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By Sabra Henke
Collection Overview
Scope and Contents of the Materials
This collection primarily consists of the sermons delivered by John Williams Bradshaw during his pastorate at First Congregational Church in Oberlin (1900-1912, n.d.). Sermon titles include “The efficacy of prayer”, “The ethics of business”, “Evolutionary hypothesis and the idea of God”, and “Changes of 75 years in conceptionof religious life” (delivered in conjunction with Oberlin’s 75th anniversary). The balance of this collection is made up by a biographical file, correspondence (1897), writings by Bradshaw, and an article by C.P. Coffin.
The collection is divided into four series: I. Biographical File; II. Correspondence; III. Sermons and Talks; and, IV. Writings.
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Series I. Biographical File, 1912 (1 folder)
This series consists of a photocopy of the necrology statement for John Williams Bradshaw, The Oberlin Alumni Magazine, October 1912, pages 39-42.
Series II. Correspondence, 1897 (1 folder)
Consists of letters from C.P. Coffin to John Williams Bradshaw concerning religious matters and ministry.
Series III. Sermons and Talks, 1898-1910, n.d. (0.7 l.f.)
This series includes sermons of John William Bradshaw, handwritten and typescript. The sermon titles are listed in the inventory of the finding guide. Also included are talks of Bradshaw (1 folder), that were note delivered in church. The talks are listed separately in the inventory.
Series IV. Writings, 1898, 1902, n.d. (1 folder)
This series consists of four (4) writings by John William Bradshaw covering subjects such as the Bible, Christian Education, and Unitarianism. Also included is an artcle reprint by C.P. Coffin entitled “Peter or Cephas in Pauline Usage”, 1907.
Collection Historical Note
John Williams Bradshaw was born on July 7, 1849 in Crown Point, NY. The son of a minister, Bradshaw represented the ninth successive generation of ministers in his family. Bradshaw received his undergraduate education at Middlebury College, VT, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1869. After spending two ears working for the United States Government in Washington D.C., Bradshaw pursued theological studies at Chicago Seminary, from which he received a degree in divinity. Bradshaw’s ministry included pastorates at Congregational churches in Rochester, MN (1874-1884), Galesburg, IL (1884-1888), and Ann Arbor, MI (1888-1900). In 1900, Bradshaw went to Oberlin, OH to serve as minister of First Congregational Church in Oberlin. During his eleven years as pastor, First Church say the addition of a parish house and social hall, the James Brand House (1909), and a renovation project which included the installation and dedication of a new organ (1910). In 1911, Bradshaw resigned from First Church due to his declining health. He died on September 2, 1912, in Peoria, IL from spinal sclerosis. He was married to Mary Coffin of Bataria, IL and they had four children.
Administrative Information
Repository:
Oberlin College Archives
Accruals:
Accessions: 103.
Access Restrictions:
Unrestricted.
Acquisition Source:
Oberlin College Library
Acquisition Method:
The John Williams Bradshaw Papers were received from the Oberlin College Library on May 25, 1970.
Finding Aid Revision History:
Revised September 19, 1997 by Tara L. Ikenouye; April 10, 2003 by Ken Grossi.
Other URL:
http://www.oberlin.edu/archive/archon_pdfs/Bradshaw_John_Inventory.pdf
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Box:
[Box 1],
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Box 2],
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Box 3],
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- Box 1
- Series I: Biographical File, 1912
- Folder 1: Biographical File, 1912
- Series II: Correspondence, 1897
- Folder 1: Letters from C.P. Coffin, 1897
- Series III: Sermons and Talks, 1898-1910, undated
- Folder 1: Sermon Listing, 1898-1910, J.W. Bradshaw, undated
- Sermons listed by number. Not necessarily chronological.
- Folder 2: Sermons (Manuscripts), 1903-1921, undated
- “Holiness and Heaven,” Nov. 22, 1903 (#386) “Religious training in the home,” Dec. 6, 1903 (#387) “The grace of God,” Dec. 13, 1903 (#388) “The divine nearness,” Sept. 17, 1903 (#389) “The influence from divine love,” undated (#390) “The more excellent way,” May 15, 1904 (#391) “Godʼs measure of time,” Jan. 3, 1904 (#392) “Earth helped the women,” Feb. 19, 1904 (#393) “The lesson of the ant,” Nov. 13, 1921 (#394) “The secret of content,” n.d. (#395) “The sin of one, the suffering of many,” undated (#396) “Quick return investments,” Dec. 9, 1904 (#397) “Christianity as good news,” Dec. 25, 1904 and Jan. 15, 1905 (#398) “Christianity as a way of life,” Jan. 1 and Jan. 22, 1905 (#399) “Christianity as a transforming power,” Jan. 29, 1905 (#400) “The Beauty of the Lord,” April 16, 1905 (#401) “Evolution I,” May 21, 1905 (#402) “The ethics of business,” May 21, 1905 (#403) “The root of all sorts of evils,” June 4, 1905 (#404) “Evolutionary hypothesis and idea of God,” n.d. (#405) “Weighed in the balances,” Dec. 31, 1905 (#406) “A word for the New Year,” undated (#407) “The divine limitations,” undated (#408)
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