Manuscripts Department
The Library of the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill
SOUTHERN HISTORICAL COLLECTION
#4350
ALFRED STRATTON LAWRENCE PAPERS
Inventory
Abstract: Papers of Alfred Stratton Lawrence (1882-1958),
dealing primarily with his work as rector of the
Chapel of the Cross, Chapel Hill, N.C. The bulk of
the collection ceoncerns the daily affairs of the
parish, and the construction of a new church building.
Also included are correspondence between Lawrence and
Bishop Joseph Blount Cheshire and other papers that
document Lawrence's duties in the various
administrative positions he held for the Diocese of
North Carolina, 1915-1920, as well as letter between
Bishop CHeshire and Elwood Haines, who was executive
secretary of the Diocese, 1928-1929. Also included
are articles and historical sketches on the Episcopal
Church in North Carolina and material concerning the
Chapel Hill School of Religion, 1925-1926.
Online Catalog Terms:
Chapel Hill School of Religion.
Chapel Hill (N.C.)--Church History.
Chapel Hill (N.C.)--Social life and customs.
Chapel of the Cross (Chapel Hill, N.C.).
Cheshire, Joseph Blount, Jr., 1850-1932.
Clergy--North Carolina--History--20th century.
Episcopal Church--North Carolina--History--20th century.
Episcopal Church. Diocese of North Carolina.
Haines, Elwood L.
Lawrence, Alfred Stratton, 1882-1958.
Size: About 250 items (0.3 feet).
Provenance: Received from Mrs. R. Emmet Gribbin, Northport,
Ala., in March 1983.
Access: No restrictions.
Related Collections: Chapel of the Cross Records (#2141);
Joseph Blount Cheshire, Jr., Papers (#146).
Copyright: Retained by the authors of items in these papers,
or their descendants, as stipulated by United
States copyright law.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Biographical Note
Collection Overview
Series Descriptions
Series 1. Parish and Diocesan Affairs
Series 2. Historical Writings
Series 3. Chapel Hill School of Religion
Shelf List
INTRODUCTION
Biographical Note
Alfred Stratton Lawrence was born in Essex, England, on 15
April 1882. He had two brothers and four sisters. He lived in
London until age twelve when he moved to the United States, to
Long Island, New York. He attended Trinty School and Columbia
University in 1902, received a masters degree in 1905, graduated
from General Theological Seminary in 1907, and became an
Episcopal pastor in North Carolina.
Lawrence served North Carolina parishes at Highlands,
Cashiers, Concord, Lenoir, and Hillsborough. He was also a
chaplain in World War I. The bulk of his career was spent as
rector of the Chapel of the Cross in Chapel Hill, North Carolina,
1921-1943. He also served as examining chaplain, secretary, and
registrar for the Diocese of North Carolina, and as chaplain for
the local American Legion post. Lawrence was also involved in
the founding of the Chapel Hill School of Religion.
Lawrence was married to Elsie Millicent Perkins and they had
two sons and three daughters. He died on 28 March 1958 after
many years as an invalid.
Collection Overview
This collection deals primarily with Lawrence's work as rector
of the Chapel of the Cross. The bulk of the collection centers
around the daily affairs of the parish, and the construction of a
new church building.
This collection also documents Lawrence's duties in the
various administrative positions he held for the Diocese of North
Carolina, 1915-1920. Most of this documentation is in the form
of correspondence between Lawrence and Bishop Joseph Blount
Cheshire, Jr. There is also a series of letters between Bishop
Cheshire and Elwood Haines, who was executive secretary of the
Diocese, 1928-1929.
Also included in the collection are articles and historical
sketches on the Episcopal Church in North Carolina, and on
various parishes in the state, and material concerning the Chapel
Hill School of Religion, 1925-1926.
The collection has been arranged into three series:
Series 1. Parish and Diocesan Affairs
Series 2. Historical Writings
Series 3. Chapel Hill School of Religion
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Series 1. Parish and Diocesan Affairs
1914-1943. About 220 items.
Arrangement: chronological
Incoming and outgoing correspondence, reports, financial
records, press-releases, and other parish records relating to the
Chapel of the Cross and to the Diocese of North Carolina.
Records on the Chapel of the Cross date from 1914-1915, and
from 1921-1943, when Lawrence served as rector. These records
consist of correspondence, reports, financial records, and press
releases. Much of the material from 1923 to 1925 deals with the
building of the new church and parish house.
Lawrence's correspondence between 1915 and 1920 is primarily
with Bishop Cheshire regarding diocesan affairs. For this
period, there is also correspondence with Bishop Guerry of South
Carolina regarding an offer of a position at Clemson College.
Folder 7 contains correspondence between Elwood Haines, executive
secretary of the Diocese of North Carolina, and Bishop Cheshire
concerning routine diocesan business.
Folder 1 1914-1915
2 1916-1917
3 1918-1919
4 1920-1922
5 1923-1925
6 1926-1929
7 1928-1929 (Haines/Cheshire correspondence)
8 1930-1933
9 1935-1939; 1943
Series 2. Historical Writings
1924-1944 and undated. About 25 items.
Writings on the history of the Episcopal Church in North
Carolina by Lawrence and others, and related correspondence.
Folder 10-13 Untitled history of the Church of England in
colonial North Carolina, presumably by
Lawrence, 145 pp.
14 Essay on the early history of Granville Parish,
by Claudia Hunter
15 Sketches of parish histories, some notes for
articles, and related correspondence
16 Handwritten draft of Lawrence's article on Rev.
George Micklejohn
17 Typed draft of Micklejohn article
18 Printed copy of Lawrence's article on Rev. James
Reed in the North Carolina Churchman,
September 1928
19 Draft of article by Alexander B. Andrews, "UNC
and the Protestant Episcopal Church,
1789-1932."
Series 3. Chapel Hill School of Religion
1925-1926. 9 items.
Arrangement: chronological
Correspondence, reports, and by-laws pertaining to the
establishment of the Chapel Hill School of Religion.
Folder 20 Chapel Hill School of Religion
SHELF LIST
Box 1 (only)