John Williams Bradshaw Papers

Collection

Identifier: RG 30-044

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection primarily consists of the sermons delivered by John Williams Bradshaw during his pastorate at First Congregational Church in Oberlin (1900-1912, n.d.). Sermon titles include “The efficacy of prayer”, “The ethics of business”, “Evolutionary hypothesis and the idea of God”, and “Changes of 75 years in conceptionof religious life” (delivered in conjunction with Oberlin’s 75th anniversary). The balance of this collection is made up by a biographical file, correspondence (1897), writings by Bradshaw, and an article by C.P. Coffin.

The collection is divided into four series: I. Biographical File; II. Correspondence; III. Sermons and Talks; and, IV. Writings.

Dates

Creation: 1889-1921, undated
Other: Date acquired: 05/25/1970

Creator

Bradshaw, John Williams (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Unrestricted.

Biographical Sketch

John Williams Bradshaw was born on July 7, 1849 in Crown Point, NY to John (1811-1899) and Sarah Fasset Williams Bradshaw (1816-1883. The son of a minister, Bradshaw represented the ninth successive generation of ministers in his family. Bradshaw received his undergraduate education at Middlebury College, VT, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1869. After spending two ears working for the United States Government in Washington D.C., Bradshaw pursued theological studies at Chicago Seminary, from which he received a degree in divinity. Bradshaw’s ministry included pastorates at Congregational churches in Rochester, MN (1874-1884), Galesburg, IL (1884-1888), and Ann Arbor, MI (1888-1900). In 1900, Bradshaw went to Oberlin, OH to serve as minister of First Congregational Church in Oberlin. During his eleven years as pastor, First Church say the addition of a parish house and social hall, the James Brand House (1909), and a renovation project which included the installation and dedication of a new organ (1910). In 1911, Bradshaw resigned from First Church due to his declining health. He died on September 2, 1912, in Peoria, IL from spinal sclerosis. He was married to Mary Ellen Coffin (1855-1940) of Bataria, IL and they had four children: John William II (1878-1967), Mary Lockwood (1880-1955), Charles Porter (1882-1963), and Margaret Coffin (1889-1972).

Note written by Sabra Henke.