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 John C. Wright
Philander Chase
12-16-1825Chase provides small updates on students affairs at the college
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Letter to Philander Chase
Adm Hodgson
12-17-1825Hodgson thanks Chase for his letter and encloses two more letters from Lord Kenyon.
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Letter to Dudley Chase
George Chase
12-20-1825George updates his uncle on what has been going on in Randolph.
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Letter to Dudley Chase
George Chase
12-25-1825George discusses his family and the affairs of the people in Randolph, he also asks Dudley to provide more updates from Congress.
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Letter to Dudley Chase
Philander Chase
12-26-1825Chase tells his brother he is recovering from and fall wishes him well.
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Letter to Uncle Dudley
George Chase
1-1-1826George wishes his uncle a happy New Year, discusses an upcoming ball, and provides updates on his daughter's growth. He also asks Dudley about how he "understood the Terms of Barker and Miller Partnership," about the appointment for Rufus King and son, and for a "little dash of political news" regarding ministers to the Congress of Panama.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Lord Kenyon
1826Fragment of a letter in which Kenyon discusses Chase's land in Ohio and updates him on the lives of their English friends.
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Letter to Adam Hodgson
Philander Chase
1-2-1826Chase congratulates Hodgson on his marriage, describes progress at the Seminary and College, recounts an injury he is now recovering from, and updates Hodgson on the plans for where the College will be fixed.
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Letter to George Chase
Dudley Chase
1-2-1826Dudley admonishes his nephew for asking him to write more often, citing his very busy schedule in Washington. He responds to George's discussion of the affairs in Randolph, and tells him of a ceremony he attended over the holidays.
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Letter to Dudley Chase
George Chase
1-2-1826George discusses his affairs in Randolph and apologizes for not having more to say.
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Letter to Sophia Chase
Philander Chase
1-7-1826Chase describes his stay with Henry Clay and his visits with various people while in Washington. He thanks his wife for her letters and asks her to give his love to their family in Ohio.
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Letter to Dudley Chase
George Chase
1-9-1826George updates his uncle on life in Randolph and includes messages from his family.
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Letter to Dudley Chase
George Chase
1-12-1826George apologizes for asking his uncle to write more often, he provides more updates on the people in Randolph.
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Letter to George Chase
Dudley Chase
1-16-1826Dudley updates his nephew on a contract between two men he knows and thanks him for his last letter.
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Letter to Dudley Chase
George Chase
1-16-1826George transcribes a paragraph about the immortality of the soul, and updates his uncle on the lives of their family members in Vermont.
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Letter to Rebecca Chase Morse
Philander Chase
1-17-1826Chase thanks his daughter for her letter and an enclosed gift from Miss Rebeccah Hammond. Chase also discusses his recent fall as well as the progress at the school and the reception of changes to the Constitution in England.
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Letter to George Chase
Dudley Chase
1-18-1826Dudley discusses the offer to purchase his land mentioned in George's last letter. He thanks his nephew for writing and apologizes for not writing a longer letter himself as he is busy in Congress.
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Letter to Sophia Chase
Philander Chase
1-23-1826Chase tells his wife of his plan to go to Washington to support a bill that would help the school. He also discusses their children's schooling and asks Sophia to take care of the books in the College's library.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Lord Kenyon
1-25-1826Kenyon updates Chase on the lives of his English friends and offers his continued support for Chase's cause.
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Letter to Dudley Chase
George Chase
1-25-1826George asks his uncle to send more newspapers when he can, updates him on affairs in Randolph and Bethel, and discusses their family.
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Letter to Intrepid Morse
Philander Chase
1-26-1826Chase discusses his plan to go to Washington City to secure funding for the Seminary and College as well as the plan for the school to be placed in Mt. Vernon neighborhood.
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Letter to Dudley Chase
Philander Chase
1-30-1826Chase asks his brother to forward a letter and tells him of a plan to be proposed.
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Letter to George Chase
Dudley Chase
2-1-1826Dudley tells his nephew that he will likely be unable to make a deal with Mr. French, as he is too busy already.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Mary Ward
2-4-1826Ward expresses her great appreciation for Chase's recent letter and reminisces about his brief visit in Horkesley.
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Letter to Dudley Chase
George Chase
2-7-1826George updates his uncle on the lives of their family members and the people of Randolph.