Billy Sunday note
Collection — Folder: S1344
Identifier: S1344
Scope and Contents
This black-bordered note, dated October 24, 1904, was written by William "Billy" Sunday to Henry Yates Satterlee, the first Episcopal Bishop of Washington, regarding an invitation during his upcoming visit to the nation's capital. He wrote: "My dear Bishop of Washington, It is indeed most kind of you & Mrs. Satterlee to wish to see me in Washington. I am afraid however that my visit will have to be the end of the present tour & before your return. ... I fear it cannot be altered. With sincere thanks, Believe me, Yours very truly, W. Sunday."
Dates
- 1904/10/24
Creator
- Sunday, Billy, 1862-1935 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Biographical Note
William “Billy” Sunday, professional baseball player turned famous evangelist, was born on November 19, 1862 near Ames, Iowa to William and Mary Jane Sunday. Born into a poor family, Sunday spent a portion of his childhood at the Iowa Soldiers’ Orphan’s Home and, while there, received some schooling (equivalent to a grammar school education). In 1874, Sunday left the orphanage and began working a series of odd jobs.
In 1880, Sunday moved to Marshalltown, Iowa where he played on the town’s baseball team. While playing for Marshalltown, A. C. Anson, manager of the Chicago White Stockings, took notice of Sunday’s athleticism and skill in the field. Sunday signed with the Chicago White Stockings in 1883 and his professional baseball career continued until 1891. During these years, Sunday also played for the Pittsburgh Alleghenys and the Philadelphia Phillies.
In 1886, Billy Sunday publicly converted to Christianity in Chicago and renounced drinking, gambling, swearing, and theatergoing and stopped playing baseball on Sundays. During this time, Sunday also met and married Helen “Nell” Thompson on September 5, 1888; the couple would have four children: Helen, George, William, and Paul. In 1891, Sunday left his career as a professional baseball player and took a job at the YMCA. Sunday began working for J. Wilbur Chapman, a prominent evangelist, as his advance man and would travel to communities preparing them for revivals. In 1896, after working under Chapman for some time, Sunday became a revivalist in his own right and conducted over sixty revivals throughout the Midwest over the next five years.
Sunday was known for his flamboyant and sensational speaking style. While delivering his sermons, Sunday often paced across the stage, stamped his feet, pounded his fists on the podium, and performed handsprings and other gymnastic feats. Sunday was a Presbyterian minister (ordained in 1903) and spoke out against science and the theory of evolution and condemned drinking. During World War I, Sunday’s speeches featured patriotic and nationalist themes. He urged young men to enlist or register for the draft and recruiters from the Army and the Navy set up booths at his revival campaigns.
Billy Sunday’s popularity declined following the war. Though much of his rhetoric remained the same, his audiences changed eschewing sensational revival talks in favor of other forms of entertainment including films, radio shows, and automobiles. Sunday continued preaching to small audiences nearly up until his death in 1935.
Billy Sunday died on November 6, 1935 at the age of 72 in Chicago, Illinois. He was buried in Forest Home Cemetery in Forest Park, Illinois.
Sources:
Dorsett, Lyle W. Billy Sunday and the Redemption of Urban America. Grand Rapids, Michigan: W.B. Eerdmans, 1991.
Spragins, C. Fitzhugh. "Billy Sunday." Salem Press Biographical Encyclopedia (January 2017): Research Starters, EBSCOhost. Accessed August 15, 2017.
In 1880, Sunday moved to Marshalltown, Iowa where he played on the town’s baseball team. While playing for Marshalltown, A. C. Anson, manager of the Chicago White Stockings, took notice of Sunday’s athleticism and skill in the field. Sunday signed with the Chicago White Stockings in 1883 and his professional baseball career continued until 1891. During these years, Sunday also played for the Pittsburgh Alleghenys and the Philadelphia Phillies.
In 1886, Billy Sunday publicly converted to Christianity in Chicago and renounced drinking, gambling, swearing, and theatergoing and stopped playing baseball on Sundays. During this time, Sunday also met and married Helen “Nell” Thompson on September 5, 1888; the couple would have four children: Helen, George, William, and Paul. In 1891, Sunday left his career as a professional baseball player and took a job at the YMCA. Sunday began working for J. Wilbur Chapman, a prominent evangelist, as his advance man and would travel to communities preparing them for revivals. In 1896, after working under Chapman for some time, Sunday became a revivalist in his own right and conducted over sixty revivals throughout the Midwest over the next five years.
Sunday was known for his flamboyant and sensational speaking style. While delivering his sermons, Sunday often paced across the stage, stamped his feet, pounded his fists on the podium, and performed handsprings and other gymnastic feats. Sunday was a Presbyterian minister (ordained in 1903) and spoke out against science and the theory of evolution and condemned drinking. During World War I, Sunday’s speeches featured patriotic and nationalist themes. He urged young men to enlist or register for the draft and recruiters from the Army and the Navy set up booths at his revival campaigns.
Billy Sunday’s popularity declined following the war. Though much of his rhetoric remained the same, his audiences changed eschewing sensational revival talks in favor of other forms of entertainment including films, radio shows, and automobiles. Sunday continued preaching to small audiences nearly up until his death in 1935.
Billy Sunday died on November 6, 1935 at the age of 72 in Chicago, Illinois. He was buried in Forest Home Cemetery in Forest Park, Illinois.
Sources:
Dorsett, Lyle W. Billy Sunday and the Redemption of Urban America. Grand Rapids, Michigan: W.B. Eerdmans, 1991.
Spragins, C. Fitzhugh. "Billy Sunday." Salem Press Biographical Encyclopedia (January 2017): Research Starters, EBSCOhost. Accessed August 15, 2017.
Extent
0.01 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection consists of a single item.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed and EAD finding aid created 2017/08/15 by Kristin Lee.
Creator
- Sunday, Billy, 1862-1935 (Person)
- Title
- Billy Sunday collection
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
