American Historical Ephemera and Photography

Correspondence from Dr. William Buell Sprague to the Rev. Thomas Frederick Davies (1793-1865). Letters primarily written from Sprague's home in Albany, New York, with the exception of one letter each written from "Catskill Mountain House" and "West Springfield," and two letters written from Andover, Connecticut. Most letters approx. 4pp+. No covers present but interior addressee lines on five letters indicate a recipient "Rev. T.F. Davies." Letter content indicates that the Rev. Thomas Frederick Davies, a Connecticut-born Congregational clergyman and editor of religious magazines, was the likely recipient of all correspondence in the lot. Davies graduated from Yale College in 1813, while Sprague graduated in 1815, the two apparently having formed a close friendship during their overlapping college years as described by Sprague in a letter of 20 May 1852. The correspondence indicates the two remained close even decades after they parted ways.

The earliest letter, 7 December 1849, is a request from Sprague to Davies, who by virtue of their "ancient friendship" allows Sprague to ask a favor. Having been at work for some time on a work to "commemorate all the prominent deceased clergymen of our country of every denomination," Sprague solicits Davies's help ascertaining details on potential candidates for inclusion in his publication that would become Annals of the American Pulpit.
Sprague writes regularly of his ongoing work on the Annals of the American Pulpit. Researching and compiling biographies for Spague's comprehensive church history occupies much of his time, and requires him to consult with other religious leaders to gather biographical sketches of prominent church figures. Letters also include discussion of religious and personal matters. In responding to Davies's comments about overworking, Sprague writes on 22 October 1856: "My sober conviction is that the great mass of people even find out what they are capable of doing; and that the greater part even of ministers never reach the limit of their ability." Each letter from Davies is greeted with great joy by Sprague, who regularly extolls their friendship. Sprague's later letters to Davies lament the passing of their friends, discusses plans for a visit, and recounts progress on the Annals.

William Buell Sprague was a noted Presbyterian clergyman, author, and autograph collector. He graduated from Yale College and Princeton Theological Seminary, and went on to serve as pastor at Second Presbyterian Church in Albany, New York, for forty years. He was the author of Annals of the American Pulpit (nine volumes, 1857-1869), a comprehensive biographical dictionary of the leading American Protestant Christian ministers who died before 1850. During his lifetime, he collected an estimated 100,000 signatures of famous individuals - likely the largest private collection in the world at that time - and became the first person to gather a complete set of the autographs of the signers of the United States Declaration of Independence.

Condition of letters generally good with one letter without Sprague's signature, which was cut from the document.