William Augustus Stearns Papers, 1801-1875

Stearns Papers, 1801-1875

14 archives boxes (7 linear ft.)

Abstract:

This collection contains a small body of correspondence and biographical material containing general information on Stearns. The bulk of the collection consists of Stearns's sermons in manuscript form. The correspondence is mostly personal letters to and from members of Stearns's family, but there are some letters from Stearns to others, a group of anti-slavery letters and documents, and some religious documents pertaining to Stearns's ministry.

Terms of Access and Use:

Restrictions on access:

There is no restriction on access to the William Augustus Stearns Papers for research use. Particularly fragile items may be restricted for preservation purposes.

Restrictions on use:

Requests for permission to publish material from the Papers should be directed to the Archives and Special Collections. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights.

Amherst College Archives and Special Collections

Biographical Note

William Augustus Stearns, clergyman and educator, was born in 1805 in Bedford, Mass. He was the son of a minister, Samuel Stearns, and one of eleven children. He was educated at Phillips Academy Andover, Harvard College, and Andover Theological Seminary. His first post as minister was at Cambridgeport, Mass. at the age of twenty-six; he was so successful that he stayed there from 1831 until 1854. In 1854, Stearns was called to be the fourth president of Amherst College, where he served until his death in 1876. He was a strong and popular administrator.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The correspondence is mostly personal letters to and from members of Stearns's family, but there are some letters from Stearns to others, a group of anti-slavery letters and documents, and some religious documents pertaining to Stearns's ministry.

This collection is organized into three series:

1. General and Family Correspondence
2. Biographical Information
3. Sermons, chronologically arranged

Information on Use

Terms of Access and Use

Restrictions on access:

There is no restriction on access to the William Augustus Stearns Papers for research use. Particularly fragile items may be restricted for preservation purposes.

Restrictions on use:

Preferred Citation

Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:

[Identification of item], in William Augustus Stearns Papers [Box #, folder #], Amherst College Archives and Special Collections, Amherst College Library

History of the Collection

Processing Information

Finding Aid:	1974; revised 2002
Edited by:	Peter A. Nelson, Assistant Archivist (2002)

Additional Information

Contact Information

Amherst College Archives and Special Collections

Robert Frost Library
PO Box 5000
Amherst, MA 01002-5000

Phone: (413) 542-2299
Fax: (413) 542-2692

Email Reference Form: http://www.amherst.edu/library/archives/askus
URL: http://www.amherst.edu/library/archives

Language

English.

Series 1: General and Family Correspondence
This series is organized into seven sub-series: A. Family B. General correspondence from Stearns C. General correspondence to Stearns D. Andover and Harvard: miscellaneous bills and documents E. Anti-slavery letters for congregation at Cambridgeport, not from Stearns F. Religious reports and documents G. Correspondence to Jonathan F. Stearns from William M. Rogers and others
Stearns to his brother, Jonathan F. Stearns	1821-1829	Box 1: folder 1

Stearns to his brother, Jonathan F. Stearns	1830-1835	Box 1: folder 2

Stearns to his brother, Jonathan F. Stearns	1836-1850	Box 1: folder 3

Stearns to his brother, Jonathan F. Stearns	1851-1868	Box 1: folder 4

Stearns to his brother, Samuel H. Stearns	1822-1832	Box 1: folder 5

Stearns to his sister, Abigail French Stearns	1822-1832	Box 1: folder 6

Stearns to his daughter, Elisa C. Stearns	1822-1832	Box 1: folder 7

Stearns to Mrs. Stearns	1822-1832	Box 1: folder 8

Stearns to his parents Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Stearns	1823-1831	Box 1: folder 9

Stearns from his brother, Samuel H. Stearns	1824-1857	Box 1: folder 10

Stearns from his brother, Jonathan F. Stearns	1823-1850	Box 1: folder 11

Stearns from his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Stearns	1823-1850	Box 1: folder 12

General Correspondence from Stearns, arranged alphabetically (A-Z)	1823-1850	Box 1: folder 13

General correspondence to Stearns, arranged alphabetically (A-Z)	1823-1850	Box 1: folder 14

Andover and Harvard-misc. bills and documents	1822-1830	Box 1: folder 15

Anti-slavery letters for Cambridgeport congregation, not from Stearns	1837-1839	Box 1: folder 16

Religious Reports and documents	1831-1853	Box 1: folder 17

Correspondence to Jonathan F. Stearns from William M. Rogers and others	1836-1858	Box 1: folder 18

Series 2: Biographical Information

Scraps of sermons and addresses, membership certificates, prayer of dedication	n.d.	Box 2: folder 1

Obituary, biography, and bibliography (including com discourse by W. S. Tyler)	n.d.	Box 2: folder 2

Material about marble bust of Stearns (photos)	n.d.	Box 2: folder 3

Photographs of Stearns	n.d.	Box 2: folder 4

Concert Programs (Mrs W. F. Stearns)	n.d.	Box 2: folder 5

Clippings	n.d.	Box 2: folder 6

Mrs. William A. Stearns School (photographs)	n.d.	Box 2: folder 7

Diaries and almanac for 1835 interleaved with notes, account books	n.d.	Box 2: folder 8

Miniature of Stearns	n.d.	Box 2: folder 9

Material on Samuel Stearns, Stearns's father	n.d.	Box 3: folder 1

Material on Abigail Stearns, Stearns's Mother	n.d.	Box 3: folder 2

Material on Mrs. W. A. Stearns, Stearns's Wife	n.d.	Box 3: folder 3

Material on William F. Stearns, Stearns's Son	n.d.	Box 3: folder 4

Sermon on death of William F. Stearns	n.d.	Box 3: folder 5

Series 3: Sermons

Miscellaneous Scraps of Sermons	n.d.	Box 3: folder 6

Undated Sermons	n.d.	Box 3: folder 7

Undated Sermons	n.d.	Box 4: folder 1

Undated Sermons	n.d.	Box 4: folder 2

Sermons	1827-1831	Box 4: folder 3

Sermons	1832	Box 4: folder 4

Sermons	1833	Box 4: folder 5

Sermons	1834	Box 5: folder 1

Sermons	1865-1865	Box 5: folder 2

Sermons	1837 Jan-Aug	Box 5: folder 3

Sermons	1837 Sept-Dec	Box 5: folder 4

Sermons	1838	Box 5: folder 5

Sermons	1839	Box 5: folder 6

Sermons	1840 Jan-May	Box 6: folder 1

Sermons	1840 Jun-Dec	Box 6: folder 2

Sermons	1841	Box 6: folder 3

Sermons	1842	Box 6: folder 4

Sermons	1843	Box 6: folder 5

Sermons	1844 Jan-Jul	Box 6: folder 6

Sermons	1844 Aug-Dec	Box 6: folder 7

Sermons	1845 Jan-June	Box 7: folder 1

Sermons	1845 July-Dec	Box 7: folder 2

Sermons	1846	Box 7: folder 3

Sermons	1847 Jan-May	Box 7: folder 4

Sermons	1847 Jun-Aug	Box 7: folder 5

Sermons	1847 Sept-Dec	Box 7: folder 6

Sermons	1848 Jan-June	Box 7: folder 7

Sermons	1848 July-Dec	Box 8: folder 1

Sermons	1849 Jan-Apr	Box 8: folder 2

Sermons	1849 May-July	Box 8: folder 3

Sermons	1849 Aug-Dec	Box 8: folder 4

Sermons	1850 Jan-Apr	Box 8: folder 5

Sermons	1850 May-Sep	Box 9: folder 1

Sermons	1850 Oct-Dec	Box 9: folder 2

Sermons	1851 Jan-May	Box 9: folder 3

Sermons	1851 Jun-Dec.	Box 9: folder 4

Sermons	1852 Jan-Sep	Box 9: folder 5

Sermons	1852 Oct-Dec	Box 9: folder 6

Sermons	1853	Box 9: folder 7

Sermons	1854 Jan-Mar	Box 10: folder 1

Sermons	1854 Apr-Dec	Box 10: folder 2

Sermons	1855	Box 10: folder 3

Sermons	1856	Box 10: folder 4

Sermons	1857	Box 10: folder 5

Sermons	1858	Box 10: folder 6

Sermons	1859	Box 11: folder 1

Sermons	1860-1861	Box 11: folder 2

Sermons	1862-1863	Box 11: folder 3

Sermons	1864	Box 11: folder 4

Sermons	1865-1869	Box 11: folder 5

Sermons	1870-1871	Box 11: folder 6

Sermons	1872, 1874-1875	Box 11: folder 7

Baccalaureate Sermons	1871-1873	Box 12: folder 1

Baccalaureate Sermons	1874-1876	Box 12: folder 2

Samuel Stearns's Sermons	1801, 1812, 1814, 1832	Box 12: folder 3

Baccalaureate Sermons	n.d.	Box 12: folder 4

"Hebrew Theocracy and its Records"	n.d.	Box 12: folder 5

"Hebrew Theocracy and its Records" (cont)	n.d.	Box 12: folder 6

Manuscript: "Hindooism"	n.d.	Box 13: folder 1

Manuscript: "Laying the Cornerstone of Walker Hall"	1868 Jun 10	Box 13: folder 2

Printed material: pamphlets, speeches, addresses, etc.	n.d.	Box 14: folder 1