Bishop John Fletcher Hurst Papers

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VOLUME: 29.5 linear feet

ACCESS: This collection is open to the public upon request.听

COPYRIGHT: Please consult the archivist for information about duplication or publishing of any materials from this collection.

RELATED COLLECTIONS: American University Early History Files

Biographical Note

John Fletcher Hurst was born on August 17, 1834 to Elijah and Ann Catherine Colston Hurst in Dorchester County, Maryland. Hurst attended a local school, and then entered a college preparatory school in Cambridge, Maryland. He enrolled at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 1850. While attending Dickinson College, Hurst began writing for various religious magazines. After graduation in 1854, he accepted a teaching position in Greensboro, Maryland for a few months before moving to the Hedding Literary Institute in Ashland, New York. Hurst spent the summer of 1856 studying German in Carlisle, and then traveled to Germany where he enrolled as a theology student at the University of Halle and Heidelberg. He took advantage of being in Germany to travel throughout Europe. Hurst returned to America in 1857, and began preaching in 1858 on the Carlisle Circuit.

In 1859, he joined the Newark Conference at its first session and was assigned to Irvington, New Jersey. Later in 1859, he married Catherine Elizabeth La Monte of Charlottesville, New York with whom he eventually had five children. Hurst was ordained deacon in 1860 and promoted to elder in 1862. In 1866, he accepted a professorship of theology at the Methodist Mission Institute in Bremen, Germany ultimately becoming director of the Institute. Hurst also served as professor of the Historical Theology at Drew Seminary in Madison, New Jersey starting in 1871.

Hurst was ordained Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1880. Bishop Hurst spent time attending and organizing conferences in the United States, Europe, and India. In 1888, Hurst chose Washington, D.C. as his Episcopal home. Around the time his assignment began in Washington, D.C., Bishop Hurst began to push the idea for a graduate Methodist University. In 1891, Hurst became Chancellor and the University was incorporated in Washington, D.C. In 1893, American University was established by act of Congress. Hurst died in his home in Bethesda, Maryland on May 4, 1903.

Scope and Content Note

The collection documents the life and religious ministry of Bishop John Fletcher Hurst through articles (1873-1902), correspondence (1863-1903), diaries (1852-1897), journals (1849-1902), manuscripts (1864-1900), photographs, scrapbooks (1857-1899) and sermons (1860-1891). The correspondence includes letters about the founding and early administration of American University. Hurst collected newspaper clippings and manuscripts by others on topics such as bible history, religion, theology and John Wesley. Of note are manuscripts and research notes for Hurst鈥檚 books on Bible history (1873), the history of the Christian Church (1893), and the history of Methodism (1902).

Provenance

The Hurst Papers were accessioned into the University Archives in 1958 though the collection came to American University after Hurst鈥檚 death.

Processing Note

American University Registrar, Albert Osborne, arranged the John Fletcher Hurst papers into numbered series after Hurst鈥檚 death. The archivist reorganized the collection into six series. Folder contents were transferred to archival folders and the original folder titles were retained whenever possible. The archivist placed undated folder materials at the end of each file. All paper clips and staples were replaced with plastiklips. Duplicate documents were discarded. Newspaper clippings were unfolded and flattened.

Series Descriptions and Box & Folder Listing

Series 1: Correspondence (1863-1903)
7.5 linear feet

This series consists of correspondence relating to Hurst鈥檚 studies at Dickinson College and his theological studies in Germany as well as the founding and early administration of American University. It also documents his time as Bishop in Washington, D.C. Included are letters of support and correspondence with other Methodist clergyman and several congressmen. There is also correspondence discussing his book collection. This series was arranged chronologically.

Box 1

Correspondence, 1863-1893 [13 folders]

Box 2

Correspondence, 1893-1896 [10 folders]

Box 3

Correspondence, 1896-1898 [13 folders]

Box 4

Correspondence, 1898-1900 [13 folders]

Box 5

Correspondence, 1900-(n.d) [8 folders]
Letters Written and Received, 1868-1872

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Series 2: Hurst Writings (1850-1902)
6.5 linear feet

This series contains addresses (1850-1900), articles (1873-1902), lectures (1854-1878), manuscripts (1864-1900), sermons (1860-1891), and stories. His writings include several important studies on theology, as well as accounts of his travels, particularly in India. Hurst sent letters to The Methodist about his visits abroad and the activities that took place during his stay in Egypt and Greece while preaching about the church. Hurst鈥檚 manuscripts are in various formats including handwritten, typewritten and drafts. This series was arranged alphabetically by document type and then by subject or chronologically.

Box 6

Addresses, 1850-(n.d.) [9 folders]
Articles, 1880
听听听听听听听听Cotton Mather
听听听听听听听听Nisby
听听听听听听听听Pines and Pyramids [4 folders]
Articles for the Press-General Themes (by title)
听听听听听听听听 A
听听听听听听听听听B
听听听听听听听听 C [2 folders]
听听听听听听听听听D-E
听听听听听听听听听F
听听听听听听听听听G
听听听听听听听听听H [2 folders]
听听听听听听听听听I
听听听听听听听听 L [2 folders]
听听听听听听听听 M
听听听听听听听听 N-O
听听听听听听听听听P
听听听听听听听听听Q
听听听听听听听听听R
听听听听听听听听 S [2 folders]
听听听听听听听听 T-Y

Box 7

Articles for the Press related to Countries in
听听听听听听听听听Africa
听听听听听听听听听Asia
听听听听听听听听听Europe [3 folders]
听听听听听听听听 Mexico
听听听听听听听听听United States [2 folders]
Editorials
Lectures, 1854-(n.d.) [5 folders]
Letters to The Methodist
听听听听听听听听听Egypt
听听听听听听听听听Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany
听听听听听听听听听Germany
听听听听听听听听 Holland
听听听听听听听听听Norway & Sweden
听听听听听听听听听Palestine
听听听听听听听听听Port Said, Egypt
听听听听听听听听听Russia
听听听听听听听听听Switzerland
听听听听听听听听听Syria
听听听听听听听听听Turkey & Greece
Manuscripts
听听听听听听听听听Authorship-Some Secrets of its Fertility
听听听听听听听听听Bucharest and the Romanians (Fragment)
听听听听听听听听听Christ and the Age (Fragment)
听听听听听听听听听Dickenson College 1851-1854
听听听听听听听听听Faith, The Universal Victor (Fragment)
听听听听听听听听听Fragments (Untitled)
听听听听听听听听听Germany
听听听听听听听听听Goethe & Bettine von Arnim
听听听听听听听听听The Historical Disguises of Skepticism
听听听听听听听听听History of the Christian Church
听听听听听听听听听How England Became a Protestant Nation
听听听听听听听听听India [5 folders]

Box 8

Manuscripts (continued)
听听听听听听听听听Mexico [4 folders]
听听听听听听听听听The New Hearthstone: A Bridal Greeting
听听听听听听听听听The New Home
听听听听听听听听听New Spain (Fragment)
听听听听听听听听听Newspapers
听听听听听听听听听Steffensweg Stories [32 folders]
听听听听听听听听听Teutonic and Anglo-Saxon Scholarship
听听听听听听听听听Tholuck
听听听听听听听听听Translation of Franz Delitsch
听听听听听听听听听Travels [2 folders]
听听听听听听听听听The Valley of the Trees
Poetry
Published Writings

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Box 9

Sermons See Also: Series VII 鈥� Common-place Book
听听听听听听听听听Acts [2 folders]
听听听听听听听听听2 Chronicles
听听听听听听听听听Colossians
听听听听听听听听听1 Corinthians
听听听听听听听听听2 Corinthians
听听听听听听听听听Daniel
听听听听听听听听听Ecclesiastes
听听听听听听听听听Ephesians
听听听听听听听听听Galatians [2 folders]
听听听听听听听听听Genesis
听听听听听听听听听Habakkuk
听听听听听听听听听Hebrews [2 folders]
听听听听听听听听听Hosea
听听听听听听听听听Isaiah [2 folders]
听听听听听听听听听James
听听听听听听听听听Jeremiah
听听听听听听听听听Job
听听听听听听听听听Joel
听听听听听听听听听John [7 folders]
听听听听听听听听听1 John
听听听听听听听听听Joshua
听听听听听听听听听1 Kings
听听听听听听听听听2 Kings
听听听听听听听听听Luke [3 folders]
听听听听听听听听听Malachi
听听听听听听听听听Mark
听听听听听听听听听Matthew [4 folders]
听听听听听听听听听Numbers
听听听听听听听听听1 Peter
听听听听听听听听听2 Peter
听听听听听听听听听Philippians
听听听听听听听听听Proverbs
听听听听听听听听听Psalms [2 folders]
听听听听听听听听听Revelations

Box 10

Sermons (continued)
听听听听听听听听听Romans [2 folders]
听听听听听听听听听Ruth
听听听听听听听听听1 Samuel
听听听听听听听听听2 Samuel
听听听听听听听听听1 Timothy
听听听听听听听听听2 Timothy
听听听听听听听听听1 Thessalonians
听听听听听听听听听2 Thessalonians
听听听听听听听听听Zechariah
Verses

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Series 3: Clippings (1870-1900)
1.5 linear feet

This series contains newspaper articles and illustrations collected by John Fletcher Hurst on a variety of topics including articles written by Hurst. The clippings relate to topics such as church history, the Methodist church and theology. This series is arranged alphabetically by subject.

Box 10 (continued)

Clippings
听听听听听听听听听A [2 folders]
听听听听听听听听听B [7 folders]
听听听听听听听听听Cal
听听听听听听听听听Chi
听听听听听听听听听Chu [5 folders]
听听听听听听听听听Co
听听听听听听听听听E
听听听听听听听听听F
听听听听听听听听听G
听听听听听听听听听H
听听听听听听听听听Ho
听听听听听听听听听Hu-Hy
听听听听听听听听听I (including illustrations) [2 folders]
听听听听听听听听听J
听听听听听听听听听L [4 folders]

Box 11

Clippings (continued)
听听听听听听听听听Me [4 folders]
听听听听听听听听听Mi [2 folders]
听听听听听听听听听Mo
听听听听听听听听听Ne
听听听听听听听听听O
听听听听听听听听听Ph-Pi
听听听听听听听听听Po
听听听听听听听听听Pre
听听听听听听听听听Pri [2 folders]
听听听听听听听听听Q
听听听听听听听听听R [3 folders]
听听听听听听听听听Sa-Se
听听听听听听听听听So-Sp
听听听听听听听听听Sw-Te
听听听听听听听听听The [2 folders]
听听听听听听听听听Tho-Tu
听听听听听听听听听U-V
听听听听听听听听听W [5 folders]
听听听听听听听听听We [2 folders]

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Series 4: Writings by Others (1776, 1852-1870)
1 linear foot

This series contains manuscripts not written by Hurst relating to topics such as Christianity, Eastern Orthodox churches, Methodism, the Old Testament, and religion. This series is arranged alphabetically by author鈥檚 last name.

Box 11 (continued)

Writings by Others
听听听听听听听听听Alexander, Gross
听听听听听听听听听Barth, D.C.G
听听听听听听听听听Beza, Theodore
听听听听听听听听听Bunsen, Emma [2 folders]
听听听听听听听听听Halthaus, Ernst
听听听听听听听听听Hoffman, Franz
听听听听听听听听听Keil, George
听听听听听听听听听Koch, Rosalie
听听听听听听听听听Nieritz, Gustav
听听听听听听听听听Philistone, Philip
听听听听听听听听听Pichler, Louise
听听听听听听听听听Roidiger, Prof.-Halle 1856
听听听听听听听听听Schoppe, A & Feige, E.

Box 12

Writings by Others (continued)
听听听听听听听听听Schubert, H. H. von
听听听听听听听听听Story, A. J. [6 folders]
听听听听听听听听听Trench, Richard
听听听听听听听听听Walther, J.L.G [2 folders]
听听听听听听听听听Wurdig, L.
听听听听听听听听听Zell, Catharina
听听听听听听听听听Ziehen, Edward
听听听听听听听听听Authors Unknown, 1776, n.d. [6 folders]

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Series 5: Church History (1763-1898)
8.75 linear feet

This series contains manuscripts, outlines and research notes for Hurst鈥檚 publications on church history including Bible history (1873), history of the Christian Church (1893), and history of Methodism (1902). This series was organized into five sub series: Methodism, American Church History, Bible History, and The History of the Christian Church I and II. In some instances, there are multiple handwritten, typewritten, drafts and final versions of the same manuscript. The sub series were arranged alphabetically by subject and then chronologically.

Box 12 (continued)

Methodism
听听听听听听听听听American Methodism
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Before 1808
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听1812-1844
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听1845-1864
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听1865-1887
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听1888-1896
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Annual Reports 1896-1898
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Historical Accounts of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South [18 folders]

Box 13

Methodism (continued)
听听听听听听听听听听American Methodism (continued)
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Joy鈥檚 Materials Chapters II-VI
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Notes and Headings-Outlines and Chapter Headings [3 folders]
听听听听听听听听听听British Methodism
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Beginning of Methodism: Its Genius and Peculiarities
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Environment of Original Methodism
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听The Holy Club
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Mission to Georgia
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Mudge鈥檚 Manuscripts Chapters I-XXIV [14 folders]
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Notes and Headings-Outlines and Chapter Headings [2 folders]
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Porter鈥檚 Manuscripts Chapters I, XV-37 [10 folders]
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Primitive Methodist Connexion
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Principal Oxford Methodists
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Revised typewriter Chapters VI-XIII
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Special Quotations

Box 14

Methodism (continued)
听听听听听听听听听History of Methodism
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Autograph Changes and Drafts [2 folders]
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Page Proofs [2 folders]
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Plans for collaboration in writings-preliminary announcement?
听听听听听听听听听 John Wesley
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Admission to Oxford [2 folders]
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Bibliography and Exhibits
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Early Childhood
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Home School/Charterhouse
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Oxford and the University
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Wesleyan Genealogies
听听听听听听听听听 Johnston Material on Further Methodism
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Africa [4 folders]
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Australia [2 folders]
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Canada [5 folders]
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听China [5 folders]
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Japan
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Korea
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听New Zealand
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听South Seas [2 folders]
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听West Indies
听听听听听听听听听Worldwide Methodism
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Africa [2 folders]
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Australia
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Bulgaria
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Canada
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听China [2 folders]
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听India [2 folders]
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Japan
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Korea
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Mexico
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Mudge material: Foreign Missions
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听New Zealand

Box 15

Methodism (continued)
听听听听听听听听听 Worldwide Methodism (continued)
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Northern Europe: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Russia
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Notes and Headings-Outlines and Chapter Headings
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听South America
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听South Seas
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听West Indies
American Church History, N.D.
听听听听听听听听听Ansan Titus (not used) [6 folders]
Analysis of Church History for the Middle & Senior Classes of the Drew Theological Seminar
Bible History
听听听听听听听听听The Divinity of Jesus Christ
听听听听听听听听听Faith in Immortality and Hope for a Resurrection
听听听听听听听听听Jesus
听听听听听听听听听The Miracles of Jesus Christ
听听听听听听听听听The Perfect Holiness of Jesus Christ
听听听听听听听听听The Reign of the Herods, and the relation of the Second Temple to Manual Labor
听听听听听听听听听The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
听听听听听听听听听The Sanctuary of the Old Testament
听听听听听听听听听The Supernatural
History of the Christian Church I
听听听听听听听听听Contents, Chapter Headings and Outlines
听听听听听听听听听Drafts of 11 Chapters [4 folders]
听听听听听听听听听Introduction [2 folders]
听听听听听听听听听Outline Corrections
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Corrections (proofread by Charles C. Starbuck)
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Corrections with correspondence
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Draft outlines
听听听听听听听听听Preface, title page and the science & literature of church history [2 folders]
听听听听听听听听听The First Period. Apostolic Age. AD1-101 Chapters I-IX [8 folders]
听听听听听听听听听The Second Period. The Patristic Age. AD101-313 Chapters I-IV [3 folders]

Box 16

History of the Christian Church I (continued)
听听听听听听听听听The Second Period. The Patristic Age. AD101-313 Chapters V-XX [11 folders]
听听听听听听听听听The Third Period. The Controversial Age. AD313-680 Chapters I-IX [3 folders]
History of the Christian Church II
听听听听听听听听听The American Church Chapters I-V
听听听听听听听听听Church History of the Middle Ages. AD768-1517 Chapters I-LVIII [14 folders]
听听听听听听听听听Drafts of 11 Chapters [3 folders]
听听听听听听听听听Draft Outlines/Corrections
听听听听听听听听听Great Britain Chapters I-IX [2 folders]
听听听听听听听听听Heralds of the Better Church Chapters I-XI [3 folders]

Box 17

History of the Christian Church II (continued)
听听听听听听听听听The Intermediate Period. Continental Europe Chapters I-XIII [5 folders]
听听听听听听听听听The Modern Period. On the Continent Chapters I-XVII [5 folders]
听听听听听听听听听Notes/Headings-Outlines/Chapter Headings-Drafts/Background Data [4 folders]
听听听听听听听听听On the British Isle Chapters I-XIV [3 folders]
听听听听听听听听听On the Continent Chapters I-XXXVIII [7 folders]
听听听听听听听听听Plate Proof Corrections by F.A. Faulkner
听听听听听听听听听Post Reformation England Chapters II, XV, XVI-XXV [4 folders]
听听听听听听听听听Table of Contents and Index, Vol鈥檚 I and II [2 folders]
Short History of the Church in the United States I-The Colonial Period 1492-1783
听听听听听听听听听Chapters I-XV [3 folders]
Short History of the Church in the United States II-The National Period 1783-1890
听听听听听听听听听Chapters I-XX [3 folders]
Short History of the Medieval Church AD 750-1517-Chapters I-Unnumbered [5 folders]

Box 18

Short History of the Modern Church AD1558-1888-Chapters I-XXIV [4 folders]

听

Series 6: Personal and Subject File (1849-1902)
4.25 linear feet

This series contains diaries (1852-1897), scrapbooks (1857-1899), bill & receipts (1857-1902), photographs and quotes. This series also includes notes on the Epworth League, the Methodist Episcopal Church, Norwegian literature (1884), George Washington鈥檚 Library, and Hurst鈥檚 travels. This series is arranged alphabetically by document type and/or subject.

Box 18 (continued)

Aphoristic Sayings
Bills & Receipts, 1857-(n.d.) [5 folders]
Common-place Book - [List of Sermons Preached], 1857-1888
听听听听听听听听听See Also: Series II: Sermons
Common-place Book - [Selected Quotes], 1857-1860
Diaries, 1852-(n.d.) [9 folders]
Dickinson College Catalog, 1840
Drew Theological Seminary
Epworth League
George Washington鈥檚 Library
Hans Nielsen Hauge
Holland
Hurst, John F.
听听听听听听听听听Biographical File
听听听听听听听听听Library
听听听听听听听听听Library Catalogue (1 volume)

Box 19

Hurst, John F. (continued)
听听听听听听听听听Library Catalogue (1 volume)
听听听听听听听听听Memoranda of Cost and Values of Books, Manuscripts, etc. [12 folders]
Index Rerum, 1854-1875 [2 folders]
Journals
听听听听听听听听听1849-1884 [13 folders]

Box 20

Journals (continued)
听听听听听听听听听1884-1888, (n.d.) [4 folders]
听听听听听听听听听Church History [3 folders]
听听听听听听听听听Seneca
听听听听听听听听听Sermons
听听听听听听听听听Theology 1863-(n.d.) [4 folders]
List
Methodist Episcopal Church
Norwegian Literature, 1884
Notes
Pamphlets
Passport (Berlin) 1871
Pauline von Montagu
Pennsylvania Gazette 1736-1785
Photographs
听听听听听听听听听Bethesda Orphan House, 1888
听听听听听听听听听Wisby- Gothland
Portraits
Samaritans [2 folders]
Scrapbooks 1857-1866 [2 folders]

Box 21

Scrapbooks 1865-1899, (n.d.) [6 folders]
Serampore/India
Sparks from Old Anvils (Greek Sayings) [5 folders]
Sparks from Old Anvils (Roman Sayings) [4 folders]
Travels
Washington, D.C.

麻豆映画