Hillyer Hawthorne Straton Papers

The Hillyer Hawthorne Straton papers document the entirely of Straton’s career as a Baptist minister from 1926 to his death in 1969. Straton served as pastor with five congregations in Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana, Michigan, and Massachusetts, was a leader in the Northern Baptist Convention/American Baptist Churches, and supported theological conservatism and post-World War II Christian ecumenism. The collection comprises his personal and professional correspondence, sermons, writings, and accumulated records and documents, organized into five series following their original groupings.

Series I, Personal Correspondence, consists of letters sent and received by Straton between 1926 and 1969, primarily related to his pastorate of First Baptist Church, Malden (Mass.) from 1945 to 1969. File groupings include letters received from 1944-1949, alphabetical correspondence from 1950-1955 and 1958-1964, and Straton’s family correspondence from 1944-1957 and 1936-1959.

Series II, Publications and Miscellaneous Papers, consists of copies of articles written by Straton, including complete issues of publications containing those articles, as well as additional publications, personal documents, and correspondence. Notable materials include Straton’s 1969 correspondence with historian Ferenc M. Szasz and biographical records of both Straton and his father.

Series III, Sermons, consists of notes, outlines, and full texts of Straton’s sermons. Most are handwritten or printed on 7 ¾” x 5” notebook sheets; almost all are undated, but are primarily from Straton’s pastorate at First Baptist Church, Malden (Mass.) from 1945-1969. Also includes research materials for sermons, such as newspaper and magazine articles.

Series IV, Active Files, consists of a group of alphabetical subject files marked by Straton as “active” at the time of his death in 1969. Major subjects include affiliate organizations of the American Baptist Churches; the World Council of Churches; First Baptist Church, Malden (Mass.); and Straton family history and correspondence

Series V, Inactive Files and Writings, consists of a group of alphabetical subject files marked by Straton as “inactive” as of 1968, as well as additional files containing drafts of articles and associated research materials. Major subjects include First Baptist Church Muncie (Ind.); First Baptist Church Detroit; First Baptist Church, Malden (Mass.); affiliate organizations of the Northern Baptist Convention; the Fundamentalist-Modernist controversy; and Straton’s travels to Europe, Israel, and Jordan.