American University and the Methodist Church
When American University was incorporated by an Act of Congress in 1893, the legislation specified that two thirds of the members of the Board of Trustees had to be Methodists. In 1952, the United Methodist Church recognized American University as "a national university" and approved a quadrennial grant of one hundred thousand dollars a year. Three academic programs highlight AU’s connection with the Methodist Church: The School of International Service, The Lucy Webb Hayes School of Nursing, and The Wesley Theological Seminary.
The Methodist General Conference provided AU with a million dollar grant to establish a Protestant affiliated School of International Service in 1956. Half of the funds were used to begin construction of a new building and the other half to set up an endowment for the school. Methodist Bishop G. Bromley Oxnam described the work of this new school as follows: "the School of International Service will make a fundamental contribution to religious liberty throughout the world. It will train men and women for the foreign service of government in an atmosphere of Protestant freedom and condition them favorably to the free ways of life."
In January 1944, a branch of the Cadet Nurses Corps was started at American University in collaboration with the Lucy Webb Hayes National Training School for Deaconesses and Missionaries. The Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Church raised an endowment for the Lucy Webb Hayes School of Nursing and AU enrolled its first class in 1965. The four year program led to a B.S. degree. The program was discontinued in 1987.
In 1956, The American University deeded 10 acres to the Westminster (MD) Theological Seminary. When it moved to the Seminary new home, it changed its name to the Wesley Theological Seminary. It was the first Protestant Seminary in the nation’s capitol and the first in America to be named after the Wesleys. The Seminary retains a separate corporate and academic identity, with its own Board of Governors. The University and the Seminary have reciprocal academic privileges. Its founding mission was and still is the preparation of dedicated ministers for the Methodist Church, and other Protestant denominations.
This series documents the relationship between American University and the Methodist Church from 1925 until the 1980s. There are also materials relating to the history of the Methodist Church.
The Papers of Bishop John Fletcher Hurst
Records of the Lucy Webb Hayes School of Nursing
Box 1
AU and the Methodist Church
Clippings 1956-1984
Correspondence (University President) 1956-1975
Finances 1925-1956
Finances 1964-1971
History of Relationship 1939-1997
Methodist Corporation 1964-1973
Nebraska Avenue Property- Clippings 1969-1976
Nebraska Avenue Property- Correspondence 1957-1974
Nebraska Avenue Property- Correspondence 1975-1976
Nebraska Avenue Property- Contract 1976
Nebraska Avenue Property- Methodist Center 1962-1974
Box 2
AU and the Methodist Church (continued)
Nebraska Avenue Property- Parking Lot 1965-1973
Statement to the Methodist Church 1952
Wesley Seminary 1971-1975
Wicke Report
Clippings: 1871-1900
W. Christian Advocate- Letter re Jan. 25 & Apr. 5, 1871
March 1875 “Methodism & Mission. Source: The Ladies Repository”
Increase in Buffalo, NY Methodism 1884-94
W. Christian Advocate- “the Allen library in London”- R. Wheatley June 23, 1886
NW Christian Advocate- “Gone”; Daniel Stevenson, D.D.; July 23, 1896
NW Christian Advocate- “American Methodist Historic Shrines”; Rev. WH Meredith-Nov. 4, 1896
Baltimore Sun- “American Methodism- Historical Services Held at First Church” Nov. 25, 1896
NW Christian Advocate- “Debuts of Unique Celebration”- Dec. 3, 1896
NW Christian Advocate-Dec. 23, 1896
The Pastor’s Helper- “John St or Strawbridge’s Meetinghouse - Which was First?” Jan. 1897
The Baltimore Methodist- Jan. 14, 1897; Vol. XIX, No. 2
NY Christian Advocate- March 4, 1897
Epworth Herald- “Wesley’s Helpers”- Mary J. Strayer, March 20, 1897
W. Christian Advocate- “great Grandmother’s Recollections X”; The Women’s Appeal for Admissions”- April 7, 1897
NW Christian Advocate- “Methodist History”- June 2, 1897
Central Christian Advocate- June 30, 1897
Indian Witness- “Selections: Methodism in Germany. Author: Rev. E.O. Barratt, MA.” Sept. 17, 1897
Philadelphia Methodist- Sept. 25, 1897- Article: Abel Stevens, DD, LLD
Central Christian Advocate- Sept. 22, 1897
Epworth Herald- “The Man Who Invented Matches”: Bishop John F. Hurst
Baltimore American- “Bishops Mapping Out Their Work” Oct. 28, 1897
NW Christian Advocate- “Anecdotes of Father Taylor”- Oct. 13, 1897
NW Christian Advocate- Oct. 27, 1897
Philadelphia Methodist- “Church Extension”- Nov. 6, 1897
Philadelphia Methodist- Nov. 6, 1897
William Walters- First Native American Methodist Minister- Grave Description
Philadelphia Methodist- Church News- Jan. 8, 1898
Philadelphia Methodist- Jan. 8, 1898
The Christian Advocate- “Why Observe the Day of Prayer for Colleges?” CH Payne LLD- Jan. 13, 1898
Central Christian Advocate- Jan. 19, 1898
NW Christian Advocate- “Frances Willard”; March 2, 1898
NW Christian Advocate- “Picture of Dr. John McClintock
NW Christian Advocate- “Six Noble Methodist Decades”, “The Epworth League Responsible”; March 2, 1898
Central Christian Advocate- March 9, 1898
W. Christian Advocate- Bishop Simpson- photo: March 23, 1898
Christian Uplook- “Dedication of Wesley’s Chapel, City Road, London,” Speech by Dean of Canterbury- Rev. F.W. Farrar, DD.
March 24, 1898.
W. Christian Advocate- “Greatest Need for Modern Methodism”- March 30, 1898
Rocky Mountain Christian Advocate- “Fraternal Address of Hon. JP Dolliver; July 15, 1898
NW Christian Advocate- “The Southern Book Concern Claim”- July 20, 1898
Central Christian Advocate- “Bishop Newman” Aug. 3, 1898
The British Weekly- “Dr. Parker on George Whitefield”; WFG. Oct. 27, 1898
Epworth Herald- “The Heart of Russia”; Elizabeth Bragdon Dec. 24, 1898
The Baltimore Methodist- April 13, 1899; Vol XIX, No. 15
Epworth Herald- “The League at Work”- April 15, 1899
The Christian Advocate- “Historical Preparation for Methodism”; John Alfred Faulkner- Aug. 10, 1899
The Christian Advocate- “Historical Preparation for Methodism II”; John Alfred Faulkner- Aug. 17, 1899
W. Christian Advocate- “Religious Life” – Oct. 4, 1899
W. Christian Advocate- Nov. 29, 1899
Philadelphia Methodist- “The New Administration Building”; Dec. 9, 1899
Boston Post- “But Few of Any Sect: The Religious Faith of Army & Navy Chaplains.” Jan. 15, 1900
The International- Oct. 1900. Subject: Unrest in China
The Baltimore Methodist- Nov. 1, 1900; Vol. XXII, No. 44
Clippings: 1966-1982
Clippings: Undated
Army & Navy Chaplains
Barbara Heck
The Brand of Deceit
Chautauqua
Complete File of Methodist Law. Author: JD Walsh, DD
Conference Work Was Very Satisfactory
To Entertain Speakers
First Methodist Church
Heterodoxy Charge. Source: Boston Herald- December
Rocky Mountain Christian Advocate- “The Humiliation of Southern Methodism”
Nov. 8-18. “Hurt by a Bishop’s Poem”
Old First Church, Evanston
Old Time Evangelist- Experiences of Lorenzo Dow, The Wandering Exhorter
NW Christian Advocate- “Our Contributors: He founded a University- Clark Thomas
Himman”- Professor Oliver Marcy PhD
Our Hymnal, Its History and Growth. Author: Rev. JW Gunn
Rocky Mountain Christian Advocate- “Picture of the First Methodist Church”
Rev. Jacob Grubor- Arrested for Preaching Against Slavery, Defended by Roger B.
Taney. Source: Northwestern? Aug. 1818
A Roman Catholic’s Opinion of Methodism. Author: Abbott F. Martin of France
Wesleyanism & the Church of England
NW Christian Advocate- “Whitefield’s First Visit to Boston”; Rev. Anson Titus
Box 3
Clippings: Undated (continued)
Why do we Elect Bishops?
No title (7 folders)
Clippings: Asbury
World Wide Missions “Barn in Which Asbury Preached About the Year 1814” Jan. 1898
Epworth Herald- “Bishop Asbury’s Testament”- Bertha Gerneaux Woods
Clippings: Australia
The Independent “Religious Intelligence: Methodist Union in Australia”; Rev, HT Burgess. May 5, 1898
The Christian Advocate- “Echoes of Australian Methodism”; Rev. W.F. James- May 18, 1899
The Christian Advocate- “Methodist Union in South & West Australia”; March 8, 1900
Undated- “Something About Methodism in Australia”; Rev. FE Clark, DD
Clippings: California
California Christian Advocate “Methodism in San Francisco”; CV Anthony:July 20, 1898
W. Christian Advocate- Methodism in California
Clippings: Ohio
W. Christian Advocate- Centennial for Ohio Methodism- March 30, 1898
W. Christian Advocate- “Centennial of Ohio Methodism- Celebration at Delaware”,
NBC Love: May 11, 1898
W. Christian Advocate- Entire Edition, June 29, 1898- Centennial of Ohio Methodism
Methodist Clipping: W. Christian Advocate- “George Riley, Lay Missionary to the
Waynots” Rev NBC Love, Apr. 16, 1902
Undated “Pioneer Methodism in NE Ohio”; John I. King, MD
W. Christian Advocate- “Maumee Valley and Toledo” Re. NBC Love
W. Christian Advocate- “The Introduction of Methodism in Ohio- II”; Isaac King
Clippings: Scandinavia
NW Christian Advocate- “Methodism among the Scandinavians”; Bishop John M Walden- Dec. 21, 1898
Undated “Swedish Methodism on the Atlantic Coast”
Clippings: Tennessee
Baltimore Methodist Conf- Letter Nov. 23, 1833- To: Bishop Levi Scott. From: Beech Grove Church, Tennessee (Mailed from Allisona, Tenn.)
Undated “Pioneer Methodist Church in E. Tennessee”; Same H. Thompson
Clippings: Wesley
“Birth of Methodism- Original Copy of Wesley Riles Discovered”; Dec. 1896
NW Christian Advocate- “Three of John Wesley’s Letters to his Wife”; Rev. Charles H.
Kelly- Dec. 21, 1898
Copy of Letter- 1783- To: Robert, From: J Wesley- April 26, 1783
Undated “A Valuable Find of Wesley Documents”
Undated Wesley’s Unhappy Marriage Revealed in Recently Discovered Documents
Christian Advocate- “John Wesley’s Living Bequest”- May 19, 1938 (entire issue)
Clippings: West Virginia
Epworth Herald- “A Cradle of Methodism”: MF Shawkey. Apr. 15, 1899
Conferences:
Central Pennsylvania Annual Conference 1974
General Conference
1908
1939
Demographic Report 1992
Maine Annual Conference 1945
Northeastern Jurisdiction Conference 1960
Presidents of Methodist Related Universities 1972
Second Ecumenical Methodist Conference 1891
Methodist Church and Higher Education
“Church College” Publications
Box 4
Methodist Church and Higher Education (continued)
Commission to Study Methodist Educational Responsibility in Washington 1948-1971
Directory of Methodists Colleges 1968-1969
Distinguished Teachers Award 1974
Institute of Higher Education 1969, 1992
Methodist Board of Higher Education Reports
Publications
“Student Unrest as a Constructive Force” 1969
Methodist Church History
American Methodist Bicentennial 1966
Appointments to Baltimore Conference 1833
“Castings from the Foundry Mold” 1968
Cokesbury Memorial Project 1958-1959
Handbill for Prospectus Methodist Historical Pilgrimage 1894
Letter to Bishop Hurst from Rev. A. Phoebus 1897
Letter to Rev. T.S. Long 1924
Letter to Thomas Gaskins from F. Asbury 1799 (2 folders)
Letter to Thomas Tripp from A. Clarke
Lists of Bishops 1972-1976
Manuscript 1767
Manuscript 1810 (?)
Methodist Sesqui-Centennial
Metropolitan Memorial Church 1949-1988
Minutes from the Annual Conference
Miscellaneous
Pilgrimage Itinerary 1924
Publications
“The Making of Methodism”
“Our Publishing Interests” 1896
“The Story of England; The Story of America”
Box 5
Methodist Church History (continued)
Report on Hispanic Ministry
Reproduction of Wesley’s Statement 1881
Sermon Notes of Edward Morrell Griffith
A Service of Commemoration for Bishop Oxnam 1963
Statement to Military Affairs Committee 1943
Ticket to General Love Feast 1894
Wesley Letters (background) 1957
Publications
Collected Essays
Faculty Forum 1960-1968
The Historian’s Digest 1985-1988
The Interpreter
Issues in Our Future 1992
Newscope 1974-1976
Onboard 1974-1975
Presidential Papers 1992
Social Principles of the United Methodist Church 1972
Study of the Ministry: Progress Report and Recommendations
University Senate of the Methodist Church
History
Publications
Working Papers