Philander Chase Letters

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

Philander Chase
8-18-1839

Philander Chase tells Dudley about the conclusion of his wife's illness, the progress of the schoolhouse building, and his recent appeal to the clergymen of the South.
Letter to Dudley Chase

Philander Chase
4-24-1840

Philander Chase updates his family about his fundraising progress of Jubilee College and informs them he does not expect to return home soon.
Letter to Mary Olivia Chase

Philander Chase
4-29-1840

Chase describes the building of the church and the donations that made it possible. He is still in South Carolina but may travel soon.
Journal Entry 1840-06-08

Philander Chase
6-8-1840

Philander Chase discusses fundraising succeses during a visit to South Carolina
Letter to Dudley Chase

Philander Chase
6-9-1840

Philander Chase announces to his brother his success in fundraising for Jubilee College in South Carolina and says he does not know when he will return to Vermont.
Letter from Philander Chase

Philander Chase
6-9-1840

Philander Chase relates to an unknown recipient his correspondence with Joseph W. Saber about the fulfilment of his subscription for Jubilee College, and his subsequent success in funding the fall amount.
Letter to Mrs. Charlotte Marriott

Philander Chase
6-10-1840

Philander Chase thanks Mrs. Charlotte Marriott and her daughter for their financial contribution and tells about his journey to Charleston, South Carolina.
Letter to Edward D. Ingraham

Philander Chase
6-16-1840

Philander Chase thanks Ingraham for his assistance with Ms. Charlotte Marriott.
Letter to Dudley Chase

Philander Chase
6-23-1840

Philander Chase relates his recent travels and fundraising in Virginia.
Letter to Dudley Chase

Philander Chase
7-3-1840

Philander Chase tells about his progress to Baltimore.
Letter to Dudley Chase

Philander Chase
7-14-1840

Philander Chase promises that he wants to come home, but that he must continue fundraising the next amount.
Letter to Randow and Clark

Charles McIlvaine
7-15-1840

Charles McIlvaine writes to Randow and Clark for them to quickly produce thirty copies of the Diploma of Kenyon College.
Letter to Philander Chase

Sarah Jarvis
7-23-1840

Sarah Jarvis entreats Chase to see her while he is in New York.
Letter to Dudley Chase

Philander Chase
7-27-1840

Philander Chase updates his brother about his preaching progress in New York and sends his love to the relations.
Letter to Sophia Chase

Philander Chase
7-30-1840

Philander Chase notes some of the church services he attended recently in New York, as well as some of the subscribes to his Jubilee fund.
Letter to Dudley Chase

Philander Chase
9-2-1840

Philander Chase tells about his plans to return to Hartford and visits with his relatives.
Letter to Mary Olivia Chase

Philander Chase
9-12-1840

Philander Chase tells Mary that he will be visiting soon with her cousin Laura in New York.
Letter to Philander Chase

A. E. Warley
9-21-1840

Miss Warley informs Philander Chase of the death of Colonel Richardson.
Letter to Sophia Chase

Pelham Priory
10-3-1840

The Pelham Priory sends Sophia Chase $10.
Letter to Dudley Chase

Philander Chase
10-19-1840

Philander Chase meets with his nephew Rodney in Utica, where he receives a cloth worth $50 as well as $15 in cash. He is now on his way from Detroit to Chicago.
Letter to Dudley Chase

Philander Chase
10-29-1840

Philander Chase informs his brother Dudley that he is back at Robins Nest with all but one, who has just been married and is set to return to Robins Nest with his wife.
Letter to Philander Chase

Dudley Chase
12-15-1840

Dudley, who has been in Randolph since late August, writes to his brother Philander hoping to settle some confusion regarding unpaid taxes on a plot of land in Michigan which Dudley deeded to Philander.
Letter to Rachel Denison

Philander Chase
12-27-1840

Philander informs Rachel that he has begun writing his Reminiscences, a book of true stories intended to teach Christian morals, and describes the different chapters.
Letter to Laura Chase

Philander Chase
1-18-1841

Philander philosophizes about death after being informed of Mrs. Carpenter's death by Laura. He summarizes his recent travels through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Henry Chase has married and moved into Robin's Nest, while Dudley has moved out. Philander includes a drawing and detailed description of a newly constructed building on the Jubilee campus called the Farm House.
Letter to Mary O. Chase

Philander Chase
1-22-1841

Philander has sent Mary his Prospectus. He laments that he was not able to see his friend Mrs. Ward recently and asks Mary to ask her grandfather Wells for advice on a hydraulics issue at Jubilee College.