William Greenleaf Eliot Papers

Collection

Identifier: A0446

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The William Greenleaf Eliot Papers consist of sermons, addresses, family papers, correspondence, Civil War documents, and documents regarding Eliot's church and other organizations. The Sermons Series contains 35 sermons, dated 1835-1885, regarding topics such as suffrage, emancipation, and philanthropy. The sermons are arranged by date first delivered. The Addresses Series consists of 10 addresses dated 1832-1876. Topics discussed include Bible societies, Europe, “Old Guard,” suffrage, Washington University, St. Louis public schools, and women’s education. The Archer Alexander Series consists of correspondence and other documents regarding Archer Alexander, a former slave whom Eliot purchased and emancipated. The Bills and Receipts Series consists of the Eliot family’s annual tax, dental, water, retail, and subscription bills and receipts. The Centennial Facsimile of the Declaration of Independence Series contains a facsimile issued by the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railway. The Church of the Messiah Series consists of service programs, prayers, and documents regarding the 1866 Missouri State Sunday School Convention. The Civil War Series includes a list of those in the charge at Springfield, Missouri, October 25, 1861; documents concerning Thomas Lamb Eliot’s service in the Halleck Guard; and a circular soliciting funds from New England citizens to aid in the enlistment of colored troops in the Union army, dated Boston, August 4, 1863. The Clippings Series includes poetry and articles regarding the St. Louis fire of 1849 and General John C. Fremont. The Correspondence Series consists of letters dated 1857-1871. It includes correspondence between William Greenleaf Eliot and Edward Everett, J.M. Schofield, J.M. Forbes, Massachusetts governor John Andrew, and the U.S. Senate regarding the Union, emancipation, Washington University, and Divinity College. Of particular interest is a petition draft to President Lincoln. The Eliot Family Series consists of documents dated 1887-1961, which include pages from Christopher R. Eliot’s journal regarding Eliot’s death, clippings, dedications, addresses, bulletins, a memoir of William Greenleaf Eliot, Jr., and correspondence regarding publications and the donation of the collection. The First Congregational Church Series consists of a notebook outlining the order of services and sermons preached from 1839 to 1842. The Genealogy Series consists of genealogy charts, correspondence, a Washington University lecture calendar, service program, and a historical subscription request. The General William T. Sherman Correspondence Series consists of letters dated 1863-1886 regarding the Civil War, Congress, and Sherman's disinterest in running for the presidency. The Washington University Series consists of various lecture and exhibition programs, finance notes, and a poster for an 1871 exhibition of the Ugly Club. The Western Sanitary Commission Series consists of documents regarding the formation and activities of the Western Sanitary Commission and range in date from 1861 to 1864.

Dates

1832-1961

Creator

Eliot, William Greenleaf, 1811-1887 (Author, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

For permission to publish, quote from, or reproduce material in this collection, please contact the Archives Reference Desk at archives@mohistory.org. Copyright restrictions may apply. The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright.

Biographical / Historical

William Greenleaf Eliot was born August 5, 1811, in Bedford, Massachusetts. After graduating from Columbian College (Washington, D.C.) in 1831, he attended Harvard Divinity School, from which he graduated in 1834. Shortly after moving to St. Louis in 1834, he established the First Congregational Unitarian Church of St. Louis, which was later named the Church of the Messiah. Eliot remained the pastor of the church until 1871. On June 29, 1837, he married Abby Adams Craunch. The couple had fourteen children, most of whom did not reach adulthood. Eliot avidly provided aid during the St. Louis cholera epidemic of 1849, assisted in the development of the Western Sanitary Commission in St. Louis, and founded Mary Institute and Washington University, where he served as president and chancellor from 1871 until his death. Eliot died January 23, 1887, at Pass Christian, Mississippi. He was survived by his wife and five children: Rose Eliot, Thomas Lamb Eliot, Christopher R. Eliot, Edward C. Eliot, and Henry Ware Eliot, father of poet T.S. Eliot.

Extent

1.0 Cubic Feet ( (2 boxes))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

The papers are arranged in the following fifteen series: Sermons, Addresses, Archer Alexander, Bills and Receipts, Centennial Facsimile of the Declaration of Independence, Church of the Messiah, Civil War, Clippings, Correspondence, Eliot Family, First Congregational Church, Genealogy, General William T. Sherman Correspondence, Washington University, and Western Sanitary Commission. Within each series, the documents are arranged chronologically.

Physical and Technical Requirements

There are no physical or technical restrictions.

Donor Information

Collection was donated by Mrs. Holmes Smith and William Greenleaf Eliot, Jr.

Digital Copies

The William Greenleaf Eliot Papers were digitized by Elise Dunham in May-June 2010. The images may be viewed online by clicking the links beside each item in the inventory.