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Aaron Burr Collection (1746 - 1761)
Collection IDC0090
Size1 box
Collection Description
Aaron Burr was born on January 4, 1716, to Daniel and Elizabeth Burr in Upper Meadows, CT (present-day Fairfield). He excelled in languages and sciences at Yale College, from which he graduated in 1735. He stayed at Yale for an additional year to study theology, during which time he became involved in the revival of religion (known as the First Great Awakening) led by Rev. Jonathan Edwards. After completing his studies Burr was ordained and in 1736 accepted the position of pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Newark. He became well known for his reasonable and thoughtful sermons, which contrasted starkly to those of contemporary revival leaders. Burr also began teaching local boys Latin, Greek, and other liberal arts, in his home, and became a popular educator.
Burr and fellow "New Side" Presbyterians from the Middle Colonies felt that they were in need of an educational institution to train ministers of their persuasion, as well as to provide general education to gentleman scholars. Several New Jersey ministers began planning a college and soliciting funds for it. They were able to obtain a charter for the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1746, and Aaron Burr, senior was one of its Trustees.
Rev. Jonathan Dickinson of Elizabeth, NJ was appointed by the trustees of the College to be its first president, but he died only four months after assuming the position. Burr, then only thirty-two years of age, was chosen as his successor, and served as president of the College from November 1748 until his death. Burr was a driving force behind the institution in its early years, establishing its location (in Newark), educational standards, and reputation. He was involved in all aspects of the college, regularly teaching classes and tutoring students, as well as supervising fundraising and construction. In 1755 he was relieved of his pastoral duties in order to concentrate full-time on his work at the college. In 1756 he moved the College to its new home, the just-completed Nassau Hall in Princeton, then the largest building in the Colonies.
Burr had married Esther Edwards, daughter of Jonathan Edwards, in 1752, and the couple had two children, both born in Newark. On September 24, 1757 not long after the family moved to Princeton, President Burr died of a fever, believed to have been brought on or aggravated by overwork. His widow died seven months later, orphaning their three-year-old daughter Sally and two-year-old son, future vice-president Aaron Burr, junior.
Burr and fellow "New Side" Presbyterians from the Middle Colonies felt that they were in need of an educational institution to train ministers of their persuasion, as well as to provide general education to gentleman scholars. Several New Jersey ministers began planning a college and soliciting funds for it. They were able to obtain a charter for the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1746, and Aaron Burr, senior was one of its Trustees.
Rev. Jonathan Dickinson of Elizabeth, NJ was appointed by the trustees of the College to be its first president, but he died only four months after assuming the position. Burr, then only thirty-two years of age, was chosen as his successor, and served as president of the College from November 1748 until his death. Burr was a driving force behind the institution in its early years, establishing its location (in Newark), educational standards, and reputation. He was involved in all aspects of the college, regularly teaching classes and tutoring students, as well as supervising fundraising and construction. In 1755 he was relieved of his pastoral duties in order to concentrate full-time on his work at the college. In 1756 he moved the College to its new home, the just-completed Nassau Hall in Princeton, then the largest building in the Colonies.
Burr had married Esther Edwards, daughter of Jonathan Edwards, in 1752, and the couple had two children, both born in Newark. On September 24, 1757 not long after the family moved to Princeton, President Burr died of a fever, believed to have been brought on or aggravated by overwork. His widow died seven months later, orphaning their three-year-old daughter Sally and two-year-old son, future vice-president Aaron Burr, junior.
Collection Contents
This open collection consists of manuscripts, correspondence, and documents dating from the period (1748-1757) when Aaron Burr senior was president of the College of New Jersey, now Princeton University. Included are original manuscripts of sermons, a Latin oration, and letters and documents, as well as photostats and copies of additional material. There is a contemporary silhouette of Burr as well as a letter, dated 1761, presenting a bill to his estate.
Material in the collection relating to the College at Newark is as follows:
Folder 1: two typescript copies of "Laws and Customs of New Jersey College," a transcript of Burr's minutes of a meeting of the College trustees (Nov 9, 1748), describing the requirements for admission, graduation, religious worship, moral conduct, attendance, and expenses for students
Folders 3-7: sermons, 1750-1753 and undated, including a Latin oration delivered by Burr in Newark on September 19, 1752. Some are in Burr's hand, some in an unknown hand.
Folder 9: photocopy of a letter from Aaron Burr to Philip Doddridge of London (May 31, 1750). Burr thanks Doddridge for his interest in the College, gives details of recent examinations, held in public, and the favorable impression they made, even on those who opposed the college on sectarian religious grounds. Writes of conflicts among Presbyterians.
Folder 10: typed transcripts of letters from Aaron Burr to Philip Doddridge (1748-1750), on developments at the College, mentioning Gov. Belcher's support for the College. Also a letter from E. Pemberton, New York, to Doddridge on religious strife in New Jersey, the role of Governor Belcher, and Robert Morris's opposition to the College (Oct 12, 1749). These transcripts, from the Doddridge Letterbooks, New College, London, were made by librarian Rev. James B. Binns (per his cover letter, 1954). Also in this folder is a transcript of a letter from Rev. Jonathan Dickerson, Elizabeth Town, NJ, to Capt. Theophilus Howell, Long Island, on the beginnings and purposes of the College, and asking for a subscription (Jan 30, 1746/47), from a different source. [On the Howell letter, see also the entry for the Jonathan Dickerson Papers, C1046, Folder 8.]
Folder 11: photostat copy of letter from A. Burr, thanking the Governor of Connecticut for permission granted by the Assembly (in response to the Trustees' petition) to allow a lottery for the College of New Jersey in CT (May 10, 1754). [This is a copy from an original in the CT State Library/CT Archives, College and Schools, Series 1, vol. 1, doc 328.]
Folder 12: letter from A. Burr, Newark, to William Hogg of Scotland, re: the building of Nassau Hall, plans for chair of Theology, calling of Jonathan Edwards to the chair, etc. (Dec 3, 1755)
Folder 13: another letter from Burr to Hogg, thanking him, etc. (dated May 10, 1755, from Newark, not 1756 as in cataloguing)
Folder 18: includes both a photostat copy of a Burr letter to Mrs. Williams (1746) and a letter (Mar 6, 1753), both from Newark, seeking support for the College
Folder 24: original letter, Esther Burr, Newark, to Lucy Edwards (Nov 4, 1754), with news of family and friends, the climate at Newark, etc.
Folder 25: photostat copy of a brief letter from Esther Burr to Mr. Livingston re: Mr. Burr's accounts (after his death, Nov 17, 1757)
Material in the collection relating to the College at Newark is as follows:
Folder 1: two typescript copies of "Laws and Customs of New Jersey College," a transcript of Burr's minutes of a meeting of the College trustees (Nov 9, 1748), describing the requirements for admission, graduation, religious worship, moral conduct, attendance, and expenses for students
Folders 3-7: sermons, 1750-1753 and undated, including a Latin oration delivered by Burr in Newark on September 19, 1752. Some are in Burr's hand, some in an unknown hand.
Folder 9: photocopy of a letter from Aaron Burr to Philip Doddridge of London (May 31, 1750). Burr thanks Doddridge for his interest in the College, gives details of recent examinations, held in public, and the favorable impression they made, even on those who opposed the college on sectarian religious grounds. Writes of conflicts among Presbyterians.
Folder 10: typed transcripts of letters from Aaron Burr to Philip Doddridge (1748-1750), on developments at the College, mentioning Gov. Belcher's support for the College. Also a letter from E. Pemberton, New York, to Doddridge on religious strife in New Jersey, the role of Governor Belcher, and Robert Morris's opposition to the College (Oct 12, 1749). These transcripts, from the Doddridge Letterbooks, New College, London, were made by librarian Rev. James B. Binns (per his cover letter, 1954). Also in this folder is a transcript of a letter from Rev. Jonathan Dickerson, Elizabeth Town, NJ, to Capt. Theophilus Howell, Long Island, on the beginnings and purposes of the College, and asking for a subscription (Jan 30, 1746/47), from a different source. [On the Howell letter, see also the entry for the Jonathan Dickerson Papers, C1046, Folder 8.]
Folder 11: photostat copy of letter from A. Burr, thanking the Governor of Connecticut for permission granted by the Assembly (in response to the Trustees' petition) to allow a lottery for the College of New Jersey in CT (May 10, 1754). [This is a copy from an original in the CT State Library/CT Archives, College and Schools, Series 1, vol. 1, doc 328.]
Folder 12: letter from A. Burr, Newark, to William Hogg of Scotland, re: the building of Nassau Hall, plans for chair of Theology, calling of Jonathan Edwards to the chair, etc. (Dec 3, 1755)
Folder 13: another letter from Burr to Hogg, thanking him, etc. (dated May 10, 1755, from Newark, not 1756 as in cataloguing)
Folder 18: includes both a photostat copy of a Burr letter to Mrs. Williams (1746) and a letter (Mar 6, 1753), both from Newark, seeking support for the College
Folder 24: original letter, Esther Burr, Newark, to Lucy Edwards (Nov 4, 1754), with news of family and friends, the climate at Newark, etc.
Folder 25: photostat copy of a brief letter from Esther Burr to Mr. Livingston re: Mr. Burr's accounts (after his death, Nov 17, 1757)
FormatTextual materials
SubjectsEducation; Religion / Churches
Time Period18th Century
LanguageEnglish
Access policyOpen for research
ProcessedYes
Finding AidYes