Barnas Sear, the fifth president of Brown University, was born in Sandisfield in the Berkshires, Massachusetts, on November 19, 1802. From the age of fifteen, determined to work his way through college, he worked in the summer and taught school in the winter. He began to prepare for college and the ministry under Parson Cooley in East Granville, Massachusetts, and later entered the University Grammar School in Providence.
He entered Brown in 1822 and graduated in 1825, supporting himself by teaching school in the winter vacation and building stone walls in the summer. He borrowed his textbooks from the Philendean Society, which provided books for poor students, and once walked to Boston and back to borrow money. At Commencement in 1825 he delivered an oration on "The Influence of Association Upon the Intellectual Character."
After graduation he studied at the Newton Theological Institution. In 1827 he was named pastor of the First Baptist Church in Hartford. He resigned in 1829 because of his health, and became professor of ancient languages at Hamilton Literary and Theological Institution. He was appointed professor of biblical theology, for which he prepared himself by study in Germany from 1833 to 1835. He returned to teach for about a year at Hamilton before becoming professor of Christian theology at Newton Theological Institution in 1836. He taught at Newton until 1848, and was also president from 1839. In 1848 he succeeded Horace Mann (Brown class of 1819) as secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Education. In September 1855 he replaced Francis Wayland as president of Brown University. He left Brown and Providence on September 19, 1867. He died on July 9, 1880 in Saratoga Springs, New York.
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Barnas Sears papers, MS-1C-5, Brown University Archives.
This collection consists primarily of correspondence, as well as a notebook, forms, clippings, and manuscripts dating from 1833 to 1879. A number of the items in Sears's papers reflect his activities in promoting scholarships and other financial aid for students. There are also recommendations written on the behalf of students; notices regarding exams; and letters and other documents relating to the employment of faculty. Several letters were written by men who wanted to return to Brown University after military service during the Civil War. J.H. Whittlesey corresponded with Sears about military education. The transfer of some of the collections of the Providence Franklin Society to Brown University in 1867 is documented here also.
This collection is arranged into the following series:
Acquisition information for this collection is unavailable.
No further materials are anticipated for this collection.
Brown University catalog record for this collection:
Other materials written by or to Barnas Sears can be found in the Library's catalog under the heading:
The theft of his trunk in New York has caused him to change his travelling plans and go directly to Germany, postponing his visit to England.
Ordination paper of Mr. T.G. Oncken
Cannot attend a meeting of the Board of Fellows, but expresses his approval of the new movement contemplated at Brown University.
Resigns as a fellow of Brown University.
Refusing invitation to deliver a lecture.
Recommends William Graves for A.M. degree.
Gives dates when institutes will be held in five Massachusetts locations. The Know Nothing administration "thunder, but have not done us much harm in education yet."
Form requesting attendance at regular term examination.
Has forwarded letters of introduction.
Recommends Mr. Wheeler as a teacher of young ladies might have offered him position at Salem Normal School. Affixed to letter are newspaper clippings, including a biographical sketch of Sears and an account (October 12, 1858) of the dismissal of the sophomore class of Brown for breech of hazing rules.
Invitation to commencement exercises at Brown University.
Matteson is suspended from college for leaving town without permission and is to pursue his studies at home.
Informs him that his son, Charles Matteson, is being sent home. On printed form.
Matteson's suspension may be ended if he submits to the authority of the government of the college.
Money being raised for scholarships no worthy student must leave for want of assistance.
Vote of the Executive Board on salaries of several faculty members.
Mr. A. Doering has resigned as teacher of German; wishes to receive his salary for half year.
Premium fund was converted into eleven Nicholas Brown scholarships in 1858. Notes for determining the unexpended income of the fund.
List of names of persons who have been awarded scholarships.
Recommendation for William W. Douglas, who is entering the Law School in Albany.
Copy of letter. Presents name of Major J. H. Whittlesey and requests that he be detailed to act as Military Professor in Brown University.
Resigns as President in order to accept the position of General Agent of the Peabody Educational Fund for the Southern and Southwestern States. Includes newspaper clippings.
Recommending William Whitman Bailey for adjunct professorship of natural sciences at Princeton.
Sends a piece of poetry for the Galaxy.
Autobiographical sketch. Includes typescript.
Asking for triennial catalogue of Brown to compare with Dartmouth catalogue.
Wishes to enter Brown University; asks information about courses, expenses.
Requests a Brown University catalogue.
Recommending a pupil, Mr. Newton, who wishes to enter Brown.
Inquires about his position in college after his absence because of ill health and service in army.
Information about six portraits acquired for Brown; portraits of Ambrose E. Burnside, Isaac P. Rodman, Christopher Greene, Solomon Drowne, Charles II, and Catharine of Braganza.
Wishes to enter the junior class at Brown; had been admitted earlier but served for a year with Mass. 44th Regiment.
Resigns from Board of Fellows.
With this, a draft of the resolution.
Concerning anniversary exercises of Peirce Academy, at which Sears is to address the Philomathean Society.
Is raising a company to enter service of the Union asks assistance of friends in east in obtaining arms and uniforms.
Sends check for $2,060.
Will give $10,000 and $1,000 for each of his two sons if $300,000 is raised for Brown University.
Desiring a scholarship at Brown.
Cannot attend meeting of Board of Trustees. If position cannot be held by one who cannot perform his duties, tenders his resignation.
Requests that his connection with Brown University be dissolved.
He has written to Watchman and Reflector approving appointment of Sears as president of Brown; discusses the scholarship he intends to found; there is a kinder feeling in England toward America.
Discusses scholarship and prize funds for encouragement of classical study which he intends to found; has founded prizes in Greek and Latin at Columbian College; his ties with England are now broken.
Concerning resignation of Sears and scholarships he plans to give to Brown.
Has invited Mr. Rider to call on him; discusses scholarship and prize fund he is founding; would like to see an Anglo-Saxon professorship established at Brown; has abandoned thought of presenting his works on Anglo-Saxon literature to Brown.
Has completed freshman year at Amherst, but wished to come to Brown because of change in sentiment in regard to Baptists.
Forwarding gift of books on history of Chile from Don Geromimo Urmeneta to Brown University Library.
Wishes to enter Brown University and take scientific course
Personal interests require his temporary withdrawal from teaching duties.
Inquiring about free rooms and free tuition at Brown.
Resolutions passed to send a delegation from the Philadelphia Baptist Association to the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Brown University.
Resigning as trustee because of his health; unable to attend commencement or Corporation meeting.
Questions about Brown University asked with reference to proposed changes at Dartmouth.
Wishes to resume his college course, which was interrupted in 1855; has been employed by mercantile house in interval.
Sending a genealogical work; information about Rockwood family and Baptist church; poverty prevents him from sending his sons to Brown.
Sending his publication to library; would like to have his son enter Brown.
Inquires about a position as Professor of Military Science.
Written from U. S. Naval Academy. Concerning appointment of Isaac B. Barker as assistant professor at Naval Academy.
Advance of rebels on Carlisle prevents his return to college; has enlisted.
Requests permission for Samuel Hopkins to borrow some books from Brown University Library.
Asks for information about his father, Willard Preston, for Rev. Dr. Tallmadge, who is preparing a biographical sketch.
Asking if he may come to Brown and finish his preparation for college there since his teacher is ill. Lists work already completed.
Letter and draft of letter signed by Owen Mason and George E. Mason, committee to confer with the college on a proposal to transfer the Franklin Society collections of minerals and zoological specimens and its library to the college with remaining funds of the Society. With these, a report of the Committee, from which signatures have been removed, which accepts the proposal, and states plans for the adaptation of the north wing of Hope College, under the direction of architect James C. Bucklin, to contain the Franklin Society's collections, as well as the collection of plants and botanical works of Stephen Olney, and the State Standard Weights and Measures.
Signed by Owen Mason, George Edward, 1840-1882 (1862) Mason, and Newton Dexter. Approving plans for proposed alterations in Hope College and stating conditions for transferring collections and funds of the Franklin Society to Brown University.
President of Agricultural College of Pennsylvania inquires about organization and endowment of Brown. List of questions enclosed.
He is a graduate of Pierce Academy, who wishes to enter Brown, but need a scholarship to do so.
Letter written for Reynolds by I. Hazard. Cannot attend meeting to be held at Governor Sprague's office.
Presents a portrait of General Jackson to Brown University.
Requesting information about Brown for his paper on the educational movement in the Baptist denomination.
Plans to visit Brown again with his son.
Forced to leave college because of illness; hopes to be able to pay college bills soon; has been teaching school and at present has charge of small religious society.
Student at Phillips Academy wishes to visit Brown to decide whether he will study there.
Information about Eli King, Thomas Cobb, John W. Richmond, William Blanding, Alfred Williams
Biographical sketch of Mason Shaw.
Unable to attend the Board meeting.
Thanking him for use of Italian bibliographical works borrowed from Brown University Library.
Hopes to enter Brown; asks for information.
Feels he should resign from Corporation since he has been often prevented from attending.
Asking name of scholarship endowed by Mr. Elton. Includes Sears's reply.
Wishes to send his son to Brown; inquires about preparatory schools and female seminaries.
Consul of Chile in Boston sends books to library at request of Geronimo Urmeneta.
Accepts military professorship at Brown University.
Sends a copy of "An Outline of a Military Course for Colleges" and discusses military problems.
Discusses a set of proposed regulations for the problematical "Bureau of Military Education."
Congratulates him on his election as General Agent of the Peabody donation for Southern Education; states the needs of the South.
Wishes to confer with him before beginning his tour of New England; plans to introduce a suitable system of military instruction into such colleges as desire it.
Discusses a circular which he has written and his plans for its distribution.
Extracts from proposed regulations for the "Bureau of Military Education."