Guide to the Hugh Thomson Kerr Papers

Descriptive Summary

Title

Hugh Thomson Kerr Papers

Inclusive Dates

1897-1951

Call Number

RG 1

Creator(s)

Kerr, Hugh Thomson, 1871-1950.

Quantity

5.00 cubic feet

Restrictions on Access

Collection open for research

Repository

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

Biographical Note / Administrative History

Biographical Note

Hugh T. Kerr was born in Ontario, Canada, on February 11, 1871. He earned a BA from the University of Toronto in 1894 and graduated from Western Theological Seminary in 1897, receiving ordination that same year. He married Olive M. Boggs in 1901; they had three children. Kerr served as pastor of churches in Pittsburgh, Kansas and Chicago from 1897-1913; in 1913 he returned to Pittsburgh in answer to a call from Shadyside Presbyterian Church, where he would remain pastor until retirement in 1946. In 1917, as the United States prepared to enter the First World War, Kerr became chaplain to several soldiers' training camps in upstate New York.

Over the years, Kerr spent some of his time lecturing at various seminaries, and he became a trustee of Washington and Jefferson College. He served as president of the Board of Christian Education from 1923-41 and was elected moderator of the General Assembly for the year 1930-31. Dr. Kerr died in Pittsburgh in 1950.

Collection Overview

Record Group 1 contains Dr. Kerr's correspondence, notebooks and diaries, writings, and scrapbooks.

Catalog Headings

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

Personal Name Subject

Kerr, Hugh Thomson, 1871-1950.

Corporate Subject

Shadyside Presbyterian Church (Pittsburgh, Pa.)

Topical Subject

Diaries

Sermons

Collection Inventory

Box	Folder	Description

1	1	Finding Aid to Record Group 1
	2	Personal Correspondence, 1944-47
	3	1948
	4	1949-50
	5	Condolence Correspondence re HTK's father and grandfather
	6	Certificates
	7	Correspondence, 1930-31, 1935
	8	Scrapbook, 1930-31
	9	Reflections on the State of Europe, 1945
	10	Sermon Notes, 1949
	11	Notebook--WW I Chaplaincy
	12	Trip to Peking, Shanghai and Tokyo, 1926
	13	Writings on Christian Faith
	14	Notebook/Diary, 1948
	15	Moderator's Notebook, 1930
	16	Notes on Isaiah
	17	Commonplace Book, 1909
	18	Sermon Notes
	19	European Trip, 1945; Diaries, 1937-39
	20	Notebook/Diaries, 1935, 1937
	21	Diaries, 1940-44
	22	Notebooks, 1894-96, 1909
	23	Diary, 1900

2	1	Commonplace Book
	2	Reminiscences of Matthew B. Riddle, 1924-26
	3	Passports, Visas, 1926-35
	4	Literary Productions, 1948
	5	Book Reviews, Evaluations, 1947-48
	6	Correspondence, 1948-50
	7	Requests for Articles, 1947-50
	8	Letters of Recommendation, 1948-50
	9	Invitations, 1948-50
	10	Masonic Correspondence, 1949
	11	Letters of Appreciation, 1949-50
	12	Speaking and Preaching Engagements, 1945-49
	13	Students' Examinations, 1948-49
	14	World Alliance of Reformed Churches, 1947-49
	15	Restoration Fund, 1945-48
	16	Washington and Jefferson College, 1947-50
	17	University of Pittsburgh Building Fund Campaign, 1949
	18	Sermons
	19	Committee Correspondence, 1948-49

3	1	Shadyside Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh
	2-3	Correspondence, 1948-49
	4	General Assembly, 1948-50
	5	Correspondence--"A Year with the Bible," 1948-50
	6	Homiletics
	7	"Forward Day by Day," 1948-49
	8	"The Heart of the Lesson," 1949-50
	9	History of Preaching
	10	"The Song of Songs," 1947-51
	11	The Bible--Historical Books, 1932-33
	12	Western Theological Seminary, 1948-50
	13	New Book
	14	Book of Common Worship, 1946-49
	15	Presbyterian Hospital, Pittsburgh, 1947-50
	16	Lecture Notes
	17-19	Prayers

4	1	Scrapbook--WW I Clippings
	2	Christian Endeavor Societies, 1917-20
	3	Lesson Plans for Young People, 1920-27
	4	Lesson Plans, 1927-32
	5	1933-36

5	1	Scrapbook A, 1897-1901 (indexed)
	2	Scrapbook B, 1907-1913
	3	Scrapbook, Published Articles, 1907-13
	4	Class Notes, "Religion of Israel in the 7th Century BC," 1909
	5	Class Notes, “Deuteronomy in Relation to the Hexateuch," 1909
	6	Class Notes, History of the 7th Century BC," 1909
	7-8	Speeches, Sermons, Articles
	9	Christian Education--Articles and Addresses
	10	Address Book