HomeCC-34 Centre/Presbyterian Synods

CC-34 Centre/Presbyterian Synods

Collection Outline

Collection Description

This small collection concerns Centre College and its relationship with the Presbyterian Synods U.S. and U.S.A., and for the most part reflects efforts to promote Christian education in Kentucky in general, and Centre in particular.

CC-34.1 is a compilation of various papers and volumes found in the library concerning Centre and the Presbyterian Church in Kentucky. The volumes in Series D contain a significant amount of information concerning Presbyterianism and Presbyterian colleges in the state.

CC-34.2 concerns the Presbyterian Education Society of Kentucky, a group formed early in Centre's history to raise funds to enable students interested in the ministry to attend Centre. The society also operated a farm on the outskirts of Danville where young students earned their keep. Anyone interested in the society may locate more information in CC-1, Trustees minutes.

CC-34.3 concerns a more modern group formed to raise funds by subscription drives to promote Christian education, the Kentucky Presbyterian Educational Movement. It should be noted that the files of the group survived fairly intact. However, they were apparently organized into folders by series of code numbers. Unfortunately the code has not survived. Thus, the collection has been organized into a chronological order. Only a small fraction of the original set of files, almost entirely correspondence, has been retained - largely to illustrate how Presbyterians raised funds for education during this period. The correspondence contains a few interesting asides on Centre and the progress of the fund raising. Most of what has been retained concerns efforts to collect from delinquent subscribers.

CC-34.4 covers the complaint of Bennett H. Young against the Synod of Kentucky, 1908-1909. This controversy grew out of the Centre Board of Trustees decision to amend its charter and become independent of the Presbyterians, and Young's appeals to the Synod and the General Assembly to block the decision.

Collection Inventory

CC-34.1 Miscellaneous Centre/Synod Papers

Series A Minutes/Resolutions

Folder 1 Miscellaneous minutes and resolutions by the Synods, U.S. and U.S.A., most concerning a joint commission to promote Christian education, undated, and dated 1911-1920
Folder 2 Miscellaneous minutes and resolutions by the Synods, U.S. and U.S.A. and Centre Board of Trustees, most concerning a joint commission to promote Christian education, January-September 1921
Folder 3 A Covenant Between the Synod of the Living Waters and Centre College, 1969; Mount, Eric. Centre College and the Presbyterian Churches.

Series B Miscellaneous Reports

Folder 1 Miscellaneous reports concerning Centre and the Synods, 1830-early 1900's. Includes a report by Rev. David Nelson regarding a proposed theological seminary (August 30, 1830), and a report on Centre by a committee of visitors appointed by the Synod, September 21, 1846

Series C Miscellaneous

Folder 1 Photocopy of an appeal for funds to the "People of the Atlantic states" from the Board of Trustees of the Kentucky Academy (March 11, 1795); a "Memorial to the education convention" set up to endow what was to become Central University in Richmond, Ky., May 7-8, 1872. Also contains miscellaneous papers including programs of Presbyterian celebrations that were held in Danville or concern Centre College; materials involving Presbyterian organizations such as the Presbyterian College Union of the South; reminiscences on Rev. David Nelson for the New York Observer, undated, but probably mid-1800's. Approximate dates inclusive: 1795-1953

Series D Related Publications

Folder 1 Agreements for Consolidation of the Presbyterian Theological Seminaries at Danville and Louisville, under the name of Presbyterian Theological Seminary of Kentucky and of Centre College and Central University under the name of Central University of Kentucky
Folder 2 Centennial of Presbyterianism in Kentucky address delivered at Harrodsburg, Ky., Oct. 12, 1883. Reprint, Lexington, 1933
Folder 3 Christian Observer-General Assembly reports, Louisville, Ky., June 2, 1909
Folder 4 Christian Observer-General Assembly reports, Louisville, Ky., June 2, 1909
Folder 5 Documents relative to the endowment of the Centre College by the Synod of Kentucky Lexington, 1825. (Photocopy)
Folder 6 College Board - 28th annual report, Presbyterian Church, U.S.A., 1911
Folder 7 Historical sketch of the Presbytery of Transylvania, Ky. by Rev. R.A. Johnstone. 1876
Folder 8 Minutes of the 14th annual meeting of the Presbyterian Educational Assoc. of the South. Montreat, N.C. July 5-10, 1927
Folder 9 One hundred fifty years of Kentucky Presbyterianism 1802-1952, Sesquicentennial celebration jointly by the Synods of Kentucky, Presbyterian Church U.S. and U.S.A., September 11-13, 1951. Danville, Ky.
Folder 10 Presbyterian colleges the College Board of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. 1913
Folder 11 Presbyterian system of government and the issues between the General Assembly and the Synod of Kentucky by Stuart Robinson. 1876. (Photocopy)
Folder 12 Souvenir program, 1783-1933, the Sesqui-centennial of Presbyterianism in Kentucky, held under the joint auspices of the two Synods of Kentucky, U.S. and U.S.A. October 20, 1933
Folder 13 Statement and appeal in behalf of Centre College, Danville, Ky. 1873
Folder 14 Working for redemption of the Kentucky mountaineer - success that has attended the efforts of the Presbyterian Home Mission Board by Rev. Donald McDonald, early 1930's

CC-34.2 Presbyterian Education Society of Kentucky

Folder 1 Correspondence, reports, membership and subscription lists, minutes, and constitution of the Presbyterian Education Society of Kentucky, undated, and dated 1828-1833

CC-34.3 Kentucky Presbyterian Educational Movement

Folder 1 Correspondence concerning the subscription drive, Kentucky Educational Movement, undated, and dated November 1922-July 1923. Also contains the final report of Stephenson Waters McGill (Director), Kentucky Presbyterian Educational Movement to the United Commission, Synods of Kentucky, U.S. and U.S.A. December 28, 1922
Folder 2 Correspondence concerning the subscription drive, August 1923-January 1924
Folder 3 Correspondence concerning the subscription drive, February-May 1924
Folder 4 Correspondence concerning the subscription drive, July, December 1924, January-May, October-December 1925
Folder 5 Correspondence concerning the subscription drive, January-July 1926
Folder 6 Correspondence concerning the subscription drive, October 1926, January-May 1927
Folder 7 Correspondence concerning the subscription drive, January, June-July 1928

CC-34.4 Complaint of Bennett H. Young

Folder 1 Reply of the Commission of the Synod of Kentucky to the published complaint of Bennett H. Young and others, undated-probably late 1908 or early 1909. Also includes supplemental material
Folder 2 Additional copies of the reply (see above)
Folder 3 Pleas to the jurisdiction over complaint against the Synod of Kentucky of 1908 in the matter of Central University of Kentucky, in the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church U.S. 1909
Folder 4 Miscellaneous papers and articles concerning the complaint of Young, undated, and dated 1908-1909

CC-34.5 Board of Curators

Folder 1 Bylaws, 1959-1964
Folder 2 Reports, 1959-1964
Folder 3 Minutes and other miscellaneous material, 1959-1962