Calvin Washington Ruter papers
Collection Statement
The basis of the collection is the autobiography manuscript of Calvin Washington Ruter contained in two volumes. The autobiography was transcribed by David Tripp in 1999 and a copy of this is also included. Also added to the collection are 9 volumes of sermon text and notes including a notebook from the 1844 General Conference. Other materials include ordination certificates, a photograph of Ruter, the April 1999 DePauw ASC newsletter which features an article on Ruter and the acquisition of the autobiography manuscript by the Archives, and materials on his friends and family including Ruter W. Springer, a descendant of Calvin Ruter. Some material included was collected in preparation for the book, DePauw's Forgotten Founder: The Memoirs of Calvin Washington Ruter, 2009.
Dates
- 1794 - 2015
Creator
- Ruter, Calvin Washington (Person)
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research.
Usage Restrictions
Copyright interests for this collection are held by DePauw University or the United Methodist Church.
Biographical Sketch
Calvin Ruter was born March 15, 1794, in Bradford, Orange County, Vermont. In 1818 he became a member of the Ohio Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1820 Ruter transferred to the Missouri Conference, which took in almost all of Indiana, Missouri and Illinois, and served as circuit rider for the Silver Creek and Charlestown circuits in Indiana. When the Indiana Conference separated from the Illinois Conference in 1832, Ruter was one of eighteen who attended the first session at New Albany and was elected Secretary. At the first annual Indiana Methodist Episcopal Conference, Ruter was appointed to a committee of three with Allen Wiley and James Armstrong to consider establishing an institution of higher education. While there was no immediate action, a new institution of learning was eventually established in 1837 and named Indiana Asbury. Ruter was instrumental in both the history of United Methodism in Indiana as well as one of the "founding fathers" of Indiana Asbury University which became in time DePauw.
Extent
0.35 Cubic Feet (1 document case, 18 folders, 1 volume)
Language of Materials
English
- Title
- Calvin Washington Ruter papers Indiana Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Hailee Newton
- Date
- 2/10/2011
- 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
Roy O. West Library
405 S. Indiana St.
Greencastle Indiana 46135 United States
archives@depauw.edu
