John Heyl Vincent Papers

Transcription

1 Finding Aid to the John H. Vincent in 1848 or Box 314A, file 1, John Heyl Vincent papers. The Archives at Bridwell Library Perkins School of Theology Southern Methodist University Dallas, Texas

2 Page 2 Overview Creator: Title: Vincent, John Heyl John Heyl Vincent papers Inclusive Dates: Bulk Dates: Abstract: John Heyl Vincent ( ) was a bishop in the Methodist Episcopal Church and a co-founder of the Chautauqua Institution. The John Heyl Vincent papers consist of family history research files, personal and professional correspondence, journals, public address notes, publications, and photographs created or collected by John Heyl Vincent; his wife, Sarah Elizabeth Dusenbury Vincent ( ); their son, Dr. George Edgar Vincent ( ); and his wife, Louise Palmer Vincent ( ). Accession Number: BridArch Extent: Language: Repository: 7 boxes; 6.5 linear ft. Material is in English. Bridwell Library, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University Biographical Note The Rev. John Heyl Vincent, S.T.D., LL. D. ( ), was a noted minister, author, educator, and public speaker. He was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on February 23, 1832, to John Himrod Vincent ( ) and Mary Raser Vincent ( ). In 1838 the Vincent family relocated to Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. As a young adult, John Heyl Vincent worked as a school teacher and as a circuit riding Methodist preacher. He was licensed to preach and became a local pastor in He relocated to Newark, New Jersey in 1852 upon the death of his mother. After completing studies at the Newark Wesleyan Institute, Vincent was ordained in the New Jersey Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in His first action as elder was to request a transfer to the Rock River Conference. While in Illinois, Rev. Vincent served Methodist churches in Joilet, Mt. Morris, Galena, Rockford, and Chicago. In 1862 John Heyl Vincent traveled to Europe and Palestine. This was the first of several international voyages he would undertake. Toward the end of the American Civil War, Vincent served in the U. S. Christian Commission.

3 Page 3 Rev. John H. Vincent founded two successful religious periodicals: Northwestern Sunday School Quarterly (1865) and Sunday School Teacher (1866). The Methodist Episcopal Church General Conference of 1868 affirmed his work in religious education by naming him editor of the Sunday-School Journal, Corresponding Secretary of the Sunday-School Union, and Superintendent of the Department of Sunday-School Instruction. Believing that a large-scale, interdenominational, religious educators training event could strengthen the Sunday School movement, Rev. Vincent and Akron, Ohio, businessman Lewis Miller organized a Sunday School Assembly at Lake Chautauqua, New York, in The Chautauqua Assembly became the Chautauqua Institution under the long-term guidance of President Miller and Chancellor Vincent. Rev. Vincent was elected Bishop in the Methodist Episcopal Church in He was named Resident Bishop Abroad in 1890, charged with overseeing Methodist conferences in Europe. Bishop Vincent retired in 1904 and died in John Heyl Vincent married Sarah Elizabeth Dusenbury ( ), daughter of Henry and Caroline Butler Dusenbury, on November 10, Known as Elizabeth, Lib, and Libbie, Mrs. Vincent shared her husband s Methodist faith, love of books, and passion for the promotion of education. Their son, George Edgar Vincent ( ), adopted many of his parents interests. He became the literary editor of the Chautauqua Press in 1886 when in his early twenties. George E. Vincent later served as Vice-President ( ) and President ( ) of the Chautauqua Institution. Dr. Vincent taught and held administrative positions at the University of Chicago from 1900 to From 1911 until 1917, he served as President of the University of Minnesota. Dr. George Vincent then became the President of the Rockefeller Foundation in 1917, retiring in George Edgar Vincent married Mary Louise Palmer in January of They raised three children: Isabel, John H., and Elizabeth. Sources: Leete, Frederick DeLand. Methodist Bishops Personal Notes and Bibliography. Nashville: Parthenon Press, Price, Carl F. Who s Who in American Methodism. New York: E. B. Treat & Co., Vincent, Leon H. John Heyl Vincent: A Biographical Sketch. New York: The MacMillan Co., John Heyl Vincent, February 23, May 9, 1920, Commemorative Exercises, August 1, Chautauqua, NY: Chautauqua Press, 1920.

4 Page 4 Scope and Contents of the Collection The John Heyl Vincent papers chronicle the family life and career of Methodist Bishop John Heyl Vincent, revealing his broad intellectual and religious interests. The collection also demonstrates that, during his long career as a public figure, Vincent met many of the leaders of his day, including Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, and Thomas Edison. The Vincent papers feature one linear foot of genealogical research notes, more than 1200 family and business letters, twenty folders of Chautauqua Institution-related materials, Rev. Vincent s lecture notes and journals, copies of books and booklets written by him, publications owned by Bishop Vincent but not written by him, and photographs. Arrangement of the Collection The collection has been arranged into nine topical series: Series 1: Personal and Family History Files, Series 2: Correspondence, Series 3: Journals and Notebooks, Series 4: Lecture Notes, Series 5: Chautauqua, Series 6: Publications by John H. Vincent, Series 7: Other Printed Matter, Series 8: Photographs, Series 9: Administrative Data, Restrictions Access to Collection: The collection is open for research use. Publication Rights: Permission to publish materials must be obtained from the Director of the Bridwell Library. Copyright Statement: It is the responsibility of the user to obtain copyright authorization. Access Terms This collection is indexed under the following terms in the Southern Methodist University Libraries online catalog. Researchers desiring related materials may search the catalog using these terms: Vincent, John Heyl Methodist Episcopal Church Bishops.

5 Page 5 Chautauqua Institution. Religious educators United States. Genealogies. rbgenr Administrative Information Preferred Citation: John Heyl Vincent papers, Bridwell Library, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. Acquisition Information: Gift of Bishop Frederick DeLand Leete, Custodial History: The core of this collection consists of materials that were gathered by John Heyl Vincent and used by him in publishing a serialized autobiography in The papers later came into the possession of George E. Vincent, who added correspondence and anecdotes collected from Bishop Vincent s friends and colleagues. The augmented collection was then used by Bishop Vincent s nephew, Leon H. Vincent, author of John Heyl Vincent: A Biographical Sketch (1925). Internal evidence suggests that the entire collection was acquired by Bishop Frederick D. Leete. Bishop Leete added a number of publications by Bishop Vincent given by Mrs. Paul V. Harper of Libertyville, Illinois, before donating these materials to Bridwell Library in 1956 as part of his Methodist Historical Library. Processing Information This collection was arranged and described in 2010 by Timothy S. G. Binkley with assistance from Heather M. Oglevie and Elizabeth Perry. Encoded by Lara Corazalla, Related Collections Bridwell Library Digital Collections Images from the, digitalcollections.smu.edu/all/bridwell/jhv/ BridArch A Bishop F. D. Leete Bishops Collection, Bridwell Library, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. BridArch B Bishop F. D. Leete Methodist Historical Collection, Bridwell Library, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. Bishop John H. Vincent s daybooks are owned by The Chautauqua Institution and can be accessed through the New York State Library.

6 Page 6 John H. Vincent and Elizabeth D. Vincent, circa Box 314A, file 1, John Heyl Vincent papers, Bridwell Library, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. Detailed Description of the Collection Series 1: Personal and Family History Files, The first series, Personal and Family History Files, consists of sixty-six folders of biographical and genealogical documents dating between 1798 and The series has been divided into nine subseries: Subseries 1: Personal and Family Life Subseries 2: School Teacher and Circuit Rider Subseries 3: Ministry in New Jersey and Illinois Subseries 4: Travel Abroad Subseries 5: Civil War Subseries 6: Sunday School Work Subseries 7: Episcopate Subseries 8: Youth and Young Adult Ministries Subseries 9: Retirement

7 Page 7 The subseries follow the order of a previous arrangement scheme that reflects the outline of Leon H. Vincent s book, John Heyl Vincent: A Biographical Sketch. Subseries 1: Personal and Family Life Notes autobiographical Notes autobiographical Anecdotes Biographical data Bibliography and chronology Bethuel Vincent memoir Elizabeth Dusenbury Vincent J. Himrod Vincent Mary R. Vincent Anna Vincent Massey Family mementoes Genealogy research Genealogy research Genealogy research Genealogy research Major Hogan letter John H. Vincent s descendents John H. Vincent s humor Religious thought and experience Methodism Chillisquaque (Vincent Memorial) Chapel Appreciations and obituaries Oversize: Genealogy oversize (from Box 287 file 14) Subseries 2: School Teacher and Circuit Rider School teaching Luzerne Circuit Subseries 3: Ministry in New Jersey and Illinois New Jersey Joliet and Mt. Morris, IL Galena, IL Rockford, IL Rock River Conference Plainfield, NJ reflection Palestine Classes

8 Page Palestine Classes Ledger Subseries 4: Travel Abroad Europe First Palestine Trip Europe Europe 1886 / Second Palestine Trip Europe Europe Subseries 5: Civil War U. S. Christian Commission General Grant Farewell Address to the soldiers th Regiment Reunion 1896 Oversize: Flat File Drawer 1 General Grant oversize materials Newspaper Account of A. Lincoln s Funeral 1865 Subseries 6: Sunday School Work Sunday School movement leadership International Sunday School movement Notes for Sunday School work Sunday School institutes Uniform Sunday School Lessons Subseries 7: Episcopate Election to office Critical articles and letters Europe Harvard University South America Europe Wesley s Chapel Simpson window Rules and practices as Bishop Mount Union College Trusteeship Oversize: Europe articles by J. H. Vincent Seven Days Study in Church Life 1905

9 Page 9 Subseries 8: Youth and Young Adult Ministries Epworth League Oxford League Our Youth (undated issue) Subseries 9: Retirement Timely Message Roosevelt Christmas letter Retirement reflections and correspondence Oversize: Timely Message Vincent Christmas Letter Series 2: Correspondence, The second series is an extensive collection of family (90%) and business (10%) correspondence. These letters and cards date between 1822 and Most of the 1200 letters in Bishop John H. Vincent papers reside in the seventy-seven folders of this series, which has been divided into six subseries: Subseries 1: John Heyl Vincent Subseries 2: Elizabeth Dusenbury Vincent Subseries 3: George Edgar Vincent Subseries 4: Louise Palmer Vincent Subseries 5: Extended Family Subseries 6: Correspondence File Remainders One item that merits special note is John H. Vincent s letter to Elizabeth dated April 12, 1865, in which he discusses meeting President Abraham Lincoln while visiting General Grant. Subseries 1: John Heyl Vincent To J. Himrod Vincent To Henry Dusenbury To Elizabeth D. Vincent To Elizabeth D. Vincent To Elizabeth D. Vincent To Elizabeth D. Vincent To Elizabeth D. Vincent To Elizabeth D. Vincent To Elizabeth D. Vincent To Elizabeth D. Vincent To Elizabeth D. Vincent

10 Page To Elizabeth D. Vincent To Elizabeth D. Vincent To Elizabeth D. Vincent, undated To George E. Vincent To George E. Vincent To George E. Vincent, undated To Louise P. Vincent To Others From J. Himrod Vincent From Bethuel Vincent 1855, From Others From Others From Others, undated th birthday greetings notebook 1902 Subseries 2: Elizabeth Dusenbury Vincent To Henry Dusenbury To John H. Vincent To John H. Vincent To John H. Vincent To John H. Vincent To John H. Vincent To John H. Vincent, undated To John H. Vincent, undated To George E. Vincent 1869, To George E. Vincent, undated From Grandchildren From Others Subseries 3: George Edgar Vincent To John H. Vincent To John H. Vincent To John H. Vincent To John H. Vincent To John H. Vincent To John H. Vincent To John H. Vincent, undated To Elizabeth D. Vincent To Elizabeth D. Vincent To Elizabeth D. Vincent

11 Page To Elizabeth D. Vincent To Elizabeth D. Vincent To Elizabeth D. Vincent To Elizabeth D. Vincent To Elizabeth D. Vincent To Elizabeth D. Vincent Jan.-June To Elizabeth D. Vincent Aug.-Dec To Elizabeth D. Vincent Jan.-June To Elizabeth D. Vincent July-Dec To Elizabeth D. Vincent Jan.-March To Elizabeth D. Vincent Apr.-July To Elizabeth D. Vincent Jan.-June To Elizabeth D. Vincent July-Dec To Elizabeth D. Vincent, undated To Louise P. Vincent From Others Subseries 4: Louise Palmer Vincent To John H. Vincent, undated To Elizabeth D. Vincent To Elizabeth D. Vincent To Elizabeth D. Vincent To Elizabeth D. Vincent To Elizabeth D. Vincent To Elizabeth D. Vincent To Elizabeth D. Vincent, undated To George E. Vincent To George E. Vincent, undated Subseries 5: Other Family Members Extended family Extended family Vincent Family Bulletin newsletter 1908 Subseries 6: Correspondence File Remainders Other and unidentified senders / recipients Enclosures

12 Page 12 Series 3: Journals and Notebooks, The third series is comprised of fifteen folders containing John H. Vincent s personal journals, notebooks, and pocket calendars. These items give offer insights into Vincent s thoughts and activities throughout much of his life ( ) Journal Journals Journals Journals Journals Notebooks 1878, Notebooks, undated Helpful Hints for the Sunday School Teacher Lessons from Genesis / 12 Lessons from the Psalms Sermons notebook Pocket calendars 1893, Chautauqua memoranda European episcopacy notebook Europe notebook Unidentified notebook (post-1850 narrative) Series 4: Lecture Notes, Series 4, Lecture Notes, contains thirty folders of lecture and sermon notes and an oversize folder of newspaper clippings about Bishop Vincent s public addresses. Most items in this series are undated and may have been produced any time between 1860 and South America The Receding House: Mother Sidney Lanier That Boy That Boy s Sister That Boy s Sister (duplicate?) The Best Type of Church Unity Story of an English Sceptic School Out of School An Every Day Parliament Address to the Irish Conference Address to the English Wesleyan Conference Lecture on Egypt From Eisleben to Eisleben

13 Page Hannah More A Summer Journey Brain Work John Paul Jones A Greater and More Perfect Tabernacle A Vision in the Yosemite Part An Old Quilt The Subject of Prayer Switzerland Canaan / Palestine Robert Browning Tuesday Evening Lecture on Miracles Question Drawer Story of the Christian Church Other lecture and sermon notes Other lecture and sermon notes Oversize: Lecture news clippings Series 5: Chautauqua, The fifth series includes twenty folders of data from and about the Chautauqua Institution. Materials in this series date between 1874 and Founding of Chautauqua Chautauqua history Board of Trustees Old first night Articles Chautauqua University Chautauqua correspondence Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle Grant, Ulysses S Lathbury, Mary A Booklets, leaflets Advertisements Chautauqua Sunday School Assembly S. C. Swallow article: Unmethodistic Literature Piedmont Chautauqua correspondence Chautauqua in Great Britain New England Assembly

14 Page Round Lake Sunday School Assembly Report of the Chautauqua Hebrew Class 1877 Oversize: Chautauqua Assembly Daily News 1876 Series 6: Publications by John H. Vincent, The articles, tracts, booklets, and books in Series 6 represent Bishop Vincent s many published works. The earliest example dates from 1861; the latest from Some of these volumes were owned by John H. Vincent. Others were added by Mrs. Paul V. Harper while the collection was under the care of Bishop Frederick DeLand Leete The Chautauqua Text Books The Chautauqua Text Books The Chautauqua Text Books Chautauqua Hand Book of Sabbath-School Normal Work Our Alma Mater The Book of Bible Services, part second The Magi and The Messiah Bible People Geometry The Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle To Old Bethlehem The Meaning of Chautauqua Little Footprints in Bible Lands 1861, 1882 The Revival and After The Revival 33 Our Own Church My Mother: An Appreciation Two Letters to a Minister by Paul the Apostle 34 The Story of a Letter (Ephesians) 1893 Timothy: Two Letters to a Minister 35 The Holy Waiting: The Christian s Hand-Book 1893, 1896 At the Table Altar: Meditations for a Month of Mornings 36 The Inner Life: A Study in Christian Experience My Church: the Church of the True Life Zu Ihm: Der Weg zum wahren Leben Old and New Fashions in Sunday School Work Tracts Articles and addresses Oration: A School of Oratory The Morning Easter programs 1880

15 Page 15 Series 7: Other Printed Matter, Dating as early as 1875 and perhaps as late as 1920, the documents and publications in Series 7 were in the possession on Bishop Vincent but were not produced by him Reviews of books by John H. Vincent The Chautauqua School of Theology The Oxford League and the Epworth League The Conference System of Theological Education The Church Steps A Unique Church Club: An Appeal to Pastors The Book of Psalms The Holy Bible 1885 Oversize: The Sunday School Times front cover 1875 Series 8: Photographs, The forty-eight images in Series 8 include photographs of Bishop Vincent and Chautauqua dating approximately 1870 to Of special note, a photograph of a daguerreotype of John H. Vincent at age 16 or 17 ( ) resides in file 1. The images in this series have been digitized and posted on website for remote user access. 314A 01 Vincent family images Bishop Potter cabinet card Lakescape (Chautauqua Lake?) Gatherings / Events Residences Stereoscopic cards Post cards Series 9: Administrative Data, The final series includes two folders of collection administration documents dating between 1920 and The inventory sheets in file 9 are not dated and may have been produced by George or Leon Vincent in the 1920s, by an assistant to Bishop Leete in the 1950s, or by Bridwell Library staff. 314A 08 Leete correspondence and book lists George E. Vincent Leon H. Vincent Inventory sheets

16 Page 16 Old First Night, Box 314A, file 4, John Heyl Vincent papers, Bridwell Library, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University.

17 Page 17 Image of Vincent and Miller from a Chautauqua Institution publication. Box 313, John Heyl Vincent papers, Bridwell Library, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University.