Frederic Denison was born in Stonington, Connecticut on September 28, 1819. His early education was at Bacon Academy in Colchester, Connecticut; he later attended the Connecticut Literary Institute in Suffield, earning his way through school by means of carpentry. It was during his time at Suffield that Denison, who had already joined the Baptist church, found his calling to preach. He subsequently entered Brown University in 1843 as a member of the Class of 1847.
After Brown, Denison became preacher at the First Baptist Church in Westerly, Rhode Island, and married Amey Randall Manton in 1848. During this period, he earned an A.M. degree from Brown (1850) and became the father of a daughter, Frederica. Four years later, he moved from Westerly to Norwich, Connecticut; in 1859 he moved on to pastor a church in Central Falls, Rhode Island, where he remained until 1861.
A man of strong opinions on the slavery question, Rev. Denison was among the first to enlist when the Civil War erupted. He served during the war as Chaplain to the First Rhode Island Cavalry, and later the Rhode Island Heavy Artillery. The author of two books at the time of his enlistment, Denison put his literary gifts to good use during the war. His wartime experiences took him to South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, and he wrote long, eloquent letters to the newspapers in Rhode Island as well as several narratives of his battlefield experiences.
Following the end of the war, Denison resumed pastoring, and served Baptist congregations in Westerly, New Haven (Connecticut), Woonsocket (Rhode Island) and Providence, where he would remain for the rest of his life. He also continued to write, publishing histories of the two Army units with which he had served as well as sermons, poetry, hymns, newspaper articles, memorial addresses, tracts on Baptist history, and several works of antiquarian local interest. He belonged to the G.A.R. and many historical organizations and was, for a time, the official poet of the R.I. Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.
The Denison collection is comprised of biographical material collected by Rev. Frederic Denison on Baptists from Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Denison identified and contacted potential subjects by postcard and asked them to provide a brief spiritual biography. The materials in the collection constitute the responses of the subjects (and, in some cases, those closest to them) on this topic, and provide a wealth of information on Baptist conversion and spiritual life in the mid-19th century. Denison compiled these materials and contributed them to
Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested..
The collection consists of one series of letters received by Frederic Denison.
Items are ordered alphabetically by author, then ordered chronologically.
Frederic Denison Collection of Baptist Biographies, Ms. Denison, Brown University Library.
RESOURCES AT BROWN UNIVERSITY:
A biographical file and other material on Frederic Denison are located in the Brown University Archives.
The Brown University Library has many works by Frederic Denison in its collections. These can be identified by using the author link to JOSIAH below:
RESOURCES AT OTHER INSTITUTIONS:
Related collections or materials at other institutions include:
Brown University Library catalog record for this collection:
Digital facsimiles of items from this collection are available from within the online finding aid.
Autobiography.
Prospectus for "Memorial Sketches of Rev. George B. Atwell" and biography of George Benjamin Atwell.
Autobiography.
With Christian Secretary and biographies of Normand Burr, Elisha Cushman Jr., James G. Bolles, Albert Day, James Leland Howard, and Nathan Wildman.
Biographies of Joseph B. Gilbert, Gurdon Robbins, and Levi Kneeland.
Biographies of Lester Lewis, Harvey Miller, and Amasa Howard.
Biographies of Benjamin M. Hill and Esek Brown.
Autobiography.
Biography of Addie F. Crocker.
Autobiography.
Autobiography.
Biography of Samuel Jennings Bronson.
Autobiography.
Autobiography.
With printed item "A brief history of the Rainbow Baptist Church".
Autobiography.
Biography of Richard Smith.
Autobiography.
Autobiography.
Autobiography.
Autobiography.
Autobiography of William Denison.
Biography of John Davis.
With manuscript "I Have Come to Save You..."
Biography of Seth Ewer.
Autobiography.
Biography of Mary Arnold, Sarah Nichols, and Philip D. Sherman.
Autobiography.
Biography of Henry Reynolds Knapp, 1800-1862.
Autobiography.
The Saint's Last Enemy destroyed and A funeral sermon...Prospectus.
Autobiography.
Biography of Nathan Emery Shaler.
Biography of Levi Meech.
Autobiography.
Autobiography.
Biography.
Autobiography.
Autobiography.
Autobiography.
Autobiography.
Biography of Ira R. Stewart.
Obituaries of Rev. Edson Gaius and Susan B. Morse.
Autobiography.
Biography of Elisha Hunt Rhodes.
Autobiography.
Autobiography.
Autobiography and manuscript The Connecticut Literary Institute.
Autobiography.
Autobiography.
Autobiography.
Autobiography.
With autobiography and biographies.
Autobiography.
Autobiography.
Biography of David Wright.