The Augustus Hopkins Strong papers documents the life of Augustus Hopkins Strong and is largely focused on his autobiographical materials and manuscripts dating from 1854-1921. Additional records include personal correspondence, reprints of selected correspondence between Augustus Hopkins Strong and John Henry Strong, reprint of Dr. Strong’s 1918 diary, manuscript of his travel to Europe, unpublished speeches, lectures and sermons, and information on his involvement with a literary club in Rochester, New York. The collection also has a handwritten journal by Dr. Strong’s father, Alvah Strong. Collectively, the materials provide a richly documented life that provides insights into Strong’s religious beliefs and activities, events that shaped his life.

The collection is arranged by general topics including correspondence; Manuscripts, Speeches, Lectures, Sermons and his bound, four-volume Autobiography. The box containing correspondence includes the journal written by Alvah Strong (1809-1885) that is important in understanding the Strong family history and his views of life, religion and beliefs. There are original, unpublished letters to family members dating from 1854-1884; a transcription of his letters home from Europe and the Near East, 1859-1860 (previously published by his father in the Rochester Democrat); general correspondence that included a Photostat copy of a letter dealing with his son, Charles Augustus Strong, who for all practical purposes, left the church and asking the church to withdraw the hand of fellowship from Charles Augustus Strong. Correspondence between Augustus H. Strong and Clarence H. Barbour involves an exchange dealing with the past Masonic activities of Barbour who is in line to become President of the Rochester Theological Seminary. In addition, there is a file of personal correspondence to his son, John Henry Strong. His 1918 date book provides insight into his daily activities and concerns. Lastly, there are two volumes of bound correspondence – selected letters, edited by Crerar Douglas including a 1918 diary by Augustus Hopkins Strong.

Manuscripts, Speeches, Lectures and Sermons included Dr. Strong’s notes about his post-World War I trip to Europe, where he went, what he observed and the people he met along the way. His unpublished speeches provide great insight into his philosophy and beliefs on a number of topics including speaking out against the continuance of Bible Union work (1889), “What may be Done by the Seminary toward a more effective Evangelism?” (1900), “Remarks on the death of President McKinley” (1901), and a number of dinner and alumni speeches 1886-1913.

Two bound volumes of unpublished lectures and sermons are copies made available for research by Emilie Strong Smith. They were transcribed by Rosalie B. Douglas and catalogued and edited by Crerar Douglas, Department of Religious Studies, California State University, Northridge, where the originals are stored.

Folder 2-4 contained photocopies of a few selected pages from a book, The Club: Si Quid Veri Inveneris, Profer ; 1854-1937, by William C. Morey, Privately Published: Rochester, New York (1938) A history of a literary club founded in Rochester, NY in 1854 under the auspices of The International Association of Torch Clubs, Inc. for Professional Men provides an interesting perspective of what the cultured class in Rochester was reading from before the Civil War through the beginning of World War II. The 13 pages included in this folder contained the pages pertaining to Dr. Strong and provided a summary of the papers he presented to Club members. The listings of papers presented provide an interesting glimpse of his interest into a variety theological topics and theologians.

The remainder of the collection contains the Typescript Autobiography (Folders 5 and 6 in Box 2) were prepared by Mrs. Emily Strong Smith and entitled “’Autobiography of Augustus Hopkins Strong’, Rochester, New York 1896-1917” Folder 1 contains 210 pages and included Chapter 1: Early Memories; 2: College Days; 3: Seminary Days; 4: First Pastorate; 5: Second Pastorate (ending at page 210). Folder 2 continues at Page 211 and included the conclusion of Chapter 5: Second Pastorate; 6: Seminary Presidency; 8: Habits and Associations; 9: Later Years (Appendix 1 to Volume IV, Written on my Seventieth Birthday, August 3, 1906), concluding at page 407. Chapter 7 title page was not found and may have been omitted. The four–volume bound manuscript of his handwritten Autobiography occupies the remaining two boxes.
The bulk of this collection pertains to versions of the Autobiography of Augustus Hopkins Strong. While the importance of Dr. Strong is evidenced by his presidency at the Rochester Theological Seminary and his most known book, Systematic Theology, that was recognized as “one of the best orthodox Calvinist theologies of the [twentieth] century.” (Crerar Douglas preface to Autobiography of Augustus Hopkins Strong (1981). Douglas further explains:

In his Autobiography Strong set out to show that ethical monism was, in fact, the goal toward which his spiritual life had been moving all along. … [H]is Autobiography became a confession, reaching back to the Augustinian-Puritan exercises in spiritual self-examination which were in fact, preparations for meeting Him who searches every heart on that day when no secrets will be hid. The Autobiography gradually became more sacred than a public document: like the family worship services which meant so much to him. Strong’s Autobiography became a private witness to those who knew him best. It was his way of telling his family that he knew he was far from perfect but that his life and shown him how to trust the everlasting love of God.