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1998 Duke University. All rights reserved.
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[Identification of item], Stirewalt Family Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
The collection was received in several separate gifts between 1988 and 1998.
Processed by Don Sechler
Completed 9/18/1998
Encoded by Don Sechler
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
After his ordination, Jacob Stirewalt served pastorates in Shenandoah, Page, and Rockingham Counties in Virginia. He was an active member of the Tennessee Synod, often speaking at conventions held in Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. He fathered four sons, two of whom became Lutheran ministers, and six daughters.
Jerome Paul Stirewalt, one of Jacob Stirewalt's four sons, studied theology under pastors of the Tennessee Synod. During his career as a pastor, which spanned from 1874 to 1920, he served fourteen different churches in pastorates in Virginia. Jerome Paul Stirewalt was very active in the leadership of the Tennessee Synod, serving as secretary for six terms, and four terms each as treasurer and president. He was a frequent contributor to Lutheran and secular periodicals and contributed an article on the history of the Tennessee Synod for "The Lutherans in America," edited by E.J. Wolf.
Martin Luther Stirewalt, the only son of Jerome Paul Stirewalt, served as an instructor at the Weidner Institue, a Lutheran School in a suburb of Chicago, from 1906-1909. He was active in the leadership of the North Carolina Synod, serving as vice-president from 1917-1922 and from 1919-1922 was the secretary of the joint commission overseeing the merger of the Tennessee Synod with the North Carolina Synod. He also served on the board of Lenoir Rhyne College from 1921-1922 and again from 1935-1960.
Catherine A. Stirewalt is the daughter of Martin Luther Stirewalt. Prior to pursuing her missionary activities, she worked as a high school teacher.
The Stirewalt Family Papers, 1828-1993 (bulk 1850-1947), are comprised of the personal papers of individuals from four successive generations of the Stirewalt family. The correspondence, writings, diaries, legal/financial documents, photographs, and other miscellaneous papers found in this collection document the Stirewalt Family's personal lives and involvement in the Lutheran Church as ministers, educators and missionaries. The collection is divided into four primary series which reflect the individuals whose papers make up this collection: Jacob Stirewalt, Jerome Paul Stirewalt, Martin Luther Stirewalt, and Catherine A. Stirewalt. The arrangement of the collection is primarily chronological, following the lineage of the Stirewalt family. Subsections within each major series are determined by the type of materials found within the collection and are arranged either chronologically, as in the case of the Diaries and Correspondence Subseries, or alphabetically and thereunder chronologically, as in the case of the Writings Subseries.
The Stirewalt family is descended from Jacob Stirewalt, a minister and member of the Tennessee Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Jacob Stirewalt was primarily active in and around New Market, Va. and Rowan and Shenandoah counties in Virginia. The Subseries related to Jacob Stirewalt includes Correspondence from 1828-1858, Writings (primarily sermons and sermon outlines in German and English) from the 1830s to the 1860s, and Diaries, which includes a Memorandum book where he recorded financial transactions and other records of his career as a minister from 1834 to his death in 1869.
Jerome Paul Stirewalt, the son of Jacob Stirewalt, was also a minister and a leader of the Tennessee Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. He served as a minister in several pastorates in Virginia and North Carolina and several terms as president, secretary, and treasurer of the Tennessee Synod in the late 1800s and early 1900s. His papers are primarily composed of Correspondence, 1870-1933, with other ministers, relating to the business of the Tennessee Synod, and with family members. The collection also includes Jerome Paul Stirewalt's Writings, primarily sermons and sermon outlines, and other miscellaneous financial and legal papers. The Diaries Subseries is primarily memorandum books which list the date and location of religious services performed and the topic or title of sermons delivered by J.P. Stirewalt. These books serve to provide a record of Stirewalt's work as a Lutheran minister.
Martin Luther Stirewalt, the son of Jerome Paul Stirewalt, was also a Lutheran minister and educator at Lutheran schools and colleges in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Chicago, Ill. This series includes correspondence, diaries, writings and clippings which provide a picture of Stirewalt's theological education, activities as a minister and educator, and insights into his personal life and familial relationships.
The papers of Catherine A Stirewalt, Martin Luther Stirewalt's daughter, are primarily correspondence written while she was a Lutheran Missionary in China from 1939-1949. This correspondence provides documentation of the Lutheran Church's activities in China prior to and after World War II. Catherine Stirewalt's letters provide a great deal of detail about the daily lives of missionaries in China and some information about the lives of the Chinese people working as instructors or attending the mission school. There is no correspondence from the period of the first two years of World War II when she was interned in the Weihsien concentration camp near Tsingtao, China. Other miscellaneous clippings, photographs, and writings in this series provide further documentation of her experiences in China.
These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.
The papers of
Jacob Stirewalt's correspondence is chiefly with members of his family and is arranged chronologically.
The Writings Subseries is primarily composed of sermons and sermon outlines written by Stirewalt in both English and German. This subseries also includes the bound handwritten manuscripts of two short unpublished religious texts authored by Stirewalt and one folder of miscellaneous writings.
33 pages, bound, handwritten manuscript. Includes several inserted leaves of notes.
99 pages, bound handwritten manuscript. Subtitled "With Remarks on the Ministerial Office and A Vindication of the Ordination of a Young Minister."
Stirewalt's sermons are primarily in English, but several of his early sermons are in German. Many of the sermons exist only as detailed outlines, which may have been used as notes to be referred to when delivering the sermon. The sermons are arranged chronologically, with undated sermons, fragments, and notes grouped at the end of the subseries.
One two-page manuscript in Stirewalt's hand titled "A Brief Admonition to Confession," and a three-page manuscript titled "A Cursory Admonition to Repentance."
The Diaries Subseries includes a Memorandum book providing financial and travel details related to Jacob Stirewalt's ministerial duties between
The Financial Papers Subseries includes a Memorandum book, dated
The Miscellaneous Subseries includes assorted personal papers, notes and certificates related to Stirewalt's work as a minister, clippings on various subjects, and writing fragments that are not identified or otherwise classifiable. The subseries is ordered alphabetically by folder title.
Marriage licenses and notes recording the performance of religious services.
One small series of drawings and notes in Jacob Stirewalt's hand concerning improvements to a wheat fan.
The
A note on the title page of this memorandum book states that it was purchased by Jacob Stirewalt in
The first quarter of this memorandum book provides a record of Jerome Paul Stirewalt's ministerial activities at St. Matthew's Church in
The Correspondence Subseries,
The chronologically arranged Writings Subseries primarily consists of sermons and sermon outlines, the bulk of which appear to be outlines which Stirewalt used as references while delivering the sermons. Most of the sermons are dated and the location where each was written, primarily
The Miscellaneous Subseries contains primarily materials created or compiled by Jerome Paul Stirewalt. Also included in this subseries are materials created or compiled by members of his immediate family. The subseries is arranged alphabetically by folder title. The Miscellaneous papers consist of legal and financial paper, clippings, notes, documentation referring to the activities of the
Jerome Paul Stirewalt was the executor for the estate of his sister. This part of the collections contains a small amount of correspondence related to the administration of the estate and receipts and financial records generated by the settlement of the estate.
A handwritten abstract book created by Quintus Stirewalt while a student at the
24 page pamphlet with a "Presidents Report" written by Stirewalt and providing details of the activities of the Tennessee Synod for
6 pages "Sermon Sketch" notebook with 38 questions written by J.P. Stirewalt.
Subscription lists for "History of the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod" (1890) and "Minutes of the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod," (1892).
Draft of a report authored by Stirewalt while serving as treasurer of the Tennessee Synod.
The
The Correspondence Subseries is arranged chronologically and consists of the personal and professional correspondence received by Martin Luther Stirewalt. It includes one folder of letters received from his parents while a student at
The Writings Subseries is arranged in loosely chronological order and consists of Martin Luther Stirewalt's early religious and professional writings. The subseries is composed of notebooks containing coursework and religious essays written while a student at the
7 handwritten and typescript manuscripts on religious and literary subjects. Possibly written in college and graduate school.
"The Curricula of Selected Lutheran Theological Seminaries in the United States,"
Complete sermons and miscellaneous notes and outlines for sermons.
8 typescript and handwritten manuscripts of speeches and sermons delivered by Stirewalt. Included is the text of an address delivered in
20 page handwritten draft of speech titled "Progress in Theological Education," read at Stirewalt's induction as Dean of the
179 loose typescript and handwritten sheets that appear to have been held together in a 6" x 9" three ring binder. The typescript and handwritten sermons and outlines of sermons in this notebook may have been used by Stirewalt as a curriculum for a class on sermon writing.
119 typescript pages in a 6" x 9" black three ring binder, primarily sermons and sermon outlines. Possibly compiled as an educational aid.
75 typescript pages in a 6" x 9" black three ring binder. Appears to be an outline and series of lecture notes for a class called "Practical Homiletics."
Typescript 6" x 9" pages with outlines of New Testament books as well as notes from other historical texts.
3 typescript copies of a 4 page policy statement with some annotations.
31 page typescript draft of Stirewalt's translation from German of the minutes of early meetings of the
5 page typescript of Stirewalt's ethical and behavioral guidelines for Lutheran Ministers.
3 typescript pages of notes made in preparation for writing a chapter for a book on the history of the Tennessee Synod.
Included in this subseries are two notebooks containing records of sermons delivered and religious services performed by Martin Luther Stirewalt from
The Miscellaneous Papers subseries includes publications, pamphlets, clippings, educational records, and legal and financial papers collected by or relating to Martin Luther Stirewalt. The folders are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Annotated by M.L. Stirewalt.
10 copies of the
Photograph of the Class of
Miscellaneous clippings. Includes: copies of several published versions of sermons and addresses delivered by M.L. Stirewalt; clippings of short articles about M.L Stirewalt; and a single copy of
11 copies of the catalogue of the
Land sale agreement between M.L. Stirewalt and
Board of Trustees meeting minutes for three meetings in
2 versions of the organization's constitution and bylaws.
Syllabus and related materials for a series of lectures titled "Four Hunderd Years of the Augsberg Confession."
2 copies of the Seminary's catalog. Includes course descriptions, a history of the seminary and its founders, and description of the school and faculty. A short biography and photo of Martin Luther Stirewalt are on page 20.
The papers of
The chronologically arranged Correspondence Subseries consists of letters written by Catherine Stirewalt to her family and friends during her time spent working and studying in China. In her letters she discusses her day to day life in China, the progress of her studies of the Chinese language, and the details of sightseeing trips made near
The Clippings Subseries includes news clippings of articles relating to Catherine Stirewalt's missionary activities during the
The Miscellaneous Papers Subseries includes a copy of Catherine Stirewalt's travel itinerary for her journey to China in
Includes correspondence between M. Luther Stirewalt and his extended family, discussing his New Testament research interests and the donation of the Family Papers to Duke's Rubenstein Library Library. Also includes correspondence between Stirewalt and Eedman's Publishing, which published his book on Paul's letters in 2001.
Historical clippings and ephemera relating to the Stirewalt family and the history of the church.