Columbiana Manuscripts, 1572-1986, bulk 1850-1920

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Series III: Kings College Manuscripts

This series is comprised of correspondence, religious texts, publications, registers, and other documents related to King's College and the early history of Columbia. In boxes 13 and 14, folders are arranged alphabetically by the last or corporate name of the correspondent. If available, the former call numbers of publications are noted as part of the description of the item. Most of the materials in this series were previously housed in The King's College Room - a museum room maintained by the Columbiana Library and the University Archives until 2007.



Box 13 Folder 1 Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) letter to Samuel Johnson (1696-1772) re: paper used for printing copies of the book Noetica., 1753 October 27


Box 13 Folder 2 Bill of Fare, ca., 1754-1776


Box 13 Folder 3 Book of Misdemeanors in King's College New York (alias: Black Book),, 1771-1775

(CH C721)


Box 13 Folder 4 Charter of the American University in the Province of New York, petitioned for by the Governors of King's College in, 1774

(Columbiana MS 129)


Box 13 Folder 5 Cooper, Myles. "Stanzas Written on the Evening of the 10th of May 1776"


Box 13 Folder 6 The Description of the Seal of King's College at New York in America


Box 13 Folder 7 Farnabii, Thomae. D. Junii Juvenalis et Auli Persii Flacci Satyre cum Annotationibus [Farnaby, Thomas. Juvenal's Satires with Commentary] London, 1661. Given as a prize in the Columbia Grammar School to Elias Brevoort Woodward, Columbia College, 1793

(CN9 J97)


Box 13 Folder 8 Hebrew Psalter with annotations by Samuel Johnson, 1658. Latin and Hebrew text. Includes the formula used in conferring degrees written in Latin on the back flyleaf

(L3701.82)


Box 13 Folder 9 Jay, John. An Address to the People of the State of New York on the subject of the Constitution Agreed upon at Philadelphia the 17th of September 1787. Signed by John Jay

(CN8 J332)


Box 13 Folder 10 Johnson, Samuel. Elementa Philosophica: containing chiefly Noetica, or things relating to the Mind or understanding: And Ethica, on things relating to the Moral Behaviour.(Philadelphia: Printed by B. Franklin and D. Hall, 1752). This is Samuel Johnson's annotated copy

(BK100 J63)



Box 14 Folder 1 Johnson, Samuel. Elementa Philosophica: containing chiefly Noetica, or things relating to the Mind or understanding: And Ethica, on things relating to the Moral Behaviour.(Philadelphia: Printed by B. Franklin and D. Hall, 1752). John Jay's personal student copy.


Box 14 Folder 2 Johnson, Samuel. Morning and Evening Prayers for the College, n.d. [handwritten], n.d.

(CM8 J63)


Box 14 Folder 3 Leaming, Jeremiah (1717-1804). Mr. Leaming's Sermon Preached at the Funeral of the Reverand Doct. [Samuel] Johnson, 1772. Inscribed copy to the "Reverand Dr. Myles Cooper, President of Kings College."


Box 14 Folder 4 Livingston, William (1723-1790). Some Serious Thoughts on the Design of Erecting a College in the Province of New York (New York: John Peter Zenger, 1749).


Box 14 Folder 5 Lottery Book, 1748. Recording the drawings of the lottery of 14 November 1748 by which £2250 was raised for King's College, November 1748

(CE L91)


Box 14 Folder 6 The Register of Admissions and Graduations and of Officers employed in King's College at New York. (King's College Matriculation Book, 1754-1777)

(CH M42)


Box 14 Folder 7 Statutes of Columbia College, 1785.


Box 14 Folder 8 Smith, William (1727-1803). Some Thoughts on Education: with reasons for erecting a college in the province and fixing the same at the City of New York. (New York: J. Parker, 1752)

(BCE P54)



Box 15 Folder 1 Columbia College, Rough Minutes of the Board, 15 November 1817 - 15 January 1820, November 1817, January 1820

(378.747 C-M1)


Box 15 Folder 2 King's College, Rough Minutes of the Governors, 7 May 1755 - 20 March 1770, May 1755, March 1770

(CC D2)


Box 15 Folder 3 The Original Seal of King's College. Typewritten manuscript written in 1923 and 3 original 18th century documents bound in this volume, 1923

(CB Se12)



Box 16 Bible (Antwerp: Plantin Press, 1572) housed in a wooden bible Box with plaque engraved "Samuel Johnson D.D., His Bible" - Old Testament written in Hebrew, New Testament written in Greek. Bible used by Samuel Johnson and includes handwritten information concerning his marriage, as well as births and deaths in Johnson's family.



Box 17 The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments: Newly Translated out of the Original Tongues, and with the former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised. By His Majesty's Special Command. Appointed to be read in Churches. (Oxford: printed by Thomas Baskett, printer to the University, 1753) Contains handwritten information at the back regarding Johnson family internments in the family vault at Stratford, CT. Bequest of Edmund Astley Prentis, 1961 with cooperation of the New Haven Colony Historical Society., 1961



Box 18 Folder 1 Diploma of John Marshall, Class of 1772. Signed by Myles Cooper.


Box 18 Folder 2 Diploma of Gulian Verplanck, Class of 1768. On loan from the New-York Historical Society.


Box 18 Folder 3 Patent, George III to John Watts as Recorder of the City of New York, endorsed by Governor William Tryon. Parchment document with pendant wax seal. Treated and re-housed by CUL conservation staff.



Box UA Flat Files Folder 3 George III proclamation appointing James Duane to the position of Clerk of the Chancery Court. Parchment with a wax pendant seal. This document was treated and re-housed by CUL conservation staff.


Box UA Flat Files Folder 2 Indenture for sale of part of "Church Farm" to Philip Henry Livingston,, 4 February 1792