Skip to main content

Matthew Simpson, President, papers

 Collection
Identifier: PRE-0001-012

Collection Statement

This collection consists of two series. The first contains three folders of original letters to Simpson. There are also miscellaneous letters in chronological order, along with addresses, articles, clippings and a handwritten diploma written by Simpson in 1843. The second series contains letters and copies of letters collected by the donor William Dugan (DePauw 1960). It also contains transcripts made by William Dugan's wife, Ann (DePauw 1960) and an appendix consisting of a table of contents and indexes to the letters in the second series made by William Dugan's granddaughter, Emily Curnow (DePauw 2014). Lastly, there are inventories to collections of Matthew Simpson papers at three other archives: the Library of Congress, the General Commission on Archives and History and the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Archives at Old Saint George's Church in Philadelphia.

Dates

  • 1837 - 2012

Creator

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Usage Restrictions

Copyright interests for this collection are held by DePauw University.

Biographical Sketch

Matthew Simpson, first president of DePauw University and later bishop of the Methodist Church, was one of the great men of his time. Simpson was born in Cadiz, Ohio, taught school briefly, studied medicine but decided to use his preachers license rather than his medical license. He became a brilliant Pittsburgh pastor at 23, a professor of natural sciences at Allegheny College at 26, president of Indiana Asbury University (now DePauw) at 28, editor of the Western Christian Advocate at 37, and a bishop before he was 41.

Extent

1.13 Cubic Feet (3 document cases)

Language of Materials

English

See also:

Letter concerning Simpson in Florence Ditto folder in Alumni file, May 2, 1954 Simpson letter to Rev. J.A. Brouse, June 1841, in Vol. 1 of 2 vol. scrapbook. Letter regarding Simpson Chair in the Henry B. Longden folder in Oxnam files 1935/36

Articles: Simpson’s call to preach, for Yale lecture Western Christian Advocate, Jan. 1, 1879 pg. 1 Bishop Simpson National Magazine 7:289-92, Oct. 1885 Bishop Simpson by H.B. Ridgaway Methodist Review 45:9-29 1885 Bishop Simpson as a Politician (Southern view) Methodist Review (South) Oct. 1890; Jan. 1891, p. 395; July 1891, p. 395 A Great Modern Preacher Andover Review 2:186-93 1884 Northwest Christian Advocate, Jan. 5, 1898, p. 6, v. 46, no.1 Picture on front: Bishop Hughes and Simpson’s daughters; Miss Ida Simpson, Miss Elizabeth Simpson and Mrs. C. W. Buoy Zion’s Herald May 21, 1924 Bishop Matthew Simpson, the man who inspired the Emancipation Proclamation by C. T. Wilson Current History 31:99-106 1929 “Lincoln was no Ordinary Man”, from the funeral oration delivered at the grave of Abraham Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois. Times Herald 118:123-4, Feb. 7, 1940 A part of the oration may be found in Crooks “Life of Bishop Simpson”, p. 395

Title
Matthew Simpson papers First President of DePauw University, 1839-1848
Status
Completed
Author
Wesley Wilson
Date
12/11/2012
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Description is in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Archives of DePauw University and Indiana United Methodism Repository

Contact:
Roy O. West Library
405 S. Indiana St.
Greencastle Indiana 46135 United States