Henry Boynton Smith papers, 1834 -- 1890

Collection context

Creator:
Smith, Henry Boynton, 1815-1877
Abstract:
Henry Boynton Smith (1815-1877) was a Congregational Presbyterian minister, theologian, and Union Theological Seminary professor and librarian. The collection contains correspondence, clippings and scrapbooks, notebooks from his studies in Germany, notes for his courses as well as student notes, and sermons.
Extent:
7 linear feet (7.0 linear feet; 15 boxes)
Language:
English , German .
Scope and content:

This collection contains a sampling of Henry Boynton Smith's academic work at Union; correspondence; newspaper clippings and scrapbooks by H.B. Smith; notebooks and notes; and sermons seemingly written and delivered by C.E. Griggs. Particularly significant in this collection are the series of notes and lectures used by his students and his sons to publish three posthumous books: Apologetics (1882 and reprints) Introduction to Christian Theology (1883 and reprints); and System of Christian Theology (1884 and reprints). Also of importance are Smith's notebooks from his studies in Europe, largely kept in German, which provide details of the philosophical education for which he was known among American theologians.

Biographical / historical:

Henry Boynton Smith was professor and librarian at Union Theological Seminary from 1850 to 1874. He was born in Portland, Maine on November 21, 1815, entering nearby Bowdoin College at the age of 15 and graduating in 1834. In five of the next seven years (1834-1841), he pursued further education, first at Andover Theological Seminary (1834-1835) and at Bangor Theological Seminary (1835-1836), and then overseas in Paris, Halle, and Berlin (1837-1840), where he studied both theology and philosophy with a number of prominent European scholars. His studies included two interludes as tutor at Bowdoin (1836-1837 and 1840-1841). On December 29, 1842, he was ordained by the Congregational Council, serving as pastor to a community in Merrimac, MA, (also known as West Amesbury) from 1842-1847. This was followed by three years as a professor of philosophy at Amherst College (1847-1850). His time in New England ended with his earning a divinity doctorate at the University of Vermont (1850). In 1850, Smith started his academic career at Union Theological Seminary in New York as professor of church history (1850-1854) and then professor of systematic theology (1854-1874). In 1857, he was named Roosevelt Professor of systematic theology. Failing health in the 1870s led to his gradual retirement from his work as both teacher and librarian, and in 1874 he was named Professor Emeritus. He continued as sometime lecturer in apologetics until his death in New York City on February 7, 1877, aged 62. In addition to his first D.D., from the University of Vermont (1850), Smith earned another from Harvard University (1858). He also received two honorary degrees in his career, one from Western Reserve University (LL.D., 1864) and one from the College of New Jersey (later Princeton University; LL.D., 1869). Beyond his academic recognition, Smith was a noted essayist and translator, including of Geiseler's Textbook of Church History (1855-1879) and Hagenbach's Textbook of the History of Doctrines (1861-1862). He also served as the founding editor of the American Theological Review (from 1859, subsequently known as the American and Presbyterian Theological Review). His theological teaching was also edited and published posthumously in three volumes (Apologetics, 1882; Introduction to Christian Theology, 1883; System of Christian Theology, 1884) by his wife and two sons in collaboration with some of his students. Smith is perhaps best remembered for his role in the reunion of the Old and New Schools of the Presbyterian Church, a goal he pursued at a national level beginning with his election as moderator of the General Assembly of the New School denomination in 1863 and continuing up to the official reunion of the two schools in 1869.

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

The following boxes are located offsite: entire collection. Please note that requests for use of boxes held in offsite storage must be made three business days in advance.

Terms of access:

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Preferred citation:

Item description, UTS1: Henry Boynton Smith papers, 1834-1890, series #, box #, folder #, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.

Location of this collection:
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