Guide to the Charles Grandison Finney Papers

Charles Grandison Finney was born in Warren, CT. In 1818, having studied privately in lieu of attending college, he began work in a law office and was later admitted to the Bar. In 1824 he was ordained by the Presbytery of St. Lawrence.

After nearly a decade of conducting revivals across the northeastern and midwestern United States, Finney became pastor of the Second Free Presbyterian Church of New York City. In 1835 he established a theological department at the recently founded Oberlin College. In 1837 he moved to Oberlin, serving the college as professor, president (1851-66), founder and editor of the Oberlin Evangelist and editor of the Oberlin Quarterly Review. He also served as pastor of Oberlin's First Congregational Church from 1835-1872.

Finney was a noted evangelist, temperance advocate and preacher. He published several volumes of sermons and lectures, in addition to many articles in various journals. He died in 1875.