Skip to main content

Charles Henry Hall Papers

 Collection
Call Number: RG 94

Scope and Contents

This collection documents the life and work of Charles Henry Hall, a prominent Episcopal clergyman during the second half of the nineteenth century. Hall was a strong Unionist during the Civil War, though the church he served in Washington during this period was divided in its sentiments. He was a leading citizen of Brooklyn, NY, serving as civil service commissioner and park commissioner. He was a close friend of Henry Ward Beecher. Hall generally avoided political matters in the pulpit but did speak on civic and social reforms.

The Sermons of Series I provide very thorough documentation of Hall's preaching. More than 1500 manuscript sermons are in a numbered sequence that corresponds roughly to chronological order. Dates and places preached are noted on most of the sermons. The numbered sequence is followed by four volumes of indexes to the sermons, which refer to sermons preached on various texts and topics.

The Notes and Writings of Series II include unnumbered, published, and fragmentary sermons, lectures, addresses, and notes. The bound volumes in this series include volumes of notes and quotations, a parish register from the Church of the Epiphany, Washington, DC, two letter copybooks, and a visiting book. Series III, Biographical Documentation, primarily contains tributes following Hall's death.

Dates

  • 1844-1895

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The materials are open for research.

Arrangement

  1. I. Sermons, 1844-1895
  2. II. Notes and Writings, 1848-1893, undated
  3. III. Biographical Documentation, 1895, undated

Extent

15 Linear Feet (38 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Catalog Record

A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/divinity.094

Abstract

More than 1500 manuscript sermons and other writings document Hall's work as a clergyman. Charles Henry Hall (1820-1895) was an Episcopal clergyman in New York, South Carolina, and Washington D.C.

Biographical / Historical

1820 November 7
Born in Georgia
1842
B. A., Yale College.
1843-1844
Studied Biblical literature in Andover, MA, and at General Theological Seminary, NY
1844
Ordained as deacon in Protestant Episcopal Church
1845
Took charge of St. John's Church, Huntington, LI
1847-1848
Rector of Church of the Holy Innocents, West Point, NY
1848-1856
Rector of St. John's Church, St. John's Island, SC
1856-1869
Rector of Church of the Epiphany, Washington, DC
1869- 1895
Rector of Church of the Holy Trinity, Brooklyn, NY
1895 September 12
Died
Title
Guide to the Charles Henry Hall Papers
Author
Compiled by Martha Lund Smalley
Date
1998
Description rules
Finding Aid Prepared According To Local Divinity Library Descriptive Practices
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Part of the Yale Divinity Library Repository

Contact:
409 Prospect Street
New Haven CT 06511 US
(203) 432-5301

Opening Hours