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 Intrepid Morse
Philander Chase
7-12-1836Philander Chase settles a dispute regarding a lost set of Communion Plates. He also discusses his plans for his settlement in Illinois.
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Letter to Samuel Chase
Philander Chase
8-20-1836Philander Chase worries about his nephew Samuel's health and explains his preparations for a winter cabin in Peoria.
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Letter to Philander Chase
S.M. Spencer
8-26-1836Spencer laments his circumstances-- his bad health upon arriving in Illinois has made him unable to work and consequently pay off his debts. He also describes a dispute with the local ministers regarding the establishment of a Sunday School.
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Letter to Intrepid Morse
Philander Chase
9-5-1836Philander chase describes his new living situation on the frontier in Illinois, and asks his nephew Intrepid Morse to send him some seeds to start a new garden.
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Letter to Olivia Chase
Dudley Chase II
9-22-1836Dudley Chase writes to his Aunt Olivia about his journeyings through New England.
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Letter to Dudley Chase
Philander Chase
10-20-1836Philander Chase justifies his reasons for settling in Robins Nest, details his experience of building a house for his family, and lays out his financial plans for the seminary.
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Letter to Mary Olivia Chase
Philander Chase
11-2-1836Philander Chase sends his granddaughter Mary Chase some books from England and wishes her and her family good health.
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Letter to Dudley Chase
Dudley Chase II
12-31-1836Dudley Chase II plans to meet his uncle during next year's fall break and requests money from him.
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Letter to Intrepid Morse
Philander Chase
1-12-1837Philander Chase gives his nephew Intrepid Morse a brief history of his experience acquiring land in Illinois.
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Memorandum
Philander Chase
1-16-1837Memorandum on demand of Addison Smith for payment of services rendered
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Letter to Eliza Chase
Philander Chase
2-3-1837Philander Chase consoles his Eliza Chase on the death of her parents.
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Letter to Mary Olivia Chase
Philander Chase
2-20-1837Philander Chase consoles Mary Olivia Chase on the death of her parents.
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Letter to Dudley Chase
Philander Chase
2-21-1837Philander Chase tells his brother not to send his son money for college, as he had offered in an earlier letter.
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Letter to Philander Chase
A. Ralston and G. Ralston
6-2-1837A. & G. Ralston inform Philander Chase they received a draft to withdraw $200 in Chase's name, but with no prior notice. They ask him to inform them in the future.
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Letter to Rebecca Morse
Philander Chase
6-5-1837Philander Chase updates Rebecca Morse on his life at Robins Nest and tells her to thanks Intrepid Morse once again for the garden seeds.
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Letter to Dudley Chase
Dudley Chase II
7-24-1837Dudley updates his uncle about his health and about his father's ministry. He also writes about the "reform" that has taken place in Gambier and that many find intolerable, as Bishop McIlvaine takes permanent residency there and many professors leave.
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Letter to Mary Olivia Chase
Philander Chase
7-25-1837Bp. Chase implores his granddaughter to pray often and fervently as recent deaths and illnesses in the family have shown that youth is often cut short, and one must always be prepared to meet God. He also notes that Sarah has given birth to another daughter, who is now a month old.
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Letter to Intrepid Morse
Philander Chase
8-13-1837Chase tells his nephew that he is preparing Dudley for Heaven, as he is very sick and near death. He also writes about Mr. Radley, a new parishioner in his church, thanks Intrepid for his generous and useful gifts, and informs him that he his salary has been deemed unconstitutional and he has returned the money.
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Letter to Intrepid Morse
Philander Chase
9-12-1837Chase informs Intrepid Morse of the death of the younger Dudley Chase and recounts administering his last rites in front of the congregation at Robinsnest. He also lets him know Ruth Chase and her daughter will be returning to New Hampshire, and that Morse might see them there.
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Letter to Rachel Denison
Philander Chase
9-15-1837Philander Chase informs his sister of his current financial situation and the funeral of Dudley Chase II, and updates her on several members of the family, including his children Henry, Mary and Philander, the latter of whom is still young and not yet working. Chase attempted to hire a tutor for the younger Philander but was unable to because he is a clergyman.
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Letter to Intrepid Morse
Philander Chase
9-19-1837Philander Chase tells his nephew about the congregation at Robinsnest and about his financial problems-- his attempt to return the requested $1000 to the Church was rejected by the Board of Missions, and he is now trying to find a new way to get the money to them. He also updates Intrepid on the garden he started with the seeds Intrepid had sent him the year before-- an early frost has killed many of his crops, but he hopes the rest will survive.
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Letter to Dudley Chase
Philander Chase
9-26-1837Philander Chase tells his brother Dudley about a recent and prolific watermelon harvest.
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Letter to Colonel Moore
Philander Chase
10-5-1837Philander Chase sends Colonel Moore of Ottawa a document for the landholders from whom he will be buying land in Illinois to sign in order that he may build his seminary there.
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Letter to Dudley Chase
Philander Chase
10-12-1837Chase writes to Dudley in discussion of his travels and a plot of land he has found in Peoria County, Illinois to hold his new seminary, presumably Jubilee College which was later founded in the same county.
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Letter to Mary Olivia Chase
Philander Chase
10-13-1837Philaner Chase implores his granddaughter Mary to resist the temptations of youth.