Charles Peck Bush papers, circa 1800 -- 1880

Summary Information

Abstract

Charles Peck Bush was the District Secretary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions for New York and alumnus of Union Theological Seminary, class of 1840. The collection contains a stylus from an Indian Hindu scribe, along with Indian palm leaf correspondence.

At a Glance

Arrangement

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in one series in original order.

• Charles Peck Bush papers, circa 1800 -- 1880

Description

Scope and Contents

This collection contains a stylus, including a knife, from an Indian Hindu scribe, along with Indian palm leaf correspondence in Tamil, and former gallery tags. Also included are two cards describing the materials and explaining their significance. (Palm leaf manuscripts date back as early as the 5th century BCE. The palm leaves were cut to size, traditionally 1 by 1.5 inches, and the text was inscribed with the metal stylus. Soot or coal powder was then mixed with oil and rubbed into the inscriptions so that the letters could be seen more easily. The material was wrapped and had specific meaning in the manner in which it was wrapped.)

• Charles Peck Bush papers, circa 1800 -- 1880

  This series contains a stylus, including a knife, from an Indian Hindu scribe, along with Indian palm leaf correspondence in Tamil, and former gallery tags. Also included are two cards describing the materials and explaining their significance. (Palm leaf manuscripts date back as early as the 5th century BCE. The palm leaves were cut to size, traditionally 1 by 1.5 inches, and the text was inscribed with the metal stylus. Soot or coal powder was then mixed with oil and rubbed into the inscriptions so that the letters could be seen more easily. The material was wrapped and had specific meaning in the manner in which it was wrapped.)

Burke Library record group:

Missionary Research Library Archives: MRL3, South Asia

Using the Collection

Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary

Conditions Governing Access

This collection may contain some restricted material. Restrictions related to specific material are listed in the detailed contents list.

Onsite storage.

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, MRL3: Charles Peck Bush papers, circa 1800-1880, box #, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.

Related Materials

MRL 12: American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions records, 1878-1958, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Formerly part of the independent Missionary Research Library (MRL), these records were accessioned by the Burke Library at the time of the MRL's closure in 1976. This collection was donated by Charles Peck Bush.

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. Any items in an advanced state of deterioration were placed in Mylar envelopes. Preservation department created a custom box for stylus and other items. The finding aid was created by Kristen Leigh Southworth and Brigette C. Kamsler in 2013 with the support of the Henry Luce Foundation, and edited by Leah Edelman in 2021.

Revision Description

2021-01-08 PDF converted to EAD and description updated by Leah Edelman.

Subject Headings

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

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Subject

History / Biographical Note

Biographical / Historical

Charles Peck Bush was born in Brighton, NY on November 11, 1813 to David and Laura Peck Bush. In 1835 he served as a delegate to the State Anti-Slavery Convention in Utica, NY. He attended New Haven Theological Seminary from 1837-1839, and completed his Masters of Divinity degree at Union Theological Seminary in 1840. Bush served a number of appointments as pastor, including Tenth Presbyterian Church in New York, NY, Fourth Congregational Church in Norwich, CT, New England Congregational Church in Chicago, IL, and First Presbyterian Church in Beloit, WI. Rev. Dr. C. P. Bush married Elizabeth Bradford Homer and they had a daughter in 1847, Caroline C. Bush, who went on to serve as a missionary in Harpoot, Turkey for over thirty years. In 1860, Bush became District Secretary of the American Tract Society in New York City until 1863 when he moved to Rochester. He then served as District Secretary for the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM), a position he held for the remainder of his life. In 1867 Hamilton College conferred upon him an honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree. Bush returned to New York City in 1871, where he continued to serve as District Secretary to the ABCFM until his death in 1880. Dr. Bush's keen interest in history and mission work is evidenced by his numerous biographical publications and speeches.