Dan Freeman Bradley Papers

Collection

Identifier: RG 30-125

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Consists of original letters and photocopies; an issue of the Bangkok calendar (1864), printed by Dan Beach Bradley; the will (1893) of Sarah Blachly Bradley; writings and addresses (1892-1937, undated); and a photograph album showing scenes of Bangkok (ca. 1889). Most of the letters were written between 1877 and 1892 by Dan F. Bradley to his mother and siblings in Bangkok, Thailand. They describe Bradley's student days from 1877 to 1885 at Oberlin College and Oberlin Theological Seminary and pastorates he later held in Ohio, South Dakota, and Michigan. Writings, sermons, and addresses discuss topics such as fellowship and the role of women in evangelization.

Dates

Creation: 1865 - 1937
Other: Date acquired: 08/10/1979

Creator

Bradley, Dan Freeman (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Unrestricted.

Biographical History

Dan Freeman Bradley was born in Bangkok, Thailand in 1857 to Congregational medical missionaries Dan Beach Bradley (1804-1873) and his second wife, Sarah Blachly (1818-1893). He had four siblings: Sarah Adorna (1850-1933), Dwight Blachly (1852-1889), Mary Adelle (1854-1926), and Irene Bell (1860-1943) and 5 half siblings from his father's first marriage. In 1877, the Bradley came to the United States and enrolled at Oberlin College, his mother's alma mater, graduating with the A.B. in 1882 and the B.D. from Oberlin Theological Seminary in 1885. From 1885 to 1902, he held pastorates at Steubenville, Ohio; Yankton, South Dakota (where he was also Acting President of Yankton College); and Grand Rapids, Michigan. After serving for three years as President of Grinnell College, he took up the pastorate of Pilgrim Church in Cleveland in 1905, a post he held until his retirement in 1937. He was an outspoken critic of the evangelism of William Ashley "Billy" Sunday (1862-1935), a lifelong Republican, and a temperance advocate.

Bradley married Lillian Josephine Jaques (1857-1937) in 1883 in Oberlin, Ohio, and the couple had four children: Helen (1886-1892), Dwight Jacques (1889-1957), Robert Gamble (1892-1972), and Dan Theodore (1900-1985).

An active member of the Oberlin Alumni Association, he was only the second recipient of the Association's Distinguished Service Medal. He served as a member of the Oberlin College Board of Trustees from 1891 to 1902 and from 1906 to 1939, the year of his death.

Extent

1.00 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Method of Acquisition

Transferred to the Oberlin College Archives under deed of gift in 1979 by William L. Bradley and in 1992 and 1993 by Barbara Bradley Hildner. Additional material was transferred from the Oberlin College Library, Special Collections, in September 2001.

Accruals and Additions

Accession Nos: 1979/21, 1992/29, 1993/10, 2001/94.

Related Materials

See also the Dan Beach Bradley Family Papers (RG 30/5) and the notebooks of Arthur E. Bradley located in Series IV. B., Non-College Miscellany, of the Oberlin File (RG 21).