The Rt. Rev. Philander Chase, D.D. was the founder and first President of Kenyon College serving from 1824 to 1831. Chase was also the first Episcopal Bishop of Ohio. This collection of his letters is kept in the College Archives and is available to researchers.
The Philander Chase letters were written in the 18th and 19th century and therefore may contain language that we understand today as harmful or offensive. You may encounter paternalist descriptions of Native Americans, racial slurs, or sexism. For more information, see our policy page.
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Letter to Sophia Chase
Philander Chase
6-14-1824Bp Chase misses Sophia and worries for her health. Chase tells her all he has recently accomplished though he expresses that he would rather be home as a "simple American Bishop."
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Letter to Lord Kenyon
Philander Chase
6-14-1824Philander Chase is updating Lord Kenyon on his visit to Oxford and Chase's interactions with Lord Kenyon's son
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Letter to G.W. Marriott
Philander Chase
6-15-1824An additional letter to G.W. Marriott, furthering his thoughts from his previous letter the day before.
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Letter to Philander Chase
George Marriott
6-16-1824G. W. Marriott tells Chase that he is preserving all letters intended for him. He also asks Chase to tell Dr. Macbride about Mr. Howe's work.
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Letter to Lord Kenyon
Philander Chase
6-16-1824Bp. Chase reports that he has earned donations from Magdalen College of Oxford. He also misses his family and stresses about taking them from New York to Ohio later that year.
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Letter to Philander Chase
G. W. Marriott
6-16-1824Marriott is telling Chase about the support for his cause in London including the Vice-Chancellor.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Robert Marriott
6-17-1824Robert congradulates Chase on his successes at Oxford and Cambridge and tells him of some disturbances involving Mr. Dicey's tennants
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Letter to Philander Chase
Timothy Wiggin
6-18-1824Wiggin tells Chase that the success at Oxford has exceeded his expectations and that he is sorry Chase has begun to miss his friends in Ohio, but hopes he will remain focused on the cause in England. He tells Chase not to worry about a disapproving article published in the Patriot Critical and that Mr. Wheaton has already published his dissent. Wiggin also updates Chase on the health of his friends and family.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Duff Macfarlane
6-18-1824MacFarlane runs correspondence between Lady Rosse and Revd. Chase, asks him to meet with a student named John Campbell, and tells him about more books she has bought him.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Miss Vansitart
6-19-1824Miss Vansitart hoped to arrange a meeting with Chase but was unable due to timing. She has sent an appeal to Miss Hanna More who she believes will be happy to see Chase when he reaches Bristol, if she is well enough.
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Letter to Philander Chase
G.W. Marriott
6-20-1824A scrap intended to be included with Marriott's letter of June 17th. Marriott tells Chase that Mr. Goulburn of Ireland intends to support him.
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Letter to Philander Chase
H. Horace
6-20-1824Horace tells Chase that Sir Acland is eager to see him and will postpone his trip if Chase confirms he will be able to meet.
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Letter to Sophia Chase
Philander Chase
6-21-1824Chase tells his wife that he has just returned from Oxford and that an important figure in England has written an article in his defense. He misses his family in Ohio but believes he will not be able to leave for America until November and regrets that the journey will take at least a month.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Sir Thomas Baring
6-21-1824Baring read and appreciated Chase's statement and regrets not having seen him in London.
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Letter to Lord Kenyon
Philander Chase
6-21-1824Chase is planning to return to America soon, but is being discouraged by Wiggin and Gambier. He encloses a letter for Lord Kenyon to send along to Mrs. Chase in America.
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Letter to Rev. W. Ward
Philander Chase
6-22-1824Chase tells Rev. Ward how much he enjoyed staying with him in Horkesley. He reminiscences on his time with Ward and his family and regrets that he will not see them again as he must be leaving England soon and will have to go to Devonshire and Bristol first.
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Letter to Lord Kenyon
Philander Chase
6-22-1824Chase wishes to return to America to see his family and Ohio before he misses another year.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Lord Gambier
6-23-1824Gambier is sorry that Chase has decided to return to America that summer as he is certainly needed in England, but assures him that his friends will continue his project. He updates Chase on the subscription progress and says that he will reach out to his friend Mr. Clay for aid as well.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Timothy Wiggin
6-24-1824Wiggin discusses the possibility of Chase's early return to America and the public opinion of Chase's cause after a recent article published in the British Critic.
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Letter to Lord Kenyon
Philander Chase
6-24-1824Chase has an exact plan to leave for America on July 16th. He is worried that this has upset Mr. Wiggin
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Letter to Reverend Wheaton
Philander Chase
6-25-1824Chase asks Wheaton to consider publishing a rebuttal to the article published about him in the British Critic. Chase assures him that this would be very helpful in exonerating both himself and the cause for Ohio overall.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Reverend N.S. Wheaton
6-26-1824Wheaton claims he had no involvement in the recent offensive article published in the British Critic and declares his support for Chase's efforts to start a Theological School in the Diocese of Ohio.
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Memorandum of Traveling June 26th - July 10th 1824
Philander Chase
6-26-1824Memorandum of Traveling June 26th- July 10th
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Letter to Philander Chase
Timothy Wiggin
6-28-1824Wiggin discusses the possibility of Chase's return to America and advises Chase that he cannot hope to receive many subscriptions from people of much significance without his personal visit. Wiggin writes that he plans to invite Lord Kenyon to Platt Hall and adds that he looks forward to Chase's arrival there.
