Guide to the Phineas Densmore Gurley Papers

Descriptive Summary

Title

Phineas Densmore Gurley Papers

Inclusive Dates

1837-1867

Call Number

RG 329

Creator(s)

Gurley, P. D. (Phineas Densmore), 1816-1868.

Quantity

0.25 cubic feet (11 folders)

Restrictions on Access

Collection open for research

Digital Content

To browse this collection's digital content visit Pearl.

Repository

Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147-1516 USA

Biographical Note / Administrative History

Biographical Note

Phineas Gurley was born in Hamilton, NY. He studied at Union College and Princeton Theological Seminary. From 1840-1854 he served pastorates in Indianapolis, IN and Dayton, OH. In 1854 he was called to the F Street Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC. In 1859, when the Second and F Street Churches merged to create the New York Avenue Church, Dr Gurley took over as pastor of the new congregation. He died in Washington in 1868.

Gurley served as chaplain of the United States Senate in 1858, and as moderator of the General Assembly in 1867. He is perhaps best remembered for having been the pastor in attendance at the deathbed of Abraham Lincoln and for the sermon he preached at the President's funeral.

Collection Overview

The Gurley Papers include manuscript sermons and correspondence, a few transcripts of correspondence, a facsimile and transcipt of the sermon Gurley preached at the funeral of Abraham Lincoln, and a transcript of the sermon he preached at the funeral of Lincoln's young son, William. There are also several photographs of Gurley, some taken at Matthew Brady's studio.

Organization and Arrangement

Organized in four series by format:

SERIES 1: CORRESPONDENCE, 1855-1863

SERIES 2: LICENSE TO PERFORM MARRIAGES, 1849

SERIES 3: PHOTOGRAPHS, 1837, 1867, n.d.

SERIES 4: SERMONS, 1862-1865, n.d.

Alternative Formats

Available on microfilm: MFPOS 1472.

To browse this collection's digitized content visit Pearl.

Administrative Information

Processing Information

Collection processed and finding aid prepared: November 1992
Stephanie Muntone, Processing Archivist

Material added and finding aid revised: July 2012
Bill Brock, Collection Management Archivist

Catalog Headings

The following headings have been used to index the description of this collection in the society’s electronic catalog.

Personal Name Subject

Gurley, P. D. (Phineas Densmore), 1816-1868.

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865--Death and burial.

Corporate Subject

New York Avenue Presbyterian Church (Washington, D.C.)

F Street Presbyterian Church (Washington, D.C.)

Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. (Old School). General Assembly (79th : 1867 : Cincinnati, Ohio)

Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. (Old School). General Assembly. Moderator (1867-1868 : Gurley)

United States. Congress. Senate. Office of the Chaplain.

Topical Subject

Presbyterian Church--United States--Clergy--19th century.

Chaplains--United States--19th century.

Sermons, American--19th century.

Funeral sermons--19th century.

Genre-form

Correspondence. aat

Legal documents. aat

Photographs. aat

Sermons. aat

Personal Added Name

Brady, Mathew B., approximately 1823-1896.

Collection Inventory

Box	Folder	Description	Alternative Formats

1	1	Finding Aid to Record Group 329

		SERIES 1: CORRESPONDENCE, 1855-1863

1	2	Correspondence, 1855-1863	Digital

		SERIES 2: LICENSE TO PERFORM MARRIAGES, 1849

1	3	License, 1849	Digital

		SERIES 3: PHOTOGRAPHS, 1837, 1867, n.d.

1	4	Photographs, 1837, 1867, n.d.	Digital

		SERIES 4: SERMONS, 1862-1865, n.d.

1	5	Funeral of William Wallace Lincoln, 1862	Digital
1	6	"Faith in God" (funeral of Abraham Lincoln), 1865 [original in Rare Docs.]	Digital
1	7	Sermons, n.d.	Digital
1	8	Sermons, n.d.	Digital
1	9	Sermons, n.d.	Digital
1	10	Sermons, n.d.	Digital
1	11	Sermons, n.d.	Digital