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Guide to the David Brainerd Papers

Descriptive Summary

Title
David Brainerd Papers
Inclusive Dates
1742-1743
Call Number
RG 350

Creator(s)

Brainerd, David, 1718-1747.
Quantity
0.01 cubic feet
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 Indians in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. After a period of little success, he led a successful revival among the Delaware Indians 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 transcripts of a letter of Brainerd and notes concerning Brainerd's published works by an Anglican clergyman.

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

The library has several editions of Brainerd's diary, including John Wesley's edition and editions of other Brainerd publications. The library also has a volume of transcriptions of letters of Brainerd and others to the Rev. Joseph Bellamy, made by the Presbyterian historian, Richard Webster.

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.
Indians of North America--Missions--18th century.
Genre-form
Correspondence. aat
Transcripts. aat
Personal Added Name
Bellamy, Joseph, 1719-1790.

Collection Inventory

BoxFolderDescriptionAlternative Formats

 

 

 

 

1

1

Letter to the Rev. Joseph Bellamy, February 4, 1742/3 (handwritten and typed copies)

Digital

1

2

Notes re David Brainerd's Works by the Rev. Arthur Bennett, ca. 1960

 

 


Source URL: https://www.history.pcusa.org/collections/research-tools/guides-archival-collections/rg-350