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Peregrine Wroth papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS-0072

Scope and Content Note

This collection contains letter books, lectures, and essays kept by Peregrine Wroth. Many of the letter books have the name of his wife, Margaret Nicols, on the inside cover. There are several books of his lectures while teaching chemistry at Washington College as well as a scholarly publication of Wroth’s on Bilious Fever. After the death of his daughter Eugenia he created several biographies of her for various family members. He wrote numerous "Extracts from 'Recollections' of 'My Life'" for various individuals, mainly his children and grandchildren, that contain different essays from him. There is also a copy and translation of a Latin text, and a biography of Colin Ferguson, a former teacher of his at Washington College, and Rev William H. Wilmer. Most of the books are indexed.

Dates

  • 1823-1898

Access restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Publication rights

Copyright has not been assigned to Washington College. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Archives and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Washington College as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Biographical Information Note

Peregrine Wroth (1786-1879) was born April 7 in Chestertown, Maryland. He graduated from Washington College in 1803. He was meant to study law under the Hon. James A. Bayard but instead went into medicine under the mentorship of Dr. Morgan Browne, he graduated from University of Pennsylvania’s medical school in 1807. Wroth practiced in Chestertown. During the War of 1812 he served as a surgeon’s mate with the 8th Regimental Cavalry and participated in the Battle of Caulk’s Field. In 1831 he joined the Maryland State Colonization Society, an organization designed to create a colony for “free people of color’ in Liberia. He joined the faculty of Washington College teaching Chemistry from 1846-1854. Wroth also served as Chairman of the Board of Visitors and Governors of the College in 1867. He retired and moved to Baltimore in 1868. He died January 13, 1879. Peregrine married several times including to Martha Page (1779-1828) and later Margaret Nicols (1802-1836). He had numerous children but only some reached adulthood: Eugenia M. (1817-1861); Edward W. (1818-1877); Mary E. (1820-1887); Kinvin (1826-); William J. (1830-1907); and Margaret P. (1834-1892).

Extent

1.25 Cubic Feet (3 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Physical and Technical Access Restrictions

None.

Custodial history

Collection was in possesion of the family.

Acquisition information

"Recollections of Colin Ferguson" was a gift of Byran Holt.

Title
Finding Aid to the Peregrine Wroth Papers
Author
L. Sheldon
Date
2020
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Description is in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Washington College Archives & Special Collections Repository

Contact:
300 Washington Avenue
Chestertown MD 21620