Title: Henry Clarence Burr Papers, 1904-1953

ID: RG 30/051

Extent: 0.8 Linear Feet

Henry Clarence Burr was born in Macedon, New York on February 3, 1870, the son of Henry Newton and Kate Summer Burr. He received an A.M. degree from New York University in 1899, a B.D. from Drew Theological Seminary in 1900, and an A.B. from Oberlin College in 1907. In addition, he attended Oberlin College in 1890-91 and the Oberlin College Theological Seminary in 1904-05 and during the summers of 1905-1908. He later wrote to the Oberlin Graduate School of Theology that he was grateful for the instruction he had received there even though he was not a degree candidate.

On November 15, 1892, Henry Clarence Burr married Josephine Paige (A.B. 1892). The couple had one son, Henry Leonard Burr, born on December 3, 1900. Leonard Burr graduated from Oberlin College (A.B. 1923), attended the medical school in Louisville, Kentucky, and became a physician. He died in 1965.

As a Methodist Episcopal minister, Henry Clarence Burr served many parishes, Methodist, Presbyterian and Evangelical and Reformed. Three of these were out of state: in Chili, New York, 1894-96; Madison, 1898, and Chatham, 1899, both in New Jersey. The others were all in Ohio: Berea, 1897; Lorain, 1904; Doylestown, 1905-09; Cleveland, 1909-13; Alliance, 1918; North Olmsted, 1919; Rocky River, 1921-28; Bowerstown, 1928-29; Kinsman, 1930-36; and Alliance, 1936-40. After his retirement in 1940, as an interim or supply pastor, he served several churches in and near Marion and Bucyrus for about a decade.

As well as a serving parishes, Henry Clarence Burr held the position of Professor of History at Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, Ohio in 1913-14, and the position of Reeves Professor of History at Mt. Union-Scio College, Alliance, Ohio, 1913-18. For three years, 1925-28, he taught history, mathematics and psychology at Rocky River High School. In 1939, he was apparently teaching philosophy at Baldwin Wallace.

Around 1940, the Reverend and Mrs. Burr retired to Oberlin, Ohio where Josephine Burr died in March 1949. On July 12, 1950, Henry Clarence Burr married Mrs. Nina Grace Hawkins (1892-1969). He died in Oberlin on February 3, 1953.

Sources Consulted:

Burr, Henry Clarence: M.A., B.D. Letter to the Oberlin Graduate School of Theology. January 6, 1935.

“Burr-Hawkins Wedding in Uniontown Yesterday.” July 13, 1950.

Cleveland Plain Dealer. Burr, Henry Clarence. Obituary. February 5, 1953. n.p.

Congregational News. February, 1920. n.p.

Elyria Chronicle-Telegram. Burr, Henry Clarence. Obituary. February 4, 1953. n.p.

“Lose Fight for Pastor -Teacher.” Cleveland Plain Dealer. May 8, 1928. n.p.

Oberlin College Alumni Magazine. February, 1919. n.p.

Oberlin College Alumni Magazine. Burr, Henry Clarence. Obituary. March, 1953. n.p.

Oberlin College General Catalogue Report Blank. 1908.

Oberlin College Quinquennial Catalogue Report Blank. 1915.

Oberlin College Quinquennial Catalogue Report Blank. 1916.

Oberlin College Quinquennial Catalogue Report Blank. 1925.

Oberlin College Alumni Catalogue Report Blank. 1935.

Oberlin College Alumni Catalogue Report Blank. 1936.

Oberlin College Alumni Catalogue Report Blank. 1948.

Typescript Obituary. Josephine Paige Burr. No source or date.

Author: Elizabeth Brinkman and Jonathan Thurn

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Scope and Contents:

The papers of Henry Clarence Burr document his theological beliefs and his service as a Methodist Episcopal minister. His voluminous sermons—there are at least 150 separate sermons present in his volumes—are an example of his life’s major vocation. A few documents exist from his time as a college professor of history either at Baldwin Wallace College, 1913-14, or Mt. Union-Scio College, 1913-18, but are limited to a thin volume of American history lecture outlines and some miscellaneous lectures interspersed among his sermon notes.

Aside from these two vocations, though, little information exists here concerning Burr’s life with the exception of his second marriage and death which are covered by newspaper clippings in the Biographical File.

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Series 1. Biographical File, 1919-53 (1f)

This series contains photocopies of several newspaper clippings located in Henry C. Burr’s student file. They contain information regarding Henry C. Burr’s activities as a minister and college professor, his marriage to Nina Hawkins, and his and Nina’s deaths.

Series 2. Lectures and Essays, 1914, n.d. (2 vols.)

This series consists of two volumes, one of which is an essay entitled “Metaphysics.” The second volume contains numerous American history lecture outlines presumably from Burr’s tenure as Professor of History either at Baldwin Wallace College, 1913-14, or Mt. Union-Scio College, 1913-18.

Series 3. Sermons and Talks, 1904- c. 1940, n.d.

By far the bulk of the collection is located in Series 3. Burr’s handwritten sermon notes are arranged chronologically and consist of 23 volumes of lined composition books. The inventory provides a complete listing of the volumes included in this collection. A majority of the sermons include a Biblical quote followed by either a detailed outline or the entire composed sermon. In some cases a list of the churches or other groups to which the sermon was delivered and the dates of composition and delivery are included. Many of the sermons are revised with a reference to the revised version in a later volume; others appear to be unfinished. Also, interspersed among the sermons are occasional lectures—especially volumes 21 to 23 and the unnumbered volume—which may have been Burr’s lectures written during his teaching positions at Baldwin Wallace and Mt. Union-Scio.

Five handwritten addresses complete this series. The addresses are written for a variety of events: a library dedication, a Men’s Class Dinner, and three graduation addresses for Kinsman, Ohio—and possibly Rocky Road, Ohio—High School.

INVENTORY

Series 1. Biographical File, 1919-53 (1f)

Box 1

Newspaper clippings, 1919-53

Series 2. Lectures and Essays, 1914, n.d. (2 vols.)

Box 1 (cont.)

Lectures on the United States, Mt. Union-Scio College, Alliance, Ohio, June-August 1914

Metaphysics, An Essay, n.d.