This Day In History Jan. 22 - 28, 2011
(changes weekly; click on title above or on the month navigation link for previous entries on Presbyterian history)
In 1817, Rev. Elias Cornelius had been sent on a missionary journey by the Conecticut Missionary Society through the Southwest, with special instructions to visit New Orleans. He arrived in New Orleans on Dec. 30, 1817. On Jan. 22, 1818, Rev. Cornelius was joined by the Rev. Sylvester Larned, and their their efforts led to the establishment of the First Presbyterian Church of New Orleans, which laid its corner stone of which was laid on January 8, 1819.
On January 25, 1758, Rev. John Martin was appointed by Rev. Samuel Davies to an Indian Mission to the Overhill Cherokees on the Little Tennessee River, the first Protestant to preach the gospel in the Tennessee Country or in the Southern Trans-Alleghany region. But with the Cherokees joining the French during the ongoing war with the English colonies, the mission was abandoned. Reverend Martin then settled in South Carolina.
On Jan. 25, 1818, the Rev. Benjamin Morgan Palmer was born. (Portrait circa 1845, courtesy of the Louisiana State Museum). In addition to serving in numerous churches, he also was a professor of church history and polity at the Theological Seminary in Columbia, SC, and the moderator at the formation of the Presbyterian Church of the Confederate States of America (later the Presbyterian Church, U.S.). He served as a director at Columbia Theological Seminary, Southwestern Presbyterian University (Clarksville, TN) and Tulane University. He co-founded The Southern Presbyterian Review (1847). He died on May 28, 1902.
On Jan. 25, 1949, Rev. Peter Marshall died in the early morning hours from a heart attack. Reverend Marshall was the pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church and the chaplain of the U.S. Senate (1947 - 1949).
On January 27, 1982, the Rev. Dr. Charles Leonidas King died. Former moderator of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.) in 1944 - 1945, Reverend King was born near Covington, Georgia, on November 9, 1892. On January 3, 1932, he became pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas, serving until September 1, 1961. King was also instrumental in the Synod of Texas decision to purchase a ranch near Kerrville owned by Dan Moran, president of Continental Oil Company. "Mo-Ranch" became a Presbyterian conference center.
Heritage Celebrations in Atlanta & Rock Hill
Nearly 200 Presbyterian gathered in Atlanta on Thursday, Jan. 19, to celebrate their heritage. The event was sponsored by the Presbyterian Heritage Center and nearly a dozen local churches (Alec Fraser was the emcee, Rev. Dr. Joanna Adams was the chair of the Honorary Committee, Rev. Dr. Ted Wardlaw, president, Austin Theological Seminary delivered the keynote address, and PHC board members Eloise Shepard and Martha Farmer organized the event with the help of local hosts).
Also, Sunday, Jan. 22, Presbyterian heritage presentations were made at Peachtree Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, (see photo below with PHC Chairman Richard Ray and Peachtree senior minister Dr. Victor Pentz), as well as at the Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church, Rock Hill, SC.
Pearl Harbor & WWII: Through the Eyes of Chaplains and Valley Residents
A new exhibit has opened which commemorates the 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbor and the United States' (and Swannanoa Valley's) involvement in World War II.
Answering the Call: Religion and Chaplains during the Civil War exhibit unveils the little known history of chaplains during the Civil War. It includes rare artifacts, books, photos and documents that cover the various roles chaplains played at the battlefield, camp, hospital, prison, library, worship and burials. Click here for more information on the Civil War Chaplains' Exhibit. This exhibit is open through October 2012 and additional material is constantly being added.
Montreat - Evangelists, Preachers & Singers Exhibit
As the oldest religious conference center in the Southeast, Montreat has always attracted nationally and internationally known preachers and evangelists — Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists and others, who have preached or lived in Montreat. This exhibit looks at: J. Wilbur Chapman,
Billy Sunday,
R. A. Torrey, A. C. Dixon, Rodney "Gypsy" Smith,
Peter Marshall, Billy Graham and more!
Missions to Mexico exhibit covers the first Presbyterian missionaries in the mid-1800s to the recent decision by the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico (INPM) to terminate its 1980 joint mission agreement with the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Presbyterian Missionaries and Ministers Databases
are
being uploaded to this site, under Bios tab above. You also can click here. These databases are starting with early ministers and missionaries (pre-1860)
and are being researched by teams of volunteers and staff at the Presbyterian Heritage Center. If you have biographical information on ministers and misionaries, and especially photos, please email us.
E-Flip Online Books and Reference Sources
(allow popups on your browser;
click on image above or one of three e-book links below) The Ministerial Directory (1898)
Latest News/Future Events Centennial Celebration: Presbyterian Women — We are preparing a display on the history of the Woman's Auxiliary (1912) of the Presbyerian Church in the U.S. This group became Women of the Church and later with reunion, Presbyterian Women. The exhibit opens in 2012. If you have a photo of the Woman's Auxilliary for the Presbyterian Church that you can loan or donate for this special exhibit, please call us (828) 669-6556 or send us an email. Thanks. Click here.
New downloadable programs (leader guides, materials for group members) on Presbyterian history, missions and more will soon be available on this web site. If you would like to be notified as these modules become available, click here to send us an email!
Religion and Chaplains during the Civil War
Additional artifacts and photos are being added to our 1,100 sq. ft. exhibit, so come back and visit us!
(Below: from the PHC Collection - Presbyterian Chaplain Robert F. Bunting, Texas 8th Cavalry, below; Chaplain Henry McNeal Turner, 1st U.S. Troops, middle; Episcopal Chaplain Thomas G. Salter, Union Navy, bottom)
Photo Collections
We are starting to provide online access to pictures.
Click to see: Stegall Collection (Congo), 1915 - 1940s.
the Louisiana State Museum). In addition to serving in numerous churches, he also was a professor of church history and polity at the Theological Seminary in Columbia, SC, and the moderator at the formation of the Presbyterian Church of the Confederate States of America (later the Presbyterian Church, U.S.). He served as a director at Columbia Theological Seminary, Southwestern Presbyterian University (Clarksville, TN) and Tulane University. He co-founded The Southern Presbyterian Review (1847). He died on May 28, 1902. 
Also, Sunday, Jan. 22, Presbyterian heritage presentations were made at Peachtree Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, (see photo below with PHC Chairman Richard Ray and Peachtree senior minister Dr. Victor Pentz), as well as at the Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church, Rock Hill, SC.
