Description: Edward Everett (1794-1865) signed this part-printed 1848 document as president of Harvard College. The document acknowledges the receipt of a gift “to the Public Library of the University, from Mr. John Ford, of Cambridgeport; for which the Corporation return a grateful acknowledgement, on the part of the University.”

 

Everett served as Harvard’s president from 1846 to 1848, and though he didn’t particularly like the job, he did have some notable achievements, including the expansion of Harvard’s academic programs to include a school of theoretical and practical science. Everett had an impressive political career both before and after his brief stint as president of Harvard College. He served as a member of the House of Representatives from Massachusetts (1825-1835), was elected the 15^th Governor of Massachusetts (1836-1840), and he was appointed Secretary of State (1852-1853) under Millard Fillmore, taking over for his recently deceased friend, Daniel Webster, until he was sworn in as a Senator from Massachusetts (1853-1854). Everett also was the featured orator at the dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery in 1863, speaking just before President Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg Address.

 

Printed and written on the first page of a folded sheet of 10” x 16” paper with an integral address panel: “Mr. John Ford Cambridgeport”. Item #A00895.

 

Condition: Fold lines, typical small piece of paper loss on the blank part of last leaf due to hasty opening of red wax seal, otherwise in very good condition with a clear, bold signature.