Records of gifts and donations, 1643-1955

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Records of gifts and donations, 1643-1955

http://id.lib.harvard.edu/ead/hua33010/catalog

In the 17th and 18th century, Harvard College relied on government grants and taxallocations, town subscriptions, and private donations to fund the school. The history ofdonations at Harvard reflects both the generosity of donors and the challenges of collectingfunds in a colony lacking an established financial structure. The Records of donations and giftsdocument contributions made to Harvard University by private citizens, companies, theMassachusetts colonial and state governments, and New England towns. They includecorrespondence, copies of wills and legal instruments, donation books, and record-keeping filesused by the Harvard Corporation. The records provide insight into the income the Collegereceived from outside sources, as well as the challenges the College faced in fund-raising,keeping track of donations, meeting gift conditions, and recovering lost money. The records alsooffer a resource for studying the perceptions donors held towards the College and highereducation in New England in general.

7.76 cubic feet (23 volumes, 1 flat box, 4 legal half document boxes, 4 legaldocument boxes, 4 card boxes, and 12 folders);

Harvard University Archives.

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SNAC Resource ID: 6385616

Harvard University Archives.

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Harvard University. Corporation.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6815vfq (corporateBody)

Harvard College's primary governing board, the Presidents and Fellows of Harvard College (known as the Harvard Corporation), was established by the Massachusetts General Court in 1650. The charter conferred on the Corporation the duties of managing the College, including appointing and removing administrators, faculty, and staff, creating orders and by-laws for the College, and managing finances, properties, and donations. The first recorded meeting of the Corporation was held on December 10, 16...