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Aaron Burr (1716-1757) Collection
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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Aaron Burr was born on January 4, 1716, to Daniel and Elizabeth Burr in Upper Meadows, Connecticut. He excelled in languages and sciences at Yale College, from which he graduated in 1735. He stayed at Yale for an additional year to study theology, supported by the Berkeley Foundation, during which he became involved in the colonial revival of religion led by Jonathan Edwards.
Burr converted to the Calvinistic belief in the absolute sovereignty of God and was ordained a minister in 1736 by the Presbyterian Church of Newark. He was well known for his reasonable and thoughtful sermons, which contrasted starkly to those of his contemporary revival leaders. Burr also began teaching local boys Latin, Greek, and other liberal arts and became a popular educator.
Burr and fellow "New Side" Presbyterians from the Middle Colonies who favored revivals (as opposed to the "Old Side" Presbyterians and Anglicans from New England) felt that they were in need of an educational institution to train ministers in their philosophies as well as to provide general education to gentleman scholars. Several "New Side" ministers began planning a college and raising funds, and were able to obtain a charter for the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1746. The institution was to be an institution for higher learning for all men, not only those interested in joining the Presbyterian clergy.
John Dickinson was appointed by the trustees of the college to be its first president, but he died only four months after assuming the position. Burr was chosen to be his successor and became a driving force behind the institution, establishing its location, educational standards, and reputation. He was involved in all aspects of the college, regularly teaching classes and tutoring students, as well as supervising construction and raising funds. Burr was president of the college from November 1748 until his death.
Burr continued to fulfill his ministerial duties in Newark during his time as president. He married Esther Edwards, daughter of preacher Jonathan Edward, in 1752. The couple had two children, Aaron and Sarah. Burr died on September 24, 1757.
Consists of Burr manuscripts, correspondence, and documents dating from the period (1748-1757) he was president of the College of New Jersey, now Princeton. Included are original manuscripts of sermons, a Latin oration, and letters and documents, as well as photostats and copies of additional material. There is a contemporary silhouette of Burr as well as a letter, dated 1761, presenting a bill to his estate.
The collection has been organized into three series: 1. Writings; 2. Correspondence--A. By, B. To, C. About; 3. Pictorial Material.
The Dictionary of American Biography (New York:, 1977 ) was consulted during preparation of the biographical note.
The collection is the result, over time, of a departmental policy of gathering together different small accessions relating to a specific author. Holograph pages of Burr's sermons were the gift of Mrs. Eli Whitney, widow of the inventor of the cotton gin.
For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.
This collection was processed by Anna Bialek in June 2005. Finding aid written by Anna Bialek in June 2005.
No appraisal information is available.
Organization
Subject
- College presidents--New Jersey--Princeton--18th century
- Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.--Clergy--18th century
Place
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Author
- Anna Bialek
- Finding Aid Date
- 2005
- Access Restrictions
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The collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
-
Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.
Collection Inventory
Consists for the most part of contemporary copies of sermons, but includes over 30 holograph pages in Burr's extremely fine script.
Arranged alphabetically by title or form, and then chronologically.
Physical Description1 box
AD, 4 pp.: catalogue of the books and other materials left by Aaron Burr, including diaries, bibles, and theological and philosophical texts
Physical Description1 item
TD, 3 pp.: transcript of Burr's minutes of a meeting of the trustees, describing the requirements for admission, graduation, religious worship, moral conduct, attendance, and expenses for students at the New Jersey College [now Princeton University]. Also includes typed copy.
Physical Description1 item
AMs, 20 pp.: an oration delivered by Burr in Newark, written by unknown hand
Physical Description1 item
AMs, 22 pp.: on Gen. 12.[6]. Includes small card with brief biographical notes on Burr, written by unknown person.
Physical Description1 item
AMs, 16 pp., written by unknown hand
Physical Description1 item
AMs, 24 pp.: on prosperity, written by unknown hand
Physical Description1 item
AMss, 31 pp.: holograph pages of sermons in Burr's very small script
Physical Description1 item
Letters by, to, and about Burr. Some photostats and typed transcriptions are included.
The letters are organized into three small sub-groupings--A. Letters By, B. Letters To, and C. Letters About--and arranged alphabetically by correspondent within each.
Physical Description1 box
Consists of letters by Aaron Burr to individuals such as Philip Doddridge, William Hogg, and Johnathan Sergeant, as well as others.
Arranged alphabetically by correspondent.
Physical Description1 box
ALS (photostat.), 5 pp.: a letter regarding the payment of troops. Includes a list which may have acompanied the letter to furnish two levies, one to go to the frontiers of Sussex, the other to go into the continental Jersey Brigade and to pay in proportion to their several taxables
Physical Description1 item
ALS, 4 pp.: a letter regarding theology, matters of the college, and moral philosophy. Includes complete photocopy of original
Physical Description1 item
TL, 3 pp.: April 1748, a transcript of a letter from Burr to Dodderidge regarding sermons and an account of the progress made on the construction of the college; TL, 3 pp.: October 8, [1749], a transcript of a postscript from Burr to Dodderidge regarding the infirmary; TL, 3 pp.: October 8, 1749, a transcript of a letter from Burr to Dodderidge regarding the circumstances of the college and its students; TL, 3 pp.: a transcript of a letter from Burr to Dodderidge regarding the affairs of the college; TL, 2 pp.: October 12, 1749, a transcript of a letter from E. Pemberton to Dodderidge regarding affairs of religious influence; TL, 1 p.: January 30, 1746/7, a transcript of a letter from Jona Dickinson to Theophilus Howell regarding the proposal to erect a college in New Jersey
Physical Description1 item
ALS (photostat.), 3 pp.: a letter acknowledging the aid of the province of Connecticut to the foundation of the College of New Jersey. Includes a TLS from the Connecticut state librarian who sent the letter
Physical Description1 item
ALS, 3 pp.: a letter concerning the construction of Nassau Hall. Includes three distinct cards describing the letter and a complete photocopy of the original
Physical Description1 item
ALS, 2 pp.: a letter thanking Hogg for his work for the college, written on behalf of the trustees of the college
Physical Description1 item
TL, 1 p.: transcription of order to Sergeant to pay Aaron Miller and charge the payment to the college account
Physical Description1 item
ALS, 1 p.: order to Sergeant to pay J. S. Morrow from the college account
Physical Description1 item
ALS, 1 p.: order to Sergeant to pay Caleb Wheeler from the college account
Physical Description1 item
ANS, 1 p: regarding receipt of tickets for the Connecticut lottery
Physical Description1 item
ALS (photostat.), 2 pp.
Physical Description1 item
ALS, 4 pp.: a letter describing Burr's duties at the college, the religious beliefs of the students, the adjustment to the new location of the college, and the recipient's affairs
Physical Description1 item
Consists of letters received by Aaron Burr from John Ward.
Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.
Physical Description1 box
ALS, 2 pp.: a letter and invoice for books for the College of New Jersey
Physical Description1 item
Consists of letters regarding Aaron Burr from David Vanhorne.
Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.
Physical Description1 box
ALS, 1 p.: a letter to Johnathan Sergeant enclosing a bill (AD, 1 p.) for the author's share of Burr's estate
Physical Description1 item
Consists of a silhouette of Aaron Burr.
Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.
Physical Description1 box
small contemporary silhouette of Aaron Burr, approximately 3 x 1.5 inches, with his signature
Physical Description1 item