Series 492: Founding of Jefferson College. 1803-1805, n.d.
Creator: Territorial Governor (RG 2).
Collection Summary: Documents relating to the founding of Jefferson College as the first college in the Mississippi Territory. Included are many letters regarding trusteeships, the procuring of lands, and the raising of funds (“subscriptions”) for the establishment of the school. Other items include memorials (petitions) to the U.S. Congress about the lands to be designated, and copies of the acts signed by the Governor which authorized the college. A calendar of documents beginning on page 2 briefly describes each item and lists the box in which it may be found.
Access Restrictions: Original records in this series are restricted due to age and/or fragility.
Date(s): 1803-1805, n.d.
Volume: 0.75 Cubic Feet.
Finding Aid Created By: Colby Cox in March 2025.
Related Materials: TBD.
Record Group History: The Territorial Governor of Mississippi was the figure selected by the U.S. Congress to be the leading political figure of the Mississippi Territory. The Office of the Territorial Governor was created on April 7, 1798 when the creation of the Mississippi Territory was authorized. The Territorial Governor initially had full power over the creation of legislation until a general assembly was formed to represent the state in May of 1800. The Territorial Governor additionally served as the commander-in-chief of the Mississippi militia and was given authority over affairs with native peoples. The office was abolished once Mississippi became a full state in 1817.
- Collection Inventory:
Box Content Box Number
Correspondence, legislation, "subscriptions" and so forth 18233
Correspondence, legislation, "subscriptions" and so forth 19339
Correspondence, legislation, "subscriptions" and so forth 19076
- Calendar of Documents - Founding of Jefferson College
DOC. # DATE ABSTRACT BOX # 251 Undated Address, Trustees of Jefferson College to the People of the Mississippi Territory, expresses their sensitivity to the difficulty of their task, comments upon the needs of the youth of the Mississippi Territory to be educated in the Territory and the benefits to accrue, calls upon all to make their appropriate contribution 18233 252 Undated (c. Oct. 1803) Report, Committee to the Board of Trustees of Jefferson College, reporting a further donation of sixteen acres of land adjoining that previously donated by James and John Foster and Randal Gibson, obtaining of deeds from the Fosters but not Gibson, and selection of a site for the buildings 19076 253 Undated Report, (right side of page missing), Committee of Propositions and Grievances on the Petition and Memorial of the Board of Trustees of Jefferson College to the Legislature, recommending that consideration of the memorial be postponed 19339 256 Undated Petition of the Trustees of Jefferson College to the Legislature for a moderate sum of money; reverse of page cites the petition as reported forthwith by a special committee, signed by S. [Seth] Lewis 18233 254 Undated Petition, Trustees of Jefferson College, Robert Williams, President, Felix Hughes, Secretary, to the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives, asking for a loan to enable the College to commence operation, the provision of the United States not likely to be available immediately 19076 255 Undated Memorial, Trustees of Jefferson College to the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled, asking patronage from the parent government for the support of the College 18233 257 Undated Memorial, Trustees of Jefferson College to the Congress of the United States, represents previous gratitude for donation of Natchez town lots and adjoining out lot, recounts steps taken to secure title, expresses alarm at the Congress amending of the act under which the donation was made upon the assertion of claim by the City of Natchez, sets forth the case for the justice of their claim 19076 258 Undated Rules for the Regulation and Government of the Board of Trustees of Jefferson College, regarding duties of the President, lack of a quorum, appointment of committees, voting, motions, debate, adjournment, moving the previous question, calling for the question, amending, speaking to the question, and call to order 19076 259 Undated Report, Committee, Jas. [James] Neilson appointed to obtain a title from Randal Gibson for the land given by him as a donation to Jefferson College, reports charge executed 18233 260 Undated Resolution, Dr. David Lattimore, A. [Alexander] Montgomery, James Neilson, that a committee be appointed to contract with James and John Foster for the purchase of a few additional acres adjoining the lot given by them to Jefferson College, to procure a title for all the land, and to select a building site 18233 261 Undated Resolution, that a committee be appointed to prepare a memorial to the Mississippi Legislature for the purpose of obtaining a loan for the use of Jefferson College 18233 262 Undated Resolution, regarding the appointment of a committee to prepare a memorial to Congress dealing with the location of a township of land given by them to Jefferson College 18233 263 Undated Memorial, Board of Trustees of Jefferson College to the Congress of the United States, praying that Congress would repeal the section of the act that would deny Jefferson College the land already located by the Governor 18233 264 Undated Report, of the Treasurer, Alex [Alexander] Montgomery, to the Board of Trustees, reports his inability to "get hold of or locate any of the outstanding subscription of papers of donations" 18233 265 Undated Instructions, for revision of document 18233 266 Undated Resolution, [John] Girault,[William] Dunbar, A. [Abraham?] Green, that a committee be appointed to prepare a building plan for Jefferson College to be submitted to the Board 18233 267 & 268 Undated Report and Plan, Committee, appointed to prepare a plan and estimate of the buildings necessary for Jefferson College, presenting a lengthy verbal description of an overall plan and an estimate of $10,000 for the first stage of construction, accompanied by a simple drawing 19076 236 February 2, 1803 Report, Committee to the Board of Trustees, proposing a scheme for a lottery for Jefferson College wherein 2000 tickets be sold with 15% proceeds towards benefit of College 19076 217 January 30, 1803 Letter, James Hoggat, Second Creek, to Governor Claiborne, wishes not to be considered one of the Trustees of Jefferson College due to press of business 18233 218 February 7, 1803 Letter, Abraham Green to Governor Claiborne, accepts office of Trustee of Jefferson College 18233 219 February 7, 1803 Letter, Jos. [Joseph] Pannill, Natchez, to Governor Claiborne, accepting office of Trustee of Jefferson College 19076 220 February 9, 1803 Letter, Adam Bingaman, Adams County, to Governor Claiborne, accepting the office of Trustee of Jefferson College 18233 221 February 10, 1803 Letter, John Steele, Belvidere, to Governor Claiborne, accepting the office of Trustee of Jefferson College 19076 222 March 2, 1803 Letter, Robt. [Robert] Dunbar to Governor Claiborne, declining to accept the office of Trustee of Jefferson College 18233 223 March 4, 1803 Letter, Governor Claiborne, Washington, to Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, notifying that he has approved and signed an act amending an act establishing a college in the Mississippi Territory 19076 224 March 10, 1803 Letter, J. [John] Girault, Washington, to Governor Claiborne, accepting the office of Trustee for Jefferson College 18233 225 March 12, 1803 Proposal, Mordecai Throckmorton, Jefferson County, to the Trustees of Jefferson College, offers twenty acres of land for Jefferson College on which to erect its buildings 19076 226 March 14, 1803 Report, David Ker, Committee relative to the Site for Jefferson College, Washington, describes and lists the advantages of each of two proposed donations for the consideration of the board 19076 227 April 10, 1803 Proposal, A. L. Duncan, James Neilson, Robt. [Robert] Moore, Seth Lewis, John Leiborne, Gerad Brandon, Washington, promising to pay indicated sums of money provided the college is erected on a thirty-two-acre donation of land provided by James and John Foster and Randal Gibson 19339 228 April 20, 1803 Contains the sense of above, omitting the name of Gerad Brandon 18233 229 May 4, 1803 Subscription, ? Clark, et. al., for Jefferson College at Washington, pledging to pay the indicated sum for the erection of Jefferson College on the Foster/Gibson donation 19339 230 May 16, 1803 Proposal, Alex. [Alexander] Montgomery, et. al, pledging the indicated sums of money if Jefferson College were to be located within half a mile of Ellicottville (Selser Town) 19076 231 May 31, 1803 Letter, David Ker, Jefferson County, to Governor Claiborne, communicates that he has been charged in and out of the Board of Trustees "with having corruptly and for personal views wished to fix the College near Greenville" and having schemed to achieve his purpose, protests his innocence, asks Governor for a paper expressing his confidence in him, apologizes for any injury he might have done the Governor 19076 232 June 2, 1803 Letter, Governor Claiborne, Washington, in reply to David Ker, regrets that the verbal assurances already given are not sufficient, believes Ker is activated by interest in the choice of a site for Jefferson College, believes that the question of site was "prematurely introduced and decided on at an improper period," maintains that he has made no charges, understands the meaning of his remarks 19076 233 July 25, 1803 Report, J. [John] Girault, Selser Town, reporting for the committee appointed by the Board of Trustees to view the different sites offered as donations for Jefferson College, giving as their recommendation selecting the vicinity of Selser Town as the site, accepting the donation of land and subscriptions of money and work offered, and purchasing additional land 18233 233a July 25, 1803 Petition, Board of Trustees of Jefferson College to the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives of the Mississippi Territory in general assembly convened, having accepted the Foster/Gibson donation of land near Washington, asks the Legislature "to fix and establish the same by Law" 19076 233b July 26, 1803 Receipt, John Ellis from William Dunbar, for two hundred lottery tickets to be sold for the benefit of Jefferson College 18233 233c October 17, 1803 Consent, Governor Claiborne, Washington, to the Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and of the House of Representatives, notifying of his having approved and signed "An Act Establishing a Permanent Site for Jefferson College" 19076 234 December 2, 1803 Location, Governor Claiborne to Isaac Briggs, of two town lots for Jefferson College 19076 235a December 22, 1803 Location (copy, Acting Governor West to Isaac Briggs, of an out lot of thirty acres adjoining Natchez for Jefferson College 19076 200a c. Jan. 1, 1804 List of Subscribers, gathered by Dr. [William] Lattimore for Jefferson College 19076 200b c. Jan. 1, 1804 List of Subscribers gathered by F. [Felix] Hughes, for Jefferson College 19076 237 Jan. 31, 1804 Report, Acting Governor West to the Board of Trustees of Jefferson College, reporting that the lots in the City of Natchez and the adjoining out lot have been located, describing the structures thereup 18233 238 Feb. 25, 1804 Report, Committee, chaired by Thos. [Thomas] M. Green, to the Board of Trustees of Jefferson College, respecting an inspection of buildings and lots within the City of Natchez and their recommendations concerning same 239 Mar. 22, 1804 Letter [Acting Governor West?], Washington, to Albert Gallatin, Secretary of the Treasury, recounting the location of lots within Natchez on December 2 and the out lot of thirty acres on December 22 and the deposing of the instruments with the Surveyor of the Lands of the United States, objecting to the possibility of repeal of a portion of the enabling act as it would deprive Jefferson College of needed support 18233 240 Apr. 20, 1804 Letter, Wm. [William] Lattimore, Norfolk [Virginia?], to Acting Governor West, regarding a dispute between Jefferson College and the City of Natchez over title to land and the attempt of a Congressional Committee to resolve it 18233 241 Mar. 19, 1805 Letter, Wm. [William] Lattimore, Norfolk [Virginia?], to James Madison (with copies sent to the Board of Trustees of Jefferson College and the Corporation of the City of Natchez), recommending that completion of awarding of title to Jefferson College of land in dispute with Natchez be delayed until the dispute is resolved 18233 242 Mar. 21, 1805 Letter, Wm. [William] Lattimore, Norfolk [Virginia?], to the President of the Board of Trustees of Jefferson College, enclosing a copy of the above letter 18233 243 May 11, 1805 Letter, James ? and James Dunlap to the President of the Board of Trustees of Jefferson College, asking that the Board appoint a committee to confer with the Congressional Committee charged with resolving the dispute between the City of Natchez and Jefferson College over title to land 19076 243a June 10, 1805 Subscription List for Prospective Students to Jefferson College, listing courses of study and prices as well as three subscribers 19076 244 Sept. 28, 1805 Resignation, Thos. [Thomas] H. Williams, Washington, to Governor Williams, resigning from the Board of Trustees 18233 245 Nov. 18, 1805 Letter, Governor Williams, Washington, revoking the location of two town lots and the out lot at Natchez for Jefferson College 19076 245a Nov. 18, 1805 Additional signed copy of Document #245 18233 246 Nov. 19, 1805 Letter, Governor Williams, Washington, to William Lattimore, enclosing a copy of the above and giving reasons for the action 18233 246a Nov. 19, 1805 Copy of Document #246 18233 247 Nov. 19, 1805 Letter, Governor Williams, Washington, to Isaac Briggs, Surveyor of the Lands of the United States South of the State of Tennessee, enclosing his act withdrawing the two locations made and deposited with him by a previous administration for Jefferson College 18233 248 Dec. 7, 1805 Report, D. [David] Lattimore, Chairman of the Committee "appointed for the purpose of receiving subscriptions for the support of Jefferson College, providing a house for tuition, and procuring scholars and ascertaining the price of boarding of students," regarding boarding arrangements, students, and donation 19076 249 Dec. 7, 1805 Letter, Governor Williams, Washington, to the Trustees of Jefferson College, enclosing copies of his act withdrawing locations of land for the use of Jefferson College and letters to W. [William] Lattimore and the Surveyor 19076 250 Dec. 21, 1805 Memorial, Board of Trustees of Jefferson College, Washington, to the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, asking that the law stipulating that the thirty-six-acre donation of land to Jefferson College be "in one body" be amended to allow the land to be located in separate parcels 18233