VOLUME: 29.5 linear feet
ACCESS: This collection is open to the public upon request.
COPYRIGHT: Please consult the archivist for information about duplication or publishing of any materials from this collection.
RELATED COLLECTIONS: American University Early History Files
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.
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’s books on Bible history (1873), the history of the Christian Church (1893), and the history of Methodism (1902).
The Hurst Papers were accessioned into the University Archives in 1958 though the collection came to American University after Hurst’s death.
American University Registrar, Albert Osborne, arranged the John Fletcher Hurst papers into numbered series after Hurst’s 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’s 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
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’s 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
Cotton Mather
Nisby
Pines and Pyramids [4 folders]
Articles for the Press-General Themes (by title)
A
B
C [2 folders]
D-E
F
G
H [2 folders]
I
L [2 folders]
M
N-O
P
Q
R
S [2 folders]
T-Y
Box 7
Articles for the Press related to Countries in
Africa
Asia
Europe [3 folders]
Mexico
United States [2 folders]
Editorials
Lectures, 1854-(n.d.) [5 folders]
Letters to The Methodist
Egypt
Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany
Germany
Holland
Norway & Sweden
Palestine
Port Said, Egypt
Russia
Switzerland
Syria
Turkey & Greece
Manuscripts
Authorship-Some Secrets of its Fertility
Bucharest and the Romanians (Fragment)
Christ and the Age (Fragment)
Dickenson College 1851-1854
Faith, The Universal Victor (Fragment)
Fragments (Untitled)
Germany
Goethe & Bettine von Arnim
The Historical Disguises of Skepticism
History of the Christian Church
How England Became a Protestant Nation
India [5 folders]
Box 8
Manuscripts (continued)
Mexico [4 folders]
The New Hearthstone: A Bridal Greeting
The New Home
New Spain (Fragment)
Newspapers
Steffensweg Stories [32 folders]
Teutonic and Anglo-Saxon Scholarship
Tholuck
Translation of Franz Delitsch
Travels [2 folders]
The Valley of the Trees
Poetry
Published Writings
Box 9
Sermons See Also: Series VII – Common-place Book
Acts [2 folders]
2 Chronicles
Colossians
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Daniel
Ecclesiastes
Ephesians
Galatians [2 folders]
Genesis
Habakkuk
Hebrews [2 folders]
Hosea
Isaiah [2 folders]
James
Jeremiah
Job
Joel
John [7 folders]
1 John
Joshua
1 Kings
2 Kings
Luke [3 folders]
Malachi
Mark
Matthew [4 folders]
Numbers
1 Peter
2 Peter
Philippians
Proverbs
Psalms [2 folders]
Revelations
Box 10
Sermons (continued)
Romans [2 folders]
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
Zechariah
Verses
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
A [2 folders]
B [7 folders]
Cal
Chi
Chu [5 folders]
Co
E
F
G
H
Ho
Hu-Hy
I (including illustrations) [2 folders]
J
L [4 folders]
Box 11
Clippings (continued)
Me [4 folders]
Mi [2 folders]
Mo
Ne
O
Ph-Pi
Po
Pre
Pri [2 folders]
Q
R [3 folders]
Sa-Se
So-Sp
Sw-Te
The [2 folders]
Tho-Tu
U-V
W [5 folders]
We [2 folders]
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’s last name.
Box 11 (continued)
Writings by Others
Alexander, Gross
Barth, D.C.G
Beza, Theodore
Bunsen, Emma [2 folders]
Halthaus, Ernst
Hoffman, Franz
Keil, George
Koch, Rosalie
Nieritz, Gustav
Philistone, Philip
Pichler, Louise
Roidiger, Prof.-Halle 1856
Schoppe, A & Feige, E.
Box 12
Writings by Others (continued)
Schubert, H. H. von
Story, A. J. [6 folders]
Trench, Richard
Walther, J.L.G [2 folders]
Wurdig, L.
Zell, Catharina
Ziehen, Edward
Authors Unknown, 1776, n.d. [6 folders]
Series 5: Church History (1763-1898)
8.75 linear feet
This series contains manuscripts, outlines and research notes for Hurst’s 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
American Methodism
Before 1808
1812-1844
1845-1864
1865-1887
1888-1896
Annual Reports 1896-1898
Historical Accounts of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South [18 folders]
Box 13
Methodism (continued)
American Methodism (continued)
Joy’s Materials Chapters II-VI
Notes and Headings-Outlines and Chapter Headings [3 folders]
British Methodism
Beginning of Methodism: Its Genius and Peculiarities
Environment of Original Methodism
The Holy Club
Mission to Georgia
Mudge’s Manuscripts Chapters I-XXIV [14 folders]
Notes and Headings-Outlines and Chapter Headings [2 folders]
Porter’s Manuscripts Chapters I, XV-37 [10 folders]
Primitive Methodist Connexion
Principal Oxford Methodists
Revised typewriter Chapters VI-XIII
Special Quotations
Box 14
Methodism (continued)
History of Methodism
Autograph Changes and Drafts [2 folders]
Page Proofs [2 folders]
Plans for collaboration in writings-preliminary announcement?
John Wesley
Admission to Oxford [2 folders]
Bibliography and Exhibits
Early Childhood
Home School/Charterhouse
Oxford and the University
Wesleyan Genealogies
Johnston Material on Further Methodism
Africa [4 folders]
Australia [2 folders]
Canada [5 folders]
China [5 folders]
Japan
Korea
New Zealand
South Seas [2 folders]
West Indies
Worldwide Methodism
Africa [2 folders]
Australia
Bulgaria
Canada
China [2 folders]
India [2 folders]
Japan
Korea
Mexico
Mudge material: Foreign Missions
New Zealand
Box 15
Methodism (continued)
Worldwide Methodism (continued)
Northern Europe: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Russia
Notes and Headings-Outlines and Chapter Headings
South America
South Seas
West Indies
American Church History, N.D.
Ansan Titus (not used) [6 folders]
Analysis of Church History for the Middle & Senior Classes of the Drew Theological Seminar
Bible History
The Divinity of Jesus Christ
Faith in Immortality and Hope for a Resurrection
Jesus
The Miracles of Jesus Christ
The Perfect Holiness of Jesus Christ
The Reign of the Herods, and the relation of the Second Temple to Manual Labor
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
The Sanctuary of the Old Testament
The Supernatural
History of the Christian Church I
Contents, Chapter Headings and Outlines
Drafts of 11 Chapters [4 folders]
Introduction [2 folders]
Outline Corrections
Corrections (proofread by Charles C. Starbuck)
Corrections with correspondence
Draft outlines
Preface, title page and the science & literature of church history [2 folders]
The First Period. Apostolic Age. AD1-101 Chapters I-IX [8 folders]
The Second Period. The Patristic Age. AD101-313 Chapters I-IV [3 folders]
Box 16
History of the Christian Church I (continued)
The Second Period. The Patristic Age. AD101-313 Chapters V-XX [11 folders]
The Third Period. The Controversial Age. AD313-680 Chapters I-IX [3 folders]
History of the Christian Church II
The American Church Chapters I-V
Church History of the Middle Ages. AD768-1517 Chapters I-LVIII [14 folders]
Drafts of 11 Chapters [3 folders]
Draft Outlines/Corrections
Great Britain Chapters I-IX [2 folders]
Heralds of the Better Church Chapters I-XI [3 folders]
Box 17
History of the Christian Church II (continued)
The Intermediate Period. Continental Europe Chapters I-XIII [5 folders]
The Modern Period. On the Continent Chapters I-XVII [5 folders]
Notes/Headings-Outlines/Chapter Headings-Drafts/Background Data [4 folders]
On the British Isle Chapters I-XIV [3 folders]
On the Continent Chapters I-XXXVIII [7 folders]
Plate Proof Corrections by F.A. Faulkner
Post Reformation England Chapters II, XV, XVI-XXV [4 folders]
Table of Contents and Index, Vol’s I and II [2 folders]
Short History of the Church in the United States I-The Colonial Period 1492-1783
Chapters I-XV [3 folders]
Short History of the Church in the United States II-The National Period 1783-1890
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]
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’s Library, and Hurst’s 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
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’s Library
Hans Nielsen Hauge
Holland
Hurst, John F.
Biographical File
Library
Library Catalogue (1 volume)
Box 19
Hurst, John F. (continued)
Library Catalogue (1 volume)
Memoranda of Cost and Values of Books, Manuscripts, etc. [12 folders]
Index Rerum, 1854-1875 [2 folders]
Journals
1849-1884 [13 folders]
Box 20
Journals (continued)
1884-1888, (n.d.) [4 folders]
Church History [3 folders]
Seneca
Sermons
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
Bethesda Orphan House, 1888
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.