]>
fi1000-91
Guide to the Willbur Fisk Papers,
1812 -
1883
Processed by: Mrs. Jurgen Herbst, 1963-1965; John Spaeth, 1969;
machine-readable finding aid created by: Valerie Gillispie
&hdrsca; ©
2010 Wesleyan University. All Rights Reserved.
Machine-readable finding aid derived from XML authoring program.
Date of source: December 2010
Description is in English
Finding aid was prepared using DACS
Guide to the Willbur Fisk Papers, 1812 - 1883
Special Collections &
Archives
Wesleyan University
Middletown, CT, USA
© 2010 Wesleyan University. All Rights
Reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Special Collections & Archives, Wesleyan
University
Fisk, Willbur.
Willbur Fisk Papers, 1812 - 1883
1000-91
Material in English
6.5
13
For current information on the location of these materials,
please consult Special Collections & Archives staff.
Willbur Fisk (1792-1839) was a Methodist
minister and the first president of Wesleyan University.
The Willbur Fisk Papers consist of two large series,
Correspondence and Papers. The Papers feature items related to Wesleyan University, including his acquisition of scientific equipment.
They also contain Fisk's own writings and sermons, on topics ranging from abolitionism to
Methodist issues. A subset of the Papers are items written by or belonging to Ruth
Peck Fisk, the wife of Willbur Fisk.
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
No restrictions. Some material is fragile and must be handled with care.
Copyright Notice
Copyright for Official University records is held by Wesleyan University; all
other copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their
descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Willbur Fisk Papers, Collection #1000-91, Special
Collections & Archives, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, USA.
Acquisitions Information
Materials collected by the college library in the 19th century. Contact Special
Collections & Archives Staff for more information, available in the
Willbur Fisk collections file.
Processing Information
Processed by Mrs. Jurgen Herbst, 1963-1965; John Spaeth, 1969
Encoded by Valerie Gillispie, November 2010. Revised by Katie Toner '20 and Leith Johnson, March 2017.
Biographical Note
Willbur Fisk, Wesleyan’s first president, was born on 31 August 1792 and grew up in
Brattleboro, Vermont. Although his mother feared that godlessness and sin in schools and colleges would make Fisk too worldly
and strangle the spiritual life, Fisk graduated
from Brown University in 1815, after also attending Peacham Academy and the
University of Vermont. Surprisingly, given his future role at Wesleyan, Fisk was not
initially drawn to the Methodist ministry following school. In fact, he struggled
with his spiritual purpose at that time, working in law and as a tutor. However, a
revelation during a bout of illness brought him to the ministry in 1818, and he
devoted the rest of his life to his work as a Methodist. In 1825, Fisk was appointed
principal of Wesleyan Academy in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, a preparatory school from
which many Wesleyan University students were to be drawn.
Fisk was active within the Methodist Church on a number of issues, including the
importance of education, temperance, missionary work, and his opposition to
abolitionist movements.
When the decision to found a university in Middletown, Connecticut was made, Fisk was
tapped for the role of first president. In his inaugural speech in 1831, he outlined
his vision for the university, encapsulated by the statement that Education should be directed in reference to two
objects—the good of the individual educated and the good of the world.
Fisk was deeply involved in the administrative and curricular decisions of Wesleyan,
and raised funds for the new college. He traveled to Europe to study educational
institutions and collect scientific equipment in 1835-1836, and also took that time
as a break from the stresses of the presidency. Suffering from ill-health his entire
life, Fisk finally succumbed on 22 February 1839 while still serving as
president.
Willbur Fisk married Ruth Peck on 9 June 1823, and they had one adopted daughter,
Martha.
Collection Overview
The Willbur Fisk Papers consist of two large series. The first, Correspondence, is
arranged into two groups: letters to Willbur Fisk, and letters from Willbur Fisk.
Both groups are arranged alphabetically. There are links in the finding aid to
complete inventories of the letters. The letters from Willbur Fisk have both
alphabetical and chronological inventories, although the letters are physically
arranged in alphabetical order.
The second series, Papers, are items written or collected by Willbur Fisk and his
wife Ruth Peck Fisk. These include number of papers related to Wesleyan University
and its founding, such as correspondence and other materials about faculty and
students, scientific equipment for the univeristy, and financial issues. Many of
Fisk's own writings can also be found in this series, on topics ranging from
abolitionism to Methodist issues. A number of Fisk's early schoolwork, featuring
reports and poems, is listed under Compositions. Addresses and sermons written and
delivered by Fisk can also be found in the Papers series.
A subset of the Papers are items written by or belonging to Ruth Peck Fisk. These
primarily consist of writings about her husband, and letters to Mrs. Fisk after her
husband's death. There are also a few printed items belonging to Mrs. Fisk in this
series.
Online Catalog Headings
These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online
catalogs.
Fisk, Wilbur, 1792-1839.
Fisk, Ruth Peck.
Wesleyan University (Middletown, Conn.)--Faculty.
Wesleyan University (Middletown, Conn.)--Finance.
Wesleyan University (Middletown, Conn.)--History--19th century.
Wesleyan University (Middletown, Conn.)--Presidents.
Wesleyan University (Middletown, Conn.)--Students.
Methodist Episcopal Church--Clergy.
Methodist Episcopal Church--New England--History.
Methodist Episcopal Church--History--19th century.
African Americans--Colonization.
Slavery and the church--Methodist Episcopal Church.
Scientific apparatus and instruments--History--19th century.
Willbur Fisk vertical files, Vertical (Subject) Files, Special Collections &
Archives, Wesleyan University
Nineteenth
Century Administrative Records, Special Collections & Archives,
Wesleyan University
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1. Correspondence
Letters to Willbur Fisk
For a complete alphabetical list of correspondents to Willbur Fisk, including date ranges and numbers of letters, visit http://www.wesleyan.edu/libr/schome/FAs/fi1000-91a.xml
11-29
A-B
21-17
C-Fisk
31-14
Fitch-Jenks
41-16
Jennings-Merrill
51-15
Merritt-Roud
61-19
Round-Z
Letters from Willbur Fisk
For a complete alphabetical list of the recipients of letters from Willbur Fisk, including date ranges and numbers of letters, visit http://www.wesleyan.edu/libr/schome/FAs/fi1000-91b.xml. For a complete chronological list of the letters from Willbur Fisk, visit http://www.wesleyan.edu/libr/schome/FAs/fi1000-91c.xml.
71-17
1812-7 September 1835
8
Letter-book of President Fisk, 1827-1838
81-5
30 September 1835-24 January 1839
Series 2. Papers
91
Autobiography and Daybook, 1819
Parentage, early life, story of his salvation.
Papers pertaining to Wesleyan University
92 Report of the committee (Laban Clark, chairman; Willbur Fisk,
Secretary) appointed by the New York
& New England Annual Conferences to take into
consideration the establishment of a college or
University.... New Haven, 3 December 1829
The committee mentions offers from Bridgeport, Wilbraham, and
Middletown, and recommends Middletown for the site of the new
institution to be established and the report also outlines plans for
the financing and administration of the college. Letter to Dear Brother (Laban Clark?) appended
at end, signed W. Fisk. All in the
handwriting of Willbur Fisk.
92
Report of the Introductory School, signed by W. Fisk, 14 May
1831
92
Financial papers concerning purchase of the Columbian Orrery,
29 June 1837
92
Financial papers about apparatus purchased from Pro. J. M.
Smith, undated
Professor John Mott Smith died in December 1832.
92
A list of Apparatus, with prices, undated
92
List of chemicals purchased from Smith & Hodgson
(Philadelphia) with prices, 30 August 1832
92
Memorandum in handwriting of Pres. Willbur Fisk concerning
part-time appointment of Daniel H. Chase (class of 1933) as
assistant in Mathematics and Ancient Languages, 26 March
1834
92
Unfinished address for Commencement, 1833
92
Suggestions of the president on a resident agency, about
1834-1835
Proposals of substitute arrangements for the present in place of
appointment of a special resident agent.
92
Reports to the Prudential Committee, 1834-1835
Papers in the handwriting of Willbur Fisk having to do with
nominations to the professorship of Moral and Intellectual
Philosophy: Nathan Bangs, Joseph Holdich, Henry B. Bascom.
92
Communication from the professors, 1835
Signed by A. W. Smith (and in his handwriting), D. D. Whedon, and J.
F. Huber, concerning the responsibility and authority of the Faculty
in nominating candidates for appointment to the Faculty.
92
Inventory of Stock & Tools in Carpenter Shop, May
1835
92
Stores in Wesleyan
University, undated
92
Letter from Joseph Toby (Middletown) to Mr. Franklin Delano
(New York City), 10 August 1835
Requests Mr. Delano to arrange passage on the ship Roscoe for
President and Mrs. Fisk, on favorable terms. Handwritten. The Fisks
later sailed on the Roscoe, September 1835, bound for Liverpool.
92
Letter from John Forsyth, U. S. Secretary of State, to Noah
A. Phelps, 20 July 1835
Concerns W. Fisk's passport. Copy.
92
Certificate of Arrival at Port of London, 29 June
1836
Contains some vital statistics about W. Fisk.
92
Communication concerning the case of Benjamin W. Britt
(non-graduate, class of 1840), 1837
92
Financial Committee Report, April 1835
Signed by W. Fisk, J. L. Smith, and H. Bangs.
92
Expenses at the Different
Colleges, undated
92
Merit List, Winter Term, 1834-1835
Handwriting of W. Fisk.
92
List of persons to receive 1837-1838 catalogues, October
1837
Handwriting of W. Fisk.
92
List of money received by Dr. Fisk
at the New England Conference for Subscriptions, etc....,
1838
Handwriting of W. Fisk.
92
Proposals to Rev. John Seys on the
Exchange of housees, agreed to by him, 8 October
1838
92
List of students who are to room in the (Seth) Camp house
(with charges for rent, this in handwriting of J. F. Huber), 8
October 1838
With charges for rent, this in handwriting of J. F. Huber.
92
Faculty recommendation that Rev. William M. Willett be
appointed Teacher of Hebrew, January 1838
Handwriting of W. Fisk.
92
Rules for the Boarding Hall, spring term, 1838
Handwriting of W. Fisk.
92
Handwritten draft of a memorial addressed to the Connecticut
Legislature, 1837
Petitions, in the name of the president
& professors of the Wesleyan University that the
existing law in relation to public
amusements be preserved whole
and entire. Handwriting of W. Fisk.
93
Annual reports as President of Wesleyan University, 1833, 1834,
1837, 1838
94
Miscellaneous papers (non-Wesleyan), circa 1800-1839
These include correspondence, writings on missionary work and Methodism,
poetry, travel souvenirs, and administrative documents.
95
Bills for equipment purchased in Europe, 1835-1836
Includes bills for scientific and astronomical equipment.
Financial appeals (Wesleyan University)
96
Handwritten draft of an appeal to the Connecticut State
Legislature for financial aid, 1834
96
Draft of a financial appeal to the Connecticut State
Legislature, circa 1835-1836
In handwriting of W. Fisk. Fragile condition.
Financial papers, Wesleyan University
97
1829-1830
97
1831-1832
97
Financial statements, first term 1831-1832, winter term
1836-1837, spring term 1837
97
Papers concerning the cost and financing of the President's
House, 1837-1838
97
Financial memoranda addressed to Prof. Jacob F. Huber,
1838
97
Financial statements concerning the Boarding Hall,
1834-1837
97
Various financial papers, 1833-1838
97
Handwritten drafts of subscription scholarship
forms
Not in W. Fisk's handwriting.
Letters concerning Willbur Fisk
98
Letters to Joseph Holdich from various people about Willbur
Fisk
Joseph Holdich was the author of
The Life of
Willbur Fisk, D.D. (New York: Harper, 1842)
98
Letter regarding Willbur Fisk's choice of Brown University
over Middlebury, 1840
At Middlebury, Fisk was apparently insulted by its President Davis. He had to choose a new
school after the War of 1812 closed Burlington University in
Vermont.
98
Letters of introduction to various Englishmen,
1835
Sent from Elliott Cresson, Secretary of the Colonization Society,
Philadelphia, Edward Everett, and others.
98
Letters regarding students
Most are not to or from Willbur Fisk.
98
Letters concerning Willbur Fisk, 1841, 1853
99
Bills and accounts of Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, Massachusetts,
circa 1830
910
Financial papers - personal
911
Funeral arrangements and memorials, 1839
912
Will (copy) and provisions for Mrs. Ruth Fisk and adopted
daughter Martha, 1839
Editorial correspondence
101
1827-1839
Handwritten.
Regarding Wesleyan
102
Description of Wesleyan's offerings, Zion's Herald, September
1833
102
Dr. T. Sewall's An Examination of
Phrenology in 2 parts, reviewed, Christian Advocate and Journal,
April 1837
102
Appeal to State for financial aid, Middletown Sentinel, October 1838
102
Death of A. C. Bangs,
The Christian Advocate and
Journal, 1838
Abolitionism
103
Part of a (long) letter on
Abolitionism Commenced in 1835 but never finished,
1835
Note and letter in handwriting of Willbur Fisk. Addressed to
Brother Kingsbury.
103
Letter from Colonization Society of the City of New York
to Wesleyan University: an
appeal for contributions, 1832
103
Clippings of printed editorials by Fisk
103
Abolition statement to Zion's Herald by Brothers Palmer
and Merritt, September 1837
104
Church affairs clippings, 1835-1838
105
Missions clippings and manuscripts, 1824-1839
106
Temperance, 1827-1834
Includes address on temperance, 1832. Printed in
North Star, Danville, Vermont, 17 April
1832
107
Theology clippings, 1826-1834
108
Lectures on philosophy and theology
23 lectures, handwritten. Typed transcripts also available.
109
Church affairs, 1827-1828
Handwritten.
1010
Compositions, 1812
Compositions
1011
A composition concerning
war, 11 September 1812
1011
Willbur Fisk's Oration,
11 November 1812
1011
The Fallacy of Human
Happiness, 1 September [1812]
1011
Happiness, 21 October
1812
1011
The battle at Queenstown,
28 October 1812
1011
The Lady of my Choice, 30
September 1812
1011
Precedent, 5 August
1812
1011
The ungrateful child, 7
October 1812
1011
Remarks on the Life of Franklin:
Priorities and principles worthy of imitation, January
1813
1011
A moral chatechism: The Modern
Fine Lady, 7 April 1813
1011
Composition on Honor, 14
April 1813
1011
Vermont: A Poem,
1813
1011
The Happiness of Homes or
The pleasures of Home, 19
May 1813
1011
Mortality: A Paraphrase,
17 June 1814
1011
Revolutions of time: 'Time rolls
its ceaseless course,' 30 June 1814
1011
Composition on Duplicity,
22 July 1814
1011
Town and Country; Or, Which is
best? 16 July 1814
1011
Nature and Art Compared,
undated
1011
Willbur Fisk's
Composition, 14 October 1814
1011
Willbur Fisk's
Composition, 20 August 1814
1011
Hope, 28 April
1813
1011
Homo/De Homine, 11
November 1814
1011
The Trifler, No. II,
1814
1011
On Death,
undated
1011
On Distinction,
undated
1011
"He hath a daily bauty in his
life that makes me ugly,' 10 March 1815
1011
The Annunciation, 8
September 1824
1011
Loquaicity,
undated
1011
On Government,
undated
2 separate essays.
1011
Passage of Time/Commencement
Piece, undated
1011
Tobacco,
undated
1011
Louisiana #1,
undated
1011
Louisiana #2,
undated
1011
On Reading,
undated
1011
Manuscript copies of poems by Willbur Fisk, copied by Ruth
Peck Fisk, his wife
Addresses
Manuscript and newspaper accounts
1012
Address at Baltimore on behalf of superannuated ministers,
widows, and orphans, 20 March 1838
Two copies, one in Fisk's handwriting.
1012
Address delivered at Wilbraham on
leaving that School, 1831?
1012
Address before the American Bible Society, May
1835
Addresses in Middletown
1012
25 February 1834
1012
1012
4 July 1834
1012
24 February 1835
1012
27 February 1838
1012
Dr. Fisk's Address to the members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church on the Subject of
Temperance, 1832
2 published copies, plus newspaper account.
1012
Dr. W. Fisk's Address at the
Anniversary of the New York City Temperance Society,
circa 1833
1012
Sketches for a speech, undated
1012
Missionary Spirit, undated
1012
Untitled speech, undated
1012
Address to the New York Conference, undated
1013
Papers concerning the trial of Elias Marble,
1831-1835
1014
The Sunderland controversy, 1838
111
License to preach, Lyndon, Vermont, March 1818
11
Principal heads of discourses,
delivered on various subjects, 7 July 1819
One volume.
112-5
Sermons
Over four hundred handwritten sermons.
Ruth Peck Fisk (Mrs. Willbur Fisk)
Death of Willbur Fisk
121
Willbur Fisk: Poem in
the handwriting of Ruth Peck Fisk (Mrs. Willbur
Fisk)
121
Letter from Ruth Peck Fisk to the parents of Willbur
Fisk, concerning the latter's death, 28 March 1839
Letters from Mrs. Fisk
122
Unaddressed, unsigned letter (possibly a copy by Mrs.
Fisk) complaining of Rev. Heman Bangs' non-performance as Agent
(for Wesleyan University)
122
To Mr. and Mrs. J. Toby, undated
2 different letters.
122
Diary jottings by Ruth Peck Fisk (Mrs. W. F.) - on the
sailing ship Roscoe, returning from
Europe, November 1836
Pressed flowers, etc. from travels and letter mentioning tickets
to Vatican, 1836.
122
To her mother from Paris, 5 November 1836
122
Various letters, circa 1839-1844
122
Two copies of a letter of 13 May 1839 from Mrs. Fisk to
Rev. Dr. Bangs (probably Nathan Bangs), dwelling upon her late
husband's final illness, his exhausting exertions, his final
words, etc.
Copy #2 contains some final portions not contained in Copy
#1.
123
Notes concerning the life of her husband, President Willbur
Fisk
Draft outline of a biography?
124
Notes for Mr. Holdich by Ruth P. Fisk on life of and
anecdotes concerning Willbur Fisk
See Joseph Holdich's
The Life of Willbur
Fisk, D.D.: New York, 1842
125
2 copies of page 9 of the 10 October 1884 College Argus regarding the death of
Ruth Peck Fisk
126
Comments by R. Fisk on Mr. Holdich's book (Biography of Willbur Fisk,
1842)
Letters to Mrs. Fisk from members of her family and friends,
1823-1858
127
From her mother Lydia Peck, 1825-1832
7 letters. Several mentions of adopted daughter Martha.
127
From members of the Peck family, 1840-1858
2 letters.
127
From members of the Peck family, 1842-1844
4 letters.
127
From Mrs. Mary Allton, 1843-1844
10 letters. Mention of Martha's death in 1844.
127
From Miss Mary Goodwin, 1823
2 letters.
127
From Miss Penelope Lippett, 1828-1833
5 letters.
127
From Mrs. Susan B. Thomas, 1840-1843
5 letters.
128
Financial accounts, receipts, etc., 1839-1874
Miscellaneous items
129
Poems by Ruth Peck Fisk
3 items.
129
Calling cards
129
1828 booklet, Canary Bird
Fancier
129
Sunday School class book, R. Fisk, teacher
129
Greeting Cards
129
Notebook with last jottings, 1879
129
Letters to Mrs. Peck (Ruth Peck Fisk's mother) regarding
payment of collected debt, 10 August 1835
2 items.
129
Rules to be Observed in Parsing
129
Shell pattern knitting
Letters to Mrs. Fisk from various people, many regarding Dr.
Fisk's death
1210
Adams, S. E., 1839
1210
Alder, Catherine, 1839
1210
Alder, R., 1839-1840
1210
Allen, J. R., 1840
1210
Allen, R. C., undated
1210
Andrew, J. F., 1872-1882
1210
Arnold, Joseph and others, 1839
1210
Baker, Osmon C., 1939
1210
Balmer, Agnes, 1836
1210
Bangs, N., 1839
1210
Brewer, Susan, 1828
1210
Burrass, John W., 1839
1210
Caldwell, M., 1839
1210
Chamberlain, Elizabeth, 1825
1210
Chandler, S. M., 1881
1210
Clopton, D. and others, 1839
1210
Cummings, D. S., 1878
1210
Dwight, M., 1845
1210
Emory, Robert, 1847
1210
Frothingham, Sally, undated
1210
Goodwin, A. C., 1831
1210
Goodwin, Martha, 1830
1210
Gordon, W., 1845
1210
Hall, Fanny W., 1839
1210
Hallenbeck, Valentine, 1882
1210
Hand, S. S., 1842
1210
Harrington, Eliza C., 1882
1210
Hoffart, J. P., 1883
1210
Holdich, L. H., 1835
1210
Huber, Jacob F., 1841
1210
Johnston, Anna L., 1877
1210
Johnston, John, 1877
1210
Knowlton, Marcia, 1839
1210
Lane, Charles L., 1874-1875
1210
Lane, J. J., 1844
1210
Larrabee, Harriet, 1839
1211
Mattocks, E., 1841-1842
1211
Mead, H., 1821
1211
Miner, W. A., 1876-1883
1211
Michell, H. G., 1870-1879
1211
Otheman, B. Hall, 1839
1211
Paine, Lydia, undated
1211
Patten, David, 1839
1211
Pevin, H., 1839
1211
Porter, Lansing, undated
1211
Price, J., 1839
1211
Raynor, E., 1839-1840
1211
Reid, M. Morrison, 1840
1211
Richardson, C., 1839
1211
Richardson, Martha, 1840
1211
Roberts, Joanna, 1843
1211
Robins, Priscilla, 1828
1211
Sewell, Thomas, 1839
1211
Smith, N., 1844
1211
Snow, A. B. and others, 1839
1211
Staples, M. R., 1844
1211
Stiles, S. M., undated
1211
Stows, Samuel F., 1839
1211
Tabor, M., 1836
1211
Taylor, Maria F., 1844
1211
Toby, Joseph, 1840
1211
Tobey, Joseph and Eliza, 1830
1211
True, C. K., 1860
1211
Webb, Isaac, 1841
1211
Webb, S. I., 1846
1211
Whedon, D. D., 1840
1211
Whitman, I., 1845
1211
Whittelsey, H., 1838-1843
1211
Willett, E., 1845
1211
Willett, William M., 1840
1211
Winde, George Willis, 1842
1211
Wood, E. R., 1827
1211
Woodruff, G. W. and E. W., 1862
1212
Piece of wedding shawl, 9 June 1828
13
Manuscript verse, mostly about Willbur Fisk, by Ruth Peck
Fisk, circa 1839
Engraved sheet of music entitled Fisk, words by Mrs. Dr.
Fisk, music by C. S. H.
5 copies.
Scrapbook of clippings and extracts on her husband's
death
List of subscribers to the $2,000 fund for Ruth Peck Fisk
after Willbur Fisk's death
Commonplace book: Extracts and
Sentiments
Ruth Peck Fisk's copy of Hannah More's Search After Happiness, 1773. Lacks title page.
Ruth Peck Fisk's copy of Willbur Fisk's Travels in Europe, 4th edition, 1838,
bound for her
2 copies of Chauncey Bascom's Guide to
Chirography in a Series of Writing Books . . .
Middletown: Published and Sold by E. Hunt, 1832. Filled out by
Martha Fisk in 1835.