Morton Fitch and Sarah Louise Trippe papers, circa 1811 -- 1947

Summary Information

Abstract

Morton Fitch Trippe (a graduate of Auburn Theological Seminary) and his wife Sarah Louise were well-known missionaries with the Home Mission in the Allegany, Cattaraugus, Tonawanda and Tuscorora Indian reservations. The collection contains sermons given by M.F. Trippe; notes for sermons, annotated with the places and dates that the sermons were given; addresses on temperance or religious themes; documents of interest on matters concerning the Reservation and the land disputes of the 1880s – 1890s, as well as miscellanea such as portrait photographs and financial notebooks, quarterly reports to the Board of Home Missions, and correspondence; as well as various documents on the history of the reservations and Native American conditions collected by Sarah Louise Trippe, and a Daughters of the American Revolution Certificate in the name of the Trippes' daughter, Myra.

Description

Scope and Contents

This collection contains sermons given by M.F. Trippe; notes for sermons, annotated with the places and dates that the sermons were given; addresses on temperance or religious themes; documents of interest on matters concerning the Reservation and the land disputes of the 1880s – 1890s, as well as miscellanea such as portrait photographs and financial notebooks, quarterly reports to the Board of Home Missions, and correspondence; as well as various documents on the history of the reservations and Native American conditions collected by Sarah Louise Trippe, along with newspaper articles and other later documents including a Daughters of the American Revolution Certificate in the name of Trippes' daughter, Myra.

• Series 1: Sermons, 1871 -- 1900

  This series contains sermons given by M.F. Trippe.

• Series 2: Plans for Sermons, 1877 -- 1915

  This series contains "much used" notes for sermons, annotated with the places and dates that the sermons were given, including some markings of 'Res' [Reservation]. Occasionally notes are written on the reverse of receipts, previous correspondence, or notices.

• Series 3: Talks and Addresses, circa 1871 -- 1915

  This series contains addresses on temperance or religious themes.

• Series 4: Miscellaneous , 1833 -- 1908

  This series contains documents of interest on matters concerning the Reservation and the land disputes of the 1880s – 1890s, as well as miscellanea such as portrait photographs and financial notebooks, quarterly reports to the Board of Home Missions, and correspondence.

• Series 5: Historical notes and writings by Sarah Louise Trippe, circa 1811 -- 1947

  This series contains various documents on the history of the reservations and Native American conditions collected by Sarah Louise Trippe along with newspaper articles and other later documents including a Daughters of the American Revolution Certificate in the name of Trippes' daughter, Myra.

Burke Library record group:

Auburn Theological Seminary Archives: AUB 2, papers of faculty and students

Arrangement

This collection is organized in five series: 1. Sermons; 2. Plans for sermons; 3. Talks and addresses; 4. Miscellaneous; and 5. Historical notes and writings by Sarah Louise Trippe.

• Series 1: Sermons, 1871 -- 1900
• Series 2: Plans for Sermons, 1877 -- 1915
• Series 3: Talks and Addresses, circa 1871 -- 1915
• Series 4: Miscellaneous , 1833 -- 1908
• Series 5: Historical notes and writings by Sarah Louise Trippe, circa 1811 -- 1947

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Some material in this collection may be protected by copyright and other rights. Information concerning copyright, fair use, and reproduction requests can be consulted at Columbia's Copyright Advisory Office.

Preferred Citation

Item description, AUB2: Morton Fitch and Sarah Louise Trippe papers, c. 1811-1947, series #, box #, folder #, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was donated to the Auburn Seminary archive in 2000 by Morton Kelsey of California, a descendent of Sarah and Morton Trippe.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary

Processing Information

Materials were placed in new acid-free folders and boxes. Acidic items were separated from one another by interleaving with acid-free paper as needed. Any items in an advanced state of deterioration were placed in Mylar sleeves. The finding aid was created by R. Tonkiss Cameron with additions by D. Watkins, and edited by Leah Edelman in 2022.

Revision Description

2022-08-17 PDF converted to EAD and description updated, including collection title, by Leah Edelman.

Biographical / Historical

Morton Fitch Trippe was born in Bridgewater, NY on September 15, 1847 and joined the 9th NY Artillery in 1864. Following the Civil War he graduated from Hamilton College, 1872, and from Auburn in the class of 1875. He married Sarah Louise Holmes of Bloomsburgh, PA on May 18, 1875 and was ordained in Augusta, NY, Utica presbytery, on June 15, 1875. He held pastorates in Augusta, NY, 1875 – 9, with Vernon Centre, 1878-9 and Sodus, 1879 – 1881. He was missionary to the Indians on Cattaraugus Reservation, from 1881 to 1893, firstly under the Foreign Board 1893 – 1916, then under the Home Board, with its headquarters in Salamanca, NY, for part of 1916. A. W. Ferrin, the U. S. agent for the New York Indians, published Facts concerning New York Indians, a summary of his annual report in the Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, Monroe, NY, June 3, 1900, "The Presbyterians have two churches on the Allegany reservation, one at Jimersontown, the other at Old Town, with a membership of 125 and fifty-two respectively. There is also a church on the Cornplanter reservation just over the line in Pennsylvania, with a membership of sixtyone. There are Sunday-schools connected with these churches. Rev. M. F. Trippe, of Salamanca, has charge of these churches, and also of the Presbyterian mission work on the Tonawanda and Tuscarora reservations. He spends one Sunday each month with each reservation, and the work is carried on by native helpers during the interim." Trippe received the honorary degree of D.D. from Hamilton College, 1907 and died, in Salamanca, NY on May 7, 1916.

Sarah Louise Trippe was born on July 18, 1850, in Davenport, NY., the daughter of Rev and Mrs William Holmes. She was a graduate of Bloomsburg Normal at Bloomsburg, Pa. and taught in schools in that area. Late in life circa 1930 she published a book, Early times among the Iroquois, 1535-1790. She died on the Tuesday before April 10, 1931 in Salamanca, NY. Both of the Trippes were well known for their missionary work on the Allegany, Cattaraugus, Tonawanda and Tuscorora Indian reservations. At her death in 1931, Mrs Trippe was survived by three daughters: Mrs Caroline T Hawkey (with whom Mrs. Trippe lived in Salamanca), Mrs (Myra) W M Kelsey (of Palmerton, Pa.), and Mrs (Mary) S S Board (of Hempstead, L. I.) and by one son Dr Clarence Trippe (of Asbury Park, NJ), one sister Mrs A D Dorsheimer and 12 grandchildren as well as nieces and nephews.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

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Name
Trippe, Morton Fitch, 1847-1916 -- : Archives	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID
Trippe, Sarah L. -- : Archives	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID