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Collection Dates: 1845 -- 1888
93 items
This document describes a collection of materials held
by the
Special Collections Department
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1420
Phone: 319-335-5921
Fax: 319-335-5900
e-mail: lib-spec@uiowa.edu
Posted to Internet: November 1997
Acquisition
Note: This collection was given
to the University of Iowa Libraries in 1958 by his granddaughter, Mrs. Marjorie
M. Macomber.
Access
and Restrictions:
Photographs: Box 1
Digital Surrogates: Except where indicated, this document describes but
does not reproduce the actual text, images and objects which make up this
collection. Materials are available only in the Special Collections
Department.
Copyright: Please read
The University of Iowa Libraries' statement on "Property Rights, Copyright Law, and Permissions to Use Unpublished
Materials"
Use of Collections: The University of Iowa Libraries supports
access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless,
access to some items may be restricted by their fragile condition or by contractual
agreement with donors, and it may not be possible at all times to provide
appropriate machinery for reading, viewing or accessing non-paper-based materials.
Please read our Use of Manuscripts Statement.
Abbreviations: For an explanation of the abbreviation and dating
conventions used in the finding aids, see Abbreviations.
Biographical Note
John Anson Nash was born on July 11, 1816, near Sherburne, New York. Orphaned at the age of five, he was raised by his aunt and uncle. From 1836 to 1844 he attended the Hamilton Literary and Theological Institution (later to become Madison University). A Baptist minister, his first pastorate was in Watertown, New York. In 1851, the American Baptist Home Mission Society sent him to Fort Des Moines, Iowa, where he helped organize the First Baptist Church of Des Moines. Nash retained that pastorate for eighteen years, while helping to establish many other Baptist churches in central Iowa, including ones in Grinnell, Ames, and Newton.
Rev. Nash was deeply interested in promoting education. With his wife's assistance, he opened a private school at his five acre home in Des Moines. It was very successful and eventually grew into the Forest Home Seminary. Not satisfied with this school alone, Nash wanted to establish a still higher institution of learning. In 1865, he founded the Des Moines University, became its first financial agent, and served as its first president.
Politically, Nash
was actively sympathetic to the abolitionists and was one of the original members
of the Republican Party in Iowa. However, after the Civil War and the emancipation
of the slaves, he turned his energy to the cause of temperance. Nash became
a leader in the Prohibition Party, accepting the party's nomination to Congress
in 1884. Rev. John Anson Nash died in Des Moines on February 14, 1890 at the
age of seventy-three.
Scope and Contents
The papers of John
Anson Nash consist of 93 items dating from 1848 to ca.1890. Arranged alphabetically
this small collection reflects Nash's work in the ministry and his involvement
in educational issues in Des Moines, Iowa. There are lectures on theological
subjects, Baptist association minutes, receipts, and treasurer's reports for
the First Baptist Church of Fort Des Moines. The correspondence covers various
topics from Civil War battles to Baptist church business to school finances.
His interest in schools in Des Moines is reflected not only in his correspondence
but also in documents relating to school bonds and building reports. The papers
also contain photographs of the Rev. Nash. Finally, the collection includes
such items as General instructions for the Guard at Camp Alexander Hays in 1880,
a marriage license issued to William Reynolds and Cynthia Goodell in 1857, a
concert ticket for a military ball in 1881, and a financial statement issued
by the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company of Newark in 1865.
Baptist Church of Fort Des Moines. Report of the Treasurer, W.A. Galbraith, submitted January 30, 1857.
Central Iowa Baptist Association, Knoxville Baptist Church, September 12 -- 13, 1856. Minutes of the fifth anniversary meeting, Rev. J.A. Nash, corresponding secretary.
Clippings and memorial tribute to the Rev. Nash.
Correspondence, 1848 -- 1868:
13 June 1848, from A.C. Kaedrick, Hamilton. re: establishment of a Baptist University.22 Nov. 185?, from H.E. Galsbury, New York Central RR, Seneca Falls, NY. re:personal matters
15 Sept. 1852, from H. Hunt, Davenport, IA. re: a job offered Rev. Nash in Davenport.
24 Feb. 1853, from S. Corey. re: a proposed move to Des Moines
6 Aug. 1853, from G.D. Price. re: personal matters.
9 Aug. 1853, from G.J. Johnson, Burlington, IA. re: business of the Baptist Church.
18 Mar 1854, from Washington Irving, NY. re: Irving's membership in the Iowa Lyceum and Museum of National History.
17 May 1855, from George Anderson, Placer County, CA. re: Anderson's relocation to California.
3 May 1856, from Leonard Brown, Burlington, IA. re: personal matters & Burlington University.
3 Mar. 1858, from Joseph & E.L. Custard, New Lisbon. re: personal matters.
7 Feb. 1859, from T.J. Griffith, Dubuque, IA. re: church business.
28 Mar. 1859, from Frank Mott, Winterset, IA. re: hiring of a new teacher.
17 Apr. 1859, from "sister" Maria, Augusta. re: personal matters.
18 Apr. 1859, from "mother", Augusta. re: personal matters.
25 Feb. 1864, from S. Bennett, Chillicothe, MO. re: personal matters.
4 Apr. 1864, from W.A. Eggleston, Winterset, IA. re: personal matters.
2 July 1864, from A.W. Russell, Boonesboro, KY. re: personal and church business.
14 July 1864, from G. Johnson, Burlington, IA. re: personal and church matters.
4 Aug. 1864, from Will Christy, Atlanta, GA. re: battle on "the 22nd" in which the 2nd Iowa played a prominent part and other news of Iowa's militia.
15 Aug. 1864, from William W. Reed (Nash's nephew), Pittsford re: advice on going West.
2 Oct. 1864, from Phebe S. Primley, Davies County, IL re: personal matters.
22 Oct. 1864, from Sam Adams, Fort Yuma. re: travels west.
23 Oct. 1864, from Sam Adams. re: personal matters.
3 Dec. 1864, from Luther Stone, Chicago, IL re: early plans for the establishment of the University of Des Moines.
4 Jan. 1865, from M.H. Robinson, Davenport, IA re: information on Des Moines.
30 Mar. 1865, from Sam Adams, Great Salt Lake, UT re: personal matters.
18 Sept. 1865, from L.S. Lisverman, Vicksburg, MS re: past church work and military experience.
21 Sept. 1865, from Gen. Isaac Stevens, Vicksburg, MS re: a teaching position.
21 Apr. 1866, from Andrews & Bigelow, Chicago, IL re: business matters.
4 June 1866, from J. Burroughs, Chicago, IL re: University of Chicago matters.
4 June 1866, from M.R. Fary, Chicago, IL re: University matters.
14 Mar. 1866, from Christian Times and Witness, Chicago, IL re: school advertising.
20 Jan. 1868, from H.J. Fairbands, Petaluma, CA re: school finances.
Undated, from Sam Adams, AZ Territory re: personal matters (incomplete letter)
First Baptist Church, Des Moines, Iowa. History of the church written by Rev. Nash. (Including a typed transcription)
General Instructions for the Guard at Division Headquarters, Camp Alexander Hays, September 1880. Prepared by Lieut. Col. Russell Thayer.
Lectures, 1845 -- 1857:
"Attributes of God, Proof of the Divinity of Christ."The Faithful Minister, Not an Enemy," April 11, 1845.
"The Pastor to be Esteemed for His Work's Sake," June 28, 1850.
"The Righteous and Wicked, Their Wisdom Contrasted," June 27, 1857.
Mexican politics. Essay.
Miscellaneous:
Marriage license issued to William Reynolds and Cynthia Goodell, September 15, 1857.Receipt from Church Goodman and Kennedy for books purchased by Rev. Nash, April 10, 1861.
Statement by Superintendent of Iowa Institution for the Education of the Blind giving announcements of coming events, June 1864.
Financial statement issued by the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company, Newark, NJ, January 1, 1865.
List of works on sale at the Mercantile Library Association, May 1866.
Receipt for a package from the United State Express Company, March 17, 1868.
Complimentary ticket to a concert and ball at the Armory Hall for "C" Company, 17th Regiment and N.G.P., July 4,1881.
Circular from John Wiley, Colonel of the 16th Regiment Infantry, Second Brigade, Franklin, Pennsylvania to First and Second Lieutenants, re: duties, July 25, 1888.
Story entitled "If She Will" written by Rev. Nash's daughter.
Paper listing names of persons and sums of money beside each name.
School bonds, reports etc., 1854 -- 1865:
Thirteen bound pages having to do with school house construction. Including a report to school officers on building the school house, 1854; a report to school district No. 5, Des Moines Township, 1854 -- 1857; a contract specifying how the schoolhouse should be built, December 9, 1856; and a bid by D Harris agreeing to do the plastering, July 25, 1864.Statement by J. Dewey, Vice President and C.C. Davis, Secretary certifying that on March 11, 1861, J.H. McClelland was elected President of the district.
Document approving bond offered by J.H. Given, March 12, 1861.
Document approving bond offered by D.B. Spaulding, March 12, 1861.
Document approving bond offered by Chester C. Cold, April 6, 1861.
Letter to J.H. McClelland from C.C. Dawson concerning school finances, August 7, 1861.
Document approving bond offered by M.S. Dickerson, November 2, 1861.
Official Bond Records:
March 14, 1862, Francis R. West.March 14, 1862, W.W. Williamson.
March 18, 1862, J.H. McClelland.
March 31, 1862, William Leas.
March 22, 1864, Matthew S. Dickerson.
March 22, 1864, F.D. Parmelees.
March 23, 1864, J.H. McClelland.
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