Sayre, Samuel Huntting, Jr. (Rev.) Papers Guide to the Rev. Samuel Huntting Sayre, Jr. Papers Mss. Acc. 2007.43

Guide to the Rev. Samuel Huntting Sayre, Jr. Papers Mss. Acc. 2007.43


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Special Collections Research Center

spcoll@wm.edu

Finding Aid Authors: Anne T. Johnson.

Repository
Special Collections Research Center
Identification
Mss. Acc. 2007.43
Title
Rev. Samuel Huntting Sayre, Jr. Papers 1874-1989 1920-1960
Quantity
6.00 Linear Feet
Language
English

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Use:

Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Conditions Governing Access:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Preferred Citation:

Rev. Samuel Huntting Sayre, Jr. Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Acquisition Information:

Purchase.

Processing Information:

Accessioned and processed by Anne T. Johnson in 2007.


Biographical Information:

Samuel H. Sayre, Jr. was born in Hampton, Virginia, the son of Annie Woolsey Morris and Samuel H. Sayre, Sr. He is descended from Lewis Morris, a Signer of the Declaration of Independence. He served in the Hospital Corp Service of the Navy until August 28, 1919 when he began his studies to be an Episcopal priest. On September 18, 1919, he entered St. Stephen's College, Annandale-on-Hudson and graduated in spring 1922. Between September 26, 1922 and spring 1925, he studied at the General Theological Seminary in New York City as a candidate for the ministry and as a postulant of Bishop Burleson, spending the summers in the Mission field of South Dakota.

He served as a priest in South Dakota, Chicago, Pennsylvania, California and Virginia. He married Marjorie Mae Renison on January 13, 1934 in St. John's Church, Hampton, Virginia. His parish of St. Barnabas in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, California was begun by his wife's Grandfather, Canon Renison, as a Mission Church and Rev. Sayre took over the Parish from his Father-in-Law, Rev. George Edward Renison.

Dates and Parishes:

August 2, 1925 to April 1927

St. James Mission in Mobridge, South Dakota (Rev. Sayre's first parish),

April, 1927 to January 31, 1928

St. Paul's Church in Kenwood, Chicago,

April 1, 1928 to September 30, 1938

St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Williamsport, Pennsylvania and The Church of Our Savior in Montoursville, Pennsylvania,

October 1, 1938 to October 1, 1939

St. John's Episcopal Church, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania,

October 15, 1939 to January 15, 1961

St. Barnabas' Church, Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, California,

February 1, 1961

Kingston Parish, Mathews, Virginia and

by April 3, 1966

St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Colonial Beach, Virginia.

He is a 32nd degree Mason, member of the Royal Arcanum and Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternities. Other honors include Dean of Convocation of Pasadena, 1955-1959 and

Chaplain to Bishop Bloy of Los Angeles, 1951-1961.

Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: .

Scope and Contents

Personal, family and ministerial correspondence of Rev. Samuel H. Sayre.  His personal diaries from 1918 to 1963, his sermons and notes are included in this collection.  There are family and other personal photographs and many postcard and tourist packet photographs from his trips to Europe and his automobile trips from California to Virginia.  Publication material includes church bulletins, news clippings, tourist pamphlets, magazines and others.  His family correspondence possibly has more personal information than his diaries.  His diaries are often a day by day recap of what he did, sometimes about how he felt about people, places or things and rarely about any personal struggles.  The family files contain genealogical information of the Sayre, Renison, Carmalt and Morris Families.  His ministry work is detailed in his letters, diaries and other materials.

Arrangement of Materials:

Some of the material was already arranged by Rev. Sayre and his order was maintained.  The rest of the collection was grouped into Correspondence, Family, Photographs, Travel, Personal, Ministry, Sermons and Diaries.  When possible, material was organized chronologically.

Subjects and Indexing Terms


Container List

id11070
Series 1: Correspondence
Mixed Materials Box: 1 1890-1989
Scope and Contents

Rev. Sayre grouped some of his correspondence and these groups were kept as he organized them. Loose correspondence found in the collection was gathered and grouped according to subject: ministry, family or personal.

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id11155
Series 2: Family History and Documents
Mixed Materials Box: 2 1908-1979
Scope and Contents

Most of this group of papers was found loose during processing except where noted. This series includes genealogy information for the Sayre, Morris, Carmalt and Renison families, plus obituaries, news articles, legal records and biographies of members of these families.

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id11156
Series 3: Photographs
Mixed Materials Box: 3 1955, undated
Scope and Contents

This series includes photographs of Rev. Sayre's family, his churches, his parishioners and friends.

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id11157
Series 4: Travel
Mixed Materials Box: 3 1948, 1954-1958, undated
Scope and Contents

This series contains Rev. Sayre's bills, receipts, brochures, guidebooks, schedules, church bulletins, newspapers, cruise information and other material from his trips to Europe and across the United States.

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id11158
Series 5: Personal
Mixed Materials Box: 4 1921-1978, undated
Scope and Contents

These items were found loose in the collection, but focus mainly on his personal life. The folders include his address book, financial records, memorabilia and other personal items.

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id11159
Series 6: Ministry
Mixed Materials Box: 4 1903-1979
Scope and Contents

This series includes material related to Rev. Sayre's ministry, such as church bulletins, employment information, professional organizations, information on his parishes and parishioners, news clippings and printed or published material that relate to his position as a rector.

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id11160
Series 7: Sermons
Mixed Materials Box: 4 1905, 1924, 1932, 1934, 1936, 1939, 1975, undated
Scope and Contents

This series has been divided into sermons given by Rev. Sayre and sermons given by other ministers.

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id11163
Series 8: Diaries
1918-1952, 1959-1963
Scope and Contents

The 1918 to 1963 diaries tell mainly of Rev. Sayre's day to day activities and usually include letters he has written and received, where he gone, when he naps, and people he meets if they include family and close friends. He often notes where he eats his meals, what time he rises, and what he is reading. After his marriage in 1938, his entries become a little fuller. When he is visiting his family, he goes into a little more detail, but still sticks to the facts. His train and automobile trips across country are usually interesting. Very rarely does he share his feelings, though he might comment if a letter was wonderful, a meal great, a death hard on a family or how great it is to be back at college or at his old home or with Marjorie after a separation. There are addresses, notes, accounts, Christmas lists and book lists in the back of many of the early diaries. In most of the diaries, he will note in the top margin if he changes locations, particularly for an overnight stay or a trip and when he moves. Years 1953 to October 1, 1959 are missing.

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