Dates
- 1857-1930 (inclusive); 1857-1893 (bulk)
Scope and Content Note
The Theodore Sandford Doolittle papers consist of three boxes. Box 1 is an assortment of items, including clippings of lecture notices and miscellaneous articles (1875-1889), a printed syllabus for "Lectures on Architecture;" correspondence, obituaries, clippings and related letters, and portrait photographs of the adult Doolittle at various ages. Boxes 2 and 3 contain various series of works written by Doolittle, including clippings of editorials from the weekly newspaper Christian at Work (1887-1893). There are also manuscript copies of A Historical Sketch of Rutgers College, and numerous handwritten sermons (1868-1893).
There are several items apparently missing from the collection, including materials referred to by William F. Doolittle in the "Materials for General Catalogue" (Box 1, File 3), such as the European letters, the encyclopedia entries, and others. A large part of the collection is newspaper clippings, most of which are aged and becoming brittle. The bulk of the clippings are from Christian at Work, 1866-1894, which was published and edited by J. N. Hallock, 39 & 41 Park Row, Times Building, New York. That paper was continued by Christian Work 1895-1902, which merged with the Evangelist to form Christian Work and Evangelist 1903-1914, and then absorbed the New York Observer, finally becoming Christian Work again, for 1915-1925. No other paper or microform copies are reported.
Extent
1.2 Cubic Feet (3 manuscript boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
A reformed minister and educator, Theodore Sandford Doolittle served as professor of Rhetoric, Logic, and Metaphysics at Rutgers College. He also lectured on arechitecture, served as Vice President of the college, and acting President. The collection consists of three boxes arranged into a single series. The first includes clippings of lecture notices and miscellaneous articles, a printed syllabus for "Lectures on Architecture;" correspondence, obituaries, clippings and related letters, and portrait photographs of the adult Doolittle at various ages. The other two boxes contain works by Doolittle, including clippings of editorials from the weekly newspaper Christian at Work. There are also manuscript copies of A Historical Sketch of Rutgers College, and handwritten sermons.
Biographical Sketch
Theodore Sandford Doolittle (1836-1893) was born November 30, 1836 in the town of Ovid, in Seneca County, New York. His father was Solomon Doolittle, a merchant in that town, and his mother was Caroline Saterlee. One known relative was second cousin, William F. Doolittle, M.D., of Cleveland, Ohio.
Doolittle became a student at Rutgers College in 1855, and graduated with highest honors as a member of the class of 1859. As a student, he was the last editor of the Rutgers College Quarterly literary magazine. He attended the Theological Seminary in New Brunswick, New Jersey (1859-1862), and was licensed to preach in the Flatlands Dutch Reformed Church in Brooklyn, New York in 1862. Doolittle received his D.D. degree from Wesleyan University in 1872, and his L.L.D. degree from Union College in 1891.
Doolittle served as the pastor of the Flatlands Dutch Reformed Church in Brooklyn, New York from 1862 to 1864. He joined the faculty of Rutgers College in 1864, accepting the chair of Rhetoric, Logic, and Metaphysics. He also taught and lectured on Architecture, Fine Arts, and Elocution. Doolittle became Vice President of Rutgers (1890-1893) and served briefly as acting President (September, 1890-February 4, 1891). He remained associated with the college until his sudden death on April 19, 1893.
A prolific writer, critic, and reviewer, Doolittle served as associate editor of the New York based weekly newspaper, Christian at Work (1873-1893). In that capacity he wrote many editorials, as well as the Sunday School Series column, which consisted of weekly essays on various biblical passages and other related issues. Some of his other writings include A History of Rutgers College for the U.S. Bureau of Education (1876); articles about Rutgers College for various encyclopedias (Appleton's, Johnson's); and a series of letters from European cities, published in 1875 in the Christian Intelligencer called, "Across the Continent."
More biographical material may be found in "Material for General Catalogue," (Box 1, File 3) and in A History of Rutgers College, by William H. S. Demarest (available at Special Collections and University Archives, and other Rutgers Libraries, Call no. LD4753.D4).
Arrangement Note
The papers of Theodore Sandford Doolittle are arranged chronologically in one series and contained in three manuscript boxes.
- I. Personal Papers, 1857-1893, (bulk 1857-1893)
- Title
- Guide to the Theodore Sandford Doolittle Papers, 1857-1930 R-MC 002
- Status
- Unverified Full Draft
- Author
- Daniel Weiss
- Date
- February 2006
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is written in English.
Revision Statements
- April 2007: Changes were made to the initial encoding by Thomas Frusciano and Caryn Radick
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