c1833 LARGE ARCHIVE OF MANUSCRIPT ESSAYS, WRITING ASSIGNMENTS AND CRITICAL DEBATE OFFERING A RARE LOOK AT THE PRE CIVIL WAR STATE OF PHILOSOPHY, EDUCATION AND POLITICAL DISCOURSE AT THE APEX OF AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

On offer is a remarkable, super archive of early 19th century manuscripts; being an original grouping of 42 manuscripts, handwritten circa 1830s by then undergraduate and later Dr. Henry Blanchard [1811-1897 originally from Bellerica, Massachusetts, he died in Neponset, Massachusetts] who received his BA in 1834; MA 1839 and M.D. in 1840. This archive offers a sensational, detailed snapshot on the state of Harvard education as Blanchard provides a clearly stated question and his essay in response to the topic on a wide variety of themes: "In what respects can war be regarded as a national blessing?; The rate of Interest to be Established by Law; If we do not like Goethe it is because we do not understand him; The feelings towards each other by a zealous Catholic and an Early Reformer" plus writings on Harvard, The Soul, religion, poor and humble sufferings, phrenology and physiognomy, wealth as influence, political economy, science and modern literature etc. Fascinating. Historians, collectors and archivists are given a rare opportunity to detail this one student's growth in politics, historical perspective and ideology shaped in the halls of the, unarguably, oldest, most revered educational institution in America at the time. Most are signed 'Blanchard', two are dated 1833, the rest undated. Most of his essays are 3 to 4 pages, all are approximately 7-3/4 x 9-3/4 inches. Well stored for generations these are at least VG.