Deeds of gift of Thomas Pownall to Harvard College, 1783 Digital
Scope and Contents
Handwritten copies of Thomas Pownall's 1783 deeds of gift to Harvard for land known as Pownalborough in Lincoln County, Mass. to fund a Professorship of the "Society of Polity and State Law." There is also a handwritten extract from Pownall's will donating all of his books to the College.
Dates
- Creation: 1783
Researcher Access
The Records of gifts and donations are open for research.
Extent
8.25 cubic feet (23 volumes, 3 flat boxes, 4 legal half document boxes, 4 legal document boxes, 4 card boxes, and 12 folders)Biographical / Historical
Thomas Pownall, a British statesman, was born in 1722 in England, and arrived in Massachusetts to serve as Royal Governor of the Province from 1757 until 1760, when he returned to London. In 1767 Pownall became a member of Parliament and was a noted supporter of the American Revolution. In 1778 he began planning to give land to Harvard for an endowed Professorship of Law, and forwarded the relevant documents to the College in 1783. Unbeknownst to Pownall, however, the land had been sold during the Revolutionary War and did not bring enough money to fund a professorship. Pownall died in 1805.
Former call number
Formerly classified as UAI 15.490 Gifts records: unbound papers, 1720-1899
Creator
- From the Collection: Harvard University. Corporation (Organization)
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.
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