{"id":2459,"date":"2016-09-26T05:59:54","date_gmt":"2016-09-26T05:59:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-204pinsker\/?p=2459"},"modified":"2016-10-02T19:16:35","modified_gmt":"2016-10-02T19:16:35","slug":"research-journal-second-entry-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-204pinsker\/2016\/09\/26\/research-journal-second-entry-draft\/","title":{"rendered":"Unexpected Findings: Archives Research Journal"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0The Process
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This project is my first experience with archival research and I didn’t know where to begin. Luckily, Jim Gerencser and Malinda Triller Doran<\/a>\u00a0at the Dickinson College Archives<\/a> had selected a document from our class year to examine. I received the anniversary address of the Belles Lettres Society in 1862. It was delivered by Martin Christian Herman<\/a>, who coincidentally was one of the class members that I looked at in depth during my first research journal entry<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Belles Lettres Anniversary Address <\/em><\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The inside cover of the anniversary address of the Belles Lettres society in 1862. Document property of Dickinson College Archives.<\/p><\/div>\n

This was the first time I have handled a historical document. The pamphlet was in good condition. From this document, one can learn about the writing style of the time period and what life at Dickinson was like. The document hints at a rivalry between the Belles Lettres and the Union Philosophical Society, the two literary societies at Dickinson.<\/p>\n

The purpose of the item is to showcase the Belles Lettres literary society, their accomplishments, and their intellectualism. It also intends to discuss the progress of America. It addresses members of the grammar school who are preparing to enter Dickinson College and it gives them advice. It also promotes the Belles Lettres literary society to incoming students. The final paragraph is a farewell to the members of the class of 1862.<\/p>\n

The anniversary address\u00a0was very interesting. However, there was much more research to be done so I went back to the archives to start my own research.<\/p>\n

Dickinson College Catalog\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

I began my archival search by searching for\u00a0the Dickinson College catalog for 1862. The catalog is a very helpful tool because it details the curriculum of the time period, lists all the students by class year, and outlines the cost of tuition.The photo gallery below contains some important excerpts from the Dickinson College Catalog.<\/p>\n\n\t\t