Matthew Simpson, 1811-1884
DePauw University President 1839-1848
DC 71

Archives of DePauw University
and Indiana United Methodism

Matthew Simpson Papers

1811-1884

President 1839-1848

Size: 0.40 lf

Restrictions: none

Accession: none or unknown

Provenance: donor

Processed by: unknown

Biographical Sketch

Matthew Simpson, first president of DePauw University and later bishop of the Methodist Church, was one of the great men of his time. Simpson was born in Cadiz, Ohio, taught school briefly, studied medicine but decided to use his preachers license rather than his medical license. He became a brilliant Pittsburgh pastor at 23, a professor of natural sciences at Allegheny College at 26, president of Indiana Asbury University (now DePauw) at 28, editor of the Western Christian Advocate at 37, and a bishop before he was 41.

Collection Statement

This collection contains three folders of original letters to Simpson from men in all walks of life. There are also miscellaneous letters in chronological order, along with addresses, articles, clippings and a handwritten diploma written by Simpson in 1843.
 

DC 71

Folder 1 Original letters (186) to Matthew Simpson from men in all walks of life.

A microfilm contains 433 letters to Simpson including the 186 originals.

Card index file to letters win annotation in card catalog.

2 Original letters continued

3 Original letters continued

4 Letters regarding Elston Perpetual Scholarships.

5 Letters - Miscellaneous

1848, typed resignation letter from Simpson, copied from I.A.U. Board of Trustees & Visitors, v.1, 1837-1852

1850 letter to Dr. W.R. Genung, including a recommendation of Genung by Simpson

1878 letter, Simpson to Col. James Riley Weaver (Weaver married Simpson's daughter)

1879 letter, Simpson to Judge Iglehart about Dr. Tingley's dismissal

6 Communications (113) to Simpson 1841-1882 (microfilmed)

7 Inaugural addresses: delivered by Governor Wallace and President Simpson at IAU, September 16, 1840

8 Funeral address delivered by Simpson at the burial of President Abraham Lincoln May 4, 1865

9 Articles and Clippings

Harpers Weekly June 28, 1884

DePauw Alumnus March, 1956

Daily Christian Advocate, General Conference 1884

The Christian Student "The Early college President" with material and picture of Simpson, August 1931

Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly "The Medical Training of Matthew Simpson, 1830-1833, Reprint Oct. 1952

10 Miscellaneous

2 postcards of Cadiz, Ohio (Simpson's birthplace)

Photo of a bronze plaque erected by the Northeast Ohio Methodist Conference Historical Society, May 4, 1965 in memory of Simpson

Program "Second Annual Homecoming Dickerson Church June 19, 1938 unveiling memorial to the memory of Simpson

Program May 1, 1934 "A Service honoring the Founders and Benefactors of DePauw University"

Letter from Library of Congress and an order form for a copy of "Manuscript Life of Bishop Roberts"

Letters to Sara Elizabeth Simpson from George Bromley Oxnam, Dec. 6, 1933 and May 2, 1934

Letter to G. Bromley Oxnam from S.E. Simpson, May 19, 1934

10 Letter to Dr. William E. Kerstetter, Simpson College, Indianaola, Iowa from Worth M. Tippy, Archivist, DePauw University, April 7, 1954

Letter to Dr. F.I. Moats, Indianaola, Iowa from Oliver H. Bimson, Simpson College, July 14, 1954 and Moats reply on the bottom of the page

Letter to Dean Bimson, Simpson College from John L. Hillman, July 28, 1954

Letter to Dr. Worth M. Tippy, DePauw Archives, from Oliver H. Bimson, Vice-President and Dean of Simpson College, July 31, 1954

Dr. Tippy's notes on Simpson

11 Elder's certificate signed by Matthew Simpson, Sept. 24, 1871, St. Paul, Minn.

12 "Bishop Simpson's Advice to the Public Speaker" by Nels Jules

13 Letter about Matthew Simpson Oct. 10, 1980 form A. A. Lindsey to Winona Welch

14 "Bishop Matthew Simpson, the Man Who Inspired the Emancipation Proclamation" by C.T. Wilson (photocopy from Current History, 31:99-106,1929)

15 Wesley's Chapel, London; Simpson Window

See Also:

Letters:

Letter concerning Simpson in Florence Ditto folder in Alumni file, May 2, 1954

Simpson letter to Rev. J.A. Brouse, June 1841, in Vol. 1 of 2 vol. scrapbook in vault

Letter regarding Simpson Chair in the Henry B. Longden folder in Oxnam files 1935/36

Articles:

Simpson's call to preach, for Yale lecture Western Christian Advocate, Jan. 1, 1879 pg. 1

Bishop Simpson National Magazine 7:289-92 Oct. 1885

Bishop Simpson by H.B. Ridgaway Methodist Review 45:9-29 1885

Bishop Simpson as a Politician (Southern view) Methodist Review (South)

Oct. 1890; Jan. 1891, p. 395; July 1891, p. 395

A Great Modern Preacher Andover Review 2:186-93 1884

Northwest Christian Advocate, Jan. 5, 1898, p. 6, v. 46, no.1

Picture on front: Bishop Hughes and Simpson's daughters; Miss Ida Simpson, Miss Elizabeth Simpson and Mrs. C. W. Buoy Zion's Herald May 21, 1924

Bishop Matthew Simpson, the man who inspired the Emancipation Proclamation by C. T. Wilson Current History 31:99-106 1929

"Lincoln was no Ordinary Man", from the funeral oration delivered at the grave of  Abraham Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois. Times Herald 118:123-4, Feb. 7, 1940

A part of the oration may be found in Crooks "Life of Bishop Simpson", p. 395

Other Items:

Picture of Matthew Lee Simpson and Sarah Simpson, father and mother of Bishop Simpson in the Hammond Folder, alumni file.

Matthew Simpson - picture opposite page XXI, and biographical sketch XXI-XXII

DePauw University Alumnal Register, Quinquennial, 1900

References to Matthew Simpson in letter of E.L. Eaton in Oxnam file 1930/31

"E" Miscellaneous folder

Funeral address delivered at the burial of President Abraham Lincoln, at Springfield, Ill.

May 4, 1865 (printed) see: G. Bromley Oxnam file

Diploma, handwritten by "M. Simpson, President", 1843 of I.A.U

see: Laverty, John 1843 alumni vertical file

[U:/DPU.INV/Simpson, Matthew]