Charles Monroe Sheldon/Central Congregational Church Collection, 1811-1984
Collection 222
Introduction
This collection holds the papers of Charles Monroe Sheldon (1857-1946),
pastor of Central Congregational Church, Topeka, Kansas, from 1889 to
1920 and author of the international best seller, In His Steps
(1897). A concern for proper preservation prompted the Central Congregational
Church to give Sheldon's papers to the Kansas State Historical Society
in May, 1992. The seven boxes include Sheldon's writings, correspondence,
clippings and other materials relating to his work and life. The collection
also includes the papers of Mary (Merriam) Sheldon, Charles Sheldon's
wife, as well as the papers of Central Congregational Church.
Biographical Sketch
Charles Monroe Sheldon was born on February 26, 1857, in Wellsville,
New York. Because his father was a Congregational minister, the family
moved five times before settling in South Dakota. Sheldon attended Phillips
Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, and then college at Brown University,
graduating in 1883. In 1886, he graduated from Andover Theological Seminary.
The Congregational Church in Waterbury, Vermont, called Sheldon to his
first pastorship in 1886 where he quickly earned a reputation for his
liberal views and his innovative and unorthodox pastoral style.
During his pastorship in Waterbury, Sheldon met Mary "May"
Merriam, the granddaughter of a parishioner, who was visiting from Topeka.
Her parents were founding members of Central Congregational Church (1888)
and through this connection, Sheldon was called to preach at Central
in 1888. He married Mary in 1891 and their only son, Merriam Ward Sheldon,
was born in 1897.
Sheldon had survived the years in Andover and Providence by writing
and selling articles. He put that skill to use again at Central Church
when he noticed that attendance at Sunday evening prayer meetings was
low. He wrote a series of sermon-stories and would read an episode each
Sunday evening. Each story left the audience with a cliff-hanger so
they would return the next week. From these Sunday evening stories came
In His Steps, or "What Would Jesus Do?". The story
reflected the growing social gospel movement in the United States in
the 1890s that continually questioned the morality of business leaders
in the 1890s modern, industrialized society. Sheldon offered a simple
solution to business leaders by asking them (as Reverend Maxwell asked
his parishioners in In His Steps) to conduct their business as
Jesus would. The story enthralled readers in the United States as well
as in Europe, and the book quickly became an international best seller.
Some say the book was outsold only by the Bible. Sheldon made very little
money from the venture because of improper copyright protection, however.
Word of the faulty copyright leaked to other publishers who quickly
published their own versions of In His Steps without paying any
royalties to Sheldon, thus cheating him out of a fortune. Sheldon tried
not to be bitter, though, and considered himself lucky that his message
had touched so many people.
In March, 1900, Frederick O. Popenoe, editor and owner of The Topeka
Daily Capital, offered Sheldon complete control over the paper for
a week. Sheldon, during that week, tried to publish the paper as he
thought Jesus would. Circulation rose from 15,000 daily copies to well
over 350,000. Sheldon during that week refused to print "hard"
news or ads for tobacco, alcohol or patent medicines. He listed every
person, including the janitor, in the editorial column except for Popenoe
who had angered Sheldon by hiring an agent to advertise the special
editions.
Sheldon was also famous for his community work. During the economic
depression of the 1890s, he spent several months working a week at a
time with railroad operators, laborers and merchants to see under what
conditions those men labored during the financial downturn. Working
with Black "Exodusters", former Southern slaves who migrated
to Kansas after the Civil War, in Topeka's Tennessee Town community
influenced and impacted Sheldon the most. He decided that the area was
impoverished due to a lack of employment and helped find jobs for many
of its residents. He and Central Congregational Church also sponsored
the first Black kindergarten west of the Mississippi River in 1893.
Sheldon was a well-known prohibitionist and actively campaigned in
Topeka against saloons. He traveled throughout the world with his prohibitionist
message, going to England in 1900 for a temperance campaign and to Australia
and New Zealand for another in 1914.
After his retirement from Central Congregational Church in 1920, Sheldon
edited Christian Herald, An Illustrated News Weekly for the Home,
a religious periodical, from 1920 to 1924 and continued to write articles
after his final retirement in 1924. Sheldon made several other trips
abroad, most notably to the Holy Land in 1926 on a Christian Herald
sponsored tour.
In the 1930s and 1940s, Sheldon continued to write and was an active
peace advocate. He also wrote a prohibition plank for Republican Alf
Landon's Kansas gubernatorial campaign. On February 17, 1946, shortly
before his 88th birthday, Sheldon suffered a stroke and died one week
later on February 24, 1946.
Before Sheldon's death, memorials to the beloved pastor had already
been constructed. A community house was added onto the Central Congregational
Church in 1926 and named for Sheldon. In the 1960s, his outdoor study
was saved by the Central Congregational's Altruist Club, an organization
for women started by Sheldon in the early 1900s. The club paid for the
study to be moved to Gage Park and continues to staff the memorial.
As well, there is a Sheldon Memorial Room at Central Congregational
Church.
Scope and Content
Some researchers may find the arrangement of Charles Sheldon's papers
confusing or frustrating. However to properly reflect important events
in Sheldon's life as well as the actual material in the collection,
a non-traditional method of arrangement has been used. Most of the material,
arranged at the series level, has been organized by significant topics
in Sheldon's life. Therefore, the collection begins with original copies
of Sheldon's sermons, sermon-stories and other writings. The collection
then continues with In His Steps material and includes different
versions of the book, for example, the drama and comic book versions.
It also contains The History of 'In His Steps', a pamphlet about
the writing and subsequent problems of the original version. The collection
does not contain the original manuscript of In His Steps, which
is housed at the Humanities Research Center at the University of Texas.
The collection then has Tennessee Town materials and correspondence
concerning the March 1900, edition of The Topeka Daily Capital.
It continues from there with material from Sheldon's trips to Europe
in 1900, 1914, 1926 and 1929. Correspondence comes next and is arranged
by year. The next series concerns memorials to Sheldon and miscellaneous
items follow, arranged alphabetically.
The collection has several strengths. It includes original manuscripts
for many of Sheldon's sermon stories as well as sermons from his Waterbury,
Vermont years. The Tennessee Town material and the In His Steps
papers also contain excellent material. The comic correspondence with
L. D. Whittemore, a Washburn College professor who lived next door to
Sheldon, especially illuminates Sheldon's sense of humor and playfulness.
Postcards, although seemingly insignificant, contain cards from obscure
towns in Europe and Australia where Sheldon passed through and probably
spoke on prohibitionist topics.
The collection, though, has some significant weaknesses. The correspondence,
except with Whittemore, is especially disappointing. Most of the letters,
both incoming, outgoing and those which concern Sheldon, are from his
later years (1920-1946). The collection includes letters of tribute
from William Allen White, Kansas Governor Alf Landon and especially,
United States Senator Arthur Capper. No material exists to explain why
these men wrote so many laudatory letters especially since Sheldon was
rabidly non-partisan and apolitical. Only through outside resources
does one discover that Capper and Sheldon, for example, had known each
other since at least 1895. Capper asked Sheldon (as well as other famous
Kansans) to be a guest editor on his newly purchased newspaper, The
Topeka Mail and Kansas Breeze, as a gimmick to increase circulation.
There is also very little of a personal nature in the collection. Again,
the Whittemore correspondence is the exception. There could be two reasons
for this. First, Timothy Miller, Sheldon's latest biographer, describes
Sheldon as an intensely private man, and it is very possible that he
destroyed most of his personal papers. There are, for example, no letters
from the thousands of people who supposedly wrote Sheldon after In
His Steps was published. Most of the letters from Sheldon are from
parishioners with whom he corresponded. Secondly, Sheldon was a very
busy man, and as a pastor most of his public life was probably his private
life as well.
Researchers should note that there are two Sheldon manuscript collections
in the Kansas State Historical Society's holdings. The Charles Monroe
Sheldon collection (no. 201) is a one box collection that contains writings
donated by Pearl Maus and other individuals over a long period of time.
The collection contains very little information about Mary (Merriam)
Sheldon or about Central Congregational Church.
The Charles Monroe Sheldon/Central Congregational Church collection
(no. 222), described by this register, however, contains information
on both Mary Sheldon and the Central Congregational Church. Mrs. Sheldon's
papers include several plays written by her as well as some correspondence.
The information about the church is strong especially during the years
that Sheldon was pastor. None of the papers in this collection contain
information on Congregationalist religious ideology or practices, although
the Central Church records do contain significant information on clubs
and members. Both the Central Church and Mary (Merriam) Sheldon subgroups
are arranged alphabetically.
Box List: Charles Monroe Sheldon/Central Congregational
Church Collection
Collection 222
Box 1:
Charles M. Sheldon
1.1 Writings - Sermons (1887)
1.2 Writings - Sermons (1888)
1.3 Writings - Sermons (1890)
1.4 Writings - Sermons (1904)
1.5 Writings - Sermon (1938)
1.6 Writings - Sermon "Intellectual Christianity" (undated)
1.7 Writings - Sermon Notes (undated, untitled)
1.8 Writings - Sermon Story "Robert Hardy's Seven Days" written
manuscript
(1893- 1933 - includes other information)
1.9 Writings - Sermon Story "Robert Hardy's Seven Days" printed
manuscript (1894)
1.10 Writings - Sermon Story "Redemption of Freetown" (1898)
1.11 Writings - Sermon Story "Miracle at Markham" (1899)
Box 2:
Charles M. Sheldon
2.1 Writings - Sermon Story "Who Killed Joe's Baby?" (1901)
2.2 Writings - Sermon Story "The Reformer" (1902)
2.3 Writings - Sermon Story "The Narrow Gate" (1903)
2.4 Writings - "101 Poems of the Day" (1886)
2.5 Writings - Pamphlets (1915, 1925)
2.6 Writings - Story "The Show That Would Have Stunned New York"
(undated)
2.7 Writings - Articles Published
2.8 Writings - Co-authored works with Mrs. Sheldon
2.9 Writings - Miscellaneous Prayers, Poems, & Hymns (1894-1935)
2.10 Writings - Miscellaneous Prayers, Poems & Hymns (undated)
2.11 In His Steps - The History of 'In His Steps' (1938)
2.12 In His Steps - The Story of Charles M. Sheldon
2.13 In His Steps - versions - comic book
2.14 In His Steps - versions - drama - manuscripts
Box 3:
Charles M. Sheldon
3.1 In His Steps - versions - drama - correspondence (March 1947
- Sept 1973)
3.2 In His Steps - versions - foreign
3.3 In His Steps - versions - movie
3.4 In His Steps - versions - musical
3.5 In His Steps - miscellaneous
3.6 Tennessee Town
3.7 The Topeka Daily Capital
3.8 Trips - Memorabilia (1900-1927 & undated items)
3.9 Trips - Sydney (1914)
3.10 Trips - Holy Land (1926) manuscript
3.11 Trips - Holy Land (1926) various items
Box 4:
Charles M. Sheldon
4.1 Trips - Byzantine (1929)
4.2 Correspondence - Outgoing (1888)
4.3 Correspondence - Outgoing (May 1897 - ca. 1920)
4.4 Correspondence - Outgoing (Feb 1920 - Dec 1920)
4.5 Correspondence - Outgoing (Feb 1932 - Dec 1939)
4.6 Correspondence - Outgoing (Jan 1940 - Feb 1946)
4.7 Correspondence - Outgoing - L. D. Whittemore (Aug 1889 - Aug 1929)
4.8 Correspondence - Outgoing - Miscellaneous (undated)
4.9 Correspondence - Incoming (Oct 1925 - April 1929)
4.10 Correspondence - Incoming (Jan 1930 - Sept 1938)
4.11 Correspondence - Incoming (Oct 1941 - Feb 1946)
4.12 Correspondence - Incoming - Miscellaneous (undated)
4.13 Correspondence - Concerning - Death/Funeral (Feb 1946 - Summer
1946)
4.14 Correspondence - Concerning - Reminiscence (March 1961 - June 1984)
4.15 Correspondence - Concerning - Research/Information Requests &
Replies (March 1945 - April 1975)
4.16 Correspondence - Concerning - Tribute (Feb 1928 - Feb 1946)
4.17 Memorials - Community House (Oct 1924 - May 1927)
4.18 Memorials - Memorial Room (undated)
4.19 Memorials - Study - (May 1964-Sept 1984)
4.20 Memorials - Walk of Fame (1954)
Box 5:
Charles M. Sheldon (Folders 1-11)
Central Congregational Church (Folders 12-14)
5.1 Memorials - Written (March 1946 - April 1946)
5.2 Alpha Files - Article About
5.3 Alpha Files - Bibliography
5.4 Alpha Files - Biography
5.5 Alpha Files - Family/Genealogical
5.6 Alpha Files - Manuscripts/Play About
5.7 Alpha Files - Participatory Events
5.8 Alpha Files - Printed Invitations
5.9 Alpha Files - Printed Material About
5.10 Alpha Files - Speeches/Articles About - Funeral
5.11 Alpha Files - Speeches/Articles About - Tim Miller
5.12 Altruist Club (1949)
5.13 Altruist Club (1963-1976)
5.14 Altruist Club - Miscellaneous Items
Box 6:
Central Congregational Church
6.1 Bulletins (1890 - 1899)
6.2 Bulletins (1900 - 1909)
6.3 Bulletins (1910)
6.4 Bulletins (1911)
6.5 Bulletins (1912)
6.6 Bulletins (1913)
6.7 Bulletins (1914)
6.8 Bulletins (1915)
6.9 Bulletins (1916)
6.10 Bulletins (1917)
6.11 Bulletins (1918)
6.12 Bulletins (1919)
6.13 Bulletins (1920 - 1929)
6.14 Bulletins (1930 - 1939)
6.15 Bulletins (1940 - 1949)
6.16 Bulletins (1950 - 1959)
6.17 Bulletins (1960 - 1969)
6.18 Bulletins (1970 - 1981)
6.19 Bulletins (undated)
6.20 Christian Endeavor Society
6.21 Directory of Members (1894-1915)
Box 7:
Central Congregational Church (Folders 1-7)
Mary Merriam Sheldon (Folders 8-12)
7.1 History (1869 - ca. 1977)
7.2 Miscellaneous
7.3 Programs for Plays Performed at Central Church (1910 -1947 &
undated)
7.4 Seventy-Fifth Anniversary (1963)
7.5 Willing Duty Seekers (1917-1918, 1927)
7.6 Woman's Society (1907 - 1927)
7.7 Yearbooks (1916 - 1925)
7.8 Correspondence - General (1919 - 1949)
7.9 Correspondence - Sympathy (Feb 1946 - Summer 1946)
7.10 Miscellaneous (1949)
7.11 Writings - Miscellaneous (undated)
7.12 Writings - Plays
7.13 Clippings - Charles M. Sheldon
7.14 Clippings - Mary (Merriam) Sheldon, Central Congregational Church
Chronological List of Sermons:
1887 (Waterbury, Vt.): Reasons for Living the Christian Life series:
- "The Christian Life: the Best Life" (October 16)
- "The Christian Life: a Practical Life" [October 23]
- "The Christian Life: an Active Life" [October 30]
- "The Christian Life: an Unselfish Life" (November 6)
- "The Christian Life: a Hopeful Life" (November 13)
- "The Christian Life: the Nearest Approach to a Perfect Life
(November 20)
- "The Christian Life: the Life T[hat] Mankind Needs" (December
11)
- "The Christian Life: the Life That God Commands" (December
11)
- "Summing Up of Series" [undated]
- "What Is Your Life?" [undated]
1888 (Waterbury, Vt.):
- 'For We Wrestle Not Against Flesh and Blood'—St. Paul"
(January 8)
- 'If Ye Then, Being Evil, Know How to Give Good Gifts unto Your Children,
How Much More Shall Your Heavenly Father Give the Holy Spirit to Them
That Ask Him'—Jesus Christ (March 11)
- 'Now Is the Accepted Time.'—II Corinthians, vi: 2 (July 22)
- "An Ideal Town" (September 16)
1890 (Topeka, Kans.): The Statesmanship of Christ series
- "'But Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God.' (Matthew 6:33)"
(January 19)
- "Matthew vi:10. Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done in Earth
As It Is in Heaven" (January 26)
- "To Working Men" (February 2)
1896 (Topeka, Kans.): "The Development of a Christian Life"
(May 17)
[removed from: Charles Monroe Sheldon collection no. 201, unbound papers]
1904 (Topeka, Kans.)
- "Matt. 1:21: 'And Thou Shalt Call His Name Jesus'" [undated]
- 'For the Son of Man Cane to Seek and to Save That Which Was Lost.'
Luke, xix-10 (February 14)
- [Untitled] page 1 missing (undated)
1938 (Topeka, Kans.)
- "A Glorious Church" (December 11)
[Undated sermon] "Intellectual Christianity"
NOTES ON THE MICROFILM COPY (reel no. MS 1702)
The Sheldon microfilm consists of sermons and sermon notes, 1887-1938,
written by minister
and writer Charles Monroe Sheldon. These sermons and notes are from
the Charles
Monroe Sheldon and Charles Monroe Sheldon/Central Congregational Church
collections
(numbers 201 and 222 respectively) in the Manuscripts Department, Kansas
State
Historical Society (Topeka).
NOTICE: This material may be protected by copyright
law (title 17, U. S. Code).
The user is cautioned that the publication of the contents of this
microfilm may be construed as a violation of copyright. Copyright derives
from the principle of common law, affirmed in the 1976 copyright act,
that the writer of an unpublished letter or other manuscript has the
sole right to publish the contents thereof for the duration of the copyright
unless he or she affirmatively parts with that right; copyright descends
to his or her legal heirs regardless of the ownership of the physical
manuscript itself. It is the responsibility of an author or his or her
publisher to secure permission of the owner of copyright in unpublished
writing.
Information on copyright is available upon request.
On this microfilm are sermons, 1887-1938, and sermon notes, undated,
by Charles M. Sheldon, author and Congregational minister of Waterbury,
Vermont and Topeka, Kansas. The sermon notes and most of the sermons
are from the series "Writings, " 1886- 1938, of the Charles
M. Sheldon subgroup of the Charles Monroe Sheldon/Central Congregational
Church collection no. 222; the sermons for 1896 are from the "Unbound
Papers" series of the Charles Monroe Sheldon collection no. 201.
A chronological list of individual sermons precedes the sermons on this
microfilm.
A copy of the register of the Charles Monroe Sheldon/Central Congregational
Church collection no. 222, containing general information about the
collection, a biographical sketch of Sheldon, and information about
the scope and contents of the papers appears immediately following these
notes. Following the register is a folder list. Researchers should remember
that only the sermons and sermon notes (box 1, folders 1 through 7)
are reproduced on this microfilm.
Blank pages were not filmed, even though they may have been numbered.
Faint pages may have been filmed several times at varying exposures.
The first page is missing from the last sermon in the 1904 folder, so
its title and exact date cannot be determined.
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