The Betsey Stockton Manuscript Collection

Collection

Identifier: SCM 319

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This constructed collection consists chiefly of biographical materials, published and unpublished items on Stockton, and published books on Hawaii missions.

Dates

1822 - 1991

Conditions Governing 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.

Biographical / Historical

Betsey Stockton (1798-1865) was born into slavery at "Morven" in Princeton. She was given as a gift to the Reverend Ashbel Green, Princeton University President, who freed her. She was converted in the Christian revival which swept through Princeton in 1815. She was tutored by President Green, his son James, and several Princeton Seminary students, who prepared her for missions work. Betsey went to Hawaii as a missionary teacher, becoming the first unmarried woman to be sent on America missions abroad. After returning to Princeton, she helped found the Witherspoon Presbyterian Church, an African American church, in 1840. She also dedicated herself to the education of Princeton's African American children.

Extent

4.4 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

General

These materials were collected by Mrs. Eileen Moffett (PTS 1955), who served with her husband Dr. Samuel H. Moffett as a Presbyterian (PCUSA) missionary to Korea for nearly thirty years. In July of 1997 they were given to the Seminary Archives as a manuscript collection and organized later that month.

There are no special restrictions placed on the accessibility of this collection. It is available for the use of library patrons under the normal rules and conditions of Seminary Archives.