John Heyl Vincent Papers

Finding Aid to the John H. Vincent in 1848 or 1849. Box 314A, file 1, John Heyl Vincent papers. The Archives at Bridwell Library Perkins School of Theology Southern Methodist University Dallas, Texas

Page 2 Overview Creator: Title: Vincent, John Heyl John Heyl Vincent papers Inclusive Dates: 1798-1956 Bulk Dates: 1860-1920 Abstract: John Heyl Vincent (1832-1920) 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 (1832-1909); their son, Dr. George Edgar Vincent (1864-1941); and his wife, Louise Palmer Vincent (1865-1953). Accession Number: BridArch 301.25 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. (1832-1920), was a noted minister, author, educator, and public speaker. He was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on February 23, 1832, to John Himrod Vincent (1798-1873) and Mary Raser Vincent (1803-1852). 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 1850. 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 1857. 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.

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 1874. 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 1888. He was named Resident Bishop Abroad in 1890, charged with overseeing Methodist conferences in Europe. Bishop Vincent retired in 1904 and died in 1920. John Heyl Vincent married Sarah Elizabeth Dusenbury (1832-1909), daughter of Henry and Caroline Butler Dusenbury, on November 10, 1858. 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 (1864-1941), 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 (1888-1889) and President (1907-1915) of the Chautauqua Institution. Dr. Vincent taught and held administrative positions at the University of Chicago from 1900 to 1911. 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 1929. George Edgar Vincent married Mary Louise Palmer in January of 1890. They raised three children: Isabel, John H., and Elizabeth. Sources: Leete, Frederick DeLand. Methodist Bishops Personal Notes and Bibliography. Nashville: Parthenon Press, 1948. Price, Carl F. Who s Who in American Methodism. New York: E. B. Treat & Co., 1916. Vincent, Leon H. John Heyl Vincent: A Biographical Sketch. New York: The MacMillan Co., 1925. John Heyl Vincent, February 23, 1832 - May 9, 1920, Commemorative Exercises, August 1, 1920. Chautauqua, NY: Chautauqua Press, 1920.

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, 1798-1924 Series 2: Correspondence, 1822-1920 Series 3: Journals and Notebooks, 1832-1920 Series 4: Lecture Notes, 1860-1920 Series 5: Chautauqua, 1874-1925 Series 6: Publications by John H. Vincent, 1861-1912 Series 7: Other Printed Matter, 1875-1920 Series 8: Photographs, 1870-1920 Series 9: Administrative Data, 1920-1956 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 1832-1920. Methodist Episcopal Church Bishops.

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, 1956. 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 1910. 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, 2010. Related Collections Bridwell Library Digital Collections Images from the, http:// digitalcollections.smu.edu/all/bridwell/jhv/ BridArch 301.09A Bishop F. D. Leete Bishops Collection, Bridwell Library, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. BridArch 301.09B Bishop F. D. Leete Methodist Historical Collection, Bridwell Library, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. Bishop John H. Vincent s 1893-1903 daybooks are owned by The Chautauqua Institution and can be accessed through the New York State Library.

Page 6 John H. Vincent and Elizabeth D. Vincent, circa 1890. 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, 1798-1924 The first series, Personal and Family History Files, consists of sixty-six folders of biographical and genealogical documents dating between 1798 and 1924. 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

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 287 01 Notes autobiographical 1880-1924 02 Notes autobiographical 1880-1924 03 Anecdotes 1880-1924 04 Biographical data 1880-1933 05 Bibliography and chronology 1900-1924 06 Bethuel Vincent memoir 1890 07 Elizabeth Dusenbury Vincent 1854-1909 08 J. Himrod Vincent 1867-1924 09 Mary R. Vincent 1892 10 Anna Vincent Massey 1906 11 Family mementoes 1877-1909 12 Genealogy research 1808-1900 13 Genealogy research 1888-1920 14 Genealogy research 1834-1917 15 Genealogy research 1813-1898 16 Major Hogan letter 1825 17 John H. Vincent s descendents 1870-1924 18 John H. Vincent s humor 1920-1924 19 Religious thought and experience 1865-1924 20 Methodism 1895-1900 21 Chillisquaque (Vincent Memorial) Chapel 1889-1902 22 Appreciations and obituaries 1888-1924 Oversize: 2022 01 Genealogy oversize (from Box 287 file 14) 1798-1887 Subseries 2: School Teacher and Circuit Rider 287 23 School teaching 1849 24 Luzerne Circuit 1887-1924 Subseries 3: Ministry in New Jersey and Illinois 287 25 New Jersey 1867-1924 26 Joliet and Mt. Morris, IL 1858-1924 27 Galena, IL 1862-1924 28 Rockford, IL 1863-1924 29 Rock River Conference 1883 30 Plainfield, NJ reflection 1888 31 Palestine Classes 1857-1887

Page 8 287 32 Palestine Classes Ledger 1855-1862 Subseries 4: Travel Abroad 287 33 Europe 1862 1862-1924 34 First Palestine Trip 1862 1862-1924 35 Europe 1871 1871-1924 36 Europe 1886 / Second Palestine Trip 1886-1924 37 Europe 1891 1891-1924 38 Europe 1892 1892-1924 Subseries 5: Civil War 287 39 U. S. Christian Commission 1862-1924 40 General Grant 1865-1924 41 Farewell Address to the soldiers 1861-1924 42 12 th Regiment Reunion 1896 Oversize: Flat File Drawer 1 General Grant oversize materials 1865 2022 02 Newspaper Account of A. Lincoln s Funeral 1865 Subseries 6: Sunday School Work 288 01 Sunday School movement leadership 1865-1920 02 International Sunday School movement 1878-1920 03 Notes for Sunday School work 1864-1900 04 Sunday School institutes 1867-1878 05 Uniform Sunday School Lessons 1871-1891 Subseries 7: Episcopate 288 06 Election to office 1884-1920 07 Critical articles and letters 1896 08 Europe 1893 1893-1924 09 Harvard University 1894-1895 1893-1924 10 South America 1896-1897 1896-1924 11 Europe 1901-1904 1901-1924 12 Wesley s Chapel Simpson window 1901-1902 13 Rules and practices as Bishop 1890-1924 14 Mount Union College Trusteeship 1888-1920 1923 Oversize: 2022 03 Europe articles by J. H. Vincent 1901 04 Seven Days Study in Church Life 1905

Page 9 Subseries 8: Youth and Young Adult Ministries 288 15 Epworth League 1889-1891 16 Oxford League 1887-1924 17 Our Youth (undated issue) 1880-1900 Subseries 9: Retirement 288 18 Timely Message Roosevelt Christmas letter 1908-1909 19 Retirement reflections and correspondence 1908-1910 Oversize: 2022 05 Timely Message Vincent Christmas Letter 1908-1909 Series 2: Correspondence, 1822-1920 The second series is an extensive collection of family (90%) and business (10%) correspondence. These letters and cards date between 1822 and 1920. 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 288 20 To J. Himrod Vincent 1860 21 To Henry Dusenbury 1858 22 To Elizabeth D. Vincent 1859-1879 23 To Elizabeth D. Vincent 1880-1881 24 To Elizabeth D. Vincent 1882 25 To Elizabeth D. Vincent 1883 26 To Elizabeth D. Vincent 1884 27 To Elizabeth D. Vincent 1885 28 To Elizabeth D. Vincent 1889-1890 29 To Elizabeth D. Vincent 1891-1895 30 To Elizabeth D. Vincent 1896-1899

Page 10 288 31 To Elizabeth D. Vincent 1900-1904 32 To Elizabeth D. Vincent 1905-1908 33 To Elizabeth D. Vincent, undated 1865-1909 34 To George E. Vincent 1865-1869 35 To George E. Vincent 1890-1908 36 To George E. Vincent, undated 1869-1920 37 To Louise P. Vincent 1908 38 To Others 1869-1915 39 From J. Himrod Vincent 1850-1853 40 From Bethuel Vincent 1855, 1900-1903 41 From Others 1851-1893 42 From Others 1894-1910 43 From Others, undated 1860-1920 44 70 th birthday greetings notebook 1902 Subseries 2: Elizabeth Dusenbury Vincent 288 45 To Henry Dusenbury 1859 46 To John H. Vincent 1859-1868 47 To John H. Vincent 1873-1889 48 To John H. Vincent 1890-1894 49 To John H. Vincent 1895-1899 50 To John H. Vincent 1900-1906 289 01 To John H. Vincent, undated 1859-1909 02 To John H. Vincent, undated 1859-1909 03 To George E. Vincent 1869, 1895 04 To George E. Vincent, undated 1869-1880 05 From Grandchildren 1900-1907 06 From Others 1863-1908 Subseries 3: George Edgar Vincent 289 07 To John H. Vincent 1875-1884 08 To John H. Vincent 1885-1889 09 To John H. Vincent 1890 10 To John H. Vincent 1891 11 To John H. Vincent 1892-1895 12 To John H. Vincent 1900-1910 13 To John H. Vincent, undated 1880-1910 14 To Elizabeth D. Vincent 1869-1884 15 To Elizabeth D. Vincent 1885-1888 16 To Elizabeth D. Vincent 1889-1892

Page 11 289 17 To Elizabeth D. Vincent 1893-1895 18 To Elizabeth D. Vincent 1896 19 To Elizabeth D. Vincent 1897-1898 20 To Elizabeth D. Vincent 1900-1903 21 To Elizabeth D. Vincent 1904 22 To Elizabeth D. Vincent Jan.-June 1905 23 To Elizabeth D. Vincent Aug.-Dec. 1905 24 To Elizabeth D. Vincent Jan.-June 1906 25 To Elizabeth D. Vincent July-Dec. 1906 26 To Elizabeth D. Vincent Jan.-March 1907 27 To Elizabeth D. Vincent Apr.-July 1907 28 To Elizabeth D. Vincent Jan.-June 1908 29 To Elizabeth D. Vincent July-Dec. 1908 30 To Elizabeth D. Vincent, undated 1869-1909 31 To Louise P. Vincent 1906 32 From Others 1882-1905 Subseries 4: Louise Palmer Vincent 289 33 To John H. Vincent, undated 1880-1920 34 To Elizabeth D. Vincent 1881-1889 35 To Elizabeth D. Vincent 1890-1894 36 To Elizabeth D. Vincent 1895-1897 37 To Elizabeth D. Vincent 1904-1905 38 To Elizabeth D. Vincent 1906 39 To Elizabeth D. Vincent 1907-1908 40 To Elizabeth D. Vincent, undated 1880-1909 41 To George E. Vincent 1881-1909 42 To George E. Vincent, undated 1880-1909 Subseries 5: Other Family Members 289 43 Extended family 1822-1865 44 Extended family 1883-1906 45 Vincent Family Bulletin newsletter 1908 Subseries 6: Correspondence File Remainders 289 46 Other and unidentified senders / recipients 1889-1908 47 Enclosures 1902-1909

Page 12 Series 3: Journals and Notebooks, 1832-1920 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 (1832-1920). 297 01 Journal 1832-1865 02 Journals 1850-1861 03 Journals 1862 04 Journals 1862-1863 05 Journals 1863-1872 06 Notebooks 1878, 1890 07 Notebooks, undated 1860-1920 08 Helpful Hints for the Sunday School Teacher 1866 09 12 Lessons from Genesis / 12 Lessons from the Psalms 1860-1920 10 Sermons notebook 1888-1891 11 Pocket calendars 1893, 1897 12 Chautauqua memoranda 1885-1887 13 European episcopacy notebook 1893 14 Europe notebook 1901-1903 15 Unidentified notebook (post-1850 narrative) 1850-1900 Series 4: Lecture Notes, 1860-1920 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 1920. 297 16 South America 1860-1920 17 The Receding House: Mother 1912-1913 18 Sidney Lanier 1881-1920 19 That Boy 1860-1920 20 That Boy s Sister 1860-1920 21 That Boy s Sister (duplicate?) 1860-1920 22 The Best Type of Church Unity 1912 23 Story of an English Sceptic 1860-1920 24 School Out of School 1890-1910 25 An Every Day Parliament 1860-1920 26 Address to the Irish Conference 1902 27 Address to the English Wesleyan Conference 1902 28 Lecture on Egypt 1863-1920 29 From Eisleben to Eisleben 1880-1920

Page 13 297 30 Hannah More 1916 31 A Summer Journey 1900-1910 32 Brain Work 1860-1920 33 John Paul Jones 1900-1910 34 A Greater and More Perfect Tabernacle 1860-1920 35 A Vision in the Yosemite Part 1 1895-1920 36 An Old Quilt 1860-1920 37 The Subject of Prayer 1860-1920 38 Switzerland 1860-1920 39 Canaan / Palestine 1860-1920 40 Robert Browning 1860-1920 41 Tuesday Evening Lecture on Miracles 1860-1900 42 Question Drawer 1860-1920 43 Story of the Christian Church 1880-1920 44 Other lecture and sermon notes 1860-1920 45 Other lecture and sermon notes 1860-1920 Oversize: 2022 06 Lecture news clippings 1862-1898 Series 5: Chautauqua, 1874-1925 The fifth series includes twenty folders of data from and about the Chautauqua Institution. Materials in this series date between 1874 and 1925. 313 01 Founding of Chautauqua 1876-1908 02 Chautauqua history 1881-1923 03 Board of Trustees 1887 04 Old first night 1912-1925 05 Articles 1889-1920 06 Chautauqua University 1886-1898 07 Chautauqua correspondence 1879-1910 08 Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle 1876-1923 09 Grant, Ulysses S. 1875-1900 10 Lathbury, Mary A. 1909-1910 11 Booklets, leaflets 1879-1920 12 Advertisements 1876-1910 13 Chautauqua Sunday School Assembly 1874-1897 14 S. C. Swallow article: Unmethodistic Literature 1882 15 Piedmont Chautauqua correspondence 1888 16 Chautauqua in Great Britain 1897-1923 17 New England Assembly 1881-1885

Page 14 313 18 Round Lake Sunday School Assembly 1878 19 Report of the Chautauqua Hebrew Class 1877 Oversize: 2022 07 Chautauqua Assembly Daily News 1876 Series 6: Publications by John H. Vincent, 1861-1912 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 1912. 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. 313 20 The Chautauqua Text Books 1877-1878 21 The Chautauqua Text Books 1879 22 The Chautauqua Text Books 1880-1882 23 Chautauqua Hand Book of Sabbath-School Normal Work 1879 24 Our Alma Mater 1878-1887 25 The Book of Bible Services, part second 1877 26 The Magi and The Messiah 1880 27 Bible People 1882 28 Geometry 1883 29 The Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle 1889 30 To Old Bethlehem 1890 31 The Meaning of Chautauqua 1888-1912 32 Little Footprints in Bible Lands 1861, 1882 The Revival and After The Revival 33 Our Own Church 1890-1893 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 1900 37 My Church: the Church of the True Life 1890-1910 38 Zu Ihm: Der Weg zum wahren Leben 1890-1910 39 Old and New Fashions in Sunday School Work 1890-1910 40 Tracts 1888-1910 41 Articles and addresses 1862-1904 42 Oration: A School of Oratory 1895 43 The Morning Easter programs 1880

Page 15 Series 7: Other Printed Matter, 1875-1920 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. 313 44 Reviews of books by John H. Vincent 1880-1910 45 The Chautauqua School of Theology 1881 46 The Oxford League and the Epworth League 1875-1920 47 The Conference System of Theological Education 1903 48 The Church Steps 1875-1920 49 A Unique Church Club: An Appeal to Pastors 1880-1920 50 The Book of Psalms 1877 51 The Holy Bible 1885 Oversize: 2022 08 The Sunday School Times front cover 1875 Series 8: Photographs, 1870-1920 The forty-eight images in Series 8 include photographs of Bishop Vincent and Chautauqua dating approximately 1870 to 1910. Of special note, a photograph of a daguerreotype of John H. Vincent at age 16 or 17 (1848-1849) resides in file 1. The images in this series have been digitized and posted on website http://digitalcollections.smu.edu/all/bridwell/jhv/ for remote user access. 314A 01 Vincent family images 1870-1910 02 Bishop Potter cabinet card 1905 03 Lakescape (Chautauqua Lake?) 1870-1910 04 Gatherings / Events 1890-1910 05 Residences 1870-1910 06 Stereoscopic cards 1870-1910 07 Post cards 1900-1920 Series 9: Administrative Data, 1920-1956 The final series includes two folders of collection administration documents dating between 1920 and 1956. 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 1950-1956 09 George E. Vincent Leon H. Vincent 1920-1925 10 Inventory sheets 1920-1956

Page 16 Old First Night, 1900. Box 314A, file 4, John Heyl Vincent papers, Bridwell Library, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University.

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.