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 Benjamin Allen
Philander Chase
3-5-1828Chase asks Allen to send the plate for the College by way of his brother, or someone else he trusts, to Mr. Kip.
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Letter to Sophia Chase
Philander Chase
3-6-1828Chase describes his activities in Washington and tells his wife he is very concerned about the success of his case in the House of Representatives.
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Letter to Sophia Chase
Philander Chase
3-6-1828Chase informs his wife of the people who support him in Washington. He is writing a new statement about Kenyon's beginnings and progress to help support his bill for a township of land. He also has bought new garden seeds, which he is sending to Gambier.
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Letter to Sophia Chase
Philander Chase
3-8-1828Chase asks his wife to tell Mr. Sparrow and Mr. Wing that Dr. Keith will likely come to Ohio soon to fill the Milnor Professorship. He has greater hopes that his proposal will be accepted by Congress.
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Letter to Sophia Chase
Philander Chase
3-11-1828Chase expresses his fondness for Mrs. Elliott. His bill is coming up in the Senate next week and then will travel to Virginia to see Mr. Thomas Smith.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Jonathan Harvey
3-19-1828Harvey offers to settle the unpaid bill of a former student named Hamlet Perkins and asks Chase what the amount is.
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Letter to Sophia Chase
Philander Chase
3-21-1828Chase received a packet of various letters from Dudley and thinks that the College will be able to move on June 1st. He also updates his wife on the progress of the bill in Washington and when he expects to return home.
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Letter to Sophia Chase
Philander Chase
3-29-1828Chase is elated to hear of Mr. Atkinson's subscription, especially amidst frustrations surrounding Mr. Allen's subscription and the Milnor professorship. He tells his wife that her family in Washington are well.
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Letter to Mrs. Sigourney
Philander Chase
4-5-1828Chase expresses his gratitude for Mrs. Sigourney's letter and informs her that his bill has passed in the Senate, and will hopefully soon also pass in the House of Representatives.
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Letter to Sophia Chase
Philander Chase
4-11-1828Fragment of a letter in which Chase discusses his activities in Washington and his hopes for his bill now in Congress.
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Letter to Sophia Chase
Philander Chase
4-25-1828Chase expresses his anxiety regarding his bill, which he is trying to get up in the House, and goes into detail about the events in Washington.
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Letter to Rev. Nathaniel Hewitt
Philander Chase
5-3-1828Chase expresses his appreciation for Hewitt's work in the American Temperance Society and assures him of his own support for and adherence to the cause.
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Letter to Reverend A. L. Baury
G.W. Marriott
5-13-1828Marriott updates Baury on the progress of the College, as well as the recent Irish Reformation.
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Letter to Sophia Chase
Philander Chase
5-23-1828Chase is anxious about getting his bill in the House of Representatives, but finds strength and peace in God.
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Letter to Sophia Chase
Philander Chase
5-31-1828Chase arrives in New York and tells his wife about a new pamphlet that he is writing.
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Letter to Sophia Chase
Philander Chase
6-10-1828Chase asks his wife to meet him in Gambier and recounts a recent visit with George, where he was horrified by how drinking has changed his appearance.
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Letter to Connecticut Reverend
Philander Chase
6-10-1828Copy a letter sent to a reverend in Connecticut in which Chase relays the news of his case's failure in Congress and asks for subscriptions to support Kenyon College.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Anne Hutton
8-22-1828Anne Hutton updates Chase on the lives of her family members and pledges her continued love and support for him and his cause.
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Letter to Rev. R. C. Caswall
Henry Caswall
10-5-1828Caswall writes to his father about his journey through America to Ohio and his initial impressions of Kenyon College as a student. He gives a detailed account of his activities and the College operations, and expresses his love for the school and Bp. Chase.
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Letter to Lord Kenyon
G.W. Marriott
11-14-1828Damaged letter. Marriott gives a brief update on friends.
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Letter to Dudley Chase
Philander Chase
1-27-1829Long letter in which Chase copies a letter from B. L. Wooly and Jeremiah Taylor that outlines conditions regarding the power of the Board of Trustees. Chase details his deep dissatisfaction with these conditions and asks for his brother's help and advice on what to do about it.
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Letter to Dudley Chase
Philander Chase
1-29-1829Chase proposes a plan to satisfy all parties in regard to the dispute over the power of the Board of Trustees and who will hold the funds for the Milnor professorship.
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Letter to Dudley Chase
Philander Chase
2-23-1829Chase expresses his hopes for success in the plan they have set forth and asks his brother to forward letters to A. Hodgson and Lord Kenyon.
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Letter to Lord Bishop of Salisbury
Philander Chase
2-26-1829Chase apologizes for a late reply and updates the Lord Bishop of Salisbury on the progress of the College buildings. He also mentions that Henry Caswall, a student, is doing very well as expected.
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Letter to Sophia Chase
Philander Chase
2-27-1829Chase asks his wife to record updated financial information in his square book.