These materials are examples of historical primary materials related to the United States available in RBSC through the nineteenth century. Students have an opportunity to learn the proper handling of early materials. Specific topics may yield more materials; please ask about your topic. To request a class visit, please email the Curator.
Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797.
An account of the European settlements in America. In six parts. I. A short history of the discovery of that part of the world. II. The manners and customs of the original inhabitants. III. Of the Spanish settlements. IV. Of the Portuguese. V. Of the French, Dutch, and Danish. VI. Of the English ... London, R. and J. Dodsley, 1757. 2 v. illus. 20 cm.
Rare Books Collection E143 .B94
Probably the joint work of Edmund and William Burke, but usually attributed to the former, who called himself merely the reviser of his kinsman's work.--cf. Dict. nat. biog. Sabin, Bibl. amer.
Raynal, abbé, 1713-1796.
A philosophical and political history of the settlements and trade of the Europeans in the East and West Indies. Tr. from the French of the Abbé Raynal, by J. Justamond, M. A. The 2d. ed., rev. and cor. With maps adapted to the work, and a copious index.
London, T. Cadell, 1776.
Rare Books Collection D22 .R321776A
5 v. front. (port.) 4 fold. maps. 22 cm.
Robertson, William, 1721-1793.
The history of America. By William Robertson. London, W. Strahan [etc.] 1777.
Rare Books Collection E143 .R62 (2 copies)
2 v. fold. maps 27 1/2 cm.
Notes: Copy 2 of each volume measures 26 1/2 cm. and lacks fold. maps. First edition. Contains Books I-VIII, the history of the discovery of America and the conquest of Mexico and Peru. (Books IX-X, the history of Virgina and New England, first appeared spearately in 1796) "A catalogue of Spanish books and manuscripts": v.2, p.523-535. Errata on last page of v. 2.
Belknap, Jeremy, 1744-1798.
A discourse intended to commemorate the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus; delivered at the request of the Historical society in Massachusetts, on the 23d day of October, 1792, being the completion of the third century since that memorable event. To which are added four dissertations, connected with various parts of the discourse ... By Jeremy Belknap ...
Printed at the Apollo press, in Boston, by Belknap and Hall, State street, 1792.
Rare Books Collection E111 .B43
Contents: A discourse on the discovery of America --Ode for the 23d of October, 1792 -- Dissertation I. On the circumnavigation of Africa by the ancients. Appendix: Table ... chronological detail of facts and opinions -- Dissertation II. An examination of the pretensions of Martin Behaim, to a discovery of America, prior to that of Christopher Columbus. Appendix: no.I. Letters from Paul a physician of Florence, to Christopher Columbus, concerning the discovery ot the Indies. no.II. A chronological detail of discoveries made in the fifteenth century, connected with events in the life of Columbus --Dissertation III. On the question, whether the honey bee is a native of America -- Dissertation IV. On the colour of the native Americans, and the recent population of this continent.
Chalmers, George, 1742-1825.
Political annals of the present united colonies, from their settlement to the peace of 1763; compiled chiefly from records, and authorised often by the insertion of state-papers. By George Chalmers, esq. Book I.
London, Printed for the author: and sold by J. Bowen, 1780.
Rare Books Collection E188 .S43
book 1. From their settlement to 1688.Ms. note on fly leaf: "To Sir John Dalrymple bart. the author presents these Annals, which had never been written but for his advice ..." No more published in separate form. Book II appeared in the collections of the New York historical society, 1868, Publication fund series v. 1.
Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797.
Speech of Edmund Burke, esq., on moving his resolutions for conciliation with the colonies, March 22, 1775. 3d ed.
London : Printed for J. Dodsley, 1775.
Rare Books Collection E211 .B971775A
Tucker, Josiah, 1712-1799.
A series of answers to certain popular objections, against separating from the colonies, and discarding them entirely; being the concluding tract of the Dean of Glocester, on the subject of American affairs.
Glocester : Printed by R. Raikes; and sold by T. Cadell, in the Strand, London, M.DCC.LXXVI. [1776]
Rare Books Collection DA505 .T8251776A
References: Sabin 97360 Howes T391: Advocates granting the colonies independence then forming a union between them and England. P.[6-12] at end are lists of books "by the same author", both published and to be published "if found necessary," "after a pacification with the Colonies," etc. -- Running title: Series of answers to/ popular objections.
Hart, Oliver, 1723-1795.
America's remembrancer, with respect to her blessedness and duty. A sermon, delivered in Hopewell, New Jersey, on Thanksgiving day, November 26, 1789. By Oliver Hart. Philadelphia: Printed by T. Dobson, at the Stone-House, no. 41, South Second-street. M,DCC,XCI.
Rare Books Collection E310 .H37X
Notes: Evans 23428. Disbound.
Baldwin, Thomas, 1753-1825.
A sermon, delivered February 19, 1795: being the day of public thanksgiving throughout the United States. By Thomas Baldwin.
Boston: Printed by Manning & Loring. 1795.
Rare Books Collection E310 .B343X
Imperfect: Half title, p.11-14 lacking. Head piece. Evans 28228.
Andrews, John, 1764-1845.
A sermon, delivered February 19, 1795, being a day of public thanksgiving, throughout the United States of America. By John Andrews.
Printed at Newburyport by Blunt & March. [1795]
Rare Books Collection E310 .A537X
Notes: Disbound. Half title: Mr. Andrew's thanksgiving sermon; top cropped, affecting inscription: Samuel Norton (?) Esq. from his friend & ... J. An ... Evans 28194: [1795]
Osgood, David, 1747-1822.
A discourse, delivered February 19, 1795. the day set apart by the President for a general thanksgiving through the United States. By David Osgood. Published at the request of the hearers.
Printed by Samuel Hall, no.53,Cornhill, Boston, 1795.
Rare Books Collection E311 .O845
Half title within head and tail piece: Mr. Osgood's discourse, delivered on the day of general thanksgiving in the United States, February 19, 1795. Head piece and tail piece. Inscription on front cover. Evans 29246. Untrimmed.
Cumings, Henry, 1739-1823.
A sermon preached at Billerica, December 15, 1796, being the day appointed by authority, to be observed throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as a day of public praise and thanksgiving. By Henry Cumings.
Printed by Thomas Fleet, jun. Cornhill, Boston. MDCCXCVII.
Rare Books Collection E310 .C855X
Imperfect: Half title lacking. Head piece and tail piece have publisher's monogram device. Unbound; untrimmed. Evans 32006.
Abbot, Abiel, 1770-1828.
Traits of resemblance in the people of the United States of America to ancient Israel. In a sermon, delivered at Haverhill, on the twenty-eighth of November, 1799, the day of anniversary thanksgiving. By Abiel Abbot. Haverhill.
From the press of Moore & Stebbins. Published for the subscribers.-- Dec. 1799.
Rare Books Collection E310 .A232X
Title vignette. Half title: Mr. Abbot's Thanksgiving sermon. Head piece. Evans 35071. Disbound.
[Annual register of world events.]
A complete history of the late war, or, Annual register, of its rise, progress, and events, in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. With additions, taken from Capt. John Knox's Historical journal of the war in America. 6th ed.
Dublin, J. Exshaw, 1774.
Rare Books Collection DD411 .A51774
Articles selected from the Annual register for 1758-62, while Burke was editor and chief contributor, hence the work is often ascribed to him.
London, 1765 edition (2 vols.) was issued as "By J. Wright, gent." (probably the compiler)
Davenant, Charles, 1656-1714.
An essay upon ways and means of supplying the war / [by Charles Davenant].
London : Printed for Jacob Tonson, 1695.
Rare Books Collection HJ2612 .D18
Church, Benjamin, 1639-1718.
History of Philip's war, commonly called the great Indian war, of 1675 and 1676. Also, of the French and Indian wars at the eastward, in 1689, 1690, 1692, 1696, and 1704. By Thomas Church, esq. With numerous notes. Also, an appendix containing an account of the treatment of the natives by the early voyagers, the settlement of N. England by the forefathers, the Pequot war. The most important late Indian wars to the time of the Creek war. By Samuel G. Drake. 2d ed. with plates.
Boston, Printed by J.H.A. Frost, 1827.
Rare Books Collection E83.67 .C57
Prepared by Thomas Church (1674-1746) from the papers of his father, Benjamin Church, and first pub. under the latter's name, with title "entertaining passages relating to Philip's war ..." Boston, 1716. The editor's preface, p. [iii]-vii. <The following is an exact copy of the title page of the old [i.e. 1772] edition> p. [viii] To the reader [by Benjamin Church] p. [ix]-x. The life of Col. Church [by Ezra Stiles] p. [xi]-xvi. Appendix, p. 287-353. Front. "Landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth." The other plates are: (1) "Fac-simile of an original likeness of Col. Benjamin Church," which is but a copy of Paul Revere's fictitious portrait of Church made up for the 1772 ed. from a port. of Charles Churchill, the poet. (2) "King Philip. Published by S. G. Drake, Boston." (3) "Capture of Annawon." "In 1825 I published a small edition of this history, containing however but few additions to the old, which being immediately taken up, occasioned the early appearance of this ... From the present appearance of the work, its former erroneous composition is too easily discovered."--Editor's pref.
Langdon, Samuel, 1723-1797.
Government corrupted by vice, and recovered by righteousness. A sermon preached before the honorable Congress of the colony of the Massachusetts-Bay in New England, assembled at Watertown, on Wednesday the 31st day of May, 1775. Being the anniversary fixed by charter for the election of counsellors. By Samuel Langdon.
Watertown: Printed and sold by Benjamin Edes, MDCCLXXV.
Rare Books Collection E297 .L27 (2 copies)
Caption title: A sermon. Unbound. Evans 14145. Half title between rules: Dr. Langdon's sermon preached before the Congress.
Gordon, William, 1728-1807.
A sermon preached before the Honorable House of representatives, on the day intended for the choice of counsellors, agreeable to the advice of the Continental Congress. By William Gordon.
Watertown: Printed and sold by Benjamin Edes. MDCLXXV.
Rare Books Collection BV4260 .M51775B
Half title between rules: Mr. Gordon's sermon preached before the House of Representatives, July 19, 1775. Caption title: An election-sermon. Unbound; stabbed. Untrimmed. Printed by order of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Inscription on half title. Evans 14073. Tail piece.
Smith, William, 1727-1803.
A sermon on the present situation of American affairs. Preached in Christ-church, June 23, 1775. At the request of the officers of the Third battalion of the city of Philadelphia, and district of Southwark. By William Smith.
Philadelphia printed : London re-printed, a third volume, for Edward and Charles Silly, 1775.
Rare Books Collection BV4270.H4781757 ATITLEB
With: The time of danger and the means of safety / James Hervey. London : Printed by C. Rivington, 1757.
Pamphlets of the American Revolution. [s.l. : s.n.], [1776-1908].
5 v. ; 22 1/2 cm.
Rare Books Collection E203 .P3
Each volume contains a number of pamphlets which are cataloged separately. Each volume has hand printed index.
An impartial history of the war in America, between Great Britain and her colonies, from its commencement to the end of the year 1779. Exhibiting a circumstantial, connected, and complete account of the real causes, rise, and progress of the war, interspersed with anecdotes and characters of the different commanders, and accounts of such personages in Congress as have distinguished themselves during the contest. With an appendix, containing a collection of interesting and authentic papers tending to elucidate the history. Illustrated.
London, Printed for R. Faulder, Bookseller, New-Bond Street; and J. Milliken, Bookseller, Carlisle, 1780.
Rare Books Collection E208 .I34
Contents: pt. I. A general history of America, from its first discovery, to the commencement of the present civil war.--pt. II. The history of the origin, rise, and progress of the civil war in America. [1763-1779]--Appendix, containing a collection of interesting and authentic papers, relative to the contest between Great Britain and her colonies.
This work has been attributed to Edmund Burke. None of the plates, except the map, called for by Church are present in this copy. Map faces p. [i] instead of p. [1] as in Church. Bound in original paper boards. In a protective case. Page 16 of Appendix is numbered.
Cooper, Samuel, 1725-1783.
A sermon preached before His Excellency John Hancock, esq: governour, the honourable the Senate, and House of representatives of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, October 25, 1780. Being the day of the commencement of the Constitution, and inauguration of the new government. By Samuel Cooper.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Printed by T. and J. Fleet, and J. Gill. [1780]
Rare Books Collection F69 .C77
Imperfect: half title lacking. Sabin 16603: [1780] Disbound; stabbed.
Raynal, abbé, 1713-1796.
The revolution of America, by the Abbé Raynal. London, L. Davis, 1781.
Rare Books Collection E211 .R254
Willard, Joseph, 1738-1804.
A thanksgiving sermon delivered at Boston December 11, 1783, to the religious society in Brattle street ... By the Rev. Joseph Willard.
Boston: Printed by T. and J. Fleet, 1784.
Rare Books Collection E297 .W69
Disbound. Half-title within head and tail piece: President Willard's Thanksgiving sermon December 11, 1783. Evans 18887.
Ramsay, David, 1749-1815.
The history of the American revolution. By David Ramsay.
Philadelphia: Printed and sold by R. Aitken & son, 1789.
Rare Books Collection E208 .R17
Sabin 67687.
2 v. 23 cm.
Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Twenty-six letters, upon interesting subjects, respecting the revolution of America. Written in Holland, in the year 1780. By His Excellency John Adams, while he was sole minister plenipotentiary from the United States of America, for negociating a peace, and a treaty of commerce with Great Britain. [2d. ed.]
[New York, Printed by John Fenno, 1789.]
Rare Books Collection E211 .A2141789
Disbound. "Printed for the subscribers". Evans 21624
Paine, Thomas, 1737-1809.
A letter addressed to the Abbe Raynal, on the affairs of North-America. In which the mistakes in the Abbe's account of the revolution of America are corrected and cleared up. By Thomas Paine.
London, Printed for J. Ridgway, 1791.
Rare Books Collection E211 .R284
Wilson, Henry, 1812-1875.
History of the rise and fall of the slave power in America / by Henry Wilson.
Boston : James R. Osgood and Company, 1872-1877.
3 v. ; 23 cm.
Rare Books Collection E301 .W74 1872a
Lib. Company. Afro-Americana, 11289
Alger, William Rounseville, 1822-1905.
Public morals, or, The true glory of a state : A discourse delivered before the executive and legislative departments of the government of Massachusetts, at the annual election, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 1862. By Rev. William Rounseville Alger.
Boston, W. White, printer to the state, 1862.
NIU--Special Collections BV4260 .M5 1862
55 p. ; 23 cm.
Printed by order of the Massachusetts House of representatives. Running title: national virtue and national glory. Copied from the original in the University of Wisconsn Library. No. 9 in a volume lettered: Massaachusetts election sermons, 1854-66.
Fisher, Richard Swainson.
A chronological history of the civil war in America. Illustrated with A. J. Johnson's and J. H. Colton's steel plate maps and plans of the southern states and harbors... By Richard Swainson Fisher.
New York, Johnson and Ward, 1863.
Special Collections E468.3 .F53
A few words in behalf of the loyal women of the United States, by one of themselves. Loyal Publication Society. Pamphlets, no. 10
New York, W. C. Bryant & co., printers, 1863.
Rare Books Collection E463 .L97 No. 10 (2 copies)
Differs from another edition only in arrangement of type, p. 23 beginning: Attempt at corrupting.
Holmes, Oliver Wendell, 1809-1894.
Oration delivered before the city authorities of Boston, on the fourth of July, 1863 by Oliver Wendell Holmes.
Boston : J.E. Farwell & Co., Printers to the City, 1863.
Rare Books Collection E458.3 .H75 1863a
References: BAL 8826 Currier and Tilton p.115 Lib. Company. Afro-Americana, 4909
Notes: Bound in printed pink paper wrappers. First official octavo edition. Cf BAL
Loyal Publication Society.
Pamphlets. New York, 1863-1866.89 v.
Rare Books Collection E463 .L96
Publication History: no. 1-89.
Slavery--United States--Controversial literature.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Other Title: Loyal reprints no. 2-3, 9
Pollard, Edward Alfred, 1831-1872.
The lost cause : a new southern history of the war of the Confederates : comprising a full and authentic account of the rise and progress of the late southern Confederacy--the campaigns, battles, incidents, and adventures of the most gigantic struggle of the world's history / by Edward A. Pollard ; with numerous splendid steel portraits.
New York : E.B. Treat, 1866.
Rare Books Collection E487 .P759