This collection includes administrative correspondence, petitions, pamphlets and other printed material from the first two and a half decades of Amherst College's existence (1820-1845). While this collection does not fully document the administrative activities of this period, it does contain important documentation of the atmosphere and activities of the College and its administration in its early years. Of particular interest are five letters from 1835 concerning the existence of the "Anti-Slavery Society," a student group opposed by the faculty. Other items of interest include a large amount of correspondence on student admissions, financial aid, student activities, disciplinary cases, and commencement; two letters declining the presidency of the College in 1844; and a number of items relating to the founding of the College and the granting of the charter.

Note: Item-level descriptions in the folder list in this finding aid were supplied by the donor.

This collection is organized into three series:

• Manuscripts (General)
• Latin Manuscripts
• Printed Material