Thomas Cooper papers, 1778-1976 (bulk 1803-1853)

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Cooper, Thomas, 1759-1839. Thomas Cooper papers, 1778-1976 (bulk 1803-1853)

Thomas Cooper papers, 1778-1976 (bulk 1803-1853)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/642054615

Chiefly letters to the Board of Trustees while President of South Carolina College, re the operations of the College, his resignation as president, and related issues; other topics addressed include national politics; questions of religion and Cooper's unorthodox views; slavery and other issues of the day; charges of infidelity brought against him; the protective tariff of 1828, called the "Tariff of Abominations" by its detractors. Correspondence, 1803-1838, chiefly addressed to Thomas Jefferson and James Madison (typed copies); other letters discuss: paper currency; notes (c. 1835) on laws re emancipation of slaves; international copyright bill, discussed in letter, 3 May 1837, urging Congressman Franklin H. Elmore to steer the bill through Congress, "take care that no clause is insidiously introduced, to compel the South under a law of Congress to admit abolition books," and expressing thoughts on disunion: "As to politics in general, we shall have no reform till we are subdivided into at least 4 sets of confederated republics." Later papers, 1839-1853, consist of correspondence of Cooper's widow, Elizabeth Cooper, and his children, especially Thomas Priestly Cooper; later papers (ca. 1897-1909) include letters of Colyer Meriwether who sought to locate Cooper's papers for a biography; published items include collected biographical materials, and pamphlets and other publications that reflect Cooper's political and social views. Bound volumes , 1771, 1827, 1838 include a scrapbook and a record of books held in Cooper's library; an 1833 volume of Cooper's class lectures recorded by a student [possibly James Lane]; text of lectures, 1976-1977, by Prof. Derek Davenport, "The Chemistry lectures of the learned, ingenious, scientific and talented mad-cap: Professor Thomas Cooper, Dickinson College 1811-1813" and "Reason and Relevance: The 1811-1813 Chemistry Lectures of Professor Thomas Cooper." Places represented include Columbia, Sumter, Merchants Bluff, Orangeburg, and other locations around S.C.; Northumberland, Penn., and elsewhere.

7 v.

University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries