Guide to the Francis Alison Papers

Descriptive Summary

Title

Francis Alison Papers

Inclusive Dates

1743-1871

Call Number

RG 294

Creator(s)

Alison, Francis, 1705-1779.

Quantity

0.25 cubic feet

Restrictions on Access

Collection open for research. For preservation reasons, researchers are encouraged to work with the transcripts when possible.

Digital Content

To browse this collection's digitized materials visit Pearl.

Materials marked "Digital" in the Collection Inventory may not be available on Pearl or in their entirety.

Repository

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

Biographical Note / Administrative History

Biographical Note

Francis Alison was born in Ireland in 1705. He studied at the University of Glasgow before travelling to America in 1735. In 1737 he became pastor of Pennsylvania's New London Presbyterian Church. Ten years later he opened an academy in New London. Students included three signers of the Declaration of Independence and the Secretary of the Second Continental Congress.

In 1752 Alison moved to Philadelphia to take charge of the Philadelphia Academy. He was later appointed Vice-Provost of the newly established University of Pennsylvania, as well as Professor of Moral Philosophy. He was also assistant minister at the First Presbyterian Church. Alison died in 1779.

Collection Overview

Record Group 294 consists of Alison's sermons, miscellaneous manuscripts, and miscellaneous items.

Organization and Arrangement

SERIES I: SERMONS, 1752-1772, undated

SERIES II: WRITINGS, undated

SERIES III: ALISON FAMILY, 1770-1871, undated

SERIES IV: OTHER PAPERS, 1743-1773, undated

Alternative Formats

Parts of this collection are also available on microfilm.

Selected papers and documents: MFPOS 807

Sermons 1752-1758: MFPOS 808

To browse this collection's digitized materials visit Pearl.

Materials marked "Digital" in the Collection Inventory may not have been digitized in their entirety.

Related Material

Administrative Information

Processing Information

Folder 8 contains a photostat of the 1770 certificate. The original is oversized and housed separately in Box 2.

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

Alison, Francis, 1705-1779.

Corporate Subject

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Second Presbytery of Philadelphia.

Topical Subject

Presbyterian Church--Pennsylvania--Clergy.

Sermons, American.

Genre-form

Sermons.

Writings.

Manuscripts.

Personal Added Name

Alison, Francis, 1751-1813.

Alison, Robert Henry, 1847-1906.

Alison family.

Corporate Added Name

First Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)

University of Pennsylvania.

Academy and Charitable School of Philadelphia in the Province of Pennsylvania.

Collection Inventory

Box	Folder	Description	Alternative Formats

1	1a	Finding Aid to Record Group 294

		SERIES I: SERMONS, 1752-1772, undated

1	1	Sermons, 1752-1755	Digital (Philadelphia Congregations Early Records Project)
1	2	Sermon, 1756-1762, 1772	Digital (Philadelphia Congregations Early Records Project)
1	3	Sermon, 1763	Digital
1	3	Sermons, 1767-1771	Digital (Philadelphia Congregations Early Records Project)
1	4	Transcripts of Sermons
1	5	Catechism, Sermon Notes, Sermon Outline

		SERIES II: WRITINGS, undated

1	6	"Reasons for Dissenting from the Church of England," manuscript and typed transcript
1	6	Comments on Chandler's "Church of England in America"
1	7	"On First Principles of Knowledge," manuscript and photocopy
1	7	"On Logic"

		SERIES III: ALISON FAMILY, 1770-1871, undated

1	8	Francis Alison, Jr--Certificate from PA Hospital, 1770 (photostat)
1	8	Obituary, 1813
1	8	Robert H. Alison--Letter from Robert DuBois, 1871
1	8	Alison Family--Transcript of Notebook, undated

		SERIES IV: OTHER PAPERS, 1743-1773, undated

1	9	New London School--Accounts, 1743-1748	Digital
1	10	Second Presbytery of Philadelphia, 1773
1	11	Miscellany

		OVERSIZE ITEM

2	1	Francis Alison, Jr--Certificate from PA Hospital, 1770 (original)

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Guide to the Francis Alison Papers

Creator(s)