Guide to the
Bradford Papers
Montclair History Center
Table of Contents
Summary……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..2
Biographical Sketch of Amory Howe Bradford……………………………………………………….2
Scope and Content………………………………………………………………………………………………..3
Arrangement Note………………………………………………………………………………………………..3
Subject and Name Headings………………………………………………………………………………….3
Related Materials…………………………………………………………………………………………………4
Container List………………………………………………………………………………………………………4
References…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...7
Created November 2013 Updated March 2014
Summary
The documents in this collection primarily refer to Amory Howe Bradford, who was a prominent minister at the First Congregational Church in Montclair. He was well known within both the Montclair community and the Congregational church. The collection includes documents written and/or published by Amory Howe Bradford, such as letters and books. It also includes documents about him, such as newspaper articles, and publications by his son, Arthur Howe Bradford.
Location: Library (upstairs)
Quantity: 3 manuscript boxes (3 cubic feet)
Creator: Amory Howe Bradford, Arthur Howe Bradford
Dates: 1884-1990; bulk is 1884-1911
Biographical Sketch of Amory Howe Bradford
Amory Howe Bradford was born in Granby, New York on April 14, 1846. He was a descendant of William Bradford of the Plymouth Colony on his father’s side. He attended Hamilton College and graduated in 1867, and received his theological training at Auburn and Andover Theological Seminaries. He became the minister of the First Congregational Church of Montclair in 1870, and served as minister there for forty years until his death in 1911. In 1870 he also married his wife, Julia Stevens. He became known as a leader in the Montclair community, as well as within the Congregational denomination. In 1895, he embarked on a mission trip to Japan on a deputation from American Board of Foreign Missions.1 He also published a number of theological books and articles. These include The Pilgrim in New England: A Review of History, Present Condition, and Outlook of the Independent Churches in England (1893), The Question of Unity; Many Voices Concerning the Unification of Christendom (1894), Heredity and Christian Problems (1895), and The Growing Revelation (1897), among others.2 This collection includes The Question of Unity and several of his other publications, such as Preludes and Interludes (1911), Messages of the Masters (1902), and The Return to Christ (1900).
Amory Howe Bradford died on February 18, 1911. Bradford and his wife had four children. Their son, Arthur Howe Bradford, became a minister at the Central Congregational Church in Providence, Rhode Island.3
This collection includes letters, newspaper clippings, obituaries, articles, books and other printed material, and scrapbooks. The items are both printed and handwritten. The bulk of the collection is dated between 1884 and 1911. The materials vary in their physical condition. Items that are in extremely fragile condition have been indicated below in the Container List.
Arrangement Note
The printed books and larger scrapbooks have been arranged together in Box 3. Several small publications and scrapbooks are arranged within the rest of the materials in Boxes 1 and 2.
Subject and Name Headings
The following authorized subject and name headings were taken from the Library of Congress Authority Files4. The unauthorized headings are additional keywords that may be useful when accessing this collection, but could not be found in the Library of Congress Authority Files.
Note: This list of headings is not meant to be comprehensive and does not include all of the names and headings included in the collection. It is intended to highlight some of the key subjects, figures, and creators in order to facilitate access.
Authorized Name Headings:
Andover review (Boston, Mass. : 1884)
Bradford, Amory H. (Amory Howe), 1846-1911
Bradford, William, 1590-1657
Bradford, J. Allyn
Montclair times.
New Jersey history series
Authorized Subject Headings:
American Board of Foreign Missions
First Congregational Church (Montclair, N.J.)
Montclair (N.J.)
Unauthorized Name Headings:
Bradford, Arthur Howe
Bradford, Julia Stevens
Related Materials
The Montclair Historical Society’s Library Files collection also contains information about Amory Howe Bradford. The finding aid for that collection can be viewed on the Montclair Historical Society’s Finding Aid website under the Files section. 5
Container List
|
Box Number |
Folder Number |
Contents |
|
1 |
1 |
Bradford Academy newsletters |
|
1 |
2 |
Obituary and funeral service for Amory Howe Bradford, 1911 |
|
1 |
3 |
"Thoughts" by Arthur Howe Bradford, January 9, 1966 |
|
1 |
4 |
Selections from "I Remember" by Arthur Howe Bradford, 1969 |
|
1 |
5 |
Biographical sketch of Amory Howe Bradford |
|
1 |
6 |
The Andover Review, a religious and theological monthly, vol. VII no. Xxxviii: February 1887- article by Amory Howe Bradford "Neglected Factors in the Problem of Reform" p.147-162 |
|
1 |
7 |
New Jersey History, vol. 108 no. 1-2, spring/summer 1990-Cornelia Bradford mentioned in article "Social Service Stations: New Jersey Settlement Houses Founded in the Progressive Era" p.1-29 Copy of J. Allyn Bradford's application to the Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1988 |
|
1 |
8 |
Letter by A.H. Bradford to his mother from Hamilton College, April 18 (1864?) |
|
1 |
9 |
Phrenological Character of Rev. A.H. Bradford given by L.N. Fowler, practical phrenologist - Imperial Buildings, Ludgate Circus, London - December 1884 |
|
1 |
10 |
Possibly another Phrenological study of Amory H. Bradford |
|
1 |
11 |
First Congregational Church calendar and weekly bulletin (book) – March 5, 1893-February 25, 1894 |
|
2 |
1 |
History of Chapel Island Church, Greenwood Lake, NY (references A.H. Bradford) |
|
2 |
2 |
First Congregational Church Manual 1903 (softcover book) |
|
2 |
3 |
Letter from Amory H. Bradford to Rev. T. T. Munger, November 4, 1904 |
|
2 |
4 |
Article from Musical America, May 30, 1908: Bach Festival in Montclair, NJ (mentions Amory H. Bradford and includes a photo of him) |
|
2 |
5 |
Guests of the Montclair Public Dinner in honor of Amory Howe Bradford, May 11, 1909 |
|
2 |
6 |
"Public Tribute to Rev. Dr. Bradford" - Montclair Times, May 15, 1909 (VERY FRAGILE) |
|
2 |
7 |
"Suggestions and Questions for Beginning the Christian Life" by Rev. A.H. Bradford |
|
2 |
8 |
Letter from Amory H. Bradford to the shut-ins of his parish, February 1911 |
|
2 |
9 |
Rev. Arthur H. Bradford - "A Holy Week Meditation for Shut-ins," quoting his father's (Amory Bradford) letter to shut-ins from 1911 |
|
2 |
10 |
Prayer for the dedication of the Bradford Memorial Tower, April 26, 1916 |
|
2 |
11 |
Obituary of Julia Stevens Bradford, c. 1922 |
|
2 |
12 |
Article from "the Observer" February 23, 1924 mentioning Amory H. Bradford |
|
2 |
13 |
The First Congregational Church Yearbook and Church Directory, 1977-1978 - quote from Amory H. Bradford, p. 3 |
|
2 |
14 |
First Congregational Church program, April 22, 1979 (dedication of flowers to Amory H. Bradford) |
|
2 |
15 |
"First Congregational Church, Montclair, New Jersey: a Brief History" by Clara Merritt DeBoer, 1986 |
|
2 |
16 |
"Past and Future" p. 35: Amory Howe Bradford |
|
2 |
17 |
An Easter sermon by Amory H. Bradford 1910 |
|
2 |
18 |
Bradford genealogy |
|
2 |
19 |
Congregational Christian Historical Society newsletter, vol. v no. 2 spring 1958 - "the meaning of our heritage" Arthur H. Bradford |
|
3 |
--- |
Book: Spiritual Lessons from the Brownings by Amory H. Bradford, 1900 |
|
3 |
--- |
Book: Preludes and Interludes by Amory H. Bradford, 1911 (2 copies) |
|
3 |
--- |
Book: The Question of Unity: Many Voices Containing the Unification of Christendom edited by Amory H. Bradford 1894 |
|
3 |
--- |
Book: The Return to Christ by Amory H. Bradford 1900 |
|
3 |
--- |
Book: The Messages of the Masters by Amory H. Bradford 1902 |
|
3 |
--- |
Bradford leather/fabric-bound scrapbook |
|
3 |
--- |
Scrapbook: Amory H. Bradford's deputation/mission to Japan, 1895-96 (articles and letters) |
References
“Biographical Sketch of Amory Howe Bradford.” Bradford Papers (Box 1 Folder 5). Montclair
Historical Society.
Guide to the Amory H. Bradford Papers circa 1897. Special Collections Research Center, University
of Chicago Library. 2002. http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/scrc/findingaids/view.php?eadid=ICU.SPCL.BRADFORD
“Library of Congress Authority Files.” Library of Congress. www.loc.gov/authorities.
1 “Biographical Sketch of Amory Howe Bradford,” Bradford Papers (Box 1 Folder 5), Montclair Historical Society.
2 Guide to the Amory H. Bradford Papers circa 1897, Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library, 2002, http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/scrc/findingaids/view.php?eadid=ICU.SPCL.BRADFORD .
3 “Biographical Sketch of Amory Howe Bradford.”
4 “Library of Congress Authority Files,” Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/authorities.
5 Click here to visit the Files page on the Montclair Historical Society Finding Aids website: