American Home Missionary Society collection
Collection
Identifier: L187
Scope and Contents
This collection comprises photostats of orignal letters and other documents sent by missionaries in Indiana to the American Home Missionary Society's home office in New York, New York ranging from 1825 to 1835. The originals are 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, as well as statistical reports providing 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
- American Home Missionary Society (Organization)
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 (AHMS). The Reformed churches withdrew shortly after the AHMS was formed. The purpose of the organization was "to assist congregations that are unable to support the gospel ministry, and to send the gospel to the destitute within the United States."
Presbyterian and Congregational churches continued the organization. In its first year, there were 169 missionaries. Five years later, there were 506 missionaries.
Sources:
Items in the collection.
Wikpedia. "American Home Missionary Society." Wikipedia.org. Accessed September 3, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Home_Missionary_Society.
Presbyterian and Congregational churches continued the organization. In its first year, there were 169 missionaries. Five years later, there were 506 missionaries.
Sources:
Items in the collection.
Wikpedia. "American Home Missionary Society." Wikipedia.org. Accessed September 3, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Home_Missionary_Society.
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 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. EAD finding aid revised 2024/07/15 by Brittany Kropf.
Creator
- American Home Missionary Society (Organization)
- 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
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
