A Book of Accounts beginning Feb. 26 1791, 1791-1799 Digital

The marbled-hardcover book contains three sections: a two column debit and credit entry section for students and tutors, a list of "the Bills of the Senior Class calculated" for 1793 and 1794, and at the end of the volume a personal accounting of expenses from February 1797 through January 1799 kept by Shapleigh during the time he was Harvard's Librarian, for services including mending, wood hauling, and "To Miss Morie for cleaning windows & washing sheets," as well as purchases such as books, coffee, and theater tickets.

The volume's flyleaf has the full handwritten title: "Samuel Shapleigh's Jan. 1, 1791--- A Book of Accounts Beginning Feb. 26, 1791--- The several Students of Harvard College in Cambridge in the county of Middlesex are indebted to Samuel Shapleigh College Butler the sums annexed to their names--Standing in classical & alphabetical order--The Librarian, Tutors and some other persons are likewise indebted the sums against their names." Written on the verso: "January 1 A. D. 1796. All the Buttery Bills which are charged in this book have been paid. --Sam Shapleigh."

The book includes annotations made at a later date noting students absent from other College records.