Collection on Jonathan Jennings
L 79
1806-1927, bulk 1806-1834
1 mss. box
Manuscript Section, Indiana Division
Indiana State Library
Processed by: Christina Baich, January 2006
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:
Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. United States Congress. 12 Jan. 2006. <http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=J000097>.
Scope and Content Note:
The collection primarily consists of Photostat copies of Jonathan Jennings’ correspondence. 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.
The collection is organized chronologically.
Folder Listing:
1 Box.
Folder
1. Correspondence, 1806-1810
2. Correspondence, 1811-1815
3. Correspondence, 1816-1821
4. Correspondence, 1822-1834
5. Baily correspondence, 1927
Collection Information:
Size of Collection:
1 manuscript box
Collection Dates:
1806-1927, bulk 1806-1834
Provenance:
Georgia H. Benuky, 11 March 1921; Louis J. Baily, 20 June 1927
Access: This collection is open for research.
Restrictions:
None
Reproduction Rights:
Permission to reproduce, exhibit, or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Manuscript Section, Indiana State Library. Possession of a reproduction from an Indiana State Library collection does not constitute permission for use.
Language Materials are entirely in English
Alternate Formats:
None
Related Holdings:
Notes:
Search the Indiana State Library's Online Catalog.