All Items 241

Amherst College Commencement program, 1860 August 9

Amherst College

The program for the 39th Amherst College Commencement. Beginning with the program for the first Commencement in August 1822, commencement programs contain the order of exercises for commencement ceremonies. Since 1826, most programs also provide a list of candidates receiving their bachelor of arts degrees. Other information contained in programs has varied over the years.

Amherst College Commencement program, 1860 August 9
Joseph Vaill memorandum with details regarding subscribers to Amherst College funds, 1841-1844

Vaill, Joseph, 1790-1869

Joseph Vaill, Trustee and General Agent of Amherst College, booklet labeled as "Private Memorandum Amherst College" with details regarding subscribers to Amherst College funds and their subscriptions. Included in the booklet are mentions of "Book No. 1" and "Book No. 2," presumably other account books, and there are notes in which Vaill clarifies certain details in those books with information included in this booklet. Details provided include donor names, amounts of subscriptions, notes on donors or their subscriptions such as when he can call on a subscriber again, and often the residence of donors. In a note on the back of the booklet Vaill states that there is little hope of making up their subscription fund unless the times become more favorable. The information in the booklet likely pertains to the one hundred thousand dollar subscription fund.

Joseph Vaill memorandum with details regarding subscribers to Amherst College funds, 1841-1844
Charity Fund Board of Overseers notebook of minutes, 1822 August 29 to 1871 July 12

Charity Fund (Amherst, Mass.)

A Charity Fund Board of Overseers administrative notebook containing minutes of the annual board meetings from August 1822 to July 1871. Minutes vary in the details provided for each meeting, but usually include information such as the date of the meeting, the order of proceedings, names of board members present, names of those chosen for certain positions on the board for the year such as chairman or moderator, what reports were presented, and votes taken. Minutes are signed by the secretary or scribe at the time. Secretaries who contributed to the notebook include: Thomas Snell, Salem Towne, Cyrus Mann, Thomas Bond, William Hyde, and Christopher Cushing.

Charity Fund Board of Overseers notebook of minutes, 1822 August 29 to 1871 July 12
Boston recorder and telegraph, 1827 May 25

Rand, Asa, 1783-1871

The Boston Recorder and Telegraph May 25, 1827 issue which includes an article titled "Amherst College" in a "General Miscellany" section. The article explains that an alteration has been made in the Amherst College course of study, an "Outline" of which the newspaper has received. Also provided is the introduction to the plan made by the Trustees of Amherst College which includes the changes to preparatory studies and the curriculum.

Boston recorder and telegraph, 1827 May 25
Hampshire gazette, 1824 March 16

Collegiate Institution (Amherst, Mass.)

A portion of the Hampshire Gazette March 16, 1824 issue which includes a brief article titled "Amherst & Williams." The article discusses the idea that granting charter to Amherst College may injure Williams College, stating that "any gentleman who looks at the good of the public would not venture his reputation on an argument so selfish."

Hampshire gazette, 1824 March 16
Amherst express, extra, 1858 May 21

Amherst College

The Amherst Express May 21, 1858 extra which includes an article titled "Amherst College" in the "Local News" section. The article describes the May 19, 1858 dedication of Williston Hall in honor of Samuel Williston. Speeches given by College President William Augustus Stearns during the celebrations are included in the article. The Prudential Committee, the new building, other College buildings, College funds and scholarships, and religious revivals at the College are among the topics addressed in his speeches. The article notes that Henry Ward Beecher was the orator of the day.

Amherst express, extra, 1858 May 21
Massachusetts yeoman, 1825 March 2

Denny, Austin, 1795-1830

The Massachusetts Yeoman March 2, 1825 issue which includes the Amherst College charter, "An Act to establish a College in the town of Amherst." It is noted that the charter was approved by Marcus Morton on February 21, 1825.

Massachusetts yeoman, 1825 March 2
New-England palladium & commercial advertiser, 1825 February 11

Young and Minns

The New England Palladium and Commercial Advertiser February 11, 1825 issue which includes an article titled "The New College" by Parsons. Parsons discuses two objections to granting charter to Amherst College: that it is exclusive in its religious character and that by granting charter the State would also be pledged to granting funds to the College. He also discusses what role the State should have in the government of the institution. The identity of Parsons could not be determined.

New-England palladium & commercial advertiser, 1825 February 11
Greenfield gazette, 1824 August 31

Denio, Clark & Tyler

The Greenfield Gazette August 24, 1824 issue which includes an article titled "Amherst College-No. 2," the second in a series of articles attributed to "Massachusetensis" who argues against granting charter to the Collegiate Institution at Amherst. In this article, the fifty thousand dollar subscription fund (the Charity Fund), Education Societies, and the Institution's focus on training students for the Christian ministry are among the topics discussed.

Greenfield gazette, 1824 August 31
Franklin herald and public advertiser, 1823 March 18

Moore, Zephaniah Swift, 1770-1823

The Franklin Herald and Public Advertiser March 18, 1823 issue which includes a front-page article titled "Amherst Collegiate Institution: To the Public" by Zephaniah Swift Moore dated March 1, 1823. In the article, Moore writes on behalf of the Trustees of Amherst Academy and provides information on the Charity Fund, the Guaranty Bond, the Thirty Thousand Dollar Subscription, and the Collegiate Institution, including curriculum, financial, and admission information. The latter portion of the article pertains to the petition made to the Legislature requesting charter for the Institution and controversy over a previous proposal for the removal of Williams College from Williamstown.

Franklin herald and public advertiser, 1823 March 18
Article on Amherst College property and funds, 1825 February 3

Amherst College

A section of an unidentified newspaper which includes an article titled "Amherst College funds." The article references a legislative report and discusses the property of the College, subscription funds such as the Charity Fund and Thirty Thousand Dollar Subscription, other possible income such as the part of the estate of Zephaniah Swift Moore and the legacy of Adam Johnson, and the debts of the College. Also included in the paper is an article titled "Amherst College" which briefly discusses the debate in the legislature on the petition for the incorporation of Amherst College.

Article on Amherst College property and funds, 1825 February 3
Guaranty bond, 1819 July 6

Collegiate Institution (Amherst, Mass.)

The Guaranty Bond of David Parsons, John Leland, Calvin Merrill, Jarib White, Hezekiah Wright Strong, Samuel Fowler Dickinson, Joseph Church, Jr., Enos Baker, and Elijah Boltwood in which they pledge to pay fifteen thousand dollars to the Trustees of Amherst Academy on the condition that if they procure that amount to be subscribed to the Charitable Fund (Charity Fund) within two years, then this bond is void. The signatures of Parsons, Leland, Merrill, White, Strong, Dickinson, and Church are included on the bond as is the signature of Charity Fund Financier R. Graves (Rufus Graves) who has written several notes on the item. Dates of notes on the bond range from July 6, 1822 to October 4, 1824. There are also unattributed notes written at an unknown later date on the item and on separate paper attached to it.

Guaranty bond, 1819 July 6
Catalogue of the faculty and students of the Collegiate Institution, Amherst, Mass. March, 1822

Collegiate Institution (Amherst, Mass.)

Broadside of the March 1822 catalog of the Collegiate Institution. The broadside lists the president, professors, tutor, and students of the Institution. The hometown, college room number, and class year of students is also listed. At the bottom of the broadside is an unattributed handwritten note stating "First edition of the First Catalogue- Belongs to the College Library."

Catalogue of the faculty and students of the Collegiate Institution, Amherst, Mass. March, 1822
Volume of Amherst Academy catalog broadsides, 1816-1825

Amherst Academy (Amherst, Mass.)

A bound volume containing eight Amherst Academy catalog broadsides, dated from October 1816 to November 1819 and from November 1821 to August 1825. The catalog broadsides include lists of the Trustees, instructors, and students of Amherst Academy. The residence of students is also listed next to their name. The last broadside includes an unattributed handwritten note stating that it was "unearthed, & given by H.A. Gaylord of '72 Amherst College." Also included in the notebook is an unattributed handwritten table of contents and other notes.

Volume of Amherst Academy catalog broadsides, 1816-1825
Boston weekly messenger, 1825 March 17

Hale, Nathan, 1784-1863

The Boston Weekly Messenger March 17, 1825 issue which includes the Amherst College charter, "An Act to establish a College in the town of Amherst" in a "Laws of Massachusetts" section. It is noted that the charter was approved by the Lieutenant Governor on February 12, 1825.

Boston weekly messenger, 1825 March 17
Trustees of Amherst Academy deed to the Trustees of Amherst College, 1825 April 13

Amherst College. Board of Trustees

Handwritten copies of the deed in which the Trustees of Amherst Academy transfer all the bonds and promissory notes that have been given to the Trustees of Amherst Academy for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a classical or collegiate institution in Amherst to the Trustees of Amherst College. The text of the document references the Amherst College charter and describes a resolution passed at the March 15th meeting of the Trustees of the Academy during which Heman Humphrey, Rufus Graves, and Nathaniel Smith were authorized to assign and convey all such real estate to the Trustees of the College. Provided is a list of bonds or notes hereby assigned to the Trustees of the College. Various individuals signed or wrote notes on the document: James Parsons, Lucius Boltwood, Heman Humphrey, Rufus Graves, Nathaniel Smith, Levi Lyman, and Joseph Scott, Jr. The notes of Levi Lyman are dated August 30, 1825. There are several copies of the deed included in this document with slight variations between them.

Trustees of Amherst Academy deed to the Trustees of Amherst College, 1825 April 13
Greenfield gazette, 1824 September 28

Denio, Clark & Tyler

The Greenfield Gazette September 28, 1824 issue which includes an article titled "Amherst College-No. 6," the sixth in a series of articles attributed to "Massachusetensis" who argues against granting charter to the Amherst Institution. In this article, the fifteen thousand dollar bond (the Guaranty Bond) and the fifty thousand dollar subscription fund (the Charity Fund) are discussed.

Greenfield gazette, 1824 September 28
Charity Fund register and records book, 1818-1840

Charity Fund (Amherst, Mass.)

A Charity Fund administrative records book that contains an historical overview of the establishment of the Fund and its relation to the founding of Amherst College, a copy of the Charity Fund's 1818 Constitution and System of Bylaws, a schedule of Charity Fund subscribers from May 1818 to May 1819, registers titled "State of the original Fund," "Property of the fund secured by real estate with interest to be paid annually," "List of Bonds, Notes, and other securities given as substitutes for a subscription and Bond of Fifteen Thousand dollars executed to the Trustees of Amherst Academy by David Parsons and others, as part of the Fifty Thousand dollar fund of the Collegiate Institution," and "List of Notes, Bonds, etc. belonging to the Charity of Amherst College," a register of property in real estate dated August 23, 1833, a register of "Notes secured by Mortgage, Real estate, and Bank stock," and a final register labeled "Charity Fund of Amherst College" and dated August 24, 1840 with subscriptions organized into categories of real estate, bank stock, notes secured by mortgage, or notes resting on personal security.

Charity Fund register and records book, 1818-1840
Columbian centinel, 1824 March 6

Russell, Benjamin, 1761-1845

The Columbian Centinel March 6, 1824 issue which includes a note in a "Miscellany" section regarding the paper's policies on the inclusion of content related to the Amherst Institution and the debate over whether or not the Legislature should grant charter to the Institution. Also included is an article addressed to the editor and titled "Amherst College" in the same Miscellany section. The article is attributed to Edwards. Edwards argues in favor of granting charter to the Institution and addresses objections that have been raised, particularly regarding the impression that the Institution is "Sectarian in its character." Williams College is also referenced in the article. The identity of Edwards could not be determined.

Columbian centinel, 1824 March 6
Columbian centinel, 1823 January 11

Russell, Benjamin, 1761-1845

The Columbian Centinel January 11, 1823 issue which includes an article titled "Amherst Collegiate Charitable Institution" in a "Miscellany" section. In the article, five objections to granting charter to the Collegiate Institution are raised. Harvard and Williams College are mentioned in the article.

Columbian centinel, 1823 January 11