Barnas Sears papers, 1833-1880

(bulk 1856-1867)

John Hay Library , Special Collections
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
email: hay@brown.edu

Published in 2013

Collection Overview

Title:	Barnas Sears papers
Date range:	1833-1880, (bulk 1856-1867)
Creator:	Sears, Barnas, 1802-1880
Extent:	0.5 Linear feet
Abstract:	Barnas Sears graduated from Brown University in 1825 and served as the fifth president of Brown from 1855-1867. This collection primarily consists of correspondence from Sears' service as president of Brown University.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	John Hay Library , Special Collections
Collection number:	MS.1C.5

Scope & content

This collection consists primarily of correspondence, as well as a notebook, forms, clippings, and manuscripts dating from 1833 to 1879. A number of the items in Sears's papers reflect his activities in promoting scholarships and other financial aid for students. There are also recommendations written on the behalf of students; notices regarding exams; and letters and other documents relating to the employment of faculty. Several letters were written by men who wanted to return to Brown University after military service during the Civil War. J.H. Whittlesey corresponded with Sears about military education. The transfer of some of the collections of the Providence Franklin Society to Brown University in 1867 is documented here also.

Access Points

Subject Names

• Sears, Barnas, 1802-1880
• Whittlesey, J. H. (Joseph Hotchkiss), 1821-1886

Subject Organizations

• Brown University -- Funds and scholarships
• Brown University -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
• Brown University -- Presidents
• Brown University. Corporation.

Subject Topics

• Military education

Occupations

• College presidents

Document Types

• Clippings (Information artifacts)
• Letters (Correspondence)
• Notebooks

Subject Topics

• Rhode Island/Local Interest

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into the following series:

• Series 1. Letters and manuscripts by Sears, 1833-1879
• Series 2. Letters and manuscripts by others, 1856-1868

Biographical note

Barnas Sear, the fifth president of Brown University, was born in Sandisfield in the Berkshires, Massachusetts, on November 19, 1802. From the age of fifteen, determined to work his way through college, he worked in the summer and taught school in the winter. He began to prepare for college and the ministry under Parson Cooley in East Granville, Massachusetts, and later entered the University Grammar School in Providence.

He entered Brown in 1822 and graduated in 1825, supporting himself by teaching school in the winter vacation and building stone walls in the summer. He borrowed his textbooks from the Philendean Society, which provided books for poor students, and once walked to Boston and back to borrow money. At Commencement in 1825 he delivered an oration on "The Influence of Association Upon the Intellectual Character."

After graduation he studied at the Newton Theological Institution. In 1827 he was named pastor of the First Baptist Church in Hartford. He resigned in 1829 because of his health, and became professor of ancient languages at Hamilton Literary and Theological Institution. He was appointed professor of biblical theology, for which he prepared himself by study in Germany from 1833 to 1835. He returned to teach for about a year at Hamilton before becoming professor of Christian theology at Newton Theological Institution in 1836. He taught at Newton until 1848, and was also president from 1839. In 1848 he succeeded Horace Mann (Brown class of 1819) as secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Education. In September 1855 he replaced Francis Wayland as president of Brown University. He left Brown and Providence on September 19, 1867. He died on July 9, 1880 in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	There are no restrictions on access.
Use of the materials:	Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation:	Barnas Sears papers, MS-1C-5, Brown University Archives.
Contact information:	John Hay Library , Special Collections Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Tel: 401-863-2146 email: hay@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	Acquisition information for this collection is unavailable.
Accruals:	No further materials are anticipated for this collection.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Martha Mitchell
Encoding:	This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2013-04-01

Additional Information

Related material:	Other materials written by or to Barnas Sears can be found in the Library's catalog under the heading: Sears, Barnas
Other information:	Brown University catalog record for this collection: Barnas Sears papers

Inventory

---