• Introduction
• Biographical Sketch
• Collection Description
• Box/Folder Listing

Introduction

Range of Collection Dates: 1773-1930
Range of Collection Bulk Dates: 1811-1886

Size: 13.5 linear ft. (27 archival boxes)

Provenance: The collection was given to the Library in 1942 from descendants of Charles Hodge.

Restrictions: There are no restrictions on this collection.

Photocopying, literary rights, and citation: No photocopies may be made from photocopies (Xeroxes, photostats) of material in the collection where Princeton University Library does not own the originals; however, single photocopies of original material maybe made for research purposes. Permission to publish material from the collection must be requested from the Associate University Librarian for Rare Books and Special Collections. The Library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection, and researchers are responsible for determining any question of copyright. Citations should be as follows: Charles Hodge Papers, Box #, used by permission of the Princeton University Libraries.

Processing note: This collection was organized by Judith Golden in 1985; the front matter was prepared by Rebecca Johnson in 2001.

Biographical Sketch

Hodge was an extremely gifted teacher, able to arouse the minds of his students with his tools of clear analytical statement, strong certainty, solid learning, and knowledge of contemporary thought. However, his personal religion and piety were more powerful tools of instruction, as demonstrated by his famous Sunday afternoon conference addresses. His theology was centrally Calvinism, as purported by the Westminister divines, but also from other sources, notably Turretin. His theology was always deeply Biblical, and he held it unchanged, even in the face of disintegrating Calvinism (in America), altering conceptions of the Bible, and the emerging force of Darwinism. The theology he established at Princeton was a powerfully conservative force, not only in the Presbyterian Church, but also in other churches. He started in 1825 the publication that would come to be known as the Biblical Repertory and Princeton Review, which he edited for more than 40 years. In his essays contributed to it, he defended vigorously the Princeton theology, especially against that of Andover. His first book, A Commentary on the Epistle of the Romans, brought him high repute. His other works include The Constitutional History of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, commentaries on other Pauline epistles, The Way of Life, and finally his Systematic Theology, which had extensive circulation. Posthumously appeared Discussions in Church Polity, a book of much importance, and Conference Papers.

He held a commanding position in the Presbyterian Church through both active participation and his articles in the Review. He was moderator of the (Old School) General Assembly in 1846, as well as being on both the missionary and education boards. In the church schism of 1837, he supported division and argued against the New School views. Although rigid in his views, he was also tender-hearted and affectionate. In 1822, he married the great-grand-daughter of Benjamin Franklin, Sarah Bache, daughter of Dr. William Bache and Catharine Wistar. Two of their eight children, Archibald Alexander and Caspar Wistar, became professor at Princeton Theological Seminary. His first wife died in 1849, and in 1852 he married Mrs. Mary (Hunter) Stockton.

Collection Description

Contains the personal papers of Hodge (Princeton Class of 1815), including lectures, speeches, articles, books, and correspondence dealing with questions of Presbyterian theology in the mid and latter nineteenth century. Included are manuscripts for Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans (1835) and What Is Darwinism? (1874). The papers reflect Hodge's lifelong association with the Princeton Theological Seminary (PTS) where he taught Biblical literature and theology and supplement manuscript material in the PTS library. The collection also contains personal correspondence between Hodge and his wife, Sarah Bache Hodge, his brother, Dr. Hugh Lenox Hodge, as well as with his mother, Mary Blanchard Hodge, and children. In addition, there are papers by his son, Archibald Alexander Hodge, also a clergyman and, later, his father's successor at the seminary as professor of theology.

Arrangement

The collection has been arranged in the following series: I. Biographical Material; II. Genealogical Material; III. Lecture Notes (Europe 1826-1828); IV. Lecture Notes and Outlines as Professor; V. Books and Articles; VI. Reviews; VII. Sermons and Lectures; VIII. Articles; IX. Polemical Articles; X. Clippings and Extracts; XI. Notes and Excerpts; XII. Princeton Theological Seminary; XIII. Miscellaneous Manuscript Material; XIV. Correspondence; XV. Documents; XVI. Memorabilia; XVII. Miscellaneous Material; XVIII. Printed Material; XIX. Papers of Others.

Added Entries

The following added entries have been assigned to this collection to highlight significant sources (other than the main entry), subjects, and forms of the collection's materials. Where possible Library of Congress Subject Heading have been used, and the forms of names reflect international cataloging standards. As a result, all of these entries may be searched in the Department's database (MASC) and in the Library's online catalog to find other related material.

    Person/Corporate Body Added Entries:

    Hodge, Archibald Alexander, 1823-1886
    Hodge, Hugh Lenox, 1796-1873
    Hodge, Mary Blanchard, d. 1832
    Hodge, Sarah Bache, 1798-1849

    Subject Headings (in uppercase) / Form Headings (in upper and lower case):

    BIBLE. N.T. ROMANS-CRITICISM, INTERPRETATION, ETC.-19TH CENTURY
    Clergy-New Jersey-Princeton-19th century-Correspondence
    Clergy-New Jersey-Princeton-19th century-Manuscripts
    Commentary on the epistle to the Romans / Charles Hodge
    EVOLUTION-RELIGIOUS ASPECTS
    Husband and wife-New Jersey-Princeton-19th century-Correspondence
    Husband and wife-Pennsylvania-Philadelphia-19th century-Correspondence
    HODGE FAMILY
    Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.-Clergy-19th Century-Correspondence
    Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.-Clergy-19th Century-Manuscripts
    PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
    THEOLOGICAL SEMINARIES-NEW JERSEY-PRINCETON-19TH CENTURY
    What is Darwinism? / Charles Hodge

Box/Folder Listing