Harvard College Papers, 1st series, Volume 4, 1797-1805 Digital

The fourth volume of the College Papers contains original documents dating from 1797 to 1805, spanning the tenures of president Joseph Willard, acting president Eliphalet Pearson, and treasurer Ebenezer Storer. It chiefly consists of incoming correspondence for Storer.

Topics of note include the missionary work of Gideon Hawley to the Native Americans at Mashpee (or Marshpee), Massachusetts; the missionary work of John Sergeant, Jr. to the Native Americans at Stockbridge, Massachusetts; efforts to collect rents on College properties; frequent communication between Willard and Storer and from Steward Caleb Gannett to Storer (most often regarding deliveries of College wood by the College sloop Cyrus); the construction of Stoughton Hall (referred to within the records as the new College) with detailed records of the materials used in the construction and a letter from architect Charles Bulfinch; illness and death of Joseph Willard; administration of acting president Eliphalet Pearson; income from the West Boston Bridge; Professor Benjamin Waterhouse, the cabinet of minerals and the professorship of natural history; Boylston Prizes; and the Cambridge and Concord Turnpike.

Item numbers were assigned by William Garrott Brown during the creation of his calendar. Item level descriptions and biographical source information within quotation marks were taken directly from the calendar. A chronological index at the back of volume refers to page numbers, not item numbers.