Life of Charles Coffin
This collection consists of research notes for and a copy of the Life of Charles Coffin. The book was written by Coffin's great granddaughter Margaret Coffin and entails the life story of Charles Coffin.
Dates
- circa 1937
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite, and a minimum of 2 business days are needed to retrieve these items for use. Researchers interested in consulting any of the collections are advised to contact Special Collections.
Conditions Governing Use
The copyright interests in this collection remain with the creator. For more information, contact Special Collections.
Extent
0.1 Linear Feet (1 folder)
Abstract
This collection consists of notes used to write the book Life of Charles Coffin. The book was written by Coffin's great granddaughter Margaret Coffin and entails the life story of Charles Coffin.
Biographical/Historical Note
Charles Coffin was born on August 15, 1775 in Newburyport, Massachusetts, to Charles and Hepzibah Coffin. He graduated from Harvard College in July of 1793 and later received an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Williams College. He was licensed to preach the Gospel on May 14, 1799 and became an ordained Evangelist on September 11, 1804. Coffin moved to the southeast in 1799 and became Vice-President of Greeneville College in 1801.
He married Susan Woodbridge Ayer of Maine on October 9, 1802 and the couple had twelve children. The family moved to Tennessee in 1805, where Coffin continued his work with Greeneville College (becoming President in 1810) before assuming the Presidency of East Tennessee University in 1827. To induce him to leave Greeneville College, the Trustees offered a generous annual salary of $1500 and a president's home. Coffin resigned in 1832, having concluded that public opinion in Tennessee was not sufficient to support a college. He died in Greeneville, Tennessee on June 3, 1853.
Acquisition Note
This collection was donated to Special Collections by Mr. and Mrs. Hector Coffin in 1966.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository