All Items 14

George Grennell letter to Thomas Bond, 1839 October 30

Grennell, George, 1786-1877

George Grennell, a Trustee of Amherst College and member of the Prudential Committee, letter to Thomas Bond, an Overseer of the Charity Fund, in which Grennell writes regarding the measures adopted at a recent Prudential Committee meeting on the sufficiency of securities obtained by the Financier of the Charity Fund for sundry notes given for the Fund's benefit. Grennell writes to inform Bond of the measures adopted at this meeting. He discusses the cases of Mr. Sweetser (Luke Sweetser), Mr. Boltwood (Lucius Boltwood), Enoch Flagg, McFarland, and Reverend Dr. Brown and provides the conclusions of the Committee in each case including any recommendations that were made to the Financier of the Charity Fund. He also discusses a letter he received from Mr. Calhoun (William Barron Calhoun) in September regarding the debts and security to the Fund. Grennell asks that Bond mention to Calhoun and to Reverend Dr. Osgood the subject matter of this communication.

George Grennell letter to Thomas Bond, 1839 October 30
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
Hezekiah Wright Strong letter to unidentified recipient, 1839 October 30

Strong, Hezekiah Wright, 1768-1848

H.W. (Hezekiah Wright) Strong, an Overseer of the Charity Fund, letter to an unidentified recipient, possibly Thomas Bond, in which Strong writes about his concerns regarding the Charity Fund and its Financier, Lucius Boltwood. He states that the Prudential Committee of the Trustees of Amherst College met on the subject of the Financier's conduct, and he writes what the Committee reported of this meeting. Strong believes more should be done than what the committee recommended, and provides his recommendations mentioning the McFarland loan and Deacon Flagg. Strong states that he asked President Heman Humphrey for the Committee's report, but Humphrey would only read it to him. He writes that he believes a meeting should be called before Commencement and requests that the recipient sign the enclosed application or make one of his own and send it to General Town. The enclosure note no longer accompanies this item.

Hezekiah Wright Strong letter to unidentified recipient, 1839 October 30
George H. Smith letter to Harry Welton Kidder, 1903 August 12

Kidder, Harry Welton

George H. Smith letter to "Friend Kidder," presumably Harry Welton Kidder, in which Smith writes regarding houses, a shed, and his expenses for work around the houses and car fares.

George H. Smith letter to Harry Welton Kidder, 1903 August 12
David Mack letter to unidentified recipient, 1841 June 17

Mack, David, 1778-1854

David Mack, a Trustee of Amherst College, letter to an unknown recipient, possibly Thomas Bond, in which Mack writes regarding a Charity Fund investment, namely forty eight acres of land sold by L. (Lucius) Boltwood to a Dr. Dorman. Mack provides details regarding this transaction and concludes that he considers it to be a good investment for the Charity Fund and a fair and honorable transaction. He further states that in no way did Boltwood in this transaction hazard the interest of the Charity Fund, but in fact he made it much safer. Lucius Boltwood was the Financier of the Charity Fund at this time.

David Mack letter to unidentified recipient, 1841 June 17
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
Charles S. Crouch letter to John Chester Hammond, 1901 March 27

Crouch, Charles S.

C. (Charles) S. Crouch letter to a Mr. Hammond, presumably John C. Hammond, in which Crouch asks Hammond to write the Treasurer of Amherst College to send Crouch four hundred dollars. He states that he has two of the houses well under way and he has the cellar stone foundation of the third completed. Crouch states he would like the money Friday. In a postscript at the top of the letter, he asks Hammond to write them today. Below his signature, Crouch includes another note regarding what he has previously sent and what money he has received (presumably from the Treasurer).

Charles S. Crouch letter to John Chester Hammond, 1901 March 27
Hezekiah Wright Strong letter to unidentified recipient, 1839 August 29

Strong, Hezekiah Wright, 1768-1848

H.W. (Hezekiah Wright) Strong, an Overseer of the Charity Fund, letter in which he writes about his concerns regarding the Charity Fund, the original endowment of Amherst College. Strong explains specific concerns he has relating to Charity Fund Financier Mr. Boltwood (Lucius Boltwood) and the Prudential Committee, three members of which he states are Michigan speculators. He closes by writing that the recipient may communicate this to Mr. Calhoun, presumably William Barron Calhoun. Other individuals mentioned in the document include General Mack (David Mack, Jr.), Luke Sweetser, G. (George) Grennell, and Mr. Vail (Joseph Vaill). This letter was possibly sent to Thomas Bond, another Overseer of the Charity Fund at this time.

Hezekiah Wright Strong letter to unidentified recipient, 1839 August 29
Hezekiah Wright Strong letter to unidentified recipient, 1839 November 15

Strong, Hezekiah Wright, 1768-1848

H.W. (Hezekiah Wright) Strong, an Overseer of the Charity Fund, letter to an unknown recipient, possibly Thomas Bond, in which Strong writes regarding his concerns about the security of the Charity Fund, especially in regards to a loan made from it to someone named McFarland. He discusses the Michigan land which he thinks is of no value and also writes regarding the Financier's role in approving this loan. He calls the Financier (Lucius Boltwood) dishonest. Strong proposes that he be dismissed from service, mentions the inaction of the Prudential Committee, and proposes that a meeting of the Overseers of the Charity Fund should be called to address the issue. He closes by stating that he has made up his mind on this and should the Trustees or Overseers not act for Boltwood's removal, then Strong shall resign and state at large the reasons for his resignation.

Hezekiah Wright Strong letter to unidentified recipient, 1839 November 15
Hezekiah Wright Strong letter to unidentified recipient, 1839 October 30

Strong, Hezekiah Wright, 1768-1848

H.W. (Hezekiah Wright) Strong, an Overseer of the Charity Fund, letter to an unidentified recipient, possibly Thomas Bond, in which Strong writes that he will give some reasons in this separate letter regarding why Lucius Boltwood, the Financier of the Charity Fund, should be removed from his office. He provides these reasons including Boltwood's involvement in Michigan land speculation and that Boltwood was "left out" of his office as President of Amherst Bank for misconduct. Strong writes that in the general opinion of most if not all people here, Boltwood is not an honest man. On the back of the letter he writes further regarding Boltwood and a loan to a person named McFarland. Strong states that it would be well if a meeting was called before the catalogs are printed as they have Boltwood listed as the Financier of the Charity Fund.

Hezekiah Wright Strong letter to unidentified recipient, 1839 October 30
Salem Towne letter to Thomas Bond, 1842 October 13

Towne, Salem

Salem Towne, an Overseer of the Charity Fund, letter to Thomas Bond, another Overseer, in which Towne begins by discussing their previous correspondence and explains why he was not able to attend Commencement in July. Towne states that he does not know if he ever heard the rule adopted by the Board of Overseers, but he approves of it. He hopes the Board will fill, without delay, the place that he has held for too long. Presumably Towne is referring to his position on the Board of Overseers. There is a note at the bottom of the page, possibly written by Bond, dated November 16, 1842 regarding Andrew W. Porter.

Salem Towne letter to Thomas Bond, 1842 October 13
Bronze medal commemorating the British military successes of 1759

Amherst, Jeffery Amherst, Baron, 1717-1797

A bronze medal issued to Jeffery Amherst to commemorate the British military successes of 1759. The face of the medal contains a bust of King George II. The reverse of the medal contains the coat of arms of King George II. Encircling the reverse of the medal are the locations of British military victories of 1759, clockwise in order: Quebec, Crown Point, Lagos, Minden, Guadaloupe, Niagara. A second ring of names encircles the back of the medal, containing the names of the victorious British military commanders, in clockwise order: Wolfe, Amherst, Boscawen, Ferdinand, Baring, Moore, Johnson.

Bronze medal commemorating the British military successes of 1759
Joseph Clay letter to Edward Hitchcock, 1853 May 20

Clay, Joseph A., 1806-1881

A letter to Edward Hitchcock in which Joseph A. Clay requests the opportunity to purchase specimens of the minerals spodumene, Chesterfield tourmaline, and columbite.

Joseph Clay letter to Edward Hitchcock, 1853 May 20
Death warrants are supposed to be

Dickinson, Emily, 1830-1886

Death warrants are supposed to be