All Items 53

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
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
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
Article on the proposed incorporation of Amherst College, 1824 July 1

Amherst College

A section of an unidentified newspaper which includes an article titled "Amherst College." The article provides a sketch of the speech of Mr. Doolittle in the House of Representatives regarding the report of the Committee relative to the petition of the Amherst Institution requesting charter. Doolittle references the fifty thousand dollar subscription fund (the Charity Fund), the Trustees of Amherst Academy, and the Thirty Thousand Dollar Subscription. He argues against granting charter to the Institution. The identify of Mr. Doolittle could not be determined.

Article on the proposed incorporation of Amherst College, 1824 July 1
Compilation of Collegiate Institution statements regarding the petition for incorporation and the Charity Fund

Collegiate Institution (Amherst, Mass.)

A printed compilation of Collegiate Institution statements regarding the petition for incorporation. The first statement included is "To the Public," dated March 12, 1824 and written by Heman Humphrey on behalf of the Trustees in favor of granting charter. Other content includes sections titled "Residence of Students" and "Extracts from the Printed Constitution, to Various Copies of which a Charity Fund is Subscribed," dated June 2, 1824, as well as a note regarding the Charity Fund subscribers' petition in support of granting charter. A closing note from a Committee of the Trustees of Amherst Academy explains that they submit the foregoing together with a pamphlet annexed to the members of the Legislature. The Committee consists of Heman Humprhey, Nathaniel Smith, Israel E. Traske, Jonathan Going, and John Fiske. The pamphlet referenced no longer accompanies this item but is in Box 3 Folder 12 of this collection.

Compilation of Collegiate Institution statements regarding the petition for incorporation and the Charity Fund
Greenfield gazette, 1824 September 21

Denio, Clark & Tyler

The Greenfield Gazette September 21, 1824 issue which includes an article titled "Amherst College-No. 5," the fifth in a series of articles attributed to "Massachusetensis" who argues against granting charter to the Amherst Institution. In this article, the subscription fund noted as the "Amherst fund"(the Charity Fund) is discussed. It is argued that many subscribers to the fund believed that the money was going to be joined with the revenues of Williams College and that the fund is not in a state to be the foundation for establishing an institution for liberal education. A fifteen thousand dollar bond (the Guaranty Bond) is also discussed.

Greenfield gazette, 1824 September 21
New-England palladium & commercial advertiser, 1823 July 4

Young and Minns

The New England Palladium and Commercial Advertiser July 4, 1823 issue which includes an article titled "Amherst Collegiate Institution." The article describes the recent discussion in the Massachusetts Legislature on the topic of the petition for charter of the Collegiate Institution. The members of the Joint Committee appointed to the topic are listed and subsequent reports and bills put forth are also discussed. The permanent fund of fifty thousand dollars (the Charity Fund), the fund commonly called the Thirty Thousand Dollar Subscription, and the current state of the Institution are described in the article. Williams College is also mentioned.

New-England palladium & commercial advertiser, 1823 July 4
Joel Smith deed to the Trustees of Amherst Academy, 1821 November 27

Smith, Joel, (Husbandman)

A deed certifying that Joel Smith hereby assigns, as part of the Charity Fund, a certain tract of land in Amherst, Massachusetts to the Trustees of Amherst Academy. Various individuals signed or contributed to the document: Smith, H. Wright Strong, Moses Dickinson, and Levi Lyman. The deed is dated November 27, 1821 with later notes dated September 5, 1822.

Joel Smith deed to the Trustees of Amherst Academy, 1821 November 27
David Parsons deed to the Trustees of Amherst Academy, 1821 November 12

Parsons, David, 1749-1823

A deed certifying that David Parsons hereby assigns, as part of the Charity Fund, a certain tract of land in Amherst, Massachusetts to the Trustees of Amherst Academy. Various individuals signed or contributed to the document: Parsons, Hugh Carlile, Solomon Strong, and Levi Lyman. The deed is dated November 12, 1821 with later notes dated September 5, 1822.

David Parsons deed to the Trustees of Amherst Academy, 1821 November 12
Rufus Cowls deed to the Trustees of Amherst Academy, 1824 October 6

Cowls, Rufus

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. The deed is dated October 6, 1824 with later notes dated June 21, 1825.

Rufus Cowls deed to the Trustees of Amherst Academy, 1824 October 6
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
Phinehas Strong deed to the Trustees of Amherst Academy, 1821 August 6

Strong, Phinehas, 1756-1827

A deed certifying that Phinehas Strong hereby assigns a certain tract of land in Belchertown, Massachusetts to the Trustees of Amherst Academy. Various individuals signed or wrote on the deed: Phinehas Strong, Experience Porter, Joseph Estabrook, H. Wright Strong, and Levi Lyman. The deed is dated August 6, 1821 with later notes dated October 22, 1821. This deed is presumably related to the Charity Fund and the security by real estate of Phinehas Strong's promissory note.

Phinehas Strong deed to the Trustees of Amherst Academy, 1821 August 6
Dudley Phelps deed to the Trustees of Amherst Academy, 1821 October 20

Phelps, Dudley, 1798-1849

A deed certifying that Dudley Phelps hereby assigns certain tracts of land in Belchertown, Massachusetts to the Trustees of Amherst Academy for the Charity Fund. Various individuals signed or contributed to the document: Phelps, Hugh Carlile, Frederick W. Graves, and H. Wright Strong, and Levi Lyman. The deed is dated October 20, 1821 with later notes dated October 22, 1821.

Dudley Phelps deed to the Trustees of Amherst Academy, 1821 October 20
Elijah Boltwood deed to the Trustees of Amherst Academy, 1821 September

Boltwood, Elijah

A deed certifying that Elijah Boltwood hereby assigns, as part of the Charity Fund, a certain tract of land in Amherst, Massachusetts to the Trustees of Amherst Academy. Various individuals signed or contributed to the document: Boltwood, Nehemiah Gaylord, Amos Gray, H. Wright Strong, and Levi Lyman. The deed is dated September, 1821 (the day is illegible) with later notes dated October 20, 1821 and October 22, 1821.

Elijah Boltwood deed to the Trustees of Amherst Academy, 1821 September
Amherst College Trustees deed to the Charity Fund Board of Overseers with Board of Overseers deed of release to the Trustees, 1826 April 1 and 1847 August 10

Amherst College. Board of Trustees

A document that includes a deed certifying that the Prudential Committee of the Trustees of Amherst College assigns, releases, and conveys certain tracts of land in Amherst to the Charity Fund Board of Overseers. The deed specifies that the tracts of land include land conveyed to the Trustees by Elijah Dickinson and by Jerusha and Moses Dickinson. It is stated that the deed is for the security of a loan of ten thousand dollars from the Charity Fund. The deed of release from the Board of Overseers to the Trustees is attached to the last page of the document and it certifies that the ten thousand dollars has been repaid. Various individuals signed or contributed to the document: Elijah Boltwood, Lucius Boltwood, Heman Humphrey, Nathaniel Smith, John Leland, Rufus Graves, Lewis Strong, Samuel Osgood, Cyrus Mann, Ithamar Conkey, A.W. (Andrew Wood) Porter, Thomas Bond, and William Hyde, Harvey Hirkland, Levi Lyman, Lucius Boltwood, and one illegible signature. The deed is dated April 1, 1826 and the deed of release is dated August 10, 1847. Dates of additional notes on the documents range from August 24, 1826 to August 20 1847.

Amherst College Trustees deed to the Charity Fund Board of Overseers with Board of Overseers deed of release to the Trustees, 1826 April 1 and 1847 August 10
Experience Porter deed to the Trustees of Amherst Academy, 1821 August 6

Porter, Experience, 1809-1877

A deed certifying that Experience Porter hereby assigns a certain tract of land in Belchertown, Massachusetts to the Trustees of Amherst Academy for the benefit of the Charity Institution in Amherst (also known as the Collegiate Institution). Various individuals signed or contributed to the document: Porter, Phinehas Strong, Joseph Estabrook, H. Wright Strong, and Levi Lyman. The deed is dated August 6, 1821 with later notes dated October 22, 1821. This deed is presumably related to the Charity Fund and the security by real estate of Experience Porter's promissory note.

Experience Porter deed to the Trustees of Amherst Academy, 1821 August 6
Substance of a discussion in the Senate, on the report of the committee in favor of incorporating Amherst College

Amherst College

A pamphlet printed as an extra sheet by the American Statesman which includes observations made by the Massachusetts Senate during a two-day discussion held when a report was given by a Senate Committee in favor of granting charter to Amherst College. The pamphlet includes observations from Senate members Leland, Mills, Adams, Noyes, Keyes, Tufts, Fiske, Austin, Richardson, Hubbard, Thaxter, and Hoyt. Topics discussed include the Charity Fund and other financial contributions to Amherst College, the Collegiate Institution (also known as Amherst College), and Williams College. Ultimately it is noted that the report was accepted, giving leave to bring a bill forward.

Substance of a discussion in the Senate, on the report of the committee in favor of incorporating Amherst College