Archibald John Battle Papers

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: MU-PP-0005

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Archibald Battle Papers contains two letters regarding Battle (1871 and 1879); a volume of Battle lecture notes taken by William S. West (1879-1880); and a notebook of miscellaneous notes (undated) with loose notes and scrap paper bearing West’s name inserted. The volume of lecture notes has significantly deteriorated. The collection was possibly given by Dr. Spencer B. King.

Dates

Creation: 1871-1880

Creator

Battle, Archibald John, 1826-1907 (Person)

Rights Statement

To quote in print, or otherwise reproduce in whole or in part in any publication, including on the World Wide Web, any material from this collection, the researcher must obtain permission from (1) the owner of the physical property and (2) the holder of the copyright. Persons wishing to quote from this collection should consult the reference archivist to determine copyright holders for information in this collection. Reproduction of any item must contain the complete citation to the original.

Biographical / Historical

Archibald John Battle was born in Powelton, GA, on September 10, 1826, son of Dr. and Mrs. Cullen Battle. He was reared in Alabama and graduated from the University of Alabama in 1846, under the administration of Dr. Basil Manly. He later received the Doctor of Divinity degree from Howard College (Alabama) and Columbian University (Washington, D. C.), and the Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Georgia. Battle was married to Mary E. Guild of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in 1847. Their family included two sons, Cullen Gil and Archibald, Jr., a daughter, Mary G. (Mrs. Thomas S. Lowry), and two other children who did not survive to adulthood.

Battle’s career as an educator/administrator stretched from 1847 to 1902. He taught ancient languages in the University of Alabama and East Alabama Female College. Beginning in 1860, he served as President of six institutions: Alabama Central Female College, East Alabama Female College, Judson Female Institute (Alabama), Mercer University (Georgia), Shorter College (Georgia), and Anniston College (Alabama).

Although he had contemplated a career in law, Battle was ordained to the ministry in 1853 and consequently served as pastor of Tuscaloosa Baptist Church (Alabama) and the First Baptist Church of Macon (Georgia), among others, for brief periods of time. He was President of the Georgia Baptist Convention from 1888-1890. Battle published a regionally acclaimed book, A Treatise, Psychological and Theological, on the Human Will, in 1876.

Archibald Battle retired to Macon, Georgia, and survived his wife by ten years. He died on September 29, 1907, and is buried in Macon’s Riverside Cemetery.