The James Oscar Boyd Manuscript Collection

Collection

Identifier: SCM 061

Staff Only

Scope and Content

This collection includes a number sermons delivered throughout Dr. Boyd's career. These sermons are arranged in biblical order, according to the location where the sermon was delivered, the language in which it was preached, or the occasions which inspired it (for example, Christmas).

The collection also includes a variety of lectures, addresses and articles, as well as six Ethiopian manuscripts. An extensive collection of international correspondence, both incoming and outgoing, have been preserved. The correspondence is arranged in alphabetical order according to the last name of the person or organization with whom Dr. Boyd was communicating. Dates of correspondence, when available, are noted. Finally, the collection contains personal papers of Dr. Boyd, which include numerous family documents and various mementos.

Dates

1854 - 1944

Language of Materials

English, German, Italian, Ethiopic

Access:

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

Preferred Citation

The following is the acceptable citation for publication: The James Oscar Boyd Manuscript Collection. Special Collections, Princeton Theological Seminary Library.

Chronology

1874 October 17
: Born in Rahway, New Jersey, to Oscar E. and Mary Elizabeth French Boyd
1895
: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), New York University
1895-1896
: Graduate student, University of Erlangen, Germany (Butler Fellowship, New York University)
1899
: Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.), Princeton Theological Seminary
1899-1900
: G.S. Green Fellow, Princeton Theological Seminary
1900
: Ordained, Presbytery of New York (PCUSA)
1905
: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Princeton University
1900-1907
: Instructor, Old Testament Lit., Princeton Theological Seminary
1907-1915
: Assistant Professor, Oriental and Old Testament Literature, Princeton Theological Seminary
1915-1921
: Pastor, Church of the Redeemer, Paterson, New Jersey
1918-1919
: Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) war service
1921-1926
: Secretary, Arabic-Levant Agency, American Bible Society
1926-1944
: Secretary, Levant Agency; resided in Vienna, Austria, 1928-37
1944-1947
: Resided in Oneida, New York
1947 August 14
: Died in Oneida, New York

Biographical Information

Dr. Boyd also received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from New York University in 1915. He was the author of more than thirty published books and pamphlets, including The Octateuch in Ethiopic according to the text of the Paris codex, A Brief Bible History, Bible Maps, The Character and Claims of the Roman Catholic English Bible, and Colporteurs among Moslems.

Extent

4.4 Linear Feet (4 Boxes)

Additional Description

Processing Information:

According to archival library files, the majority of this collection was given to the Seminary by a "Miss Boyd of New Brunswick" in September of 1957. The collection, stored in three Hollinger boxes, remained unorganized for many years. In March of 1996 these materials, along with related materials on Dr. Boyd from the old filing system, "File D" were added to the collection. The original finding aid was written by Katharine F. Cannata under the direction of William O. Harris, Archivist. The finding aid was edited by Sarah Seraphin in February of 2009.