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 A. Battles
Rev. John Hall
5-25-1825Hall discusses the acquisition of certain lands around Alum Creek and the wishes of parishes in the area.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Lord Kenyon
5-30-1825Kenyon updates Chase on the lives of his English friends and assures Chase of his family's continued affection for him.
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Committee Report on Location of Seminary
Committee on Seminary Location
6-1-1825Report on the committee appointed to recieve propositions on location of seminary.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Josiah Pratt
7-2-1825Pratt tells Chase he is sending copies of the new statement by the Board of Trustees as well as the stereotype plates and apologizes for the delay. He assures Chase of his family's support for his cause.
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Letter to G.W. Marriott
Lord Kenyon
7-7-1825Kenyon copies letters from Bishops White and Chase regarding the Seminary and its reception.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Timothy Wiggin
7-14-1825Wiggin advises Chase on financial matters relating to the foundation of the Seminary and updates him on the lives of his family members as well as Chase's other English friends.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Margaret Kenyon
7-15-1825Margaret reminisces on Chase's visit with her family and discusses the development of her "Ohio garden."
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Letter to Rebecca Morse
Philander Chase
7-28-1825Chase expresses consolations and sympathies to Rebecca for the struggles she has experienced in her family. He provides other life updates, including his delight at his granddaughter's health, the illnesses that afflict his young son Henry, his hopes to hire servants, and plans for his next trip.
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Letter to Rev. George Boyd
Philander Chase
8-3-1825Chase hopes to create a bookstore for the institution so as to ease student demand for books and to establish a printing press. He asks Rev. Boyd to implore Mr. Potter, a bookseller in Philadelphia, to send over some classical books and proposes a partnership with him.
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Letter to Intrepid Morse
Philander Chase
8-24-1825Chase writes of his recent travels through Huron County and the Seneca Reservation, and plans out the rest of his travel.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Lord Kenyon
8-29-1825Kenyon recounts Bishop Hobart's visit with him and reports that Hobart was respectful towards Chase but believes the best course of action to be the transferral of money collected in England to the Seminary in America. Kenyon says he will consult with the other Trustees and report to Chase on what they decide.
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Report of the Trustees of the Funds Raised in England to Establish a Theological Seminary in Ohio
Board of Trustees
9-12-1825Results of a meeting of the Board of Trustees in England in which they resolved to recommend an addition to the Seminary's Constitution requiring the approval of all Bishops in the Church of the United States before any changes could be made to the use of the funds raised in England.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Mrs. G.W. Marriott
9-13-1825Mrs. Marriott tells Chase that her husband has been ill but seems to be getting better. She also discusses her family's support for Chase and asks where she might send a portrait of him intended for the Seminary.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Lord Kenyon
10-1-1825Kenyon discusses changes to the Seminary's constitution agreed upon by the Trustees in England and updates Chase on the welfare of his English friends.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Timothy Wiggin
10-1825Fragment of a letter in which Wiggin reports enthusiasm for Chase's cause in England and suggests that the Seminary bear the name Kenyon.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Lord Kenyon
10-9-1825Kenyon updates Chase on the health of Dr. Gaskin and Mr. Marriott, and tells him he will send word to Mr. Kip and Bp. Hobart of the Trustees' decision.
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Excerpt of Letter Dated October 10th, 1825
Philander Chase
10-10-1825Exerpt from a letter in which Chase describes his visit to an Oneida and Mohawk community, a sermon that was held there, and his hopes of bringing four of five boys back with him as students.
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Letters to William Walker and George Lyman
Philander Chase
10-11-1825Copies of two letters written by Chase to William Walker and George Lyman, asking Lyman to come with four or five Indian students to Worthington and for Walker to encourage this project however he can.
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Letter to Lord Kenyon
Philander Chase
10-12-1825Chase thanks Lord Kenyon for his and his daughter's last letters and updates them on the progress of the school, its library, and support for his cause in Congress. Chase also promises to send Kenyon samples of certain fruits and trees from America.
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Letter to Intrepid Morse
William Sparrow
10-23-1825Sparrow tells Morse that Chase and William Walker are to work on bringing Indian students to the school. He updates Morse on the progress with the school's bookstore.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Lord Kenyon
12-1825Fragment of a letter in which Kenyon discusses Chase's English supporters.
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Letter to Dudley Chase
George Chase
12-2-1825George updates his uncle on their family and the affairs of the town.
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Letter to Dudley Chase
George Chase
12-10-1825George tells his uncle of his family's happiness and updates him on various acts of "villanry" within town. He also says the family was disappointed not to have heard from him in New York.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Lord Kenyon
12-11-1825Kenyon discusses the Board of Trustees' recent decision concerning his seminary's relationship with the broader General Seminary, as well as the matter of obtaining further aid for the Ohio Diocese. Kenyon also discusses the health of Chase's English friends and his family.
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Letter to Uncle Dudley
George Chase
12-14-1825George updates Dudley on Aunt Chase's affairs, the harvest season, and financial logistics of the ledger balance. He provides other general life updates and provides notes on the ledger balance.