Guide to the Theodore S. Smylie Sermons
Open for research.
Theodore S. Smylie was born in Jackson, Louisiana in 1893. After receiving his B.A. from Arkansas College in 1912 he attended Louisville Seminary where he was granted a B.D. in 1915. He was ordained by Abingdon Presbytery (PCUS) in 1915.
Smylie served his first church from 1915-1918 in Welch, West Virginia. He entered the armed forces in 1918 and served as Chaplain for the 78th and 1st Divisions of the American Expeditionary Force. After leaving the service in 1919, he pastored various churches throughout Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Missouri. In 1937, Smylie became head pastor at Oak Hill Presbyterian Church (Saint Louis, Mo.) and remained at that church until his retirement in 1960. He continued to be a popular author and guest lecturer until his death.
This collection contains over 3500 sermons written by Theodore S. Smylie, 1912-1983. They cover a wide variety of subjects including topical sermons as well as biblical exposition. The collection also contains several Bible Studies written by Smylie. Box 14 includes Smylie's sermon registers (1912-1935, 1935-1957, and 1957-1982) and two pastoral registers (1915-1927 and 1927-1949) which document marriages, funerals, baptisms, and members received. Box 15 contains an index to the entire collection. This index provides sermon titles and subjects, scriptural context, and dates the sermons were preached. The index is divided into 14 folders, to correspond to the 14 boxes of sermons that make up the collection. The index sheets in each folder of Box 15 are arranged in the same order as the sermons in each of the 14 boxes. For a chronological listing of sermons, researchers should consult the sermon registers in Box 14.
Collection processed in 1986 and finding aid prepared by:
Dale H. Plummer, Assistant to the Archivist
| Box | Folder | Description | |
| 1 | 1-159 | 1-952 (scattered) | |
| 1 | 1-159 | 1734-2067 (highly scattered) | |
| 1 | 1-159 | 2170-2610 (highly scattered) | |
| 2 | 1-154 | 2010-2130 | |
| 2 | 1-154 | 262-427 | |
| 3 | 1-155 | 3-112 | |
| 3 | 1-155 | 424-484 | |
| 3 | 1-155 | 1737-1851 | |
| 3 | 1-155 | 2131-2178 | |
| 4 | 1-149 | 486-576 | |
| 4 | 1-149 | 818-850 | |
| 4 | 1-149 | 1529-1587 | |
| 4 | 1-149 | 2180-2276 | |
| 4 | 1-149 | 2476-2499 | |
| 4 | 1-149 | 3138-3182 | |
| 5 | 1-179 | 113-261 | |
| 5 | 1-179 | 1321-1360 | |
| 5 | 1-179 | 1852-2009 | |
| 5 | 1-179 | 2957-2997 | |
| 6 | 1-156 | 577-694 | |
| 6 | 1-156 | 956-1018 | |
| 6 | 1-156 | 2277-2385 | |
| 6 | 1-156 | 2615-2670 | |
| 7 | 1-170 | 1142-1318 | |
| 7 | 1-170 | 2792-2956 | |
| 8 | 1-138 | 1019-1179 | |
| 8 | 1-138 | 2671-2791 | |
| 8 | 1-138 | 3555-3583 | |
| 9 | 1-143 | 693 | |
| 9 | 1-143 | 2386-2475 | |
| 9 | 1-143 | 3601-3716 | |
| 10 | 1-103 | 3383-3586 | |
| 11 | 1-125 | Miscellaneous sermons (numbers vary from original order) | |
| 12 | 1-147 | 1263-1269 | |
| 12 | 1-147 | 1363-1527 | |
| 12 | 1-147 | 3000-3139 | |
| 13 | 1-53 | Bible Studies (various topics including Old and New Testament books) | |
| Various manuscripts from assorted time periods | |||
| 14 | 1A | "Protestant Doctrine" | |
| 14 | 1 | "God's Will and Human Responsibility," undated | |
| 14 | 2 | "The Incredible God," undated | |
| 14 | 3 | "New Gods for Old, " undated | |
| 14 | 4 | Various materials, no order | |
| 14 | 5 | Various prayers, undated | |
| 14 | 6 | "For the Traveler, the Tourist, Even the Tramp--A Song," undated | |
| 14 | 7 | Sermon Register, 1912-1935 | |
| 14 | 8 | Records of marriages, funerals, baptisms conversions, 1927 September 1-1949 April 1 | |
| 14 | 9 | Records of marriages, baptisms, and members received, 1915 September 28-1927 September 1 | |
| 14 | 10 | Sermon Register, 1935-1957 | |
| 14 | 11 | Sermon Register, 1957-1982 | |
| Index to the entire Smylie collection | |||
| 15 | 1 | Index to Box 1: | |
| 15 | 1 | 1-952 (scattered) | |
| 15 | 1 | 1734-2067 (highly scattered) | |
| 15 | 1 | 2170-2610 (highly scattered) | |
| 15 | 2 | Index to Box 2: | |
| 15 | 2 | 2010-2130 | |
| 15 | 2 | 262-427 | |
| 15 | 3 | Index to Box 3: | |
| 15 | 3 | 3-112 | |
| 15 | 3 | 424-484 | |
| 15 | 3 | 1737-1851 | |
| 15 | 3 | 2131-2178 | |
| 15 | 4 | Index to Box 4: | |
| 15 | 4 | 486-576 | |
| 15 | 4 | 818-850 | |
| 15 | 4 | 1529-1587 | |
| 15 | 4 | 2180-2276 | |
| 15 | 4 | 2476-2499 | |
| 15 | 4 | 3138-3182 | |
| 15 | 5 | Index to Box 5: | |
| 15 | 5 | 113-261 | |
| 15 | 5 | 1321-1360 | |
| 15 | 5 | 1852-2009 | |
| 15 | 5 | 2957-2997 | |
| 15 | 6 | Index to Box 6: | |
| 15 | 6 | 577-694 | |
| 15 | 6 | 956-1018 | |
| 15 | 6 | 2277-2385 | |
| 15 | 6 | 2615-2670 | |
| 15 | 7 | Index to Box 7: | |
| 15 | 7 | 1142-1318 | |
| 15 | 7 | 2792-2956 | |
| 15 | 8 | Index to Box 8: | |
| 15 | 8 | 1019-1179 | |
| 15 | 8 | 2671-2791 | |
| 15 | 8 | 3555-3583 | |
| 15 | 9 | Index to Box 9: | |
| 15 | 9 | 693 | |
| 15 | 9 | 2386-2475 | |
| 15 | 9 | 3601-3716 | |
| 15 | 10 | Index to Box 10: | |
| 15 | 10 | 3383-3586 | |
| 15 | 11 | Index to Box 11: | |
| 15 | 11 | Miscellaneous sermons (numbers vary from original order) | |
| 15 | 12 | Index to Box 12: | |
| 15 | 12 | 1263-1269 | |
| 15 | 12 | 1363-1527 | |
| 15 | 12 | 3000-3139 | |
| 15 | 13 | Index to Box 13: | |
| 15 | 13 | Bible Studies (various topics including Old and New Testament books) | |
| 15 | 14 | Index to Box 14: | |
| 15 | 14 | Various manuscripts from assorted time periods |