University Archives and Records Center
University of Pennsylvania

A.B. Diploma of James Latta (1757)

A.B. Diploma Awarded to James Latta in 1757, one of the first diplomas awarded by the College of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania) and therefore one of the first diplomas awarded by the University of Pennsylvania School of Arts and Sciences

[Translation of original Latin text]

To all to whom these letters happen to come, greeting. We the Provost the Vice-Provost and Professors of the College and Academy of Philadelphia witness that James Latta, an honest and ingenious youth has spent his time happily among us [in studies of] humane letters, philosophy, and rhetoric and after having completed his course of study, he was summoned to examination within our hall in the presence of our Trustees and many other most worthy citizens and he proved himself abundantly well versed enough in all of these aforementioned studies that by command of the Trustees at a Public Commencement held on the 17th Day of May in the year 1757, he was admitted to the grade of Bachelor. In testimony whereof the greater seal of this College and Academy are on these letters affixed and to them we have subscribed our names.

[signed]

William Smith, Provost of the College and Academy; Francis Alison, Vice-Provost of the College and Rector of the Academy; Ebenezer Kinnersley, Professor of Rhetoric and the English Language; Theophilus Grew, Professor of Mathematics; Paul Jackson, Professor of Languages.

Calligrapher: Unknown

Date: 1757

Medium: facsimile of original ink on vellum

Location:

University Archives, The University of Pennsylvania
Diploma Collection, Map Case 46-1.1

Digital Reference: 20030718001

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