Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Leonidas Rosser Papers, ca. 1849-1892, Accession #10993, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

This collection was purchased by the Library from Jerry N. Showalter, Bookseller, on October 31, 1990.

Biographical/Historical Information

Leonidas Rosser (1815-1892), a Methodist minister born at Petersburg, Virginia, transferred to the Virginia Conference in 1840, and served as chaplain to the University of Virginia in 1842-1843, and as editor of the Richmond Christian Advocate , 1858-1860.

Scope and Content Information

The papers contain ca. 115 items, ca. 1849-1876, and undated, and include biographical information concerning Rosser, manuscript notes, sermon anecdotes, correspondence, a speech, newsclippings, and a carte- de-viste of Leonidas Rosser.

The correspondence consists of four items: a printed letter circulated to raise money to support the Southern Methodist Church in Alexandria, Virginia, which lost all of its possessions in a law suit when it decided to withdraw from the Baltimore Conference and join the Virginia Conference in 1849 (1851 January 20); two drafts of a letter from Rosser to Bishop Joshua Soule requesting his permission to use his statements concerning Rosser's book on baptism in a future edition of Baptism: its nature, obligation, mode, subjects, and benefits (1854 May 13); and a note from Thomas Johnson about missing Rosser during his visit (1859 July 2).

Newsclippings present in the collection refer to Rosser's revival preaching at various locations, criticisms concerning his books, notices of the publication of his books on religious topics, and doctrinal controversies.

Notes on doctrine discuss baptism, the infallibility of the pope, methodism, ministerial advice to new ministers, and a biographical note about William H. Wells (1822- ?). Notes on church government include the reunion of North and South Methodist Episcopal Church, Itineracy, new rules for the Quarterly Conference, lay representation, and the balloting for the election of bishops (1854). Notes on class meetings later were published in book form, Class meetings: embracing their origin, nature, obligation, and benefits in 1855. Notes on slavery and Methodism discuss the break between the North and South Methodist Episcopal Church, and includes "Loyalty of Southern Methodism" which was never published.

Also included in this collection is a speech entitled, "The uncontrollable necessity and constitutionality of the separation of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in 1844" (1857 January 12), delivered in Salem, Virginia.

Although Rosser did serve as a chaplain to the University of Virginia, in 1842-1843, none of these papers appear to pertain to that period of his ministry.