Thomas J. Bassett Family Papers

Size: 2 containers, .8 linear feet

Restrictions: none

Accession #: UM91-14

Provenance: donor

The Bassett family has a long association with DePauw University. It started with Thomas J. Bassett who came to Greencastle in 1869 without money or friends, but with determination to obtain an education. By working at every job he could find, he paid his way through then Indiana Asbury and graduated with honor in 1875. Thomas J. Bassett organized and was the first editor of the Asbury Monthly.

Following graduation, Bassett remained at the university until 1881 as instructor of ancient languages. He served as a school principal in Aurora, Illinois for three years and then returned to DePauw where he was principal of the Preparatory School for 13 years.

In 1883, Bassett entered the Rock River Conference and in 1887 transferred to the Northwest Indiana Conference. In the NW Conference he served regular pastorates at St. Paul's, Lafayette, Thorntown, Goodland, West Lafayette, Valparaiso, Hammond and Monticello.

On September 14, 1874, Thomas J. Bassett married Miss Anna E. Ridpath, of Putnam County, who at the time was a teacher in the public schools of Greencastle. The had five children: Pearl (DPU 1894), Clarence (DPU 1898), Lelia (DPU 1897), Rolland (died at age 4), and Bernice (DPU 1910). Bassett died in 1922 and is buried in Forest Hill cemetery.

Bernice Bassett Wyman was Thomas J. Bassett's youngest daughter. She graduated in 1910 and taught in high schools through 1917. She went on to be a principal but, in 1919, moved to Tokyo, Japan to teach. She eventually returned to the U.S. and retired in Waterville, Maine.

This collection is divided in two series - Series I. Thomas J. Bassett Papers consists mostly of sermons given throughout his career as a Methodist minister. The sermons are alphabetically arranged under subseries A by Bassett's subject headings. Subseries B contains all other papers. Series II. Family Papers consists of Bernice Bassett Wyman's genealogical information pertaining to ancestors such as the Ridpaths, the Wymans, the Snows and the Allens. Also included in this section are 8 undated papers by Bernice Bassett Wyman and a collection of poems dated 1960.

DC 1896

SERIES I: THOMAS J. BASSETT PAPERS

subseries A: sermons (in manuscript)

folder 1: "Assurance"

2: "The Blessed Life"

3: "Children's sermons"

4: "Choice and decision"

5: "Christ"

6: "Christ's teaching"

7: "The Church"

8: "Doctrinal and exegesis"

9: "Duty"

10: "Exegesis - expository"

11: "Friendship - love"

12: "Fundamentals"

13: "Holiness and revival"

14: "Holy spirit"

15: "Lectures"

16: "Miscellaneous"

17: "Miscellaneous"

18: "Miscellaneous"

19: "Missions and revival - love"

20: "Parables"

21: "Prayer"

22: "Promises"

23: "Regeneration"

24: "Revival"

25: "Revival continued"

DC 1897

folder 1: Series: Elijah

2: Series: Passover Week

3: Sin

4: Special Addresses

5: Temperance and Prohibition and Special

subseries B: other papers

6: Diary, 1870: starting with Sept. 12, daily entries on

activities during his first few months as a student at Indiana Asbury

7: Descendents of Thomas J. Bassett: family tree, 3 generations

8: "Human Zeal - The World's Motor": manuscript of lecture delivered to the faculty and students of Indiana Asbury University on Feb. 3, 1878

9: "The Man of America": manuscript of lecture, n.d.

10: "Nostrum Periculum nou ita magnum est.": manuscript, n.d.

11: "Roll Call of '75": manuscript, read at reunion banquet,summer of 1910

SERIES II: FAMILY PAPERS

DC1897

folder 12: Correspondence: copies of letters from Francis Allen and Freeman Allen, April 1853-September 1854

13: Correspondence: letters to members of the Ridpath family, 1894-1900. Folder also contains some Ridpath family genealogy information that was found with the letters.

14: "Iris Sketches": collection of poetry by Bernice Bassett Wyman, 1960

15: Papers: seven typescripts by Bernice Bassett Wyman, n.d.

16: Photographs: sites in Maine, 1953 members of 54th retreat

17: "Room Enough for Twelve" & "Life Story of Nathan Wyman":typescripts, possibly by Bernice Bassett Wyman, n.d. These stories relate to the Wyman family ancesters.

18: Snow family: manuscripts and typescripts relating to E. N. Snow and B. K. Snow who are ancestors of Bernice Bassett Wyman

[DPU.INV/1896]