Philip Schaff papers, 1827 -- 1937

Series 1: Correspondence, 1839 -- 1937

0.75 linear feet; 0.75 linear feet; 2 boxes

This series contains letters; the bulk of all correspondence is written to Schaff, however, Box 2, Folder 1 contains correspondence to and from David Schaff, and Box 2, Folder 2 contains letters from Schaff. The material in this collection probably represents only a fraction of Schaff's total correspondence, much of which was evidently lost or destroyed by his son (see letter from David Schaff to Dr. Rockwell of UTS, Aug. 17, 1896 in (Box 2, Folder 1). Key correspondents include: George Prentiss, Schaff's closest friend in the United States, Ezra Abbot, founding member with Schaff of Society of Biblical Literature, and Joseph Angus, member of British Bible Revision Committee who recruited Schaff to lead the American Committee. The American Bible Revision Committee1 met for the first time in Dr. Schaff's study in New York on December 7, 1871, and a significant amount of correspondence in this series is between Schaff and the members of this committee, often related to committee work. Schaff also corresponded with members of the British Revision Committee and the Bible Revision Finance Committee.

This series is arranged alphabetically by correspodent.

Series 2: Diaries, 1844 -- 1890

0.5 linear feet; 0.5 linear feet; 1 box

This series contains diaries, including some in German. Seven of the diaries contain extensive travel logs of trips to Europe and the Middle East that lasted from three to eight months. In addition, the diaries contain frequent entries that record Schaff's attendance at meetings and church services, his deliverances of sermons and lectures, his travel itinerary within the United States, his progress on academic projects, and events related to his teaching career. There are several notable entries that pertain to the illness or death of his loved ones: the sudden death of his son Johnny on August 21, 1870; his wife's near fatal struggle with small pox beginning February 4, 1872; the serious illness of his son David Schley during the last two weeks of December 1872; the death of his mother on May 25, 1876; and the death of his daughter Meta on July 14, 1876.

This series is arranged chronologically.

Series 3: Notes and lectures, 1838 -- 1877

0.5 linear feet; 0.5 linear feet; 1 box

This series contains lecture notes, study notes, and one sermon. Schaff's notes on the Baur lecture along with Schaff's Essingen sermon are from his time as a student in Tubingen. The lecture notes on August Neander (Schaff's close mentor) were taken by Schaff as a student at the University of Berlin. The notes on Schleiermacher and Jacobi were possibly acquired during this time as well. (See also Schleiermacher notebook in series 4). This series also includes Schaff's lecture notes from his two earliest teaching assignments, as a private docent at the University of Berlin and as a professor of Mercersberg Seminary. Finally, Schaff's lectures at Union can be read in notes taken by Charles R. Gillett during his time as a UTS student. The lecture notes cover three sections: 1) Theological Encyclopedia, 2) Biblical Introduction to the New Testament, and 3) Exegesis of the Gospel of Mark.

This series is arranged chronologically.

Series 4: Scrapbooks and memorabilia, 1827 -- 1923

2.75 linear feet; 2.75 linear feet; 3 boxes and 3 OS boxes

This series contains a variety of Schaff's memorabilia, including a photograph album, books of pressed flowers from the Holy Land, an autobiographical scrapbook, periodicals, two books, and a semi-centennial booklet dedicated to Schaff. In the photograph album are 58 photographs of Schaff's Academic contacts, most of which are named in Schaff's own hand, e.g. Patrick Fairbairn of Glasgow, Dr. Grimm of Jena, "Winchester", Dr. Harnack. Some however are named in another later hand with some inaccuracies. Philip Schaff dedicated his autobiographical scrapbook "For my Children," giving rise to the possibility that this may have been used by David Schaff in his published biography of his father. Contents include: biographical note, list of publications, and clippings, articles, invitations, programs, and letters, including one from Schaff's daughter Meta and one from William Gladstone. The Semi-Centennial booklet was produced in 1892 in honor of Schaff's fifty years of teaching, dating from his first lecture at University of Berlin in 1842. The booklet includes a congratulatory address from the University of Berlin, notes or letters from Dr. Weiss, Dr. Harnack, the Union Seminary faculty, and Charles Butler, a student publication in honor of Schaff, and newspaper clippings.

This series is arranged roughly chronologically.