The William Young Brown Manuscript Collection

Collection

Identifier: SCM 239

Staff Only

Scope and Content

The William Young Brown Collection is comprised of approximately 3 feet of manuscripts. It consists primarily of sermons, but also contains lectures. The dates span from 1861 to 1913. The sermons were given primarily in Darby, PA, and often repeated in Narberth, PA, and Boone, IA, although some sermons are original to other locations.

Dates

1861-1913

Language of Materials

English

Access

There are no special restrictions to access of this collection. It may be examined by library patrons under the normal rules and conditions of Special Collections.

Chronology

1827 July 22
: Born near Achor, Ohio, to William Brown and Mary Magdalene Young
1848
: Graduated from Jefferson College, PA. Began work as an educator at Beaver Academy in Beaver, PA
1851
: Masters of Arts conferred by Jefferson College
1852
: Began study at Princeton Theological Seminary
1853 June 15
: Ordained in the Presbyterian Church and installed as pastor of the Presbyterian Church at New Lisbon, OH
1857 September 24
: Marriage to Flora Robertson of Hanover, OH
1861-1865
: Served as a hospital chaplain in the Union Army
1866
: Installed as pastor in Perryville, Maryland
1870
: Installed as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Denver, Colorado
1874
: Installed as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Darby, Pennsylvania
1883
: Conferred degree of Doctor of Divinity by Lafayette College
1882-1886
: Corresponding Secretary for the Permanent Committee on Temperance
1886-1887
: Stated supply in Conshohocken, PA
1888-1890
: Installed as pastor in Port Chester, NY
1892-1901
: Work as stated supply in Boone, IA
1905-1907
: Work as stated supply in Lower Merion, PA
1914 February 13
: Death, Philadelphia, PA

Biographical Information

William Young Brown was born near Achor, Ohio, to William Brown and Mary Magdalene Young on July 22, 1827. After graduating from Jefferson College in 1848, he began work as a teacher and later principal at Beaver Academy in Beaver, Pennsylvania, until he left to attend Seminary. Brown began at Princeton Theological Seminary in September of 1852, but in January 1853 he returned to Ohio, having received a call to the Presbyterian Church in New Lisbon, Ohio. There he was ordained in June of 1853. In 1857 he married Flora Robertson of Hanover, Ohio. During the course of their marriage the couple had one daughter. During Brown’s ministry he was the pastor of many churches across the country. During the Civil War, from 1861-1865, Brown worked as a hospital chaplain in the Union Army, during which time he successfully appealed to President Lincoln to grant chaplains the permission to provide pastoral care to soldiers near the point of death. In 1866 he was installed as a pastor in Perryville, Maryland. In 1870 he became pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Denver. From there, in 1874 he became the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Darby, Pennsylvania. In 1883 he was conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity by Lafayette College. From 1884-1886 he was the Corresponding Secretary for the Permanent Committee on Temperance within the Presbyterian Church. During the period of 1886-1907 Brown worked in a pastoral capacity in churches in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania; Port Chester, New York; Narberth, Pennsylvania; Boone, Iowa; and Lower Merion, Pennsylvania. He died on February 13, 1914 in Philadelphia.

Brown’s published works include: The Christian Hero, his Conflicts, Victories, and Crown: a Sermon, 1862; The Army Chaplain, 1863; History of the First Presbyterian Church of the Borough Darby, PA, 1876; “Century of Temperance Work in the Presbyterian Church” in, One Hundred Years of Temperance, by the National Temperance Society in 1885.

Extent

3.0 Linear Feet (7 Boxes; 7 Boxes (3 linear feet))

Additional Description

Arrangement

The William Young Brown Collection is organized in the order it was received by Special Collections. Rev. Brown himself ordered the collection, an order which can be found in the introductory folder. The collection contains sermons on certain historical occasions. Box 1 Folder 23 contains a sermon on the occasion of President Garfield’s assassination entitled, “Lessons from the Life and Death of the late Chief Magistrate President James A. Garfield.” Box 6 Folder 6 contains a sermon on the occasion of President Lincoln’s assassination entitled, “Memorial of President Lincoln.” Box 3 Folder 26 and Box 5 Folder 25 contain work he wrote as part of the Temperance Committee within the Presbyterian Church (USA).