William J. Hutchins Papers | Berea College Special Collections and Archives Catalog

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Collection Overview

Title: William J. Hutchins Papers

Predominant Dates:1900 - 1958

ID: RG 03/3.04

Primary Creator: Hutchins, William James -- 1871-1958

Other Creators: Hutchins Library

Extent: 70.0 Linear Feet

Arrangement: The collection is arranged in series: Personal/Biographical, Correspondence, Writings, Sermons and Speeches, Subject Files, Printed Material, Foreign Travel, Photographs, and Artifacts.

Subjects: Appalachia -- Description and travel., Appalachian Region, Southern -- History., Appalachian Region, Southern -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- History -- 20th century., Appalachian Region -- Social conditions -- History., Appalachian Region., Berea, (Ky.), Berea College, Berea College -- Campus life, Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.) -- Churches, Presbyterian, Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.) -- Marriage records, Churches, Presbyterian -- Bedford Presbyterian Church., Clergy, Presbyterian -- Sermons., Education, higher -- Administration., Education, Higher -- Appalachian Region -- History., Hutchins, Francis S. (Francis Stephenson) -- 1902-1988, Hutchins, Robert Maynard -- 1899-1977, Hutchins, William James -- 1871-1958, Madison County (Ky.) -- History., Military installations -- World War I., Oberlin College., Travel, foreign -- Missionaries., World War, 1914-1918 -- Military life, World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives, World War, 1914-1918 -- Young Men's Christian Association

Languages: English

Abstract

Hutchins, born in 1850 and native of Brooklyn, New York, attended Oberlin College, Yale University, and Oberlin Theological Seminary. In 1896 he graduated from Union Theological Seminary and was ordained a Presbyterian minister, receiving his first pastorate at Bedford Church in Brooklyn. Later that same year,Hutchins married Anna Laura Murch of Cleveland (whom he had met at Oberlin).

In 1907, Hutchins was appointed professor of homiletics in the Oberlin Graduate School of Theology. On October 22, 1920, he became president of Berea College, succeeding William G. Frost (who had been a teacher of Hutchins while at Oberlin).

Recognizing the remarkable changes in Appalachia and the United States in the wake of World War I, Hutchins realized that the College would need to adapt to such changes. As such, during his nineteen year tenure as Berea College President, Hutchins worked to expand the college’s physical plant, increase the endowment fund, close the Vocational School, consolidate the Normal School, and strengthen the collegiate programs. This period also saw a great increase in the number of buildings on campus.

During his tenure, Hutchins also served as an advisor to the Danforth Foundation and traveled extensively to India for the Commission on Higher Christian Education in India. Hutchins retired from Berea College in 1939, being succeeded by his son Francis S. Hutchins. He is the second of three generations of the Hutchins family associated with Berea: his father, Robert G. Hutchins, was pastor of Union Church from 1919 to 1921; and his son, Francis S. Hutchins, became Berea's fifth president, serving from 1939 to 1967. Hutchins's eldest son, Robert Maynard Hutchins, was president of the University of Chicago from 1929 to1945. Hutchins passed away in 1958 and is buried in the Berea Cemetery.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The collection consists of both personal and official papers of William J. Hutchins and document his career as a pastor and an educator, his work as President of Berea College, his travels, and correspondence with family members and others.

Collection Historical Note

Fourth president of Berea College

Subject/Index Terms

Appalachia -- Description and travel.
Appalachian Region, Southern -- History.
Appalachian Region, Southern -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- History -- 20th century.
Appalachian Region -- Social conditions -- History.
Appalachian Region.
Berea, (Ky.)
Berea College
Berea College -- Campus life
Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.) -- Churches, Presbyterian
Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.) -- Marriage records
Churches, Presbyterian -- Bedford Presbyterian Church.
Clergy, Presbyterian -- Sermons.
Education, higher -- Administration.
Education, Higher -- Appalachian Region -- History.
Hutchins, Francis S. (Francis Stephenson) -- 1902-1988
Hutchins, Robert Maynard -- 1899-1977
Hutchins, William James -- 1871-1958
Madison County (Ky.) -- History.
Military installations -- World War I.
Oberlin College.
Travel, foreign -- Missionaries.
World War, 1914-1918 -- Military life
World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives
World War, 1914-1918 -- Young Men's Christian Association

Administrative Information

Repository: Berea College Special Collections and Archives Catalog

Access Restrictions: Records can be accessed through the Reading Room, Berea College Special Collections and Archives, Hutchins Library, Berea College.

Use Restrictions:

Materials may be restricted due to their personal nature. Federal copyright regulations apply to all other materials. Cite all references to the material in this collection. For information regarding use of copyrighted materials please contact archivist.

Note Regarding Series 2: Box 47/Folder 4 is Restricted.

Note Regarding Series 3: This series consists of a variety of Hutchins’ notebooks and diary excerpts, publications containing Hutchins’ addresses, and articles and clippings by Hutchins--Copyright retained by Francis S. Hutchins. Single photocopies may be made for private use of researchers. Acknowledgement of Berea College Special Collections and Archives as a source is requested.

Note Regarding Series 4: This series contains some RESTRICTED items. See archivist for more information.

Note Regarding Series 5: Copyright to the Camp Sheridan papers held by Francis S. Hutchins. Single copies may be made for private use of researchers. All other materials in this series are unrestricted.

Note Regarding Series 6 and Series 7: Copyright of all materials retained by Francis S. Hutchins; single photocopies may be made for the private use of researchers.

Preferred Citation: [Item description/Folder/Box], William J. Hutchins Papers, Berea College Archives, RG 03/3.04, Berea College Special Collections & Archives, Berea, KY.

Finding Aid Revision History: The finding aid was updated from previous versions in November 2014 by Lori Myers-Steele, Collections Archivist. The box list was updated and revised by Katie L. Roath, Student Associate Archivist, and Rachel Burnside, Archives Processing Assistant. Box 124A was added to Series 8 in November of 2019. In December of 2019, the collection was reprocessed and the boxlist revised by Lori Myers-Steele, Collections Archivist, to make corrections and provide better description of the contents of the collection.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Personal/Biographical],
[Series 2: Correspondence],
[Series 3: Writings],
[Series 4: Sermons and Speeches],
[Series 5: Subject Files],
[Series 6: Printed Material],
[Series 7: Foreign Travel],
[Series 8: Photographs],
[Series 9: Artifacts],
[All]

Series 4: Sermons and Speeches

This series consists of Hutchins sermons and speeches and related indexes, lectures, notes, clippings and articles.

Box 51

Folder 1: Journal of Speeches - Berea, KY
Folder 2: Journal of Speeches - A-F
Folder 3: Journal of Speeches - G-O
Folder 4: Journal of Speeches - P-Y
Folder 5: Master Index to Sermon & Speeches Series

Box 52

Folder 1: Pocket Record of First Sermons in Bedford
Folder 2: Notebook of William J. Hutchins
Folder 3: Notebook #1 - Teacher College Material (Conference 1949-1950), 1949-1950
Folder 4: Notebook #2 - Notes for Possible Speeches
Folder 5: Notebook #3 - Notes for Speeches
Folder 6: Journal of Speeches - Cleveland and Oberlin

Box 53

Folder 1: Social Principles of Jesus
Folder 2: Freshman Bible
Folder 3: Hexateuch
Folder 4: Poetry
Folder 5: Journal - India and England
Folder 6: Miscellaneous Notes on Speeches

Box 54

Folder 1: Miscellaneous Speeches and Addresses, n.d.
Folder 2: Miscellaneous Speeches and Addresses, n.d.
Folder 3: Commencement and Testimonial Dinner Speeches, 1939
Folder 4: Miscellaneous Speeches and Addresses, n.d.
Folder 5: "Sermon Garden"- Notes, n.d.

Box 55

Folder 1: "Sermon Garden" - Notes, n.d.
Folder 2: "Sermon Garden" - Notes, n.d.
Folder 3: "Sermon Garden" - Notes, n.d.

Box 56

Folder 1: "Sermon Garden" - Notes, n.d.
Folder 2: "Sermon Garden" - Notes, n.d.
Folder 3: "Sermon Garden" - Notes, n.d.
Folder 4: "Sermon Garden" - Notes, n.d.
Folder 5: "Sermon Garden" - Notes, n.d.
Folder 6: "Sermon Garden" - Notes, n.d.
Folder 7: "Sermon Garden" - Notes, n.d.
Folder 8: "Sermon Garden" - Notes, n.d.

Box 57

Folder 1: "Sermon Garden" - Publications and Pamphlets, n.d.
Folder 2: "Sermon Garden" - Articles & Clippings, n.d.

Box 58

Folder 1: "Sermon Garden" - Notes and References, n.d.
Folder 2: "Sermon Garden" - Prayers, n.d.
Folder 3: "Sermon Garden" - Speeches, n.d.: Written, but never used
Folder 4: "Sermon Garden" - Speeches, n.d.
Folder 5: "Sermon Garden" - Prayers, n.d.
Folder 6: Miscellaneous Speeches and Notes
Folder 7: Miscellaneous Speeches and Notes
Folder 8: Miscellaneous Speeches and Notes

Box 59

Folder 1: Bible Study Speeches
Folder 2: Bible Study Speeches
Folder 3: Bible Study Speeches

Box 60

Folder 1: Bible Study Speeches - Johannine Literature, n.d.
Folder 2: Bible Study Speeches - Johannine Literature, n.d.
Folder 3: Bible Study Speeches - Wisdom Literature, n.d.

Box 61

Folder 1: Bible Study Speeches - Wisdom Literature, n.d.
Folder 2: Freshman Bible Course - Acts and Epistles, n.d.
Folder 3: Freshman Bible Course - Acts and Epistles, n.d.

Box 62

Folder 1: Biblical Homiletics, n.d.
Folder 2: Biblical Homiletics, n.d.
Folder 3: Biblical Homiletics, n.d.
Folder 4: Biblical Homiletics, n.d.

Box 63

Folder 1: Biblical Homiletics, n.d.
Folder 2: Biblical Homiletics, n.d.
Folder 3: Biblical Homiletics, n.d.
Folder 4: Biblical Homiletics, n.d.

Box 64

Folder 1: Biblical Homiletics, n.d.

Box 65

Folder 1: Biblical Homiletics, n.d.
Folder 2: Sermons, 1896: Sermons 1-12, incomplete
Folder 3: Sermons, 1894-1896: Sermons 14-28, incomplete
Folder 4: Sermons, 1896: Sermons 29-60, incomplete
Folder 5: Sermons, 1897, n.d.: Sermons 62-103, incomplete

Box 66

Folder 1: Sermons, 1897: Sermons 104-119, not complete
Folder 2: Sermons, 1897: Sermons 120-149, not complete
Folder 3: Sermons, 1897-1898: Sermons 150-204, incomplete
Folder 4: Sermons, 1898: Sermons 209-233, incomplete

Box 67

Folder 1: Sermons, 1898, 1908: Sermons 234-258, incomplete
Folder 2: Sermons, 1899: Sermons 301-351, incomplete
Folder 3: Sermons, 1899: Sermons 370-394, incomplete
Folder 4: Sermons, 1900: Sermons 400-485, incomplete

Box 68

Folder 1: Sermons, 1901-1904: Sermons 500-547, incomplete
Folder 2: Sermons, 1901-1902: Sermons 560-617, incomplete
Folder 3: Sermons, 1902: Sermons 618-629, incomplete
Folder 4: Sermons, 1902: Sermons 631-643, incomplete

Box 69

Folder 1: Sermons, 1902: Sermons 644-658, incomplete
Folder 2: Sermons, 1902: Sermons 659-674, incomplete
Folder 3: Sermons, 1903: Sermons 676-710, incomplete
Folder 4: Sermons, 1903: Sermons 711-722, incomplete

Box 70

Folder 1: Sermons, 1903: Sermons 723-746, incomplete
Folder 2: Sermons, 1903: Sermons 747-753
Folder 3: Sermons, 1903: Sermons 754-762, incomplete
Folder 4: Sermons, 1903: Sermons 763-767
Folder 5: Sermons, 1904: Sermons 800-808, incomplete

Box 71

Folder 1: Sermons, 1904: Sermons 809-819, incomplete
Folder 2: Sermons, 1904: Sermons 820-831, incomplete
Folder 3: Sermons, 1904: Sermons 832-841, incomplete
Folder 4: Sermons, 1904: Sermons 844-864, incomplete

Box 72

Folder 1: Sermons, 1904-1905: Sermons 868-912, incomplete
Folder 2: Sermons, 1905: Sermons 913-925, incomplete
Folder 3: Sermons, 1905: Sermons 926-939, incomplete
Folder 4: Sermons, 1905: Sermons 941-950, incomplete

Box 73

Folder 1: Sermons, 1905: Sermons 951-963, incomplete
Folder 2: Sermons, 1905: Sermons 965-987, incomplete
Folder 3: Sermons, 1906: Sermons 1001-1028, incomplete

Box 74

Folder 1: Sermons, 1906: Sermons 1032-1050, incomplete
Folder 2: Sermons, 1906: Sermons 1052-1078, incomplete
Folder 3: Sermons, 1906-1907: Sermons 1079-1112, incomplete

Box 75

Folder 1: Sermons, 1907: Sermons 1113-1155, incomplete
Folder 2: Sermons, 1907-1908: Sermons 1200-1215, incomplete
Folder 3: Sermons, 1908-1909: Sermons 1224-1239, incomplete
Folder 4: Sermons, 1909, other: Sermons 1240-1253, incomplete
Folder 5: Sermons, 1910: Sermons 1302-1310, incomplete

Box 76

Folder 1: Sermons, 1910: Sermons 1311-1324, incomplete
Folder 2: Sermons, 1910-1911: Sermons 1326-1346, incomplete

Box 77

Folder 1: Sermons, 1912-1913: Sermons 1348-1407, incomplete
Folder 2: Sermons, 1912-1913, other: Sermons 1408-1427, incomplete
Folder 3: Sermons, 1912-1914: Sermons 1428-1443, incomplete
Folder 4: Sermons, 1914: Sermons 1444-1457, incomplete

Box 78

Folder 1: Sermons, 1915-1918, other: Sermons 1459-1485, incomplete

Box 79

Folder 1: Sermons, 1916: Sermons 1486-1489, incomplete
Folder 2: Sermons, 1916: Sermons 1497-1510, incomplete
Folder 3: Sermons, 1912-1917: Sermons 1511-1527, incomplete
Folder 4: Sermons, 1917-1918, n.d.: Sermons 1528-1600, incomplete

Box 80

Folder 1: Sermons, 1918-1920: Sermons 1601-1720, incomplete
Folder 2: Sermons, 1920-1921: Sermons 1722-1820, incomplete
Folder 3: Sermons, 1921-1922, other: Sermons 1821-1822; Sermon 1822 used numerous times up until 1932

Box 81

Folder 1: Sermons, 1921: Sermons 1823-1840, incomplete
Folder 2: Sermons, 1921-1922: Sermons 1842-1920, incomplete
Folder 3: Sermons, 1922: Sermons 1921-1939, incomplete
Folder 4: Sermons, 1922: Sermons 1941-1950, incomplete
Folder 5: Sermons, 1922-1923: Sermons 1951-1980, incomplete

Box 82

Folder 1: Sermons, 1923: Sermons 1981-1999, incomplete
Folder 2: Sermons, 1923-1924: Sermons 2000-2029, incomplete
Folder 3: Sermons, 1924: Sermons 2030-2044, incomplete
Folder 4: Sermons, 1924: Sermons 2045-2070, incomplete

Box 83

Folder 1: Sermons, 1924-1925: Sermons 2071-2099, incomplete
Folder 2: Sermons, 1925: Sermons 3000-3031, incomplete
Folder 3: Sermons, 1925-1926: Sermons 3032-3064, incomplete

Box 84

Folder 1: Sermons, 1926-1927: Sermons 3065-3083, incomplete
Folder 2: Sermons, 1927: Sermons 3085-4020, incomplete
Folder 3: Sermons, 1927: Sermons 4021-4066, incomplete
Folder 4: Sermons, 1927-1928: Sermons 4066-4082, incomplete

Box 85

Folder 1: Sermons, 1928: Sermons 4083-5019, incomplete
Folder 2: Sermons, 1928-1929: Sermons 5028-5044, incomplete
Folder 3: Sermons, 1929: Sermons 5045-5061, incomplete

Box 86

Folder 1: Sermons, 1929: Sermons 5062-5064
Folder 2: Sermons, 1929-1930: Sermons 5065-5080, incomplete

Box 87

Folder 1: Sermons, 1930: Sermons 5081-5094, incomplete
Folder 2: Sermons, 1930: Sermons 5095-6007, incomplete
Folder 3: Sermons, 1930-1931: Sermons 6008-6018, incomplete
Folder 4: Sermons, 1931: Sermons 6020-6028, incomplete

Box 88

Folder 1: Sermons, 1931: Sermons 6029-6050, incomplete
Folder 2: Sermons, 1932: Sermons 6051-6059
Folder 3: Sermons, Addresses, and Writings, 1932: Sermons 6060-6082, incomplete

Box 89

Folder 1: Sermons, Addresses, and Writings, 1932: Sermons 6083-7000, incomplete
Folder 2: Sermons, Addresses, and Writings, 1932-1933: Sermons 7001-7025, incomplete
Folder 3: Sermons, Addresses, and Writings, 1933: Sermons 7026-7036, incomplete

Box 90

Folder 1: Sermons, Addresses, and Writings, 1933: Sermons 7042-7052
Folder 2: Sermons, Addresses, and Writings, 1933-1934: Sermons 7054-7075, incomplete
Folder 3: Sermons, Addresses, and Writings, 1934: Sermons 7076-7090, incomplete

Box 91

Folder 1: Sermons, Addresses, and Writings, 1934: Sermons 7091-8012, incomplete

Box 92

Folder 1: Sermons, Addresses, and Writings, 1934-1935: Sermons 8013-8037
Folder 2: Sermons, Addresses, and Writings, 1935: Sermons 8038-8048, incomplete
Folder 3: Sermons, Addresses, and Writings, 1935: Sermons 8049-8057

Box 93

Folder 1: Sermons, Addresses, and Writings, 1935-1936: Sermons 8058-8075, incomplete
Folder 2: Sermons, Addresses, and Writings, 1936: Sermons 8077-8087, incomplete
Folder 3: Sermons, Addresses, and Writings, 1936: Sermons 8088-8098, incomplete

Box 94

Folder 1: Sermons, Addresses, and Writings, 1936-1937: Sermons 8099-9023, incomplete
Folder 2: Sermons, Addresses, and Writings, 1937-1938: Sermons 9025-9046, incomplete
Folder 3: Sermons, Addresses, and Writings, 1938: Sermons 9047-9061

Box 95

Folder 1: Sermons, Addresses, and Writings, 1938-1939: Sermons 9162-9172, incomplete

Box 96

Folder 1: Sermons, Addresses, and Writings, 1939: Sermons 9173-9187, incomplete
Folder 2: Sermons, Addresses, and Writings, 1939: Sermons 9189-9197

Box 97

Folder 1: Missions/Curriculum Course- Oceania, 1920
Folder 2: Missions/Curriculum Course- Oceania, 1920
Folder 3: Missions/Curriculum Course- Africa, 1920
Folder 4: Missions/Curriculum Course- Africa, 1920
Folder 5: Missions/Curriculum Course- Africa, 1920
Folder 6: Missions/Curriculum Course- Korea, 1920
Folder 7: Missions/Curriculum Course- Japan, 1920
Folder 8: Missions/Curriculum Course- China, 1920
Folder 9: Missions/Curriculum Course- India, 1920

Box 98

Folder 1: Freshman Bible Class - Synoptics, n.d.
Folder 2: Synoptics, n.d.
Folder 3: Synoptics, n.d.
Folder 4: Synoptics, n.d.
Folder 5: Synoptics, n.d.
Folder 6: Synoptics, n.d.
Folder 7: Synoptics, n.d.

Box 99

Folder 1: Bible Studies - Romans and other Epistles, n.d.
Folder 2: Studies in the Acts, n.d.: For YWCA group
Folder 3: Romans and Later Epistles, n.d.: Notes
Folder 4: Romans and Later Epistles, n.d.: Notes
Folder 5: Romans and Later Epistles, n.d.: Notes

Box 100

Folder 1: Prayer Meetings Notes, n.d.
Folder 2: Prayer Meetings Notes, n.d.
Folder 3: Prayer Meetings Notes, n.d.
Folder 4: Prayer Meetings Notes, n.d.
Folder 5: Prayer Meetings Notes, n.d.
Folder 6: Prayer Meetings Notes, n.d.
Folder 7: Prayer Meetings Notes, n.d.
Folder 8: Prayer Meetings Notes, n.d.
Folder 9: Prayer Meetings Notes, n.d.

Box 101

Folder 1: Prayer Meetings Notes, n.d.: Eight sets of prayer meeting notes
Folder 2: Sermons and Notes, 1940-1941; n.d.: M Sermon Series: Numbered 10M1-10M8

Box 102

Folder 1: Sermons and Notes, 1941; n.d.: Series M Sermons: Numbered 10M9-10M16, incomplete
Folder 2: Sermons and Notes, 1941; n.d.: Series M Sermons: Numbered 10M17-10M22, incomplete

Box 103

Folder 1: Sermons and Notes, 1941-1942: Series M Sermons: Numbered 10M23-10M28
Folder 2: Sermons and Notes, 1941-1942: Series M Sermons: Numbered 10M29-10M33, incomplete
Folder 3: Sermons and Notes, 1942-1943: Series M Sermons: Numbered 10M34-10M49, incomplete

Box 104

Folder 1: Sermons and Notes, 1943: Series M Sermons: Numbered 10M50-10M61

Box 105

Folder 1: Sermons and Notes, 1945: Series M Sermons: Numbered 10M58-10M69, incomplete
Folder 2: Sermons and Notes, 1945-1947: Series M Sermons: Numbered 10M70-10M81, incomplete
Folder 3: Sermons and Notes, 1947-1951: Series M Sermons: Numbered 10M82-10M95, incomplete

Box 106

Item 1-62: Sermons, n.d.; January 1898-March 1899: RESTRICTED

Box 107

Item 1-38: Sermons, March 1899-March 1900: RESTRICTED

Box 108

Item 1-42: Sermons, April 1900-Feb 1901: RESTRICTED

Box 109

Item 1-60: Prayers, n.d; March 1901-Dec 1927: RESTRICTED

Box 110

Item 1-163: Prayers, n.d.; 1901-1917: RESTRICTED

Box 111

Item 1-97: Miscellaneous Prayers and Notes, n.d.: RESTRICTED

Box 112

Folder 1: Sermons and Speeches: Miscellaneous Notes, n.d.
Folder 2: Addresses in Connection with Berea College, 1933-1945
Folder 3: Addresses in Connection with Berea College, n.d.

Box 113

Folder 1: Miscellaneous Notes on Sermons and Speeches, n.d.
Folder 2: Miscellaneous Material - Prayers/Bible Study, n.d.
Folder 3: Miscellaneous Material - Prayer Meetings, n.d.
Folder 4: Miscellaneous Material - Prayer Meetings, n.d.
Folder 5: Manual of the Congregational and Christian Churches, 1936: Contains services added by W.J. Hutchins