Scope and Contents
The Edward Taylor Collection contains nine volumes of autograph manuscript writings, including poems, sermons, notes on divinity, and commonplace books; and fragments of writings, correspondence, and other materials removed from bindings of these volumes. Some volumes include autograph manuscript ownership inscriptions and other annotations by Taylor’s son-in-law Isaac Stiles and grandson Ezra Stiles.
Detailed descriptions of the following volumes are in The Poems of Edward Taylor, edited by Donald E. Stanford (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1960), in Appendix 2. Manuscripts:
"China's description” and commonplace book
"Christographia"
Dispensatory
Poems
Poetical works, and materials removed from binding.
Detailed descriptions of the following volumes are in The Poems of Edward Taylor, edited by Donald E. Stanford (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1960), in Appendix 2. Manuscripts:
"China's description” and commonplace book
"Christographia"
Dispensatory
Poems
Poetical works, and materials removed from binding.
Dates
- 1670s-1767
- Majority of material found within 1670s-1729
Creator
Language of Materials
In English and Latin. Some materials are in shorthand.
Conditions Governing Access
This material is open for research.
Box 3 ("China's description" and commonplace book): Restricted fragile material. A reference surrogate is available in Beinecke Library's Digital images Online database. For further information consult the appropriate curator.
Items requiring conservation treatment: Restricted fragile material. These items are identified by temporary removal forms filed in the collection. Microfilm reference surrogates may be available. For further information consult the appropriate curator.
Box 3 ("China's description" and commonplace book): Restricted fragile material. A reference surrogate is available in Beinecke Library's Digital images Online database. For further information consult the appropriate curator.
Items requiring conservation treatment: Restricted fragile material. These items are identified by temporary removal forms filed in the collection. Microfilm reference surrogates may be available. For further information consult the appropriate curator.
Existence and Location of Copies
Materials formerly part of the Ezra Stiles Papers: available on microfilm from Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University
Conditions Governing Use
The Edward Taylor Collection is the physical property of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. For further information, consult the appropriate curator.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Henry Wyllys Taylor (Yale 1816), 1883.
Box 5 (Commonplace book): Gift of Lewis Stiles Gannett, 1961.
Box 10 (Poems): Gift of Henry Taylor. Terry, 1921.
Box 5 (Commonplace book): Gift of Lewis Stiles Gannett, 1961.
Box 10 (Poems): Gift of Henry Taylor. Terry, 1921.
Arrangement
Organized into two series: I. Writings, 1670s-1729. II. Materials Removed from Bindings, 1670s-1767.
Extent
2.5 Linear Feet (14 boxes)
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Overview
The Edward Taylor Collection contains nine volumes of autograph manuscript writings, including poems, sermons, notes on divinity, and commonplace books; and fragments of writings, correspondence, and other materials removed from bindings of these volumes. Some volumes include autograph manuscript ownership inscriptions and other annotations by Taylor’s son-in-law Isaac Stiles and grandson Ezra Stiles.
Edward Taylor (1642-1729) (Harvard 1671)
Edward Taylor (1642-1729) (Harvard 1671), Congregational clergyman and poet. Taylor was minister of the First Congregational Church (Westfield, Mass.), 1671-1729. He married Ruth Wyllys (1670-1730) in 1692; their daughter Kezia Taylor Stiles (1702-1727) married Isaac Stiles (1697-1760) (Yale 1722), minister in North Haven, Connecticut, and their son Ezra Stiles (1727-1795) (Yale 1746), was minister of the Second Congregational Church, Newport, Rhode Island, 1755-1776, and president of Yale College, 1777-1795.
The Taylor family
The following is a partial genealogy, showing descendants of Edward Taylor. Donors of contents of the Taylor Collection are indicated by italics.
(1)Edward Taylor (1642-1729) (Harvard 1671) m. (1692) Ruth Wyllys (1670-1730)
-----(2)Kezia Taylor Stiles (1702-1727) m. (1725) Isaac Stiles (1697-1760) (Yale 1722)
----------(3) Ezra Stiles (1727-1795) (Yale 1746)
-----(2)Eldad Taylor (1708-1777) m. (1742) Thankful Day (1721-1803)
----------(3)John Taylor (1762-1840) (Yale 1784) m. (1788) Elizabeth Terry (1766-1843)
---------------(4)Henry Wyllys Taylor (1796-1888) (Yale 1816) m. (1832) Martha Caldwell Masters (1808-1884)
---------------(4)Harriet Taylor Terry (1794-1841) m. Roderick Terry (1788-1849)
--------------------(5)Roderick Terry (1815-1891) m. Sarah Pierson
-------------------------(6)Henry Taylor Terry (1847-1936) (Yale 1869)
(1)Edward Taylor (1642-1729) (Harvard 1671) m. (1692) Ruth Wyllys (1670-1730)
-----(2)Kezia Taylor Stiles (1702-1727) m. (1725) Isaac Stiles (1697-1760) (Yale 1722)
----------(3) Ezra Stiles (1727-1795) (Yale 1746)
-----(2)Eldad Taylor (1708-1777) m. (1742) Thankful Day (1721-1803)
----------(3)John Taylor (1762-1840) (Yale 1784) m. (1788) Elizabeth Terry (1766-1843)
---------------(4)Henry Wyllys Taylor (1796-1888) (Yale 1816) m. (1832) Martha Caldwell Masters (1808-1884)
---------------(4)Harriet Taylor Terry (1794-1841) m. Roderick Terry (1788-1849)
--------------------(5)Roderick Terry (1815-1891) m. Sarah Pierson
-------------------------(6)Henry Taylor Terry (1847-1936) (Yale 1869)
Other Finding Aids
For page-level subject indexing of materials formerly part of the Ezra Stiles Papers, see A Guide to the Microfilm Edition of the Ezra Stiles Papers at Yale University
Publications
The Poems of Edward Taylor, edited by Donald E. Stanford (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1960), Appendix 2. Manuscripts.
Processing Information
This collection consists of materials formerly classed as Ms Vault Taylor, Ms Vault 9:1, Z117 0201, Z117 201, Z117 202 1, Z117 202 2, Z117 202 3, Z117 203, Z117 204, Z117 205, Z117 206, Z117 207, and Z117 208. Some of these materials were included in the microfilm edition of the Ezra Stiles Papers and are indexed in A Guide to the Microfilm Edition of the Ezra Stiles Papers at Yale University, edited by Harold E. Selesky (New Haven: Yale University Library, 1978). Before processing in 2018, readers were generally required to access these materials via the microfilm, and each microfilm frame included a notice requiring permission of the Yale University Library for reproduction or publication. Prior to microfilming, some volumes were disbound, and manuscript fragments removed from bindings were housed separately. Some contents of the collection were treated by conservators during custody by Yale or possibly by former owners, including silking of fragile paper.
In 2018, the collection was reclassed under one call number and organized in two series. Index cards used as microfilm targets were discarded. A fragile volume titled “China's description and commonplace book” was disbound and treated by conservators, and its binding was rehoused separately. Other fragile and silked items were referred to conservators for evaluation and treatment. Other than restricted access to fragile materials, all access, reproduction, and publication restrictions were lifted.
In 2018, the collection was reclassed under one call number and organized in two series. Index cards used as microfilm targets were discarded. A fragile volume titled “China's description and commonplace book” was disbound and treated by conservators, and its binding was rehoused separately. Other fragile and silked items were referred to conservators for evaluation and treatment. Other than restricted access to fragile materials, all access, reproduction, and publication restrictions were lifted.
- American literature -- 17th century
- American literature -- 18th century
- American literature -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775
- American poetry -- 17th century
- American poetry -- 18th century
- American poetry -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775
- Bible -- Theology -- Early works to 1800
- Christian poetry, American -- 18th century
- Clergy -- Massachusetts -- 17th century
- Clergy -- Massachusetts -- 18th century
- Clergy -- Massachusetts -- Early works to 1800
- Commonplace books -- Massachusetts -- 18th century
- Commonplace books -- Massachusetts -- 17th century
- Congregational churches -- Clergy -- Early works to 1800
- Congregational churches -- Doctrines -- Early works to 1800
- Congregational churches -- Sermons -- 18th century
- Congregationalists -- Massachusetts -- Early works to 1800
- First Congregational Church (Westfield, Mass.)
- Great Awakening -- Early works to 1800
- New England -- Intellectual life
- Poets -- United States -- 17th century
- Poets -- United States -- 18th century
- Sermons -- Massachusetts -- 17th century
- Sermons -- Massachusetts -- 18th century
- Sermons, American -- New England -- 18th century
- Stiles family
- Stiles, Ezra, 1727-1795
- Stiles, Isaac, 1697-1760
- Taylor family
- Taylor, Edward, 1642-1729
- United States -- Church history -- To 1775
- Title
- Guide to the Edward Taylor collection
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Karen Spicher
- Date
- 2019 May
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Repository
Location
121 Wall Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Opening Hours
Access Information
The Beinecke Library is open to all Yale University students and faculty, and visiting researchers whose work requires use of its special collections. You will need to bring appropriate photo ID the first time you register. Beinecke is a non-circulating, closed stack library. Paging is done by library staff during business hours. You can request collection material online at least two business days in advance of your visit, using the request links in Archives at Yale. For more information, please see Planning Your Research Visit and consult the Reading Room Policies prior to visiting the library.