- Collection Overview
- Collection Description & Creator Information
- Access & Use
- Collection History
- Find Related Materials
Contents and Arrangement
Expanded View
Collection Overview
- Creator:
- Dickinson, Jonathan (1688-1747)
- Collector:
- Princeton University. Library. Special Collections
- Title:
- Jonathan Dickinson Collection
- Repository:
- Manuscripts Division
- Permanent URL:
- http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/q811kj625
- Dates:
- 1704-1763
- Size:
- 1 box, 0.2 linear feet
- Storage Note:
- Firestone Library (scamss)
- Box 1
- Language:
- English
Abstract
Consists chiefly of eighteenth-century correspondence and documents of clergyman Jonathan Dickinson relating to his establishment of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University).
Collection Description & Creator Information
- Scope and Contents
The collection consists chiefly of correspondence and documents of Jonathan Dickinson relating to his establishment of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University). The correspondence includes Dickinson's letter (30 January 1746/7) to Theophilus Howell soliciting his help to raise funds to erect the College of New Jersey, and an unaddressed letter (presumably also to Howell, 3 March 1746/7) explaining his vision for the college and naming his selection of trustees. The documents include Dickinson's last will and testament with a certificate of probate attached, a bond to convey land, and an indenture document of William Miller to Jonathan and Mary Dickinson. Also included are two documents signed by Mary Dickinson to John Odell et al for the release of the house where Dickinson died, several pages of accounts of Dickinson with William Williamson dated 1728-1730, and a bill for merchandise to James Alexander signed by Dickinson (1763).
- Arrangement
Arranged by accession number.
- Collection Creator Biography:
Dickinson, Jonathan (1688-1747)
Jonathan Dickinson, Princeton University's first President, died after only four and a half months in office and is chiefly remembered for having been the leader of the group who, in his words, "first concocted the plan and foundation of the College.". Born in Hatfield, Mass., he studied theology, and in 1706 graduated from the Collegiate School of Connecticut (now Yale University). In 1709 he was ordained minister of the church in Elizabethtown (now Elizabeth), New Jersey. In spite of opposition, Dickinson and three other pastors (Ebenezer Pemberton, Aaron Burr, Sr., and John Pierson) and three laymen (William Smith, Peter Van Brugh Livingston, and William Peartree Smith) began to plan the founding of the college. Led by Dickinson, this group applied to Governor Lewis Morris for a charter and, following his death, renewed their application to Acting Governor John Hamilton, who granted a charter on October 22, 1746. The trustees appointed Dickinson as president in April 1747, and classes began in May in Elizabethtown, with a student body of eight to ten members.
Collection History
- Acquisition:
Various AM.
- Custodial History
The collection was formed as a result of a Departmental practice of combining into one collection material of various accessions relating to a particular person, family, or subject.
- Appraisal
No appraisal information is available.
- Processing Information
Finding aid written by James Flannery on February 7, 2006. Folder Inventory added by Hilde Creager (2015) in 2012.
During 2022, restrictions on original materials where researchers were required to use surrogates were lifted as part of a restrictions review project.
Access & Use
- Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
- Conditions Governing Use
Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.
- Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.
- Credit this material:
Jonathan Dickinson Collection; Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library
- Permanent URL:
- http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/q811kj625
- Location:
-
Firestone LibraryOne Washington RoadPrinceton, NJ 08544, USA
- Storage Note:
- Firestone Library (scamss)
- Box 1
Find More
- Subject Terms:
- College of New Jersey (Princeton, N.J.) -- History. -- 18th century -- Sources
College of New Jersey (Princeton, N.J.) -- Presidents.
College of New Jersey (Princeton, N.J.) --Trustees. -- 18th century - Genre Terms:
- Account books. -- 18th century
Bills of sale. -- 18th century
Correspondence -- 18th century
Documents --18th century.
