A selected list of materials in the Owen D Young Library Special Collections related to the founding of St. Lawrence University. These documents include the rationales from the Committee which organized efforts to bring a college to Canton, rationales for the decision for both a Universalist seminary and a college of Arts and Letters, and document Richardson Hall. All materials are available in the Special Collections area, which is open to the public.
Primary Documents
Minutes, St. Lawrence University Board of Trustees, Records A 1856-1889. Record Group 3 Trustees. Archives St. Lawrence University Special Collections, Owen D Young Library, Canton, New York.
Leather bound ledger book 15 inches high, 9 ½ inches wide, 1 ¾ inches deep, 480 pages with several documents folded into the ledger. First entry is the proposed charter for the University, and the early business of the University including a resolution to buy the land where Richardson Hall was built. The minutes are in many hands, the earliest entries in that of Levi Storrs, first secretary of the Board of Trustees.
Acts of Incorporation and By-Laws of the St. Lawrence University, and Universalist Theological School. 1857. Record Group 1 Publications, Charters and Bylaws, Box 2. Archives St Lawrence University Special Collections, Owen D Young Library, Canton, York.
Paper cover 8 leaves, 6 inches high, 3 ¾ inches wide. The original charter printed by A Taylor & Son of New York City, dated 1857. The first page lists the entire “corporate body” and the mission of the University.
Statement of Facts and Reasons in Behalf of the Universalist Theological School at Canton New York. Canton: HC F & Brothers, 1860 in St Lawrence University Catalogs 1864-1884. Record Group 1 Publications, Record Group 13 Theological School, Box 65. Archives St. Lawrence University Special Collections, Owen D Young Library, Canton, New York.
Paper cover 11 leaves, 8 ½ inches high, 5 ½ inches wide. A justification of theological education and history of the founding of the Theological School by the executive committee of the Board of Trustees. The manifesto details the need for a Universalist theological school, why Canton was chosen, and concludes with a call for funds.
[Richardson Hall] Record Group 1 Publications, Charters and Bylaws, Box 2. Archives St. Lawrence University Special Collections, Owen D Young Library, Canton, New York.
Deeds, contracts, and other documents pertaining to original purchase of the land for the college. Documents are signed by Martin Thatcher, Barzillai Hodskin, Theodore Caldwell, and Levi Storrs. Included in the folder is the contract with the New York Universalist Education Society designating Canton has the site for a theological school (along with a typed transcript of said).
Reflections
"Universalist Church and St. Lawrence University." Atwood Manley Papers, Manuscript Collection MSS#67, Box 8k, Folders 91, 92, 92A. St. Lawrence University Special Collections, Owen D Young Library, Canton, New York.
Research notes and manuscripts of articles about the founding of St. Lawrence University's Theological School, and the history of the Universalist Church in Canton. Manley wrote often on topics related to Canton and St. Lawrence County history. Folder 91 contains materials related to the closing of the Theological School.
"Early SLU History." Malcolm McCormick Canton History Collection MSS#150, Box 1, Folder 7. St Lawrence University Special Collections, Owen D Young Library, Canton, New York.
Notes, clipped articles, and photocopies of articles and documents collected by Malcolm McCormick, who researched numerous topics related to St. Lawrence County History. The file here is particularly useful for explicating the role of L.B. Storrs and Martin Thatcher in the founding of St. Lawrence.
Jockel, Joseph. “The Universalists and the Founding of the St. Lawrence University and Theological School.” New York State Convention of Universalists, October 24, 2024. RG 8 Faculty, Series 3 Individuals, Box I-JOC. St. Lawrence University Special Collections, Owen D Young Library, Canton New York.
Talk delivered at the New York State Convention of Universalists at the Universalist Unitarian Church in Canton New York, by long-time member of the St. Lawrence Faculty Joseph Jockel. Addresses the relationship of the Universalist Church in the establishment of St. Lawrence and the relationship of the Theological School to the College of Arts and Letters, and, in turn, the history of the relationship of the institution with the Universalist Church.