PUBLIC "-//Randolph-Macon College::McGraw-Page Library::Special Collections Dept.//TEXT (US::ViAsR::visar00001::A Guide to the John Early Papers)//EN" "viasr00001" A Guide to the A Guide to the John Early Papers 1800-1856 Early, John, Papers Methodist Vertical File Early 1 Archives and Special Collections, McGraw-Page Library, Randolph-Macon College © 2004 By Randolph-Macon College. All rights reserved.

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Machine-readable finding aid derived from MS Word 6.0, created by Judee Showalter, July 5, 2004 Description is in English 2013-11-21 Converted to schema conforming EAD by dtd2schema.vh.xsl. A Guide to the John Early Papers 1800-1856 A Collection in theArchives and Special Collections Department ofthe McGraw-Page Library Methodist Vertical File Early 1

Archives and Special Collections, McGraw-Page Library, Randolph-Macon College 2004 Special Collections Staff Archives and Special Collections, McGraw-Page Library, Randolph-Macon College Descriptive Summary Archives and Special Collections, McGraw-Page Library, Randolph-Macon College The John Early Papers Methodist Vertical File Early 1 The collection contains 63 folders in 6 linear feet. English Administrative Information Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

The John Early Papers, Methodist Vertical File Early 1, Archives and Special Collections, McGraw-Page Library, Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, VA.

Acquisition Information

The collection is a combination of Randolph-Macon College materials, Virginia Conference materials and donated materials. Much of the collection was presented to the college by J. Rives Childs, October 1930, in connection with the celebration of the centennial of the college. Additional materials were donated in December 1945. Mr. Childs was the great-grandson of Bishop Early and a 1912 alumnus of the college. Other donors include Miss Fanny Early, Dr. L.R. Littleton and Frank J. Merryman.

Biographical/Historical Information

Born January 1, 1786 in Bedford County Virginia, the thirteenth child of Joshua and Mary Early, Bishop John Early joined the Methodist Church following his conversion in April of 1804. Licensed to preach after 1806 - 1807, he began his ministry at Poplar Forest in Bedford, Virginia ministering to Mr. Jefferson's slaves. By 1811, he was traveling the Greenville Circuit and received more than 500 persons into the church. A stirring preacher, he attracted the attention of church leaders and became a Presiding Elder in 1813. Although he held many important positions in the church he was not elected to the Episcopacy until 1854, due to his connection to slavery. In 1821 he married Elizabeth Rives. He was offered several positions in the federal government, which he declined, feeling they would be in opposition to his ministerial calling. He was instrumental in the local government of Lynchburg, VA, and supported various causes and enterprises, such as the James River and Kanawha Canal and the Viginia and Tennessee Railroad Company. He was also instrumental in the founding of Randolph-Macon College and served as President of the Board of Trustees for nearly 40 years, as well as serving as College Agent. He died on November 5, 1873 and is buried in Spring Hill Cemetary in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Scope and Content

The collection primarily contains information bearing on Randolph-Macon College and the Virginia Conference of the Methodist Church. Diaries cover 1807 to 1813. Correspondence beginning in 1800 includes family and other prominent Methodists (William McKendree and Leonidas Rosser). Methodist materials include General Conference information from 1830, 1836, 1840 and 1844, ordination certificates and sermon notes.

Arrangement

Correspondence is arranged chronologically by folder, other material is arranged by subject.

Contents List Diaries 1807-1813 Diary 1807 6 Diary 1808 7 Diary 1810 8 2 volumes Diary 1811 9 Diary 1812 10 Diary 1813 11 Administrative 1940 5 Administrative Correspondence 1940 5 Index 3 Index 4 Narratives Traveling Preacher, The Story of Bishop John Early by William K. Thomas 1964 1 An Account of the Experience and Travels of John Early from 25 May 1807-June 8,1814 Transcribed by Deborah Pugh 2002 2 Memorial Discourse 1873 37 1 item

On the death of John Early delivered by Bishop Doggett

Portraits of John Early 40 2 items Later Articles about John Early 1879-1972 43 2 items Obituaries 53 10 items Obituaries 54 12 items Lynchburg Magazine Nov/Dec 1972 55 1 item Correspondence 1800-1874 Miscellaneous Correspondence 1800-1840 12 13 items Correspondence of John Early and William McKendree 1821-1829 13 8 items Corresponence of John Early and Elizabeth B. Early 1823-1857 14 96 items Letters bearing on Randolph-Macon 1825, 1827 15 2 items D. Dempsy to John Early, proposing Leaksville N.C. April 16, 1827 Gabriel Disoway to John Early, written on printed circular, Address to the Members and Friends of the Methodist Episcopal Church January 17, 1825 Correspondence of John Early and J. Emory 1829-1832 16 6 items Letters bearing on Randolph-Macon College 1830-1831 18 7 items Letters bearing on Randolph-Macon College 1832-1833 19 22 items Correspondence of John Early and Eleazer Early 1833-1834 20 9 items Letters Bearing on Randolph-Macon College 1834-1835 21 29 items Letters Bearing on Randolph-Macon College 1836-1837 23 10 items Letters Bearing on Randolph-Macon College 1838-1839 24 15 items Letters Bearing on Randolph-Macon College 1840 25 16 items Miscellaneous Correspondence 1841-1846 26 12 items Letters Bearing on Randolph-Macon College 1841-1861 28 41 items Correspondence of John Early 1847-1850 30 22 items Correspondence of Thomas Early (son of John Early) 1850-1894 32 18 items Correspondence of John Early 1851-1856 33 5 items John Early - Leonida Rosser Correspondence 1853-1854 34 4 items

given by Dr. l. R. Littleton

Miscellaneoud Correspondence 1861-1874 36 9 items Envelopes 38 6 items Letters and Papers Bearing on Randolph-Macon College 49 13 items

Given by Miss Fanny Early

Correspondence 1857-1860 52 13 items Correspondence 4-2 60 items Methodist Materials 1830-1849 Minutes of the Annual Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church 1830 17 General Conference 1836 22 1 item Appointment Book- Lynchburg 1841-1844 27 2 volumes Pamphlets -Church Engaging in Merchandise 1849 31 Miscellaneous items 44 45 items Methodist Episcopal Church, South Conference 3-2 miscellaneous papers Randolph-Macon Material Promissory Note 1846 29 Subscriptions to the College 41 40 items Collections to Endorse a Professorship in R.M. College 1838 2 Account Books of RMC Agent Jn. Early 1833-1838 Drawer 2 Family/Personal Material 1822-1857 Papers concerning Thomas Early 1859 35 4 items

include Deacon's Orders,1859

Confederate Materials 39 10 items Sermon Notes 42 3 volumes Miscellaneous Items 45 47 items Miscellaneous Items 46 21 items Miscellaneous Items 27 19 items

Includes "On Baptism" and information on Spring Hill Cemetery

Personal Papers 48 11 items Miscellaneous Items 50 12 items Miscellaneous Items 51 4 items Day Book 1822 1-2 Executor's Account (Thomas H. Early) 2-2