Patrick Kerr Rogers Letters

Collection

Identifier: UA 6.100

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of two letters. One letter, dated December 13, 1820, was written by Rogers to William & Mary President, John Augustine Smith. Rogers states he has no objections to Smith examining his classes in Natural Philosophy and Chemistry, but he does object to a colleague "sitting as watch or judge over me." He then provides seven reasons he deems "sufficient cause to deprecate your pretensions" and states they are some of his objections to the "alleged authority by which you would judge the professors."

The second letter, dated July 6, 1825, was written by Rogers to John Tyler. It is a reply to a letter he received from Tyler. Rogers discusses seven points. A few include establishing a classical school at W&M, the need to offer boarding to students, and limiting how often students are allowed to participate in "parties of pleasure."

Dates

Creation: 1820 December 13, 1825 July 6

Creator

Rogers, Patrick Kerr, 1776-1828 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Conditions Governing Use

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Curator of Manuscripts and Rare Books, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Biographical / Historical

Patrick Kerr Rogers was born in Newton-Stewart, Ireland, the first of twelve children. He fled to the United States during the Irish Rebellion of 1798. He settled in Philadelphia, where he met and married Hannah Blythe. Their four sons, James Blythe, William Barton, Henry Darwin, and Robert Empie, all became distinguished scientists.

In 1819, Rogers was appointed Chair of Natural Philosphy and Chemistry at William & Mary, where he lectured until his death in 1828. His second son, William Barton, succeeded him as Chair and went on to found the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston.