Home > Archival Finding Aids Home Page> Guide to the James Harrison Olmstead Papers

Overview

Biographical Note

Scope and Content

Arrangement

Preferred Citation

Restrictions on Access

Restrictions on Use

Related Material

Subject Terms

Container List [ + ]

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Guide to the James Harrison Olmstead Papers

Prepared by Myong Shin Jeon, Brent Sharp, Student Assistants, Zach Hobson, Student Intern and Mark C. Shenise, Associate Archivist

United Methodist Archives and History Center
General Commission on Archives and History of The United Methodist Church
(Published for the Drew University Methodist Library)

06/13/2012


Overview of Collection

Record Creator: Olmstead, James Harrison
Title: James Harrison Olmstead Papers
Title: Olmstead Papers
Date Span: 1897-1975
Abstract: James Harrison Olmstead (1877-1975), American minister, was born on December 10, 1877. Olmstead served the church in the former Genesee and Central New York Annual Conferences. The records document the life and ministry of James Harrison Olmstead.
Extent: 2.97 cubic feet
Resource ID: drew.ms.2408



Biographical Note

James Harrison Olmstead (1877-1975) American minister, was born on December 10, 1877 to George and Frances Olmstead in Windham Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania. He received his local preacher's license in 1896. In 1901, he graduated from Syracuse University and then from Boston University School of Theology in 1904. While a student in the seminary, he preached frequently and became a devoted student of Borden Parke Bowne. Bowne's theology espousing Personalism became a major influence in Olmstead's thought. Olmstead formally began his ministerial career when received on trial by the Genesee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1904 (later the Western New York Conference). Two years later he was granted full member and Elder status by the same annual conference. Olmstead became active in annual conference affairs which saw him appointed as conference treasurer in 1938. Following his retirement in 1950, he was elected President of the Board of Trustees of the Conference Corporation, a position he held until 1962. He continued preaching until 1960. Chancellor Tolley of Syracuse called Olmstead "one of the most successful alumni of his class in terms of his contributions to the church and its people .” Olmstead died on January 11, 1975.


Scope Note

The records document the life and ministry of James Harrison Olmstead. His pastoral journals give a detailed record of service in the various lists of vital local church records along with the texts of sermons preached at the churches he served. His ties to Syracuse University run deep as illustrated in the folder of the same name. Biographical materials give the big picture of his much appreciated pastoral career.


Arrangement

Materials have been arranged in the following manner.


Preferred Citation

When citing material from this collection please use the following format: Direct reference to the item or its file folder, James Harrison Olmstead Papers, Drew Methodist Collection, Drew University, Madison, New Jersey. Do not make use of the items call number as that is not a stable descriptor.


Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding this collection. Copyright still owned by Drew. Permissions to publish must be directed to Drew.


Restrictions on Use

Detailed use restrictions relating to our collections can be requested from the office of the archivist at the General Commission on Archives and History. Photocopying is handled by the staff and may be limited in certain instances. Before using any material for publication from this collection a formal request for permission to publish is expected and required.


Related Materials

Index Terms

Subject Topics
Ministry
Subject Geographic
New York (State)
Genre
Clippings
Journals
Photographs
Sermons
Subject - Corporate Names
Methodist Church (U.S.)
Methodist Episcopal Church


Container List


Series: Addresses and Sermons
Call Number Folder Title Date(s)
2144-5-1: 4 Sermon Notes, Texts 1897-1902
2144-5-2: 1 Abraham Lincoln 1918
2144-5-2: 2 Building a Church Program 1929
2144-5-2: 3 California Tour 1955
2144-5-2: 4 Call Evil Good and Good Evil 1910-1911
2144-5-2: 5 Call of 1861 and the Call of 1910, The 1910
2144-5-2: 6 A Call to Prayer 1919
2144-5-2: 7 Canst Thou Draw Out Leviathan with a Hook? 1912-1916
2144-5-2: 8 Cast Me Not Off 1910-1917
2144-5-2: 9 Centenary Talks 1919
2144-5-2: 10 Christ in Prayer 1924
2144-5-2: 11 Christian and the Election, The 1936
2144-5-2: 12 Church Finance 1939
2144-5-2: 13 Cigarette as a Life Partner, The 1905-1923
2144-5-2: 14 Coming Kingdom, The 1905
2144-5-2: 15 Counteth the Cost 1909-1916
2144-5-2: 16 Cure for Sin, The 1907-1933
2144-5-2: 17 Curse Ye Meroz 1918
2144-5-2: 18 Dangers from an Incomplete Victory, The 1920-1922
2144-5-2: 19 Davis Reception 1947
2144-5-2: 20 Definition of Sin 1904-1910
2144-5-2: 21 Departure of a Child from Home, The 1907-1926
2144-5-2: 22 Devotional Study of the Bible 1921
2144-5-2: 23 Devotions at the Home for Unprotected Children 1937
2144-5-2: 24 Difficulties of the Situation 1918
2144-5-2: 25 Discovery of our Brother, The 1920-1922
2144-5-2: 26 Discovery of the World, The 1920-1922
2144-5-2: 27 Don't Worry, Everything Will Be All Right 1924-1931
2144-5-2: 28 Echoes 1951
2144-5-2: 29 Endless Line of Splendor 1957
2144-5-2: 30 Evangelical Church 1945-1946
2144-5-2: 31 Felt Salvation, A 1929-1933
2144-5-2: 32 First Temptation of Jesus, The 1939-1958
2144-5-2: 33 For God So Loved the World 1921-1922
2144-5-2: 34 For I am not Ashamed of the Gospel of Christ 1910-1938
2144-5-2: 35 Forgiveness 1914
2144-5-2: 36 Found 1926
2144-5-2: 37 Four Folks We Saw at the Fair 1923
2144-5-2: 38 Free Salvation, A 1932-1957
2144-5-2: 39 Friend at Midnight, The 1916-1955
2144-5-2: 40 Full Salvation, A 1930-1957
2144-5-2: 41 General Impressions/ General Illustrations 1935
2144-5-2: 42 Geography of Palestine 1909
2144-5-2: 43 Geography of Palestine 1925
2144-5-2: 44 Getting the Churches Together 1922
2144-5-2: 45 Gleanings from the World Field 1922
2144-5-2: 46 Going Down the Mountain 1922
2144-5-2: 47 Helps and Hindrances in Prayer 1908-1959
2144-5-2: 48 Helps to Prayer 1919-1924
2144-5-2: 49 He Made It Again 1916
2144-5-2: 51 Heroes 1908
2144-5-3: 1 Hindrances to Prayer 1906-1924
2144-5-3: 2 His Ballot 1908-1928
2144-5-3: 3 His Business 1908-1928
2144-5-3: 4 His Church 1908-1928
2144-5-3: 5 His Girl 1908-1928
2144-5-3: 6 How may Death be Destroyed? 1909
2144-5-3: 7 How may I Become a Follower of Christ? 1920-1954
2144-5-3: 8 How may Life be Permanantly Established? 1909
2144-5-2: 50 He Wist not that the Lord had Departed 1912-1958
2144-5-4: 1 Open Mindedness 1922
2144-5-4: 2 Origin of Sin, The 1907-1910
2144-5-4: 3 Ownership 1919-1953
2144-5-4: 4 Parent in the Home, The 1902-1907
2144-5-4: 5 Pastor's Night 1925-1951
2144-5-4: 6 Patriotism of the Morrow, The 1917
2144-5-4: 7 Pension Talk 1943-1946
2144-5-4: 8 Personality of Fatherhood - God 1905
2144-5-4: 9 Problem of Doubt, The 1909-1930
2144-5-4: 10 Problem of Guidance, The 1919-1930
2144-5-4: 11 Problem of Self Mastery, The 1923
2144-5-4: 12 Problem of Sin, The 1906-1923
2144-5-4: 13 Problem of the Child, The 1908
2144-5-4: 14 Problem of the City, The 1908
2144-5-4: 15 Qualifications for Christian Service 1906
2144-5-4: 16 Radio Talks 1932
2144-5-4: 17 Religion without a Home 1907-1916
2144-5-4: 18 Religion without the Pocketbook 1908-1916
2144-5-4: 19 Religious Dramatics 1930
2144-5-4: 20 Remember 1923
2144-5-4: 21 Romance of Church Finance, The 1944-1954
2144-5-4: 22 Rules of the Game, The 1926
2144-5-4: 23 Second Temptation, The 1906
2144-5-4: 24 Selection of a Partner for the Home, The 1907-1926
2144-5-4: 25 Social Gospel, The 1921-1922
2144-5-4: 26 Some Biblical Fools 1915-1926
2144-5-4: 27 Some Popular Misconceptions 1911
2144-5-4: 28 Stewardship of Possessions 1919-1953
2144-5-4: 29 Supposing Religion 1920-1954
2144-5-4: 30 Take up His Cross 1918
2144-5-4: 31 Talk on Mexico 1959
2144-5-4: 32 Talk on Social Service 1913
2144-5-4: 33 Talk to Veterans 1921
2144-5-4: 34 Teach to Win Souls 1905
2144-5-4: 35 Temperance and Missions 1934
2144-5-4: 36 Temptations of Christ, The 1934
2144-5-4: 37 Temptations on the Mountain, The 1939-1958
2144-5-4: 38 Thanksgiving Address 1918
2144-5-4: 39 There is a Great Gulf Fixed 1906-1957
2144-5-4: 40 Third Temptation, The 1906
2144-5-4: 41 This Man hath done nothing amiss 1914
2144-5-4: 42 Thy Kingdom Come in our Church 1941
2144-5-4: 43 Timeline Baskets, The 1910-1956
2144-5-4: 44 Tithing 1919-1953
2144-5-4: 45 Tomorrow 1923-1926
2144-5-4: 46 To the Ambitious Man 1907-1916
2144-5-4: 47 To the Awakened Man 1907-1916
2144-5-4: 48 To the Discouraged Man 1907-1916
2144-5-4: 49 To the Overconfident Man 1907-1916
2144-5-4: 50 To the Thoughtless Man 1907-1916
2144-5-5: 1 Transfiguration, The 1908-1938
2144-5-5: 2 Transfiguration of Saint Peter - Call, The 1908
2144-5-5: 3 Transfiguration of Saint Peter - Confession 1908
2144-5-5: 4 Transfiguration of Saint Peter - Fall 1908
2144-5-5: 5 Transfiguration of Saint Peter - Repentance 1908-1938
2144-5-5: 6 Transfiguration of Saint Peter - Walking on the Sea 1908
2144-5-5: 7 Ultimate Destiny of the Ungodly, The 1925
2144-5-5: 8 Uniting Conference, The 1939
2144-5-5: 9 Unknown Dead, The 1905
2144-5-5: 10 Wages of Sin in Death, The 1906-1933
2144-5-5: 11 Wayfarer, The 1919
2144-5-5: 12 What is a Christian? 1927-1958
2144-5-5: 13 What is a Christian for? 1924-1956
2144-5-5: 14 What is Death? 1909
2144-5-5: 15 What is it all about? 1938-1954
2144-5-5: 16 What is Life? 1909
2144-5-5: 17 What is the Almighty that We should Serve Him? 1917-1922
2144-5-5: 18 What is the matter with the Church? 1912-1930
2144-5-5: 19 What must I do to be Saved 1914-1956
2144-5-5: 20 What must I do to be Saved? 1939-1955
2144-5-5: 21 What Next? 1919
2144-5-5: 22 What Shall I do with Jesus? 1921-1957
2144-5-5: 23 What shall it profit a man to gain? 1917-1922
2144-5-5: 24 What shall she aim to avoid? 1913
2144-5-5: 25 What shall she aim to be? 1907-1913
2144-5-5: 26 What shall she aim to do? 1913
2144-5-5: 27 What then shall I do with Jesus? 1902-1954
2144-5-5: 28 What think ye of Christ? 1905
2144-5-5: 29 Where Shall the Ungodly and the Sinners Appear? 1911-1922
2144-5-5: 30 Whom shall she aim to marry? 1907-1913
2144-5-5: 31 Why Go Hungry? 1906-1920
2144-5-5: 32 Why not try Christianity? 1925-1955
2144-5-5: 33 Why Pray at all? 1919-1924
2144-5-5: 34 Wife in the Home, The 1907-1926
2144-5-5: 35 Will God violate His Laws because you ask Him? 1915-1924
2144-5-5: 36 With His Stripes We are Healed 1905-1959
2144-5-5: 37 Woe to those at ease in Zion 1907-1954
2144-5-5: 38 World's Fools, The 1922-1926
2144-5-5: 39 Would Thou Be Made Whole? 1925
2144-5-5: 40 Wrecking of the Home 1907
2144-5-5: 41 You Can't Change Human Nature 1910-1931
2144-5-5: 42 You Can't Mix Religion and Business 1923-1931
2144-5-5: 43 Zacchaeus 1911-1959
2144-5-3: 9 How Shall We Escape 1904-1956
2144-5-3: 10 How to Pray 1908-1959
2144-5-3: 11 How to Save the World, or Lessons from the Campaign 1921
2144-5-3: 12 Human Nature and Divine Nature 1913-1957
2144-5-3: 13 Humility 1914
2144-5-3: 14 Husband in the Home, The 1907-1926
2144-5-3: 15 I am the Truth 1918-1934
2144-5-3: 16 I was Afraid 1927-1931
2144-5-3: 17 I will pay my vows unto Jehovah 1913
2144-5-3: 18 If a man die shall he live again 1922
2144-5-3: 19 Immigration Problem 1908
2144-5-3: 20 Impressions of the Council of Cities 1924
2144-5-3: 21 Irrepressible Conflict, The 1914-1960
2144-5-3: 22 Is it nothing to you all ye that pass by? 1918-1954
2144-5-3: 23 It doesn't make any difference 1924-1931
2144-5-3: 24 Jesus on the Pinnacle of the Temple 1914-1958
2144-5-3: 25 Keys to Life's Treasure Chest 1922-1923
2144-5-3: 26 Launch Out 1921
2144-5-3: 27 Lay Activities 1939
2144-5-3: 28 League of Nations, The 1919
2144-5-3: 29 Lessons from Hitler 1941
2144-5-3: 30 Life After Death 1905
2144-5-3: 31 Like Him 1905
2144-5-3: 32 Lincoln, The Paradoxical 1909-1917
2144-5-3: 33 Loss of the Titanic, The 1912
2144-5-3: 34 Lost and Found 1926
2144-5-3: 35 Love 1914
2144-5-3: 36 Lovest Thou Me? 1911-1954
2144-5-3: 37 Lure of a Possibility, The 1937
2144-5-3: 38 Man Who Never had a Chance, The 1923-1935
2144-5-3: 39 Man Who says "What's the Use", The 1923-1959
2144-5-3: 40 Man Who Wins at the Finish, The 1923-1959
2144-5-3: 41 Man with an Eye to the Main Chance, The 1923-1959
2144-5-3: 42 Man with an Indirect Aim, The 1923-1935
2144-5-3: 43 Man without a Country, The 1908-1937
2144-5-3: 44 Man without a God, The 1912-1937
2144-5-3: 45 Man without a Home, The 1912
2144-5-3: 46 Man without a Purpose, The 1912
2144-5-3: 47 Maximum and Minimum Christians 1918
2144-5-3: 48 Meaning of Prayer, The 1908-1959
2144-5-3: 49 Methodism's Million Dollar Show - Centenary 1919
2144-5-3: 50 Methodist Movement, The 1938
2144-5-3: 51 Minister and his Personal Conduct, The 1948-1949
2144-5-3: 52 Ministry of Love, The 1904
2144-5-3: 53 Mixing Religion and the World 1907
2144-5-3: 54 Moral Issues of the Campaign 1920
2144-5-3: 55 Moral Issues of the Campaign 1923-1924
2144-5-3: 56 Moral Issues of the Election 1932
2144-5-3: 57 Need of Salvation, The 1925
2144-5-3: 58 Olmstead Class 1948
2144-5-6: 5 Sermon Material: And He Marveled - Borderland Region 1903-1957
2144-5-6: 6 Toasts/ Speeches 1915-1930

Series: Ministry
Call Number Folder Title Date(s)
2144-5-1: 1 Biography 1902-1975
2144-5-1: 2 Syracuse University 1932-1964
2144-5-1: 3 Annual Conferences 1932-1967
2144-5-1: 5 Pastoral and Church Journals - Folder 1 1900-1919
2144-5-1: 6 Pastoral and Church Journals - Folder 2 1919-1938
2144-5-5: 44 Bulletins 1902-1912
2144-5-5: 45 Correspondence 1903-1912
2144-5-5: 46 General Conference Materials 1924-1936
2144-5-5: 47 Miscellaneous Materials 1904-1939
2144-5-5: 48 Washington Seminar on Peace 1958

Series: Publications
Call Number Folder Title Date(s)
2144-5-6: 1 Comforting Words Undated
2144-5-6: 2 Hymns/Poems - Absence - How? When? Where? Why? Undated
2144-5-6: 3 Hymns/Poems - Hymn of Trust - Sleep Undated
2144-5-6: 4 Hymns/Poems - Sleeping and Waking - Yet a Little While Undated