Manuscripts Collection

Baptist

Individuals

Swen Bernard papers, 1914, 1921-1924.
Reminiscences of Bernard's life in Sweden, particularly the province of Skane; essays on the development of the Baptist church in Sweden, its relationship with the church in the U.S., exiled minister Fredrik Olaus Nilsson, and Baptist missionary work; and information on the First Swedish Baptist Church of St. Paul, Minn.

Henry N. Herrick and family papers, 1851-1956.
Biographical and genealogical data and memorabilia of Herrick, a Free Will Baptist minister in Minneapolis, his wife Anna Strickler, and the Herrick, Small, Strickler, and Talbot families. Herrick's letters, reports, and diary during his Civil War service (1864-1865) as chaplain of the Fifth Minnesota Infantry trace the regiment's movements and activities in the South and discuss religious and moral aspects of army and civilian life, war damage, and (briefly) his work with the Freedmen's Bureau in Demopolis, Alabama (May-July, 1865). Also included are miscellaneous family letters; Herrick's sermons and notebooks (undated and 1852-1861); his diary (1870) of a trip to view cathedrals and historic sites in Europe; other diaries of Henry (1857-1860, 1867-1872) and Anna (1864-1865); and a five-page register of marriages, probably in Minneapolis (1863-1871).

Andrew Peterson and family papers, 1854-1931.
Diaries, account books, and miscellany of this Minnesota horticulturist and farmer and his family, describing his settlement near Lake Waconia (Carver County, Minn.) in 1855, the building of his log cabin, the establishment of a school and a church, the beginnings of local government, and his experiments in fruit culture. Also mentioned are Peterson's activities in the Swedish Baptist Church and the local grange, on the town and school boards, and in third-party movements, and his exhibition of fruit at local and state fairs.

George Defrees Shepardson papers, 1886-1927.
Letters and other papers reflect Shepardson's participation in the activities of the Olivet Baptist Church, Minneapolis, in the selection of its ministers, and in supporting Prohibition legislation. There are drafts of his manuscripts on religion and science, drafts of portions of his book, The Religion of an Electrical Engineer, and correspondence (1925-1926) on his efforts to get the book published. Shepardson's letters while on a trip to India (1926) give detailed descriptions of life there, including religious activities, visits to historic sites, the weather, travel, and living conditions.

Horace J. Snyder papers, 1909-1947.
Monthly reports (1909-1947), correspondence (1912-1926), commissions and contracts (1921-1941), and an undated speech, related to Snyder's work as a Free Will Baptist minister employed by the American Sunday School Union, mainly stationed in Grand Rapids, Minn. and serving northeastern Minnesota. The monthly reports include daily and monthly statistics and monthly financial accounts related to his travels to various Sunday schools.

Albert Whittier and family papers, 1857-1905.
Correspondence, printed items, and other papers documenting Albert's career as chairman of the Empire Township (Dakota County, Minn.) board of supervisors (1860s); and papers (1880s-1890s) relating to estates he administered, farm machinery purchases, and the Minnesota Territorial Pioneers. Included also are papers of his brother Moses, consisting mainly of receipts for tax payments and personal expenditures in Minneapolis (1857-1901); and papers of the First Baptist Church of Farmington (Dakota County), including correspondence (1868-1900) relating to the hiring and dismissal of ministers, and records documenting its organization (1868), miscellaneous finances (1895, 1899-1901), membership (1896-1902), and sale of the church building (1902).

Churches