Title: William Eleazar Barton Papers, 1885-1976
Arrangement
This collection is divided into eight series: Biographical, Writings, Advance, Lincoln, Correspondence, Photographs, Genealogical, and Helen Crocker. Arrangement within each series is largely chronological except where noted.
Abstract
William E. Barton attended Berea College from 1880 to 1885 (B.S.) and married Esther Treat Bushnell—a Berea elementary teacher—upon graduation from college. Barton was a circuit pastor in Robbins, Tennessee, until 1887. From 1887 through 1890 Barton was a pastor in Litchfield, Ohio, while taking courses at Oberlin Theological School. Upon graduation from Oberlin (M.A.), Barton pastored at Wellington, Ohio, and Boston’s Shawmut Congregational Church. From 1899 until 1924, Barton was the pastor at Chicago’s First Congregational Church in Oak Park.
From 1904-1917 Barton was the editor of The Advance, a Congregationalist magazine. Among many Congregationalist activities Barton was a delegate to the National Council from 1893 to1930, and moderator of that body from 1921 to 1923. For thirty years Barton was a Berea College trustee during which time he advised Berea College on the Day Law legal suit (1904-1908). Barton also spent much time researching the life of Abraham Lincoln’s and became a foremost authority in the field.
In 1925, Barton began a trip around the world, unfortunately cut short by his wife’s sudden illness and death later the same year. In 1928 Barton founded Collegeside Church where he served as pastor until his until his death in 1930 at the age of 69.
