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 Dudley Chase
George Chase
4-8-1826Chase is staying at his Uncle Dudley's home and assures his uncle of his family's health. He discusses his occupation with his small business and informs his uncle of Betsey's interest in attending school at the West Branch.
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Letter to Intrepid Morse
Philander Chase
4-11-1826Chase reports growing support for the plan to move the college and seminary to Knox County. He tells his nephew of all the work he has done to ensure his plan is upheld, and also discusses where he will preach next.
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Letter to Dudley Chase
George Chase
4-13-1826George provides an account of his recent activities and of events in Randolph.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Lord Kenyon
4-16-1826Lord Kenyon thanks Chase for his updates and tells him on the continued support for his plans in England. He also updates Chase on the health of their friends and thanks him for sending plants from Ohio.
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"Further Notice Concerning the proposed site... in Knox County"
Philander Chase
4-17-1826Statement concerning potential lands to be leased near the proposed site of the Seminary and College in Knox County.
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Letter to George Chase
Dudley Chase
4-18-1826Dudley thanks his nephew for his last letter and wishes him well, apologizing for the short note.
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Letter to Intrepid Morse
Philander Chase
4-18-1826Chase describes progress with subscribers and with the plan to move the college to Knox County, he asks Morse to write to his friends frequently on his behalf as he is worried that if sufficient funds are not acquired in favor of the Knox County plan the college will not succeed.
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Letter to Sophia Chase
Philander Chase
4-18-1826Chase tells his wife that there are a few people who do not support the plan to move the college to Knox County, but he hopes they will eventually be convinced. He also provides Sophia with instructions for planting seeds while he is gone.
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Letter to George Chase
Dudley Chase
4-20-1826Dudley reacts to the news of his affairs in Vermont and tells George that he will be home soon when Congress adjourns.
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Letter to Dudley Chase
George Chase
4-23-1826Chase advises Uncle Dudley against providing his father with any assistance as requested and updates his uncle on the progress of his farm work.
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Letter to Rev. J. H. Hopkins
Philander Chase
5-3-1826Chase requests financial assistance for the purchase of land in Knox County and invites Hopkins to a meeting on the Knox County grounds on June 2nd and 3rd.
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Letter to Intrepid Morse
Philander Chase
5-3-1826Chase is determined to have Mr. Campbell come to his seminary. He thinks containing the College to theological studies is better than approaching broad studies, and he hopes ot secure more subscriptions to increase funding. Chase also asks Intrepid to come give a sermon at his general meeting on June 2nd and 3rd.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Margaret Kenyon
5-23-1826Margaret thanks Bp. Chase for the plants he sent to her and updates him on their successful growth. She also strongly urges him to take better care of himself, and provides brief updates on his friends in England.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Rev. W. Ward
5-25-1826Rev. Ward reassures Chase that his English friends have not forgotten about him, and still care about him greatly. He also mentions a way that he thinks Chase can obtain more students.
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Reminisces of Chase's First Hilltop Sermon
Rev. Dudley Chase
6-5-1826Writing about his father, Philander Chase, giving the first sermon on the hilltop
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Letter to Philander Chase
John Stow
6-6-1826Stow expresses thankfulness for Chase's friendship and writes a poem about the spirituality of nature set in the park of Greenwich.
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Letter to Philander Chase
George Matthew
6-7-1826Matthew assures Chase of his support and asks him to write when he is able.
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Memorandum of Amended Articles to the Constitution of the Seminary
Columbus Convention
6-7-1826Memorandum of Amended Articles to the Constitution of the Seminary
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Letter to Philander Chase
G.W. Marriott
6-8-1826Marriott tells Chase that the parcel being sent is a lithographic Engraving of St. David’s College and informs him that the Society for the propagation of the Gospel has started having public meetings.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Mrs. G.W. Marriott
6-8-1826Mrs. Marriott updates Chase on the lives of her family members and of Chase's English friends.
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Copy of the Proceedings of the Board of Trustees
Board of Trustees
6-9-1826The Board resolves to appoint Bishop Chase, Mr. Clay, and Mr. Wells to a committee to oversee the transfer of funds from England as well as to allow Bishop Chase authority over the sale of lands surrounding the Seminary and College.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Eliza Wiggin
6-9-1826Eliza discusses her family and Chase's friends in England as well as her continued support for Chase and his cause.
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Letter to Intrepid Morse
Bishop John Hopkins
6-13-1826Bishop Hopkins is interested in the idea of exchanging pupils with Morse but regrets that he is too busy with his own family at the moment. He tells Morse to come through Pittsburgh if he attends the General Convention.
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Letter to Dudley Chase
Philander Chase
6-15-1826Chase informs his brother of the success of the Knox County plan after the recent convention. He is very pleased but worries about obtaining proper funds as one of his potential donors has written to say he will no longer be able to help, and Chase wonders whether he should return to England to raise funds.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Duff Macfarlane
6-18-1826Long letter in which Macfarlane discusses a number of Chase's English friends and relates her future travel plans as well as a box she plans to send to Chase containing items from a number of his friends.