All Items 11

Collegiate Institution faculty resolution regarding the student petition against Lucius Field, 1822

Collegiate Institution (Amherst, Mass.)

A document stating that at a meeting of the faculty of the Collegiate Institution it was resolved that the petition of the Junior, Sophomore, and Freshman classes against the tutor Lucius Field cannot and ought not to be granted. The document lists the reasons for this resolution. It notes that the faculty also resolved that the claims made in the petition are groundless and slanderous and no student should have stated them or have consented others to stating them. The document goes on to describe the conclusions drawn by faculty after examination of the case. Finally, the document provides the faculty's conclusions in regards to punishment of students. It states that the faculty has decided to treat the students with paternal tenderness and expect the good sense of the students will prevail after time for reflection, but should there be any further disorder or disrespect to the officers of the Institution, the faulty will proceed to notice them with all the severity required. There is another version of this document with slight modifications in Box 1 Folder 65 of this collection. The student petition referred to in this document is in Box 1 Folder 7 of this collection.

Collegiate Institution faculty resolution regarding the student petition against Lucius Field, 1822
Collegiate Institution faculty resolution regarding Ephraim Eveleth and Eveleth's signed retraction, 1824 June 28

Humphrey, Heman, 1779-1861

A document certifying that Ephraim Evelith is hereby restored to his previous standing in the Junior Class of the Amherst Collegiate Institution on the condition that he make a retraction. The document states that Evelith had been required to leave the Institution due to his disrespectful treatment of faculty. The retraction, signed by Evelith, is also provided. The retraction states that Evelith regrets that he said anything to imply that the faculty had made the junior appointments with injustice or partiality, and he regrets to have spoken in a derogatory way regarding any faculty. On the back of the document are notes stating "voted unanimously by the Faculty June 29, 1824" and "Evelith restoration to his standing in College." The document appears to be written in Heman Humphrey's hand.

Collegiate Institution faculty resolution regarding Ephraim Eveleth and Eveleth's signed retraction, 1824 June 28
Heman Humphrey statement regarding Charles Upham Shepard and Samuel Partridge disciplinary cases, 1824

Humphrey, Heman, 1779-1861

Heman Humphrey statement in which he writes on behalf of the faculty of the Collegiate Institution regarding the disciplinary cases of students Charles Upham Shepard and Samuel Partridge. Humphrey states that the faculty has directed him to communicate the results of the cases so far as they deem it expedient at the present time to publish their doings. He elaborates on the faculty's concern that a number of students have so far forgotten the damage done to the students and Institution with the use of opprobrious epithets. Humphrey discusses the offense committed by Shepard and states that he will be admonished by the president in front of the faculty and the fact that he has been admonished will be stated to the students in the chapel. He discusses the case of Samuel Partridge who is also to be admonished by the president in front of the faculty. Humphrey goes on to say that the faculty express their disapprobation of attempts to bring a fellow student into disconduct or make his college life uncomfortable by applying to him any opprobrious epithets directly or indirectly. He writes that the faculty will not think so unfavorably of any student as to believe that they will wish to repeat the offense.

Heman Humphrey statement regarding Charles Upham Shepard and Samuel Partridge disciplinary cases, 1824
Collegiate Institution faculty resolution regarding the student petition against Lucius Field, 1822

Collegiate Institution (Amherst, Mass.)

A document stating that at a meeting of the faculty of the Collegiate Institution it was resolved that the petition of the Junior, Sophomore, and Freshman classes against the tutor Lucius Field cannot and ought not to be granted. The document lists the reasons for this resolution. It notes that the faculty also resolved that the things stated in the petition are groundless and slanderous and no student should have stated them or have consented others to stating them. The second page of the document explains further background on the issues between the students and Field, stating what, to the faculty, appeared to be the facts after examination of the case. The last page of the document provides the faculty's conclusions in regards to punishment of students. It states that the faculty has decided to treat the students with paternal tenderness and expect the good sense of the students will prevail after time for reflection, but should there be any further disorder or disrespect to the officers of the Institution, the faulty will proceed to notice them with all the severity required. This document has another version with slight modifications in Box 1 Folder 64 of this collection. The student petition referred to in this document is in Box 1 Folder 7 of this collection.

Collegiate Institution faculty resolution regarding the student petition against Lucius Field, 1822
Notes regarding the disciplinary case of Abner Johnson Leavenworth, 1822

Collegiate Institution (Amherst, Mass.)

Unattributed notes regarding the disciplinary case of Collegiate Institution student Abner Johnson Leavenworth. The document states that Leavenworth is accused slandering an officer of the Institution, namely the Tutor Field (Lucius Field), and that Leavenworth had the petition against Field written by one of the Junior Class. Leavenworth is also accused of dressing in a frock with a party of others with whom he was the leader and engaging in general conduct indicative of a spirit of insubordination. The document states that Leavenworth expressed himself against Field but then falsely denied that he had said anything on the subject. The document appears to be incomplete.

Notes regarding the disciplinary case of Abner Johnson Leavenworth, 1822
Collegiate Institution faculty resolution to suspend Joseph Goffe, Jr., 1824 July 16

Humphrey, Heman, 1779-1861

A document stating that at a meeting of the faculty of the Collegiate Institution on July 16, 1824 it was voted that Joseph Goffe, Jr., a sophomore, would be suspended from the Collegiate Institution and that the president would read the suspension in the chapel tomorrow morning. The document states that on the 12th Goffe left the Institution and the town although he had been told by the president that he did not have permission to go, and in so doing, Goffe violated the laws of the Institution. It goes on to state that in response to being asked to account for his disobedience, Goffe said that a student has the right to disobey the authority of the College when he thinks his request has been unreasonably denied. In response to this and his original action, the faculty votes to suspend Goffe for six months. The document appears to be written in Heman Humphrey's hand.

Collegiate Institution faculty resolution to suspend Joseph Goffe, Jr., 1824 July 16
Copy of Heman Humphrey letter to Henry C. Towner, 1824 March 31

Humphrey, Heman, 1779-1861

Heman Humphrey letter to Collegiate Institution student Henry C. Towner in which Humphrey writes regarding Towner's alleged paternity of the child of Eliza, the maid of Mrs. Moore (presumably Phebe Moore). Humphrey writes that he has received Towner's letter of the 24th and that he has no way of deciding as of yet whether or not Towner is innocent in the matter. He states that he has been told that Eliza has persisted in declaring that the child is Towner's and that as the case now stands he does not see how Towner could be again received as a member of this Institution. However, he writes that should Towner come down and convince the faculty of his innocence, his application for admission would stand on the same ground as other applicants of fair character. Humphrey asks if Towner is member of Williams College as he thinks Towner's name is in their catalogue. He also states that he must be clear that, should Towner fail to satisfy the faculty of his innocence, he should not consider this letter as proof that he can be received at the Collegiate Institution. The letter is noted as "a true copy."

Copy of Heman Humphrey letter to Henry C. Towner, 1824 March 31
Testimonies of William Moore Towne and Abner Johnson Leavenworth, 1822

Collegiate Institution (Amherst, Mass.)

An unattributed document with the testimonies of freshmen students Towne and Leavenworth regarding an incident in which, after going to an ordination for which they received permission, they went to a tavern with Starkweather, Hay, and Wendall and drank. The testimonies differ slightly from one another. It has been determined that the students in question were William Moore Towne, Abner Jonson Leavenworth, and David Austin Starkweather. Hay is likely Amherst Academy student Henry Hay, and the identity of Wendall could not be determined.

Testimonies of William Moore Towne and Abner Johnson Leavenworth, 1822
Ephraim Evelith letter to the faculty, 1824

Eveleth, Ephraim, 1801-1829

Ephraim Evelith, a student of the Collegiate Institution, letter to the faculty in which Evelith asks that he be granted a dismissal. He states that for reasons best known only to himself, he wishes his connection with the Institution to end. A related document that restores Evelith to his position as a student is in Box 1 Folder 33 of this collection.

Ephraim Evelith letter to the faculty, 1824
Note regarding the disciplinary case of Horatio Flagg, 1825

Humphrey, Heman, 1779-1861

A note, likely written by Heman Humphrey, in which it is stated that in the case of the Amherst College student Horatio Flagg the Faculty came to the decision that they approve of Flagg's reflection regarding the impropriety of his recording of the confidential conversation with Tutor Clapp (Zenas Clapp), and so on this and every other point they leave Flagg to his own reflections.

Note regarding the disciplinary case of Horatio Flagg, 1825
Copy of Heman Humphrey letter to the members of the Social Union, 1834 January 1

Humphrey, Heman, 1779-1861

Heman Humphrey statement, made by vote and in behalf of the faculty, to the Social Union of Amherst College regarding anonymous compositions in literary societies. Humphrey states that, as he recently addressed the entire student body regarding the hurtful tendency of anonymous compositions in the three literary societies of the College, he will not again repeat the arguments of himself and the faculty. He discusses instead the damage to fraternal harmony of such anonymous compositions in general and the role of the faculty and trustees in relation to the College societies. Humphrey writes that the faculty wishes for the prosperity of every member of their society, but no society in the College can be allowed to defeat a measure for which the public good calls. Thus, Humphrey continues, the Social Union must give up the anonymous department as the Alexandrian and Athenian Societies have already done, and they cannot allow any more anonymous compositions to be read or spoken in their meetings. He writes that in regard to the mischief which has already been done, the faculty can only excuse themselves for not interfering sooner by saying that they had no concept of the extent and magnitude of the evil. The document is noted as "a true copy."

Copy of Heman Humphrey letter to the members of the Social Union, 1834 January 1