Inventory of the W. Creighton Campbell Papers, 1876-1880

Collection Number 5139-z

Manuscripts Department, Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Contact Information:

Manuscripts Department

CB#3926, Wilson Library

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC 27514-8890

Phone: 919/962-1345

Fax: 919/962-3594

Email: mss@email.unc.edu

URL: http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/

Processed by

Jessica Tyree

Date Processed

June 2004

Encoded by

Jessica Tyree

Date Encoded

June 2004

Descriptive Summary

Repository

Southern Historical Collection

Creator

Campbell, W. Creighton, fl. 1876-1880.

Title

W. Creighton Campbell Papers, 1876-1880

Call Number

5139-z

Extent

2 items

Abstract

W. Creighton Campbell (fl. 1876-1880) was a Presbyterian minister in West Virginia. The collection contains two volumes. The first is a diary kept by Campbell for just over one year, 28 May 1879 to 1 April 1880, relating to his life and ministry in Harper's Ferry, W.Va. The second, earlier volume, dated 1876 to 1879, is comprised of four main sections: the constitution, bylaws, and meeting minutes of the Berkeley Springs Library and Reading Room Association of which Campbell was one of four directors; notes on the history of Protestant churches since the Reformation; sermon notes on prophecy and three books of the New Testament; and 14 undated diary entries.

Administrative Information

Restrictions to Access

No restrictions.

Provenance

Purchased from Carmen D. Valentino of Philadelphia, Pa., in December 2003 (Acc. 99668).

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], in the W. Creighton Campbell Papers #5139-z, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Copyright Notice

Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Online Catalog Headings

These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.

Berkeley Springs Library and Reading Room Association.

Campbell, W. Creighton, fl. 1876-1880.

Diaries.

Harpers Ferry (W.Va.)--Social life and customs.

Libraries--West Virginia--History--19th century.

Presbyterian Church--Clergy--West Virginia.

Presbyterian Church--West Virginia--History--19th century.

Protestant churches--History.

West Virginia--Social life and customs.

Biographical Note

W. Creighton Campbell (fl. 1876-1880) lived in Berkeley Springs, Morgan County, W.Va., and served as a Presbyterian minister in Harper's Ferry, W.Va.

Collection Overview

Two volumes offer a look at a short period, 1876 to 1880, in the life of W. Creighton Campbell, a Presbyterian minister in West Virginia. His diary, dated 28 May 1879 to 1 April 1880 (58 p.), is comprised of daily, one-paragraph entries of varying lengths. At this time, Campbell was leading a church in Harper's Ferry, W.Va. He used his diary to record social encounters, progress in the writing of each week's sermon, and his judgment of both the sermons and the congregation's response to them. He continued to make daily, though increasingly short, entries before abruptly abandoning the diary in April 1880.

Campbell made varying use of the second, earlier volume (156 p.), while residing in Berkeley Springs, W.Va. The first part of the volume was used in connection with his participation in the Berkeley Springs Library and Reading Room Association of which he was one of four directors. The group's constitution, bylaws, and meeting minutes of the period December 1876 to February 1877, written in the hand of the Association secretary, are included. These are followed by Campbell's extensive reading and lecture notes on the history of Protestant churches. His orderly arrangement contains sections such as "New School Schism,""Ecclesiology," and "The Church External and Internal." Campbell next included lecture notes on "Prophecy" and the New Testament books of Hebrews, Timothy, and Titus. Fourteen pages of undated diary entries follow. Miscellaneous notes also appear in the final pages and inside back cover of the manuscript.

Detailed Description of the Collection