Methodism and Wesleyana

The collection of Wesleyana and British Methodism material assembled by Dr. Frank Baker, a longtime scholar of Methodism and professor at Duke University, comprises a large part of the library's Methodist materials. The collection consists of manuscripts and published writings by and about John Wesley (1703-1791), his brother Charles (1707-1788), and other members of the Wesley family. There is also material concerning the rise and development of British and American Methodism; books the Wesleys drew upon for their reading, study, writing, and publication; materials concerning Methodist background in the Church of England; and other items from the time in which Methodism arose. These materials along with materials in the Divinity School Library comprise one of the most comprehensive Wesleyana collections in the world.

Although there are many collections and items relating in varying degrees to American and British Methodism, the primary collection in this area is the Frank Baker Collection of Wesleyana and British Methodism.

Beyond the Baker Collection, other Methodist-related materials may be located using guided subject searching in the archival finding aids or in the library online catalog, using the advanced search and limiting to location = Special Collections.

Current collecting focus is on American and British Methodist materials (including Wesleyana and the papers of leaders and theologians).

For general information about finding materials in the library's collections and how you can use them, requesting permission to reproduce, or other information as well as reference questions about the holdings in this area:

E-mail:	special-collections@duke.edu
Phone:	(919) 660-5822
FAX:	(919) 660-5934

If you are getting in touch via e-mail, please be sure to include your return e-mail address in the body of the message, since it sometimes gets stripped from the header in transit. Also, if you expect a response, make sure to include a phone or fax number or postal address where we can reach you, since sometimes it is difficult or impossible to respond via e-mail. Thank you!