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Overview

Biographical Note

Scope and Content

Arrangement

Preferred Citation

Restrictions on Access

Subject Terms

Container List [ + ]

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Electronic Guide to the Bishop William Burt Collection

Prepared by Mark C. Shenise, Associate Archivist, Robert D. Simpson, Archival Assistant, and Aaron Smith, Student Assistant

United Methodist Archives and History Center
General Commission on Archives and History of The United Methodist Church

3/22/1999


Overview of Collection

Record Creator: Burt, William
Title: Bishop William Burt Collection
Date Span: 1872 - 1978
Abstract: William Burt was an American pastor, missionary and bishop for the Methodist Episcopal Church. His episcopal areas included Europe (1904-1912) and the Buffalo, New York area (1912-1924). Burt was instrumental in organizing many of the European annual conferences for the church. The records illustrate his work both in Europe and the United States from a historical and sociological perspective.
Extent: 9.75 Cubic feet
Resource ID: gcah.ms.1563



Biographical Note

William Burt, an American pastor, missionary, and bishop, was born in Padstow, Cornwall, England, on October 23, 1852. His family immigrated to the United States. Burt graduated from Wesleyan University, in Middletown, Connecticut, in 1879, and from Drew Theological School in Madison, New Jersey, in 1881. Eventually, he received honorary doctorates from Grant, Wesleyan, and Syracuse Universities and Dickinson and Allegheny Colleges.

Joining the New York East Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1881, Burt served St. Paul's Church and De Kalb Avenue Church in Brooklyn before being transferred to the Italy Annual Conference in 1886. In 1888 he moved to Florence, establishing a theological school, and became superintendent of the Italy Mission. Coming to Rome in 1890, Burt was instrumental in establishing the Methodist Building, the Boy's College, a Theological School, Publishing House, and Young Ladies College. He also led in building several churches and schools in other parts of Italy.

On May 20, 1904, Burt was elected a Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and appointed resident Bishop of Europe. While in charge of the work in Europe, he organized the France Mission Conference, the Austria- Hungary Mission Conference, the Russian Mission Conference, and the Denmark and Finland Annual Conferences. In 1910 he organized all the Methodist work in Europe into the European Central Annual Conference.

On several occasions the Board of Bishops designated Burt to be an Episcopal visitor in other areas of the world. In 1906 he was Fraternal delegate to the British and Irish Wesleyan Conference, and in that same year made the Quadrennial visit to Methodist missions in Africa. In 1917 he visited the Methodist work in the Orient including China, Japan, the Philippines, India, Korea, and the Malay Peninsula. Finally in 1919 Burt was called upon to study post-war conditions in Europe with the purpose of rebuilding Methodist Episcopal churches.

Burt's contributions and honors were many. He wrote ten books and translated the Discipline into Italian. King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy knighted him in 1903. He was received by the kings of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden as well as by the queens of Italy and Bulgaria, the Emperor of Germany and the Shah of Persia.

Bishop Burt returned to the United States in 1912 assuming episcopal leadership of the Buffalo, New York area. He retired in 1924 and died at Clifton Springs, New York on April 9, 1936. He is buried in Lynn, Massachusetts.

Burt married Helen Bartlett Graves (born April 14, 1856) on April 14, 1881. They had five children.


Scope Note

The Bishop William Burt Collection is an excellent documentary on the life and work of a pioneer minister within the Methodist Episcopal Church. In this collection we see the pathos and commitment Burt and his family brought to the work of the church, especially in Europe. These records illuminate his varying roles as clergyperson, presiding elder, bishop, and family member. Well liked by most, Burt was an influential person within the denomination throughout his career.

Records from his wife, Helen, and daughter Edith are located here, as well. The collection shows the historical and sociological involvement Burt had with the life, events, and politics of Europe, the United States, and the rest of the world. This involvement covered society from its lowest common denominator all the way through and including the very top of the social ladder. Burt was a world traveler and the collection sheds light on Methodist Episcopal work around the globe. This is especially true in the correspondence, diaries, and photograph series. Besides reflecting Burt's ministry in Europe, there are significant records concerning his work in the United States. Other notable personalities are also included

Early missionaries to Europe, especially to Russia, have primary documents located here as well. Many of Italy's leading Methodists such as the Taglialatela family have both published and handwritten materials within the collection. Records by other bishops such as Vincent and Bast are interspersed throughout the first section. Another area which is documented is Burt's commitment to the ongoing work of the Jerusalem Home which was started by Bishop J. P. Newman. There is a sizeable amount of records pertaining to the Crandon Institute in Rome, as well.


Arrangement

Materials have been arranged in the following manner.

Series: Additional records
Series: Architectural drawings
Series: Correspondence and postcards
Series: Crandon Institute
Series: Diaries
Series: Financial
Series: Legal
Series: Manuscripts and addresses
Series: Memorabilia
Series: Minutes and reports
Series: Miscellaneous
Series: Photographs and negatives
Series: Publications and pamphlets
Series: Sermons and prayers

Preferred Citation

When citing material from this collection please use the following format: Direct reference to the item or its file folder, William Burt Collection, United Methodist Church Archives - GCAH, Madison, New Jersey. Do not make use of the item"s call number as that is not a stable descriptor.


Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding this collection.


Index Terms

Subject Names - Personal
:Cacciapuoti, Felice
:Golder, Louise
:Jennings, Henry C
:Nitti, Paola
:Simons, Ottilie Aurora
:Stewart, Charles Macaulay
Added Names - Personal
:Buggelli, G
:Burt, Edith A
:Burt, Helen Bartlett
:Butler, Harcourt
:Clark, Walling
:Coolidge, Calvin
:Dodson, W. P
:Eklund, Anna
:Fairbanks, Charles W
:Garibaldi family
:Garitto
:Ginelli, E
:Graves, Helen Bartlett
:Gulick, William H
:Haggman, J. W
:Hartzell, J. C
:Havsj, Eurluluus
:Integer, Manuel
:Keller, Helen
:Mott, John R
:Murlin, Lemuel Herbert
:North, Eric M
:Nuelsen, John Louis
:Piggott, H. J
:Pillai, V. Thirumala, Mrs
:Powell, Elmer E
:Rucker, August
:Seoth, T. V
:Simons, George Albert
:Taglialatela, Alfredo
:Taglialatela, Eduardo
:Thompson, Willaim J
:Vickery, M. E
:Vincent, John Heyl
:Walden, John Morgan
:Withey, Herbert C
Subject Topics
Anniversaries
Bishops
Catholic Church
Church history
Church respite care
Church work
Clergy-Office
Corporation reports
Episcopacy
Local church
Methodist Episcopal Church. General Conference
Methodists, Bulgarian
Methodists, French
Methodists, German
Methodists, Hungarian
Methodists, Italian
Methodists, Norwegian
Methodists, Russian
Missions
Music
Schools
Sermons
Women
Worship
Subject Geographic
Austria
Bulgaria
Burma
Canada
China
Denmark
England
Finland
France
Germany
India
Italy
Liberia
Madeira (Madeira Islands)
Norway
Philippines
Russia
Scandinavia
South Africa
Sweden
Switzerland
United States
Genre
Announcements
Architectural drawings
Articles
Cartes-de-visite
Certificates
Clippings
Correspondence
Diaries
Diplomas
Financial records
Legal documents
Manuscripts
Minutes
Negatives
Notebooks
Ordination certificates
Pamphlets
Pamphlets
Photographs
Postcards
Programs
Publications
Reports
Scrapbooks
Sermons
Sheet music
Testimonials
Occupations
Bishop
Minister
Presiding Elder


Container List


Series: Additional records
Call Number Folder Title Date(s)
1593-5-6: 1 Manuscript: The Story of my Life: Early Years Pages 1 - 149 N.D.
1593-5-6: 2 Manuscript: The Story of my Life: Early Years Pages 150 - 238 N.D.
1593-5-6: 3 Manuscripts: Biographical N.D.

Series: Architectural drawings
Call Number Folder Title Date(s)
1593-5-5: 0 Architectural Drawings Oversize N.D.

Series: Correspondence and postcards
Call Number Folder Title Date(s)
1593-2-1: 7 Correspondence: Letters to Burt N.D.
1593-2-1: 8 Correspondence: Letters to Burt 1881-1889
1593-2-1: 9 Correspondence: Letters to Burt 1890-1903
1593-2-1: 10 Correspondence: Letters to Burt 1904-1905
1593-2-1: 11 Correspondence: Letters to Burt 1906-1911
1593-2-1: 12 Correspondence: Letters to Burt 1912-1917
1593-2-1: 13 Correspondence: Letters to Burt 1918-1921
1593-2-1: 14 Correspondence: Letters to Burt 1922-1923
1593-2-1: 15 Correspondence: Letters to Burt 1924-1925
1593-2-1: 16 Correspondence: Letters to Burt 1926-1927
1593-2-1: 17 Correspondence: Letters to Burt 1928-1931
1593-2-1: 18 Correspondence: Letters to Burt 1932-1935
1593-2-1: 19 Correspondence: Letters from Burt 1882-1924
1593-2-1: 20 Correspondence: Letters to Helen Burt 1900-1943
1593-2-2: 1 Correspondence: Letters to Edith Burt 1921
1593-2-2: 2 Correspondence: Letters from Edith Burt 1951-1954
1593-2-2: 3 Correspondence: Non-Burt Correspondence 1904-1940
1593-2-2: 4 Postcards N.D.
1593-2-2: 5 Postcards 1904-1929
1593-2-2: 6 Postcards 1930-1962

Series: Crandon Institute
Call Number Folder Title Date(s)
1593-3-2: 15 Crandon Institute: Correspondence 1905-1911
1593-3-2: 16 Crandon Institute: Correspondence 1912-1936
1593-3-2: 17 Crandon Institute: Correspondence 1905-1911
1593-3-2: 18 Crandon Institute: Postcards 1905-1912
1593-3-2: 19 Crandon Institute: Financial 1906-1912
1593-3-2: 20 Crandon Institute: Reports 1898-1914
1593-3-2: 21 Crandon Institute: Address 1911
1593-3-3: 1 Crandon Institute: Sheet Music 1908
1593-3-3: 2 Crandon Institute: Publications 1900-1902
1593-3-3: 3 Crandon Institute: Publications 1904-1915
1593-3-3: 4 Crandon Institute: Pamphlets 1898-1900
1593-3-3: 5 Crandon Institute: Programs 1895-1914
1593-3-3: 6 Crandon Institute: Photographs N.D.
1593-3-3: 7 Crandon Institute: Miscellaneous 1902-1913
1593-5-4: 1 Crandon Institute: Photographs Oversize N.D.
1593-5-5: 1 Crandon Institute: Pen and Ink Drawings Oversize N.D.
1593-5-5: 2 Crandon Institute: Architectural Drawings Oversize N.D.

Series: Diaries
Call Number Folder Title Date(s)
1591-6-3: 1 Diary: Dekalb Avenue M. E. Church April 10, 1883 - March 23, 1884 1883-1884
1591-6-3: 2 Diary: Trip to Washington, D.C. February 19 - 25, 1885 1885
1591-6-3: 3 Diary: Italy June 9, 1886 - February 15, 1887 1886-1887
1591-6-3: 4 Diary: Illustrations and Incidents January 26, 1887 - May 21, 1891 1887-1891
1591-6-3: 5 Diary: Italy July 10, 1888 - November 17, 1889 1888-1889
1591-6-3: 6 Diary: Africa, Europe, Middle East February 11, 1899 - March 14, 1899 1899
1591-6-3: 7 Diary: Europe, United States May 27, 1904 - November 20, 1904 1904
1591-6-3: 8 Diary: Europe December 14, 1904 - November 29, 1905 1904-1905
1591-6-3: 9 Diary: Europe, United States December 12, 1905 - October 10, 1906 1905-1906
1591-6-3: 10 Diary: Africa December 12, 1906 - January 1907 1906-1907
1591-6-3: 11 Diary: Africa December 12, 1906 - February 7, 1907 1906-1907
1591-6-3: 12 Diary: Africa February 15, 1907 - March 18, 1907 1907
1591-6-3: 13 Diary: Europe, United States April 20, 1907 - October 27, 1907 1907
1591-6-3: 14 Diary: France August 17, 1907 - 1907
1591-6-3: 15 Diary: United States October 31, 1907 - April 1, 1908 1907-1908
1591-6-3: 16 Diary: Europe June 6, 1908 - July 13, 1909 1908-1909
1591-6-3: 17 Diary: North Africa March 19, 1909 - April 1, 1909 1909
1591-6-3: 18 Diary: Europe January 1, 1910 - December 31, 1910 1910
1591-6-3: 19 Diary: Europe, Middle East January 1, 1911 - December 17, 1911 1911
1591-6-3: 20 Diary: Europe, Middle East, North America March 16, 1911 - December 31, 1911 1911
1591-6-3: 21 Diary: Europe, United States January 1, 1912 - December 31, 1912 1912
1591-6-3: 22 Diary: United States January 1, 1913 - December 31, 1913 1913
1591-6-3: 23 Diary: United States January 1, 1914 - December 31, 1914 1914
1591-6-3: 24 Diary: United States January 1, 1915 - December 31, 1915 1915
1591-6-3: 25 Diary: United States January 1, 1916 - December 31, 1916 1916
1591-6-3: 26 Diary: Canada, Far East, Middle East, United States January 1, 1917 - December 31, 1917 1917
1591-6-3: 27 Diary: Far East, United States January 1, 1918 - December 31, 1918 1918
1591-6-3: 28 Diary: Europe November 8, 1919 - 1919
1591-6-3: 29 Diary: Europe, United States January 1, 1919 - December 31, 1919 1919
1591-6-3: 30 Diary: Europe, United States January 1, 1920 - December 31, 1920 1920
1593-2-1: 1 Diary: United States January 1, 1921 - December 31, 1921 1921
1593-2-1: 2 Diary: Europe, United States January 1, 1922 - December 31, 1922 1922
1593-2-1: 3 Diary: United States January 1, 1923 - December 31, 1923 1923
1593-2-1: 4 Diary: United States January 1, 1924 - December 31, 1924 1924
1593-2-1: 5 Diary, United States January 1, 1925 - December 31, 1925 1925
1593-2-1: 6 Diary: Anton Bast 1896

Series: Financial
Call Number Folder Title Date(s)
1593-3-2: 8 Financial 1904-1931

Series: Legal
Call Number Folder Title Date(s)
1593-3-2: 7 Legal 1888-1934

Series: Manuscripts and addresses
Call Number Folder Title Date(s)
1593-2-3: 20 Manuscripts: William Burt 1906
1593-2-3: 21 Manuscripts: William Burt C - W N.D.
1593-2-3: 22 Manuscripts: Edith Burt 1920-1922
1593-2-3: 23 Manuscripts: Garitto Italian Methodism N.D.
1593-2-3: 24 Manuscripts: August Rucker European Methodism, G - M N.D.
1593-2-3: 25 Manuscripts: George Albert Simons N.D.
1593-2-3: 26 Manuscripts: Eduardo Taglialatela Notes - Cenni Stories N.D.
1593-2-3: 27 Manuscripts: Eduardo Taglialatela Manuscript - Cenni Stories N.D.
1593-2-3: 28 Addresses: No Title N.D.
1593-2-3: 29 Addresses: No Title 1908-1942
1593-2-3: 30 Addresses: B - D 1880-1926
1593-2-3: 31 Addresses: E 1912-1932
1593-3-1: 1 Addresses: F - P 1912-1929
1593-3-1: 2 Addresses: R - T 1911-1918
1593-3-1: 3 Addresses: W 1928-1930

Series: Memorabilia
Call Number Folder Title Date(s)
1593-2-3: 19 Certificates and Documents 1875-1920
1593-3-1: 4 Memorials and Obituaries 1927-1947
1593-3-1: 5 Personal: Remembrance Book 1923-1924
1593-3-1: 6 Personal: Miscellaneous 1888-1972
1593-3-2: 9 Resolutions 1882-1936
1593-3-2: 10 Programs 1884-1908
1593-3-2: 11 Programs 1909-1922
1593-3-2: 12 Programs 1923-1936
1593-3-2: 13 Sheet Music 1919
1593-4-2: 1 Certificates and Documents Oversize 1881-1925
1593-4-3: 1 Scrapbooks: Volume 1 1881-1884
1593-4-3: 2 Scrapbooks: Volume 2 1902-1911
1593-4-3: 3 Scrapbooks: Volume 7 1918
1593-4-3: 4 Scrapbooks: Volume 9 1924
1593-4-3: 5 Scrapbooks: Volume 10 1924
1593-4-4: 1 Scrapbooks: Volume 3 1912
1593-4-5: 1 Scrapbooks: Volume 4 1913
1593-5-1: 1 Scrapbooks: Volume 5 1914
1593-5-2: 1 Scrapbooks: Volume 6 1915
1593-5-3: 1 Scrapbooks: Volume 8 1922

Series: Minutes and reports
Call Number Folder Title Date(s)
1593-3-2: 2 Minutes/Reports Africa-France N.D.
1593-3-2: 3 Minutes/Reports Italy-United States N.D.
1593-3-2: 4 Minutes/Reports 1885-1912
1593-3-2: 5 Minutes/Reports 1913-1920
1593-3-2: 6 Minutes/Reports 1921-1932

Series: Miscellaneous
Call Number Folder Title Date(s)
1593-3-2: 14 Miscellaneous 1880-1937

Series: Photographs and negatives
Call Number Folder Title Date(s)
1593-2-2: 22 Photographs: Austria N.D.
1593-2-2: 23 Photographs: Bulgaria 1908
1593-2-2: 24 Photographs: Burma N.D.
1593-2-2: 25 Photographs: Canada N.D.
1593-2-2: 26 Photographs: China 1917
1593-2-2: 27 Photographs: Denmark (Processor's Note: Germany included as well) N.D.
1593-2-2: 28 Photographs: Finland 1911
1593-2-2: 29 Photographs: France N.D.
1593-2-2: 30 Photographs: Germany N.D.
1593-2-3: 1 Photographs: Germany 1922-1978
1593-2-3: 2 Photographs: India 1916-1919
1593-2-3: 3 Photographs: Italy N.D.
1593-2-3: 4 Photographs: Italy N.D.
1593-2-3: 5 Photographs: Italy 1888-1925
1593-2-3: 6 Photographs: Liberia 1907
1593-2-3: 7 Photographs: Madeira 1907
1593-2-3: 8 Photographs: Norway 1886-1907
1593-2-3: 9 Photographs: Philippines N.D.
1593-2-3: 10 Photographs: Russia 1910-1921
1593-2-3: 11 Photographs: Scandinavia N.D.
1593-2-3: 12 Photographs: South Africa N.D.
1593-2-3: 13 Photographs: Sweden 1909
1593-2-3: 14 Photographs: Switzerland N.D.
1593-2-3: 15 Photographs: United States N.D.
1593-2-3: 16 Photographs: United States 1886-1930
1593-2-3: 17 Photographs: Miscellaneous N.D.
1593-2-3: 18 Negatives: Italy N.D.
1593-4-1: 1 Photographs: Germany Oversize N.D.
1593-4-1: 2 Photographs: India Oversize 1917-1921
1593-4-1: 3 Photographs: Italy Oversize 1899
1593-4-1: 4 Photographs: United States Oversize 1872-1929
1593-4-1: 5 Photographs: Russia Oversize N.D.

Series: Publications and pamphlets
Call Number Folder Title Date(s)
1593-3-1: 7 Publications: A - Die 1895-1924
1593-3-1: 8 Publications: Do 1888-1927
1593-3-1: 9 Publications: E - General 1900-1923
1593-3-1: 10 Publications: General - L 1906-1928
1593-3-1: 11 Publications: M 1909-1930
1593-3-1: 12 Publications: N - R 1894-1923
1593-3-1: 13 Publications: S -T 1921-1933
1593-3-1: 14 Publications: Z 1912
1593-3-1: 15 Pamphlets 1893-1895
1593-3-1: 16 Pamphlets 1896-1903
1593-3-2: 1 Pamphlets 1904-1948

Series: Sermons and prayers
Call Number Folder Title Date(s)
1593-2-2: 7 Sermons: No Scripture Text N.D.
1593-2-2: 8 Sermons: Old Testament N.D.
1593-2-2: 9 Sermons: New Testament Gospels: Matthew N.D.
1593-2-2: 10 Sermons: New Testament Gospels: Mark - Luke N.D.
1593-2-2: 11 Sermons: New Testament Gospels: John N.D.
1593-2-2: 12 Sermons: New Testament History: Acts N.D.
1593-2-2: 13 Sermons: New Testament Epistles: Romans - I Corinthians N.D.
1593-2-2: 14 Sermons: New Testament Epistles: II Corinthians - II Timothy N.D.
1593-2-2: 15 Sermons: New Testament Epistles: Titus - I John N.D.
1593-2-2: 16 Sermons: Published 1915
1593-2-2: 17 Sermons: Published 1924
1593-2-2: 18 Sermons: John Cantacuzuus N.D.
1593-2-2: 19 Sermons: S. Beruatto N.D.
1593-2-2: 20 Sermons: Alfredo Taglialatela 1915
1593-2-2: 21 Prayers N.D.