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American Home Missionary Society collection

 Collection
Identifier: L187

Scope and Contents

All of the documents in this collection are photostats of orignal letters sent by missionaries on the frontier to the American Home Missionary Society's home office in New York between 1825 and 1835. It comprises the Indiana-related portion of the collection held by the Amistad Research Center and available on microfilm at a number of institutions. There are applications of churches, accounts of travel, and requests for advice. Statistical reports give the number of conversions, Sabbath school scholars, signers of the temperance pledge, churches established, collections for benevolent causes, and young men preparing for the ministry. Many of the letters are addressed to Rev. Absalom Peters (1793-1869), who was the secretary of the Society. Two of the missionaries who wrote letters were Simeon Salisbury, who graduated from the Massachusetts Theological Seminary, and Eliphalet Kent, a graduate of Williams College in Massachusetts.

Dates

  • 1825-1835

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.

Historical Note

In May 1826, representatives of the Congregational, Presbyterian, Dutch Reformed, and Associate Reformed churches from thirteen states and territories met in New York City and formed the American Home Missionary Society. The Reformed churches withdrew shortly after the AHMS was formed. Presbyterian and Congregational churches continued the organization. In its first year, there were 169 missionaries. Five years later, there were 506 missionaries.

Extent

1 Cubic Feet (3 manuscript boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

This collection is arranged chronologically.

Custodial History

This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a records donation from the Chicago Theological Seminary in 1931 March and April.

Accruals

No further additions are expected.

Processing Information

Collection processing and finding aid completed 2016/1/7 by Nikki Stoddard Schofield.
Title
American Home Missionary Society collection
Status
Completed
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository

Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671