Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 28.

After many fruitless inquiries at Harvard College, we at last succeeded in finding, through the medium of the inspector's office, that it is kept in a certain vault and brought out once a year for the president's use at commencement. If we could wait a half-hour till the ‘one having the combination came in he would take us to it.’ We willingly did so, and after a walk across the street and college grounds, descended stairs and through a long corridor. In response to the keeper's ‘open sesame’ the heavy door swung open and at the end of a spacious vault, under a covering draped over it, was the object of our long search, a somewhat cumbrous affair about as comfortable to sit in as a wheelbarrow,—perhaps once a year is often enough. The attendants seemed surprised at our search, and questioned us closely as to our reasons therefor. They had never heard of any peculiarity or historic interest attached to it, but when informed, courteously acceded to our request.

Not long after we were asked, ‘Have you found the Turell chair yet?’ We replied cautiously, ‘We saw the president's chair at Harvard College on September 16, 1924, but really don't know that it was Parson Turell's. It doesn't look like the woodcut we saw. Perhaps Dr. Holmes' poem is much embellishment and little history.’