Manuscript Register

This document describes a collection of materials held by the
Special Collections Department
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1420
Phone: 319-335-5921
Fax: 319-335-5900
e-mail: lib-spec@uiowa.edu

Posted to Internet: December 2002

Acquisition Note: This collection was purchased by University of Iowa Libraries in 1977.

Access and Restrictions: This collection is open for research.

Digital Surrogates: Except where indicated, this document describes but does not reproduce the actual text, images and objects which make up this collection. Materials are available only in the Special Collections Department.

Copyright:  Please read The University of Iowa Libraries' statement on "Property Rights, Copyright Law, and Permissions to Use Unpublished Materials"

Use of Collections: The University of Iowa Libraries supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless, access to some items may be restricted by their fragile condition or by contractual agreement with donors, and it may not be possible at all times to provide appropriate machinery for reading, viewing or accessing non-paper-based materials. Please read our Use of Manuscripts Statement.

Abbreviations: For an explanation of the abbreviation and dating conventions used in the finding aid, please see Abbreviations.

Biographical Note

Ebenezer Alden attended Andover Seminary. He was ordained November 5, 1843 in Denmark, Iowa. Alden served as Congregationalist minister in Tipton, Iowa from 1844 to 1848. While he was in Iowa, he was a member of the "Iowa Band." For thirty-five years, beginning in 1850, he was pastor of the First Congregational Church of Marshfield, Massachusetts, and was pastor or pastor emeritus up to the time of his death on January 4, 1899.

For further biographical information on Alden, see the Books At Iowa essay at http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/scua/bai/jordan4.htm.

Scope and Contents

This collection is made up of letters, reports, and addresses. Of special interest is a four-page letter written to Reverend Alden while he was at Andover Seminary, June 8, 1841, which describes life on steamboats as "wicked" and "degrading." Also of interest is a report by Alden on western boatmen. The collection includes information on the American Bethel Society for Sailors. Also present here is information on the Millerites. A series of quarterly, monthly, and annual reports from Tipton, 1844 -- 1845, provides information about a small town frontier mission, which includes such topics as slavery, temperance, the "Big Woods," the bleak prairie, and fever and sickness.

The collection is comprised of 37 items making up 257 pages.

Item Inventory

"Report before the Society of Inquiry" on boatmen (9 p.). Includes a letter to Alden from North Bridgewater, Massachusetts, June 8, 1841, on steamboats, riverboats, flatboats and Sabbath-breaking (4 p.)

Addresses given while a student at Andover Theological Seminary:

"The Schoolmen", March 31, 1842 (11+p.)

"Liberality among learned men", January 12, 1842 (6 p.)

"The connexion of biography with philosophy & theology", October 23, 1841 (4 p.)

"The tendency of extreme democracy is to despotism", July 6, 1842 (4 p.)

"Importance of an acquaintance with Mental Philosophy to the Minister of the Gospel", n.d. (4 p.)

"Weakness of Scepticism", n.d. (7 p.)

"Familiarity with Great Men", November 1842 (7 p.)

"Our obligations to Monastic institutions", 1838 (4 p.)

"Is the secular enterprise of New England subversive of morals?", n.d. (3 p.)

"Latimer as a preacher", n.d. (8 p.)

Address on the Jesuits, February 10, 1841 (4 p.)

A declamation, "Influence of 'internal improvements' upon morals and religion," November 1842 (7 p.). Deals with the moral influence of railroads and refers to transportation of people to Millerite Camp Meetings on the Sabbath. Also, a letter to the editor of the Vermont Statesmen on the Millerites signed "Lynx" (1 p.)

Professor Shepard's lectures on sermonizing, 1843 (71 p.)

Reports from Tipton, Iowa, 1844 -- 1846 (ca. 80 p.)

"Change in the day of the Sabbath," an address "Read before the Northern Association, May 7, 1845." (8 p.)

"Remarks on announcing my intention of leaving Tipton, made to the Church, August 20, 1848. " (4 p.)

ALS, Alden to Rev. Mr. Foster, from Marshfield, Mass., November 3, 1852, regarding the religious views of Daniel Webster (4 p.)

Remarks about John Magoun, Esq., 1806?1878 (4 .p)

Letter from Ebenezer Alden to his uncle (Henry B. Alden) and aunt in Randolph. MA. Typewritten transcription

Notes on the collection which were included at the time of purchase

Lecture notes, 1840-1842, from courses at Andover Theological Seminary taught by Leonard Woods and Moses Stuart. Bound notebook, 20 cm, 73 leaves. Holograph. Signatures on first and second pages