Electronic Guide to the Abel Stevens Papers
Prepared by Robert Drew Simpson, Assistant Archivist and Mark C. Shenise, Associate Archivist
United Methodist Archives and History Center
General Commission on Archives and History of The United Methodist Church
12/9/1999
(Published for the Drew University Methodist Library)
Overview of Collection
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| Record Creator: |
Stevens, Abel |
| Title: |
Abel Stevens Papers |
| Date Span: |
1827-1931 |
| Abstract: |
Abel Stevens (1815-1897), Methodist Historian, was born in Philadelphia on January 19, 1815, and joined the New England Annual Conference in 1834. He was editor of Zions' Herald and The National Magazine, and corresponding editor of The Methodist. Abel Stevens died on September 11, 1897. The collection comprises various record types dealing with the slavery question and how it related to the denomination. |
| Extent: |
1.23 Cubic feet |
| Resource ID:
|
drew.ms.2423 |
Biographical Note
Abel Stevens (1815-1897), a Methodist historian, was born in Philadelphia on January 19, 1815. He became a member of the New England Conference in 1834. His first station was in Boston until 1848, when he was appointed editor of Zion's Herald. Stevens held this post for twelve years. He became widely known in the church for his editorial skills, and for the strong positions he took on controversial issues. He was known as a moderate regarding the growing abolitionist party in the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1852, Stevens became editor of the new periodical, The National Magazine. The southern members of the Methodist Episcopal Church saw Stevens as a balancing influence respecting abolition. From 1860 to 1874 Stevens was corresponding editor of The Methodist. His four-volume History of the Methodist Episcopal Church remains today as one of the important authoritative works regarding the general history of the Methodist Episcopal Church for the period in which he wrote. Stevens died September 11, 1897.
Scope Note
This collection includes eight scrapbooks and an index on the subject of Slavery and the Methodist Church. There is another scrapbook on personal topics. Finally there is a scrapbook which contains a large collection of 19th century John Wesley and British Methodist lithographs was collected by Stevens. There is also the complete manuscript of his book entitled The Life and Times of Nathan Bangs. The correspondence covers the years 1827 to 1931 as well as five undated letters. There are biographical notes about the Reverend Matthew Newhall, Jesse Lee, Solomon Sias, and one unidentified circuit preacher. Miscellaneous notes, clippings, resolutions regarding slavery offered at the New England Conference, and two printed portraits are a part of the collection as well.
Arrangement
Materials have been arranged in the following manner.
Series: Bangs Manuscript
Series: Biographical Notes
Series: General
Series: Scrapbooks
Preferred Citation
When citing material from this collection please use the following format: Direct reference to the item or its file folder, Abel Stevens Collection, Drew University Methodist Collection, Drew University, Madison, New Jersey. Do not make use of the item's call number as that is not a stable descriptor.
Access Restrictions
Copyright still owned by Drew University. Permissions to publish must be directed to Drew University
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Index Terms |
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Subject Names - Corporate |
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Methodist Episcopal Church |
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Subject Topics |
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Methodism |
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Slavery |
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Subject Geographic |
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United States |
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Genre |
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Biographies |
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Clippings |
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Correspondence |
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Manuscripts |
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Scrapbooks |
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Occupations |
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Editor |
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Minister |
Series: Bangs Manuscript
| Call Number |
Folder Title |
Date(s) |
| 2127-3-7:
2 |
Bangs Manuscript |
undated |
| 2127-3-7:
3 |
Bangs Manuscript |
undated |
| 2127-3-7:
4 |
Bangs Manuscript |
undated |
| 2127-3-7:
5 |
Bangs Manuscript |
undated |
| 2127-3-7:
6 |
Bangs Manuscript |
undated |
Series: Biographical Notes
| Call Number |
Folder Title |
Date(s) |
| 2127-3-7:
7 |
Biographical Notes |
undated |
Series: General
| Call Number |
Folder Title |
Date(s) |
| 2127-3-7:
8 |
Clippings and Notes |
undated |
| 2127-3-7:
9 |
Slavery Resolutions |
undated |
| 2127-3-7:
10 |
Portraits |
undated |
| 2127-3-7:
11 |
Collection Price List |
undated |
| 2127-3-7:
12 |
Correspondence |
1827-1931 |
Series: Scrapbooks
| Call Number |
Folder Title |
Date(s) |
| 2127-1-2:
1 |
Scrapbook 12 |
1835-1869 |
| 2127-3-6:
1 |
Scrapbook 1 |
1855-1856 |
| 2127-3-6:
2 |
Scrapbook 2 |
1848-1856 |
| 2127-3-6:
3 |
Scrapbook 3 |
1854 |
| 2127-3-6:
4 |
Scrapbook 4 |
1854-1855 |
| 2127-3-6:
5 |
Scrapbook 5 |
1856-1858 |
| 2127-3-6:
6 |
Scrapbook 6 |
1856-1858 |
| 2127-3-6:
7 |
Scrapbook 7 |
1858 |
| 2127-3-6:
8 |
Scrapbook 8 |
1858-1859 |
| 2127-3-6:
9 |
Scrapbook 9 |
1859 |
| 2127-3-6:
10 |
Scrapbook 10 |
1859-1860 |
| 2127-3-6:
11 |
Scrapbook 11 with Index |
undated |
