Joab Goldsmith Cooper papers
Scope and Contents Note
This collection contains the papers of the early Presidents of Washington College. Beginning with Washington College’s first President William Smith through it’s fourteenth Dr. Charles W. Reid. Francis Waters served two times as President making him the fifth and nineth President. Due to the fires of 1827 and 1916 many of the early records were lost including the identity of the Presidents from 1805-1813. These papers consist of original materials, research from primary and secondary sources, facsimile copies, and published materials.
This Record Group is divided into thirteen groups: Group 1: William Smith papers; Group 2: Colin Ferguson papers; Group 3: Hugh McGuire papers; Group 4: Joab Goldsmith Cooper papers; Group 5: Gerard E. Stack papers; Group 6: Francis Waters papers; Group 7: Timothy Clowes papers; Group 8: Peter Clark papers; Group 9: Richard W. Ringgold papers; Group 10: Andrew J. Sutton papers; Group 11: Robert C. Berkeley papers; Group 12: Thomas N. Williams papers; Group 13: Charles W. Reid papers.
Dates
- Creation: 1752-1997
Access restrictions
Collection in open for research.
Biographical Information
Joab Goldsmith Cooper (1777-1832) spent his early life in New York. In 1805 Cooper received his bachelor’s degree from Columbia University and in 1807 was advertised as a teacher at Erasmus Hall, now known as Erasmus Hall Academy, in Brooklyn, NY. During this time, he also entered the Episcopal Church, in February of 1808 he was ordained as deacon and then, in August, as a priest at Christ Church, Hudson, NY. That year he also received his master’s degree from Columbia. Cooper moved to Hanover, MA in 1811 taking charge of St. Andrew’s Church from 1813-1815. Also, in 1813, he married Prudence A. Randall. By August 7, 1816 Cooper had moved to Chestertown, MD and was elected Principal of Washington College. He resigned the post July 19, 1817. After leaving Washington College he served as Rector of St. Paul’s in Kent County. Cooper left Maryland in April of 1818. In 1827 Cooper wrote a book on the works of Virgil. There is evidence that after leaving the Eastern Shore Prudence Cooper died and Rev. Cooper moved to Philadelphia where he married Catharine McQueen in 1831. Joab Cooper died in 1832 and is buried in Christ Church burial ground in Philadelphia.
Extent
From the Record Group: 3.5 Cubic Feet (7 boxes)
Language of Materials
From the Record Group: English
Repository Details
Part of the Washington College Archives & Special Collections Repository
300 Washington Avenue
Chestertown MD 21620