Skip to main content

Reverend William James (1797-1868) Family Papers and Sermons

 Collection
Identifier: MA.00095

Scope and Contents

The Reverend William James Family Papers and Sermons collection contains correspondence and sermons documenting the family and career of William James as a Presbyterian minister in New York State. The correspondence is especially important for its documentation of the James, Seelye, and associated families.

Dates

  • 1808-1888

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

There is no restriction on access to the William James papers for research use. Particularly fragile items are restricted for preservation purposes.

Conditions Governing 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.

Biographical / Historical

William James was born in 1797. He was a graduate of Princeton. He preached for a time at Clarkson, N.Y. and assumed the pastorate of the Brick Presbyterian Church, Rochester, N.Y., in 1826. He resigned in 1830 to go to the Third Presbyterian Church at Albany, N.Y., where he died February 16, 1868, aged 71. Rev. James was the half-brother of the theological philosopher Henry James, Sr., and uncle of the philosopher William James and novelist Henry James. His daughter, Elizabeth Tillman James, married Julius Hawley Seelye (AC 1849) in 1854.

Extent

2.5 Linear feet (5 archives boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Family correspondence and sermons documenting the family and career of William James as a Presbyterian minister in New York State.

Arrangement

This collection is organized into four series:

  1. Series 1: Correspondence
  2. Series 2: Miscellaneous
  3. Series 3: Sermons with Bible Locations
  4. Series 4: Sermon Fragments by Subject

Related Materials

Grace for Grace: Letters. New York: Dodd and Mead, [1874]. Copy in Amherst College Library.

Status
Completed
Date
1970s; revised 2002.
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Sponsor
Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Repository Details

Part of the Amherst College Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Amherst College Archives & Special Collections
Robert Frost Library
61 Quadrangle Drive
Amherst MA 01002-5000
(413) 542-2299