Shapleigh, Samuel, 1765-1800

Overview:

This collection contains correspondence to the Harvard College librarian asking for book borrowing privileges, primarily from faculty and other individuals with a connection to the college, dated 1775 to circa 1826, and a 20th century dealer catalog entry for a 1764 letter related to donated volumes. The records include the borrower's name, the titles of the books borrowed, the date of loans, and in some cases, the return of books.

Overview: Samuel Shapleigh (1765-1800) spent half of his life at Harvard College, first as a student and later as College Butler and Librarian. This collection includes bills and other records of Shapleigh's time as a Harvard student; personal papers related to family property in Kittery, Maine; legal documents granting him power of attorney for several individuals; and his reading notes on two contemporary novels, perhaps created in his role as College Librarian. Of particular note are the extensive...