[4] At Harvard, Crowninshield kept a daily diary through his junior and senior years, which was published in 1941 by his son Francis, under the title A Private Journal, 1856–1858.

It records that he was captain of the rowing team; handled most of his classes with ease, with the exception of Logic which he called "that cursed nonsense"; was president, Learoyd Director, and Abercrombie Treasurer of the Glee Club; was a member of the Porcellian Club and Pierian Sodality; was treasurer of the Hasty Pudding; sang in the choir; and played the 'cello.

His diary entry for November 19, 1856, for example, records him playing whist "till the sociable (Lee's) was ready at L. Erving's room".

Its entry for June 24, 1857 records him going "into town to a supper at Parker's given in honor of Lee, Jones, Lowndes all of whom are going to leave the class".

Lee, by then a cavalry general in the Confederate States Army, was captured after the Battle of Brandy Station in June 1863.

Richardson to design and build a house on Marlborough Street in the newly land-filled Back Bay area of Boston.