This online exhibition highlights the life, work, and lasting influence of Manasseh Cutler (1742-1823). Warmly referred to as "the father of Ohio University," Cutler's passion for education was instrumental in the founding of Ohio University through the Northwest Ordinance and his work with the Ohio Company of Associates. Featured in this exhibition are selections of correspondence to and from Cutler along with sermons and notebooks, which give us a glimpse of what life was like in the newly created United States just after the American Revolution.

The digital exhibit is complemented by a physical exhibit on display during the fall 2026 semester at Alden Library. See details at https://calendar.ohio.edu/event/life-before-ohio-university-an-expoloration-of-the-manasseh-cutler-collection.

The exhibition was created by students and staff at Ohio University including Greta Suiter (Manuscripts Archivist), spring and summer 2026 NEH interns Ethan Buehrer (History PhD), Emily Hall (HTC History '27), June Meehan (HTC History '27), Alexis Reynolds (English and World Religions '26), Hayden Sprance (English Literature, Culture, and Writing BA '26) and spring 2026 manuscripts intern Maddy Feerick (Anthropology and Classical Civilizations '27). 

This exhibition is made possible in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.