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Justin Perkins (AC 1829) Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MA.00153
Digital Collection: Justin Perkins (AC 1829) Papers (Selections)
Digital Collection: Justin Perkins (AC 1829) Papers (Selections)

Scope and Contents

The collection contains a body of correspondence to Perkins with letters from men well known in his field at the time. Letters are included from Edwin E. Bliss (AC 1837, 4 letters), Harrison Gray Otis Dwight (10), Fidelia Fiske (8), William Goodell (8), Cyrus Hamlin (4), Elias Riggs (AC 1829, 3), William G. Schauffler (10), Benjamin Schneider (AC 1830, 8), Horatio Southgate (7), and William S. Tyler (AC 1830, 8). It also contains eighteen manuscript sermons by Perkins, a few lectures and notes, some newspaper clippings and pamphlets, and some bound manuscripts - mostly letters and journals.

Dates

  • Creation: circa 1830-1869

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

There is no restriction on access to this collection for research use. Particularly fragile items may be restricted for preservation purposes.

Conditions Governing Use

Requests for permission to publish material from this collection 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

Justin Perkins (AC 1829), missionary, was born in 1805 near Holyoke, Massachusetts. He spent his childhood on his father's farm and at the age of eighteen responded to a revival that influenced him to enter the ministry. He attended Amherst College and upon graduating, taught for a year at Amherst Academy. He then spent two years at Andover Theological Seminary, tutored for a year at Amherst College, and then returned to Andover to finish his theological course.

In 1833, Perkins married Charlotte Bass. The same year he was also commissioned by the American Board of Missions to work in Persia among the Nestorians. He traveled to Oroomiah, Persia and set up a mission there. He stayed with this mission for more than thirty years, with intermittent visits home, until he died in 1869.

Extent

2.75 Linear feet (6 archives boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Educator, minister and missionary to Persia beginning in the 1830s. Collection includes: correspondence with others in his field; manuscript sermons; lectures and notes; newspaper clippings and pamphlets, and seven volumes of bound manuscripts - mostly letters and journals.

Arrangement

This collection is organized into five series:

  1. Series 1: Correspondence
  2. Series 2: Sermons, Lectures and Notes
  3. Series 3: Printed Materials
  4. Series 4: Photographs
  5. Series 5: Bound Manuscripts

Separated Materials

Typescripts of letters from Perkins to William S. Tyler, located in Box 2 Folder 7 (Series 1 Sub-series B) have been relocated to the control file.

Status
Completed
Author
Revised by Rachel Jirka; Chris Barber
Date
1974; revised 2010, 2017
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