A Guide to the William Whitsitt Papers, 1858-1909 (bulk 1896-1899), #24812

A Guide to the William Whitsitt Papers, 1858-1909 (bulk 1896-1899)

A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Accession Number 24812

Library of Virginia

The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000
USA
Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov(Archives)
URL: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/

Processed by: J. Fredrickson and Renee M. Savits

Repository

The Library of Virginia

Accession Number

24812

Title

William Whitsitt Papers, 1858-1909 (bulk 1896-1899)

Extent

1.8 cu. ft. (6 boxes)

Creator

Whitsitt, William

Language

English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

William H. Whitsitt. Papers, 1858-1909. Accession 24812. Personal Papers Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Gift of William H. Whitsitt, 16 July 1910

Alternative Form Available

Available on Misc. reels 37-39.

William Heth Whitsitt (1841-1911) was born in Nashville, Tennessee. He was ordained a Baptist minister in 1862, and served in the Confederate Army. He was professor of Church history at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., from 1872-1895, and as President from 1895-1899, when he was forced to resign. He served as professor of philosophy at Richmond College, now University of Richmond, Richmond, Va., from 1901-1910.

Scope and Content

Papers, 1858-1906, of William Whitsitt of Tennessee, consisting of correspondence, index cards, newspaper clippings, pamphlets, and notes. These papers are arranged chronologically in six boxes, and contain letters to William H. Whitsitt dealing almost entirely with the so-called Whitsitt controversy of 1896-1899 among Southern Baptists. In brief, Whitsitt asserted in an article in Johnson's Universal Cyclopedia that there had not been an unbroken continuance of the Baptist practice of immersion for adults seeking membership in the denomination. It was practically an article of faith among many Southern Baptists during that period that their ordinance of adult baptism by immersion had been handed down from generation to generation all the way back to New Testament times. Whitsitt's assertion appeared to many to be an undermining of Baptist legitimacy and authority.

The Whitsitt papers contain letters from theologians, educators, Baptist clergymen and laymen in all parts of the country. The letters range from open hostility and disbelief of Whitsitt's theory, to support and praise for his position. Especially interesting throughout the correspondence files are Whitsitt's annotations of the letters and notes he wrote regarding certain aspects of the controversy. Included among the correspondence are numerous newspaper clippings. Also included is correspondence from T.T. Eaton, editor of The Western Recorder, who led the opposition against Whitsitt. Whitsitt's 13 July 1898 resignation letter to the Seminary is included, along with correspondence with Richmond College in regards to a faculty position.

Other topics of the correspondence include publication of Whitsitt's books, correspondence with his wife, and the daily affairs of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary such as, conventions, speeches, and pleas for donations. The Seminary received contributions from John D. Rockefeller and included in the collection are letters in regards to his donations. Also included is a report of the faculty of the Seminary for 1896-1897; pamphlet "After Whitsitt, What?: An open letter to the trustees of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary" by S.C. Mitchell, 1899; Southern Baptist Theological Seminary treasurers report, 1899; pamphlet "Baptist World Congress, 1905"; and pamphlet "The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Jubilee 1859-1909."

Arrangement

This collection is arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Box 1 Folder 1

Correspondence, 1858-1895

Box 1 Folder 2

Correspondence, 1896 January-February

Box 1 Folder 3

Correspondence, 1896 May

Box 1 Folder 4

Correspondence, 1896 June

Box 1 Folder 5

Correspondence, 1896 July

Box 1 Folder 6

Correspondence, 1896 August 1-20

Box 1 Folder 7

Correspondence, 1896 August 21-31

Box 1 Folder 8

Correspondence, 1896 September 1-17

Box 1 Folder 9

Correspondence, 1896 September 18-25

Box 1 Folder 10

Correspondence, 1896 September 26-30

Box 1 Folder 11

Correspondence, 1896 October 1-15

Box 1 Folder 12

Correspondence, 1896 October 16-31

Box 1 Folder 13

Correspondence, 1896 November

Box 1 Folder 14

Correspondence, 1896 December

Box 1 Folder 15

Correspondence, 1897 January

Box 1 Folder 16

Correspondence, 1897 February

Box 1 Folder 17

Correspondence, 1897 March

Box 2 Folder 1

Correspondence, 1897 April

Box 2 Folder 2

Correspondence, 1897 May 1-15

Box 2 Folder 3

Correspondence, 1897 May 18-31

Box 2 Folder 4

Correspondence, 1897 June

Box 2 Folder 5

Correspondence, 1897 July 1-12

Box 2 Folder 6

Correspondence, 1897 July 13-20

Box 2 Folder 7

Correspondence, 1897 July 21-31

Box 2 Folder 8

Correspondence, 1897 August 1-20

Box 2 Folder 9

Correspondence, 1897 August 21-31

Box 2 Folder 10

Correspondence, 1897 September 1-19

Box 2 Folder 11

Correspondence, 1897 September 21-30

Box 2 Folder 12

Correspondence, 1897 October 1-15

Box 2 Folder 13

Correspondence, 1897 October 16-26

Box 2 Folder 14

Correspondence, 1897 November

Box 2 Folder 15

Correspondence, 1897 December

Box 2 Folder 16

Correspondence, 1898 January

Box 2 Folder 17

Correspondence, 1898 February

Box 2 Folder 18

Correspondence, 1898 March 1-15

Box 3 Folder 1

Correspondence, 1898 March 16-31

Box 3 Folder 2

Correspondence, 1898 April

Box 3 Folder 3

Correspondence, 1898 May

Box 3 Folder 4

Correspondence, 1898 June

Box 3 Folder 5

Correspondence, 1898 July 1-10

Box 3 Folder 6

Correspondence, 1898 July 11-16

Box 3 Folder 7

Correspondence, 1898 July 18-30

Box 3 Folder 8

Correspondence, 1898 August

Box 3 Folder 9

Correspondence, 1898 September

Box 3 Folder 10

Correspondence, 1898 October

Box 3 Folder 11

Correspondence, 1898 November

Box 3 Folder 12

Correspondence, 1898 December

Box 3 Folder 13

Correspondence, 1899 January

Box 3 Folder 14

Correspondence, 1899 February

Box 3 Folder 15

Correspondence, 1899 March

Box 3 Folder 16

Correspondence, 1899 April

Box 3 Folder 17

Correspondence, 1899 May 1-15

Box 3 Folder 18

Correspondence, 1899 May 16-31

Box 3 Folder 19

Correspondence, 1899 June

Box 3 Folder 20

Correspondence, 1905-1906

Box 3 Folder 21

Correspondence, 1907

Box 3 Folder 22

Correspondence, 1908

Box 4 Folder 1

Correspondence, 1909

Box 4 Folder 2

Correspondence, undated

Box 4 Folder 3

The Whitsitt Controversy, 1896-1899, written by William Whitsitt, ca. 1906

Box 4 Folder 4

Accession notes, undated

Box 4 Folder 5

Miscellaneous, undated

Box 5

Index cards containing a chronological listing of correspondence, including date, correspondents name, and place, 1858-1898 February

Box 6

Index cards containing a chronological listing of correspondence, including correspondents name, place, and date, 1898 March-1909; and alphabetical index of correspondents and date of correspondence (some cards include birth and death dates of correspondents)