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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
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.

Related Material

"Faith in God," the sermon Gurley preached at President Lincoln's funeral, has been published and printed in 2 versions:

PAM E 457.52 .G93 1940b

E 457.52 .G93 1940 

The society owns the original manuscript:

RAREDOC G963f

PHS also holds Phineas Densmore Gurley sermon, 1858, accession no. 17-0809.

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 records. aat
Photographs. aat
Sermons. aat
Personal Added Name
Brady, Mathew B., approximately 1823-1896.

Collection Inventory

BoxFolderDescriptionAlternative 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
 8Sermons, n.d.Digital
 9Sermons, n.d.Digital
 10Sermons, n.d.Digital
 11Sermons, n.d.Digital

Source URL: https://www.history.pcusa.org/collections/research-tools/guides-archival-collections/rg-329