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Jonathan Dickinson Collection

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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Dickinson

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.

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).

Arranged by accession number.

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.

Various AM.

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.

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.

No appraisal information is available.

Publisher
Manuscripts Division
Finding Aid Date
2006
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

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.

Collection Inventory

Document to Benoni, Thomas and Joseph Perry Bond for 109 English Pounds, current money of New Jersey, for land, 1744 May 16. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Bill for merchandise to James Alexander signed by Dickinson, 1763. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Receipt to Jonathan Sergeant for "in part of what is due to me out of the estate of my Honoured father", 1748 July 19. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Receipts from Elizabeth to Jonathan Dickinson, 1737-1741. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Release of house where Jonathan Dickinson died to John Odell, Discharge of the executors of the will of Jonathan Dickinson to John Odell, 1747-1748. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Jonathan Dickinson's last will and testament, with certificate of probate attached, 1747 September 16. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Letter from Jonathan Dickinson to Jonathan Dickinson (his son) concerning Widow Shotwell's lines about cattle to be purchased, 1704 May 4. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Draft signed to John Agnew of London, 1721 October. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Receipt for 16 English pounds and 4 pence, signed by Lydia Gosletowe, 1737 May 6. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Ledger of accounts by William Williamson, 1737. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Letter from Jonathan Dickinson to Theophilus Howell, 1746-1747. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Letter concerning the proposed College of New Jersey, 1746-1747. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Manuscript concerning indenture of William Millar to Jonathan and Mary Dickinson, 1791 January 17. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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Exchange order to John Askew in London (transcript), 1721 September 11. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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