Scope and Contents
The College Accounts series includes receipts, account statements, and correspondence produced in the standard scope of business by the office of the Treasurer. The documents in this series reflect this period of Hancock's regular involvement with the College, as well as financial activities carried out by the school in his absence, and later by Treasurer Storer.
The earliest records in this series precede Hancock’s tenure as treasurer and relate to funds due to the Dummer School (later Governor Dummer Academy). The College maintained some financial involvement with the preparatory school established in Byfield, Massachusetts in 1763, including participation in an effort by its schoolmaster, Samuel Moody (Harvard AB 1746), to establish a writing school. Related documents include receipts and correspondence regarding a planned endowed fund for a Dummer School Writing Master. Donations were collected from approximately 1766 through 1774, and the funds and interest were to be managed by the Harvard treasurer. The presence of the Dummer materials in the collection likely reflects the investigation into the location of the money after Hancock’s dismissal. In 1778, Moody requested that Storer investigate the fund's condition so that it "may in the best manner answer the Purposes of the original Donors." In 1785 the treasurer of the Dummer Academy demanded that the College pay the balance of the money collected under Hancock's tenure as treasurer; the College, in turn, demanded the money of Hancock. Related correspondence is located in the Administrative Records series.
Financial records generated by Hancock include signed receipts for Samuel Kirkland's missionary work among the Oneida Indians, payment to the Dudleian lecturers, and clock repairs. The series also contains accounting records created by Storer concerning the settlement of Hancock's accounts with the College. The account books created by Storer offer information about individuals who held bonds with Harvard, as well as expenses and income of the College for 1773 and 1774.
Dates
- Creation: 1766-1786
Researcher Access
The John Hancock Collection is open for research.
Extent
22 itemsBiographical / Historical
As a member of the Harvard Corporation, the treasurer was charged with management of the College's funds. In late August 1773, Hancock received the institution’s financial records and funds (totaling £15,449), and took responsibility for managing the school’s financial affairs both in monies due and received. After Hancock's acceptance of the treasurership, he attended most Harvard Corporation meetings through his last attendance on January 18, 1775. Hancock's growing involvement with the Continental Congress drastically decreased his attention to Harvard's finances and he left Boston in April 1775. A frustrated Corporation replaced the absent Hancock with Ebenezer Storer as treasurer in July 1777. Storer devoted significant effort to settling the College's financial affairs for many years after Hancock's dismissal.
Creator
- From the Collection: Hancock, John (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Harvard University Archives Repository
Holding nearly four centuries of materials, the Harvard University Archives is the principal repository for the institutional records of Harvard University and the personal archives of Harvard faculty, as well as collections related to students, alumni, Harvard-affiliates and other associated topics. The collections document the intellectual, cultural, administrative and social life of Harvard and the influence of the University as it emerged across the globe.
Pusey Library
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archives_reference@harvard.edu