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| Record Creator: | Newman, John Philip | |
| Title: | John Philip Newman Collection | |
| Title: | Newman Collection | |
| Date Span: | 1826-1904 | Click here to view the finding aid format suitable for requesting material at the Archives. |
| Abstract: | John Philip Newman was born in New York City on September 1, 1826. Newman married Angeline Ensign in 1855, and after a number of appointments was transferred to the New York Annual Conference where he successfully served two of the largest churches in New York City between the years of 1859 to 1864. From 1864 to 1869 Newman was assigned to New Orleans to establish the Methodist Episcopal Church in the south. He served three terms as Chaplain of the United States Senate in addition to his denominational responsibilities. For a third time he returned as pastor of the Metropolitan Church, and served there until he was elected a bishop in 1888. His episcopal responsibilities took him not only on assignments in this country, but also to Japan, South America, Mexico, Scandinavia, and Russia. The Newmans had great interest in Jerusalem and provided through their estate enough funds and property in 1911 to allow the Board of Missions to establish in 1928 the Newman School of Missions in Jerusalem. Bishop John Philip Newman died on July 5, 1899 in Saratoga, New York and was buried in Mechanicville, New York. This collection is comprised of papers, correspondence, journals, photographs, portrait paintings, manuscripts, newspaper clippings, publications, administrative files, and genealogy. Much of this material pertains to Newman's pastoral and episcopal work. | |
| Extent: | 4.2 cubic feet | |
| Identification: | gcah.ms.gcah612 | |
| dbtext | 612 |
John Philip Newman was born in New York City on September 1, 1826. Without any significant formal education, he entered the Onedia Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1849.
Newman married Angeline Ensign in 1855, and after a number of appointments was transferred to the New York Annual Conference where he successfully served two of the largest churches in New York City between the years of 1859 to 1864. During 1860 he traveled extensively throught the Near East and Europe which produced the book, "From Dan to Beersheba."
From 1864 to 1869 Newman was assigned to New Orleans to establish the Methodist Episcopal Church in the south. In 1869 he was appointed to the newly erected Metropolitan Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. It was here that he became pastor to President Ulysses S. Grant, his family, as well as other high placed government leaders. He served three terms as Chaplain of the United States Senate in addition to his denominational responsibilities. In 1871-1872 he traveled to Greenland on the naval ship U.S. Congress, and shared in the beginning voyage of the naval ship U.S. Polaris as it prepared for its trip to the North Pole.
Upon Newman's return President Grant appointed him Inspector of U.S. Consulates in Asia and in that office traveled around the world. In 1876- 1879 he again served as pastor of the Metropolitan Church. His next pastorate, 1879-1882, was in the Central Church in New York City where Grant became a trustee
For a third time he returned as pastor of the Metropolitan Church, and served there until he was elected a bishop in 1888. His episcopal responsibilities took him not only on assignments in this country, but also to Japan, South America, Mexico, Scandinavia, and Russia. The Newmans had great interest in Jerusalem and provided through their estate enough funds and property in 1911 to allow the Board of Missions to establish in 1928 the Newman School of Missions in Jerusalem.
Bishop John Philip Newman died on July 5, 1899 in Saratoga, New York and was buried in Mechanicville, New York.
This collection is comprised of papers, correspondence, journals, photographs, portraits pertaining to various aspects of his pastoral work and with the inclusion of the Drew Newman collection there is added significant correspondence as well as papers having to do with his Episcopal work.
One important item is the journal Newman kept from July 23,1871 to February 27,1872. The early part of the journal describes his personal relationship to President Grant and his family. The later part of the journal continues an account of his ministerial activities. The central part of the Journal, however, is very significant as it provides an excellent account of his journey on the U.S. Congress on its journey to Greenland. The purpose of the venture was to secure permission from the Danish government to use Greenland as a base of supplies for Captain Hall's expedition to the North Pole on the US Polaris. Permission was granted and Newman led the crew in Divine Services prior to their embarkation. The Polaris expedition, although Captain Hall died en route, became the closest a sailing vessel came to the polar cap. The details of the expedition are covered in the "Narrative of the North Polar Expedition". A copy is in the Drew University library.
While in Greenland on the Congress Newman describes ably his adventures in the interior as well as frequent cultural and religious contacts with the Eskimos. He wrote nine letters about his trip which were published in the "Methodist".
Other material in the collection includes personal correspondence between the Newmans 1854-1855. The letters in the Drew collection, which have now been consolidated with the commission's collection, offer for the period 1864-1895 some useful insights especially concerning the role Newman had in the Grant administration. There is a Thanksgiving sermon which states a patriotic theme typical of the period. A Scrapbook includes a lecture and preaching appointments.
Newspaper clippings reporting Grant's illness and death as well as those concerning Newman's death and funeral are a part of the collection.
There is a genealogy for Mrs. Newman's Ensign family and a collection of family photographs for 1880-1890 including several of J. P. Newman, his wife, and other family members. Another part of the collection includes portraits of both Bishop and Mrs. Newman.
Commentaries written by Mrs. Newman describing her journey around the world are a part of the collection and were used by her in presenting slide programs. The slides are not in the collection.
Finally the collection includes materials from Newman's episcopal administration. There are records of votes taken 1893-1894 in Annual Conferences having to do with constitutional questions in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and Scandinavia, and also a plan of Episcopal visitation. One of the more historic items is a letter to Bishop Newman involving a petition 1893 asking for separation of the Oklahoma Conference from Indian territory.
The portraits in the collection include a pencil drawn likeness of Mrs. Newman. An oil painting of Mrs. Newman. A charcoal pencil portrait of Bishop Newman.
The record of uncataloqued Bishop Newman publications held in the Drew University collection are: Old Age,a Sermon; Sermons for the Masses on the Character of the Resurrection Body; Self-Denial for the Promotion of Temperance a Duty and a Pleasure; Religious Liberty, A Free Church in a Free Country; Sermons of Rev. J. P. Newman; The Funeral Service of an Aged Lady; Evenings With the Prophets On the Lost Empires of the World, Seven Discourses; Character, a sermon;The White Stone, The Foundation of Christian Character; Mission of Science, an address; Aurora Borealis Amid the Icebergs of Greenland's Mountains; St.John; Prisoner of Patmos; Entire Sanctification.
Materials have been arranged in the following manner.
The collection is arranged by record type and subject matter.
When citing material from this collection please use the following format: Direct reference to the item or its file folder, John Philip Newman 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.
There are no restrictions regarding this collection.
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.
Microfilm Edition of the Missionary correspondence of the Board of Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Microfilm Edition of the Mission Biographical Reference Files
Charles Fowler Collection
Bishop Matthew Simpson Papers
Bishop Gilbert Haven Papers
| Call Number | Folder Title | Date(s) |
| 1620-1-1: 1 | Correspondence | 1854-1855 |
| 1620-1-1: 2 | Correspondence | 1854-1855 |
| 1620-1-1: 3 | Drew Theological School Correspondence | 1864-1895 |
| 1620-1-1: 4 | Property Agreement | 1856 |
| 1620-1-1: 5 | Journal | 1871-1872 |
| 1620-1-1: 6 | Thanksgiving Sermon | Undated |
| 1620-1-1: 7 | Scrapbook | Undated |
| 1620-1-1: 8 | Clippings: Ulysses Simpson Grant | 1885-1899 |
| 1620-1-1: 9 | Clippings: John Philip Newman | 1885-1899 |
| 1620-1-2: 1 | Genealogy | Undated |
| 1620-1-2: 2 | Photographs | 1880-1890 |
| 1620-1-2: 3 | Daguerreotypes and Tintypes | Undated |
| 1620-1-2: 4 | Angeline Ensign Newman Travel Notes | Undated |
| 1620-1-2: 5 | Ordination Papers | 1852-1854 |
| 1620-1-2: 6 | Episcopal Administration | 1893-1894 |
| 1620-1-2: 7 | Uncatalogued Publications - John Philip Newman | 1858-1898 |
| 1620-1-2: 8 | Uncatalogued Publications - Angeline Ensign Newman | 1872-1904 |
| 2091-1-1: 1 | Charcoal Portrait: Angeline Ensign Newman | Undated |
| 2093-1-1: 1 | Oil Portrait: Angeline Ensign Newman | Undated |
| 2095-1-1: 1 | Charcoal Portrait: John Philip Newman | Undated |
