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. #DATEABSTRACTBOX #
251UndatedAddress, 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 contribution18233
252Undated (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 buildings19076
253UndatedReport, (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 postponed19339
256UndatedPetition 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] Lewis18233
254UndatedPetition, 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 immediately19076
255UndatedMemorial, 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 College18233
257UndatedMemorial, 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 claim19076
258UndatedRules 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 order19076
259UndatedReport, 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 executed18233
260UndatedResolution, 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 site18233
261UndatedResolution, 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 College18233
262UndatedResolution, 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 College18233
263UndatedMemorial, 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 Governor18233
264UndatedReport, 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
265UndatedInstructions, for revision of document18233
266UndatedResolution, [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 Board18233
267 & 268UndatedReport 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 drawing19076
236February 2, 1803Report, 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 College19076
217January 30, 1803Letter, James Hoggat, Second Creek, to Governor Claiborne, wishes not to be considered one of the Trustees of Jefferson College due to press of business18233
218February 7, 1803Letter, Abraham Green to Governor Claiborne, accepts office of Trustee of Jefferson College18233
219February 7, 1803Letter, Jos. [Joseph] Pannill, Natchez, to Governor Claiborne, accepting office of Trustee of Jefferson College19076
220February 9, 1803Letter, Adam Bingaman, Adams County, to Governor Claiborne, accepting the office of Trustee of Jefferson College18233
221February 10, 1803Letter, John Steele, Belvidere, to Governor Claiborne, accepting the office of Trustee of Jefferson College19076
222March 2, 1803Letter, Robt. [Robert] Dunbar to Governor Claiborne, declining to accept the office of Trustee of Jefferson College18233
223March 4, 1803Letter, 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 Territory19076
224March 10, 1803Letter, J. [John] Girault, Washington, to Governor Claiborne, accepting the office of Trustee for Jefferson College18233
225March 12, 1803Proposal, Mordecai Throckmorton, Jefferson County, to the Trustees of Jefferson College, offers twenty acres of land for Jefferson College on which to erect its buildings19076
226March 14, 1803Report, 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 board19076
227April 10, 1803Proposal, 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 Gibson19339
228April 20, 1803Contains the sense of above, omitting the name of Gerad Brandon18233
229May 4, 1803Subscription, ? 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
230May 16, 1803Proposal, 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
231May 31, 1803Letter, 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 Governor19076
232June 2, 1803Letter, 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 remarks19076
233July 25, 1803Report, 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 land18233
233aJuly 25, 1803Petition, 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
233bJuly 26, 1803Receipt, John Ellis from William Dunbar, for two hundred lottery tickets to be sold for the benefit of Jefferson College18233
233cOctober 17, 1803Consent, 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
234December 2, 1803Location, Governor Claiborne to Isaac Briggs, of two town lots for Jefferson College19076
235aDecember 22, 1803Location (copy, Acting Governor West to Isaac Briggs, of an out lot of thirty acres adjoining Natchez for Jefferson College19076
200ac. Jan. 1, 1804List of Subscribers, gathered by Dr. [William] Lattimore for Jefferson College19076
200bc. Jan. 1, 1804List of Subscribers gathered by F. [Felix] Hughes, for Jefferson College19076
237Jan. 31, 1804Report, 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 thereup18233
238Feb. 25, 1804Report, 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 
239Mar. 22, 1804Letter [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 support18233
240Apr. 20, 1804Letter, 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 it18233
241Mar. 19, 1805Letter, 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 resolved18233
242Mar. 21, 1805Letter, Wm. [William] Lattimore, Norfolk [Virginia?], to the President of the Board of Trustees of Jefferson College, enclosing a copy of the above letter18233
243May 11, 1805Letter, 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 land19076
243aJune 10, 1805Subscription List for Prospective Students to Jefferson College, listing courses of study and prices as well as three subscribers19076
244Sept. 28, 1805Resignation, Thos. [Thomas] H. Williams, Washington, to Governor Williams, resigning from the Board of Trustees18233
245Nov. 18, 1805Letter, Governor Williams, Washington, revoking the location of two town lots and the out lot at Natchez for Jefferson College19076
245aNov. 18, 1805Additional signed copy of Document #245 18233
246Nov. 19, 1805Letter, Governor Williams, Washington, to William Lattimore, enclosing a copy of the above and giving reasons for the action18233
246aNov. 19, 1805Copy of Document #24618233
247Nov. 19, 1805Letter, 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 College18233
248Dec. 7, 1805Report, 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 donation19076
249Dec. 7, 1805Letter, 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 Surveyor19076
250Dec. 21, 1805Memorial, 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 parcels18233