Robert Merrill Bartlett Papers

Robert Merrill Bartlett (O.C. 1921, A.B.) was an ordained minister, a recognized authority on Pilgrim history, a writer, lecturer and author. He was a member of the founding group of the United Church of Christ.

He was born in Kingston, Indiana, on December 23, 1898, the son of Rev. Robert Alexander Bartlett and Minnie Lou Dobson Bartlett. At least one sibling, Paul, attended Oberlin College (1928-29) as did his great grandfather (A.B. 1853). During World War I, Robert was attached to a field artillery officer’s training unity at Camp Taylor, Kentucky (ca. 1916-18). He entered Yale Divinity School, earning a B.D. in 1924. Yankton College presented Robert with an honorary D.D. in 1940.

In 1923 he married Theresa Sue Nuckols (O.C. A.B. 1923). In 1924 they began a three year assignment at Yenching University in Peking, China. There he taught contemporary western literature, speech and English. Returning to the U.S. in 1927, he embarked on a long ministerial career in Congregational Churches in Norwood, Longmeadow and Shrensbury, MA (3 historic New England Churches) and Lansing, MI. In addition he taught courses at Boston School of Theology, Springfield College and Michigan State University (undated). He lectured throughout the US, in England and Holland on Pilgrim history. Active participation in denominational Affairs involved him in the establishment of United Church of Christ, as well as in the World Council of Churches and the National Board of Christians and Jews.

Robert Merrill Bartlett was a prolific author. Included among his 25 books in fields of biography, religion, and history are: volume on Dr. James Yen; The Pilgrim Way (1971); The Faith of the Pilgrims: an American heritage (1978); Those Valiant Texans: a breed apart (1989); The Call of the Phoenix: vignettes of old and new China (1987). For over 10 years he contributed poetry and essays to the Christian Science Monitor.

Robert's renown as a foremost scholar of Pilgrim history grew naturally from his research into this own Pilgrim/Mayflower ancestry. In retirement the Bartletts lived in a 1660 house in Plymouth, MA, the 10th generation of Bartletts to live in the home. He served as President of the Society of Descendants of Robert Bartlett for 20 years, was a member of Alden-Kindred, and the Duxbury Rural and Historical Society. He was an Elder of the MA Society of Mayflower Descendants, a trustee and fellow of the Plymouth Society. He often lectured at Plymouth Plantation and was editor of the Mayflower Quarterly.

In retirement he spent winters in Naples, FL, where he helped found the Naples Congregational Church. He died in Naples on April 25, 1995, survived by his wife of 68 years and their children, Susan Jan Weber (b. 1927), Mary Warren Reynolds (b. 1930), and Robert Hill Bartlett (b. 1934).

Sources Consulted

Student file of Robert M. Bartlett (RG 28) and the Papers of Robert M. Bartlett (30/237).