Skip to main content

Jonathon Jennings collection

 Collection
Identifier: L079

Scope and Contents

The collection primarily consists of photostat copies of Jonathan Jennings' correspondence ranging from 1806 to 1927. There are also a few original Jennings letters. Also included in the collection is the correspondence of J. Julian Baily regarding his research on Jonathan Jennings.

Correspondents include John Quincy Adams, Secretary of War John Armstrong, Secretary of War Lewis Cass, Secretary of Treasury Albert Gallatin, President James Madison, Soloman Manwaring, Dr. David G. Mitchell, and James Monroe.

Dates

  • 1806-1927, bulk 1806-1834

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.

Biographical Note

Jonathan Jennings was born in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, in 1784. He moved to the Indiana Territory in 1806, settling in Jeffersonville. Jennings practiced law for a time. He served as clerk of the house of representatives of the territorial government when he moved to Vincennes in 1807. He moved to Charlestown, Clark County in 1809. Jennings served as an Indiana Territory delegate to the U.S. Congress from 1809 to 1816, when Indiana was admitted to the Union. He was president of Indiana’s Constitutional Convention and was elected the state’s first governor. While still governor, Jennings served as a representative to the U.S. House of Representatives (1821-1822). After leaving the governorship in 1822, he continued to serve as a U.S. representative until 1830 when he failed to win reelection. Jennings retired to his Indiana farm and reentered public service only once as a commissioner to negotiate land purchases in northern Indiana and southern Michigan with the Indians in 1832. He died July 26, 1834, near Charlestown, Indiana.

Source:

United States Congress. "Jennings, Jonathan." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed January 12, 2006. https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=J000097.

Extent

0.3 Cubic Feet (1 manuscript box)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

This collection is arranged chronologically.

Custodial History

This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from Georgia H. Benuky on 1921/03/11 and 1927/06/20 by Louis J. Baily.

Accruals

No further additions are expected.

Processing Information

Collection processing and finding aid completed by Christina Baich during January 2006. Finding aid revised by Brittany Kropf on 2015/11/06. EAD finding aid completed by Bethany Fiechter on 2018/04/06.
Title
Jonathon Jennings collection
Status
Completed
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository

Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671