Henry Clarence Burr Papers
Scope and Contents
The papers of Henry Clarence Burr document his theological beliefs and his service as a Methodist Episcopal minister. His voluminous sermons—there are at least 150 separate sermons present in his volumes—are an example of his life’s major vocation. A few documents exist from his time as a college professor of history either at Baldwin Wallace College, 1913-14, or Mt. Union-Scio College, 1913-18, but are limited to a thin volume of American history lecture outlines and some miscellaneous lectures interspersed among his sermon notes.
Aside from these two vocations, though, little information exists here concerning Burr’s life with the exception of his second marriage and death which are covered by newspaper clippings in the Biographical File.
Dates
- Creation: 1904-1953, undated
- Other: Date acquired: 03/19/1971
Creator
- Burr, Henry Clarence (Person)
Biographical Sketch
Henry Clarence Burr was born in Macedon, New York on February 3, 1870, the son of Henry Newton (1838-1921) and Katherine "Kate" Summer Burr (1842-1902). He had three sisters:K atherine "Kittie" S (1866-1948), Grace Maria (1867-1936), and Marian Etta (1872-). He received an A.M. degree from New York University in 1899, a B.D. from Drew Theological Seminary in 1900, and an A.B. from Oberlin College in 1907. In addition, he attended Oberlin College in 1890-91 and the Oberlin College Theological Seminary in 1904-05 and during the summers of 1905-1908. He later wrote to the Oberlin Graduate School of Theology that he was grateful for the instruction he had received there even though he was not a degree candidate.
On November 15, 1892, Henry Clarence Burr married Josephine Paige (1869-1949, A.B. 1892). The couple had one son, Henry Leonard Burr (1900-1965). Leonard Burr graduated from Oberlin College (A.B. 1923), attended the medical school in Louisville, Kentucky, and became a physician.
As a Methodist Episcopal minister, Henry Clarence Burr served many parishes, Methodist, Presbyterian and Evangelical and Reformed. Three of these were out of state: in Chili, New York, 1894-96; Madison, 1898, and Chatham, 1899, both in New Jersey. The others were all in Ohio: Berea, 1897; Lorain, 1904; Doylestown, 1905-09; Cleveland, 1909-13; Alliance, 1918; North Olmsted, 1919; Rocky River, 1921-28; Bowerstown, 1928-29; Kinsman, 1930-36; and Alliance, 1936-40. After his retirement in 1940, as an interim or supply pastor, he served several churches in and near Marion and Bucyrus for about a decade.
As well as a serving parishes, Henry Clarence Burr held the position of Professor of History at Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, Ohio in 1913-14, and the position of Reeves Professor of History at Mt. Union-Scio College, Alliance, Ohio, 1913-18. For three years, 1925-28, he taught history, mathematics and psychology at
Rocky River High School. In 1939, he was apparently teaching philosophy at Baldwin Wallace.Around 1940, the Reverend and Mrs. Burr retired to Oberlin, Ohio where Josephine Burr died in March 1949. On July 12, 1950, Henry Clarence Burr married Mrs. Nina Grace Hawkins (1892-1969). He died in Oberlin on February 3, 1953.
Sources Consulted:
Burr, Henry Clarence: M.A., B.D. Letter to the Oberlin Graduate School of Theology. January 6, 1935.
“Burr-Hawkins Wedding in Uniontown Yesterday.” July 13, 1950.
Cleveland Plain Dealer. Burr, Henry Clarence. Obituary. February 5, 1953. n.p.
Congregational News. February, 1920. n.p.
Elyria Chronicle-Telegram. Burr, Henry Clarence. Obituary. February 4, 1953. n.p.
“Lose Fight for Pastor -Teacher.” Cleveland Plain Dealer. May 8, 1928. n.p.
Oberlin College Alumni Magazine. February, 1919. n.p.
Oberlin College Alumni Magazine. Burr, Henry Clarence. Obituary. March, 1953. n.p.
Oberlin College General Catalogue Report Blank. 1908.
Oberlin College Quinquennial Catalogue Report Blank. 1915.
Oberlin College Quinquennial Catalogue Report Blank. 1916.
Oberlin College Quinquennial Catalogue Report Blank. 1925.
Oberlin College Alumni Catalogue Report Blank. 1935.
Oberlin College Alumni Catalogue Report Blank. 1936.
Oberlin College Alumni Catalogue Report Blank. 1948.
Typescript Obituary. Josephine Paige Burr. No source or date.
Note written by Elizabeth Brinkman and Jonathan Thurn.
Extent
0.80 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Source of Acquisition
Oberlin College Library.
Method of Acquisition
Transfer.
Genre / Form
- Title
- Henry Clarence Burr Papers Finding Guide
- Author
- Elizabeth Brinkman and Jonathan Thurn
- Date
- 10/01/2002
- Description rules
- Rules for Archival Description
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Oberlin College Archives Repository
420 Mudd Center
148 West College Street
Oberlin OH 44074-1532 US
440-775-8014
440-775-8016 (Fax)
archive@oberlin.edu