Dartmouth College. Office of the President. Nathan Lord (1828-1863)
Dates
- Usage: 1828 - 1863
Biography
Nathan Lord, Congregational minister, and college president was born November 28, 1792, in Berwick Maine. He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1809, went on to attend Andover Theological Seminary, and received a Doctor of Divinity from Bowdoin in 1828. That same year, he also became the 6th president of Dartmouth College. Lord was the longest serving president after John Wheelock remaining in office for a total of 35 years. Lord was an independent thinker and a strict disciplinarian.
Dartmouth, which had been suffering financially ever since the attempted takeover of the institution by the State of New Hampshire, saw considerable growth during Lord's tenure. Lord established the first alumni association and raised $50,000 to build Thornton and Wentworth Halls. He also significantly increased student enrollment.
The issue of slavery in the United States became paramount during Lord's tenure. While his initial inclination was toward the abolition of slavery, he served as a vice president of the New Hampshire Auxiliary Colonization Society, and later he briefly held the position of Vice President, representing New Hampshire, in the American Anti-Slavery Society. But, by the late 1840s he claimed no abolitionist associations. In 1854, Lord anonymously published the first of three pro-slavery pamphlets, which argued that slavery was condoned by God through the scripture. In 1862 he published a third piece "A True Picture of Abolition" in which he accused abolitionists of being responsible for the Civil War. This landed him in hot water with a group of anti-slavery ministers in New Hampshire who petitioned the Trustees to consider his removal. The Trustees declined to take this action, but instead issued a statement distancing College from Lord and his views. In response, Lord tendered his resignation, which was eventually accepted by the Board.
Found in 122 Collections and/or Records:
Anthony Colby letter
Letter from Anthony Colby in New London, New Hampshire to President Nathan Lord, telling him that he will be unable to attend the Trustees meeting. The vacancy caused by Prof. Haddock's absence should be filled. Includes an additional undated letter from Colby to Lord.
Clement Long writing
In English.
Dartmouth College. Office of the President (1828-1863:Nathan Lord) records
The presidential records of Nathan Lord contain, student records, correspondence, invoice and receipts, dating from ca. 1830 - 1865 and presidential addresses and sermons from ca 1842-1866.
Edward Danforth letter
Letter from Edward Danforth in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Nathan Lord in Hanover, New Hampshire, telling him that he is sending payment for honorary degree diploma as granted by the Board.
Harriet Elizabeth (Beecher) Stowe letter
Three-page letter from Harriet Elizabeth (Beecher) Stowe in Andover to Nathan Lord in Hanover, New Hampshire, seeking information about her father's second marriage to Harriet Porter for a biography she is writing. (Photocopy)
Henry Fairbanks letter
Letter from Henry Fairbanks in St. Johnsbury, Vermont to Nathan Lord, telling him that he accepts the office in the college but asks to be excused from entering upon his work this year.
John Elbridge Sinclair letter
Nine-page letter from John Elbridge Sinclair to Nathan Lord, suggesting to Dr. Lord that the English Literature Department, in the Chandler Scientific Department, has a great and fundamental defect.
John Lord letter
Twelve-page letter from John Lord in Stamford, Connecticut to Nathan Lord in Hanover, New Hampshire on the death of his wife, Mary Porter Lord.
John Parker Hale letter
Two-page letter from John Parker Hale in Dover, New Hampshire to Nathan Lord, expressing thanks for honorary degree received from Dartmouth College.
John Quincy Adams letter
In English.
Nathan Lord certification
In English.
Nathan Lord curriculum
Twelve-page curriculum and division of duties in the Facaultyu (probably as reporterd by the President to the Trustees, October 1860)
Nathan Lord letter
In English.
Nathan Lord letter
In English.
Nathan Lord letter
In English.
Nathan Lord letter
In English.