Guide to the David Brainerd Papers

Descriptive Summary

Title

David Brainerd Papers

Inclusive Dates

circa 1742-1743, 1960

Call Number

RG 350

Creator(s)

Brainerd, David, 1718-1747.

Bellamy, Joseph, 1719-1790.

Quantity

0.01 cubic feet (2 folders)

Restrictions on Access

Collection open for research.

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

David Brainerd was born in Haddam, Connecticut. In 1739 he experienced a religious conversion and, aspiring to become a minister, he entered Yale College. In 1742, after he criticized his tutor for lack of true religious experience, he was dismissed from Yale. Brainerd continued his studies and was licensed to preach. He was appointed a missionary by the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge. The Presbytery of New York ordained him in 1744. From 1743 to 1747 he served as a missionary to the Indigenous peoples in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. After a period of little success, he led a successful revival among the Lenape (Delaware) people near Trenton, New Jersey, in 1745-1746. On a visit to Northampton, Massachusetts, he died in 1747 from the tuberculosis that had afflicted him for years. Jonathan Edwards, his friend and mentor, edited and published Brainerd's diary, a work that exercised considerable influence in America and which was published in England.

Collection Overview

This collection consists of a letter (February 4, 1742 or 1743; handwritten and typescript copies) from David Brainerd to Joseph Bellamy. In it, Brainerd discusses his feelings during preaching and his circuit. He also states "O therefore pray for me and tell your dear Christians to do the same, that God would go with me and help me for at present I can't desire the Indians should be converted and yet I can't but go among'em." Additionally, there are notes written by Anglican clergyperson Arthur Bennett concerning Brainerd's published works.

Alternative Formats

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

Collection processed and finding aid prepared: January 1993
Glenn Colliver, Assistant 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

Brainerd, David, 1718-1747.

Topical Subject

Missionaries--United States--18th century.

Presbyterian Church--United States--Clergy--18th century.

Indigenous peoples of North America--Missions--18th century. local

Genre-form

Correspondence. aat

Typescripts. aat

Personal Added Name

Bellamy, Joseph, 1719-1790.

Collection Inventory

Box	Folder	Description	Alternative Formats

1	1	Letter to the Reverend Joseph Bellamy, 1742 or 1743 February 4 (handwritten and typescript copies)	Digital
1	2	Notes regarding David Brainerd's works by the Reverend Arthur Bennett, circa 1960

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Guide to the David Brainerd Papers

Creator(s)