Lancaster 1978 transcript of Sidney Brooks letter to Obed Brooks, 1838 June 28
John Lancaster transcript of Sidney Brooks letter to Obed Brooks, Jr., 1837 November 29

Lancaster, John, 1943-

A typed transcript created in 1978 by John Lancaster of a letter from Sidney Brooks to his brother Obed Brooks, Jr. dated November 29, 1837. Sidney writes regarding Amherst and his experiences at Amherst College. He asks Obed to follow him with his disembodied spirit so that Sidney can give him a sense of the place, the College, and his college experiences. Sidney begins the virtual tour at the hotel Amherst House. He describes the town of Amherst including its location, its buildings, the main street, and town buildings that relate to the College such as President Heman Humphrey’s house. He then discusses the college grounds and buildings including some details about what takes place in certain buildings, such as Professor Hitchcock's (Edward Hitchcock) chemistry lectures in the laboratory. Sidney goes on to describe his room in South College and the view from the building, noting features of the surrounding area such as Mount Holyoke and the Connecticut River. He describes a typical day for students with activities such as chapel, recitations, and meals. On the last page, Sidney includes other notes to Obed, telling him that he likes the baby's name and asking Obed to remind him on what day their mother died. He also notes that it is Thanksgiving and writes of a memory of their mother. This document is a transcript of a letter in Box 1 Folder 2 of this collection.

John Lancaster transcript of Sidney Brooks letter to Obed Brooks, Jr., 1837 November 29
Copy of Rufus Cowls deed to the Trustees of Amherst Academy, 1824 October 6

Cowls, Rufus

Copy of a deed certifying that Rufus Cowls hereby assigns, as part of the Charity Fund, a certain tract of land lying in Houghton Plantation in Washington County, Maine to the Trustees of Amherst Academy. Various individuals signed or contributed to the document: Rufus and Sarah Cowls, Austin Dickinson, and Samuel Dickinson. A note signed by Samuel Dickinson and dated December 18, 1824 on the back of the deed certifies the document as a true copy of the original deed.

Copy of Rufus Cowls deed to the Trustees of Amherst Academy, 1824 October 6
Copy of a resolution passed by the Trustees of Amherst Academy, 1825 March 15

Boltwood, Lucius, 1792-1872

A document in which it is noted that at a meeting of the Trustees of Amherst Academy it was voted that Heman Humphrey, Rufus Graves, and Nathaniel Smith, or any two of them, are hereby authorized to assign and convey to the Trustees of Amherst College all the real estate which has been given to the Trustees of Amherst Academy for the purpose of establishing the Collegiate Institution, and that Humphrey, Graves, and Smith or any two of them are hereby authorized to execute all such instruments and deeds as may be necessary for the aforesaid purpose. The document is noted as "a true copy of the record" and is signed by Lucius Boltwood as Secretary of the Trustees of Amherst Academy.

Copy of a resolution passed by the Trustees of Amherst Academy, 1825 March 15
Copy of Joseph Whitcomb Fairbanks letter to Charles S. Crouch, 1901 March 28

Fairbanks, J.W. (Joseph Whitcomb), 1841-1903

Carbon copy of J.W. Fairbanks, Treasurer of Amherst College and Commissioner of the Charity Fund, 1898-1903, letter to Charles S. Crouch in which Fairbanks writes that he saw Mr. Hammond yesterday and was handed the letter Crouch sent to Hammond in which Crouch asked for four hundred dollars more on account of Crouch's loan. Fairbanks goes on to say that he is handing Crouch his Commissioner's check for four hundred dollars. He asks Crouch to return the enclosed voucher duly signed and acknowledges receipt of Crouch's insurance policy. Below Fairbanks signature is the text of the aforementioned check, dated March 27, 1901.

Copy of Joseph Whitcomb Fairbanks letter to Charles S. Crouch, 1901 March 28
Copy of Joseph Whitcomb Fairbanks letter to Charles S. Crouch, 1901 February 11

Fairbanks, J.W. (Joseph Whitcomb), 1841-1903

Carbon copy of J.W. Fairbanks, Treasurer of Amherst College and Commissioner of the Charity Fund, 1898-1903, letter to Charles S. Crouch in which Fairbanks writes that John C. Hammond informed him that Crouch could use to advantage six hundred dollars more on his four thousand, six hundred dollar loan; and so, Fairbanks states, he hands him the Commissioner's check for that amount. He asks Crouch to return the enclosed voucher duly signed and to forward him the insurance policies on any new buildings. Below Fairbanks signature is the text of the aforementioned check.

Copy of Joseph Whitcomb Fairbanks letter to Charles S. Crouch, 1901 February 11
Copy of Theophilus Packard, Jr. letter to Mr. and Mrs. Zenas D. Bardwell, 1882 June 28

Packard, Theophilus, 1802-1885

A typed copy of a copy of a letter from Theopholus Packard, Jr. to Mr. and Mrs. Zenas D. Bardwell in which Packard writes regarding his childhood home. He states that he often thinks of the Bardwells now dwelling there. He writes of the history of the estate and events he remembers that took place there, including the earliest recorded vote of a group of people in favor of a college in Amherst on May 10, 1815. He also notes specific names of people who visited the house such as Noah Webster and presidents of Amherst College, remarks on various areas of the house such as the S.E. (Southeast) and N.W. (Northwest) rooms, and discusses his and his father's careers as pastors in Shelburne, Massachusetts. Above the transcribed content of the original letter are annotations titling the letter as "The Theophilus Packard House," noting it as a copy of a copy. An unattributed typed annotation states "from F.L. Boyden '02" (Frank Learoyd Boyden) and an additional unattributed handwritten annotation states "from Frances Nims Thompson" and provides Thompson's address.

Copy of Theophilus Packard, Jr. letter to Mr. and Mrs. Zenas D. Bardwell, 1882 June 28
What is the wine that mortals sip

Amherst Academy (Amherst, Mass.)

A poem composed by Wm. H. Heath regarding love and the loss of it. Amherst Academy and the date are written at the head of the first page. Several lines appear to be transcriptions from hymns by Isaac Watts. The identity of Wm. H. Heath could not be determined.

What is the wine that mortals sip
Simeon Colton letter to E.W. Storrs, 1831 January 20

Colton, Simeon, 1785-1868

A letter from Simeon Colton to E.W. Storrs in which Colton writes regarding the sale of liquor. Colton quotes a Massachusetts state law passed on February 12, 1819 regarding the penalties to any owner of an establishment licensed to sell alcohol who provides liquor or allows the stay of any minor. After quoting the act, Colton states that as the guardian of youth in an institution in Amherst, he feels obliged to give formal notice that he will prosecute should any violation of the law involving elements of the Academy (Amherst Academy) come to his attention. A note at the top of the page written in Colton's hand reads, "Copy of a letter sent to the Retailers in Amherst Jany 20, 1831."

Simeon Colton letter to E.W. Storrs, 1831 January 20
Ode to peace

Cowper, William, 1731-1800

An unattributed transcription of William Cowper's poem Ode to Peace. The transcription differs slightly from its published version. Amherst Academy and the date are written at the head of the first page.

Ode to peace
Copy of Lucius Boltwood transcript of Noah Webster notes on the history of Amherst Academy and Amherst College

Webster, Noah, 1758-1843

A notebook containing a handwritten copy of a manuscript by Noah Webster regarding the history of Amherst Academy and Amherst College. Included are transcriptions of manuscripts, reports, votes, pamphlets, speeches by Webster, and Zephaniah Swift Moore's letter of acceptance to the Amherst College Presidency, all of which were prepared and arranged by Webster in the original manuscript. On the last page of the notebook are details regarding its origin, including that the notebook is the 1862 transcription written for the College by the direction of W.A. Stearns from L. Boltwood's previous July 1834 copy of Webster's manuscript. It has been determined that L. Boltwood refers to Lucius Boltwood (Secretary of Amherst College 1828-1864) and W. A. Stearns refers to William A. Stearns (President of Amherst College 1854-1876). The original manuscript was prepared and arranged by Noah Webster from manuscripts, pamphlets, votes, speeches, and letters and with Webster's permission it was presented to the Trustees of Amherst College on August 2, 1836. The content of the original manuscript was also published in 1843 in Webster's book A Collection of Papers on Political, Literary, and Moral Subjects as the chapter titled "Origin of Amherst College in Massachusetts."

Copy of Lucius Boltwood transcript of Noah Webster notes on the history of Amherst Academy and Amherst College
Proceedings of convention in Amherst, 1818 September 29

Billings, Joseph

A handwritten pamphlet of proceedings from the convention held in Amherst, Massachusetts September 29-30, 1818 to deliberate on the founding of an institution "to give a classical or Collegiate education to indigent pious young men of talents." Attendees included members of the Trustees of Amherst Academy, subscribers to the Charity Fund, and ministers and lay delegates from the western part of Worcester County and Hampshire, Hampden, and Franklin counties. The proceedings note that twelve attendees of the convention were elected to serve on a committee and report on the subject of the institution. The pamphlet describes the convention and includes lists of the ministers and delegates from parishes in attendance, the names of those elected as president and secretaries of the convention, the proceedings of the convention, and the committee report that was read and voted on during the second day of the convention. The report notes that the committee approves of founding such a literary institution in Amherst, Massachusetts and lists five articles recommended by the committee. The proceedings of the convention also provide amendments proposed and voted on regarding the articles and the vote to accept the report as amended. Colonel Joseph Billings and George Grennell are noted as secretaries of the convention and the report is noted as a "A true copy" and signed by Jos. (Joseph) Billings, acting as secretary. Also included is an unattributed typed transcript of the document. The source and date of the transcript are unknown.

Proceedings of convention in Amherst, 1818 September 29
Copy of Ebenezer Kellogg letter to Alvan Hyde, 1821 June 21

Kellogg, Ebenezer, 1789-1846

A typed copy of an E. Kellogg (presumably Ebenezer Kellogg) letter to "Rev. Dr. Hyde" (presumably Alvan Hyde) in which Kellogg writes regarding the resignation of Zephaniah Swift Moore from Williams College and the reluctance of the senior class to remain at the college. Kellogg states that he does not want to intrude on the deliberations of the Committee, to which Hyde presumably belongs, but that he wishes to provide his views on the subject of the future of Williams College, the commencement, and the senior class. He remarks on the situation and provides his opinions, stating that the chance for another class at Williams might be improved if it were known that another president was appointed. He states his belief that even those connected with the Institution at Amherst (the Collegiate Institution) would not find it desirable for Williams College to now be discontinued. The source and date of this transcript are unknown.

Copy of Ebenezer Kellogg letter to Alvan Hyde, 1821 June 21
Copy of Heman Humphrey letter to the Anti-Slavery Society, 1835 January

Humphrey, Heman, 1779-1861

A letter written by Heman Humphrey on behalf of and by vote of the faculty to the Committee of the Anti-Slavery Society in Amherst College in which Humphrey responds to the letter from the Anti-Slavery Society to the faculty, dated January 1835 and in Box 1 Folder 48 of this collection. Humphrey states that he shared this communication with the faculty and they were happy to find that it was written in the same excellent spirit as that of the memorial written by the Anti-Slavery Society previously. He writes that though the faculty has the kindest feelings towards every member of the Anti-Slavery Society, they agree with the opinion recently expressed by the student body of the Andover Theological Seminary that in the present agitated state of the public mind, it is inexpedient to keep up any organizations under the name of antislavery or colonization or the like in the literary and theological institutions. Humphrey goes on to explain the reasons for this opinion and responds to the society's objections to the conditions previously suggested to them by the faculty. He states that the Anti-Slavery Society must cease to exist just as the college's American Colonization Society has done already. He again states that they hold the members of the society in the kindest personal regard and are confident in their good principles and judgement. On the back of the letter is a note stating that this is a copy of the communication sent to the society.

Copy of Heman Humphrey letter to the Anti-Slavery Society, 1835 January
Handwritten transcription of Williams College Commencement program, 1820

Williams College

An unattributed handwritten copy of the 1820 Williams College Commencement program. The order of exercises including the names of speakers is provided in Latin. There are also two notes clarifying when the Corncio ad Clerum will be delivered and by whom that are provided in English.

Handwritten transcription of Williams College Commencement program, 1820
Handwritten Commencement program in Latin, 1830

Amherst College

An unattributed handwritten copy or draft in Latin of part of the 1830 Commencement program and a fragment of the first page of the printed 1830 Commencement program in English. The order of exercises and speaker names are provided. There are unattributed notes in pencil on the document.

Handwritten Commencement program in Latin, 1830