Guide to the David Brainerd Papers
Open for research.
To browse this collection's digitized materials visit Pearl.
Materials marked "Digital" in the Collection Inventory may not be available on Pearl or in their entirety.
David Brainerd was born in Haddam, Connecticut. In 1739 he experienced a religious conversion and, aspiring to become a minister, he entered Yale College. In 1742, after he criticized his tutor for lack of true religious experience, he was dismissed from Yale. Brainerd continued his studies and was licensed to preach. He was appointed a missionary by the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge. The Presbytery of New York ordained him in 1744. From 1743 to 1747 he served as a missionary to the Indigenous peoples in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. After a period of little success, he led a successful revival among the Lenape (Delaware) people near Trenton, New Jersey, in 1745-1746. On a visit to Northampton, Massachusetts, he died in 1747 from the tuberculosis that had afflicted him for years. Jonathan Edwards, his friend and mentor, edited and published Brainerd's diary, a work that exercised considerable influence in America and which was published in England.
This collection consists of a letter (February 4, 1742 or 1743; handwritten and typescript copies) from David Brainerd to Joseph Bellamy. In it, Brainerd discusses his feelings during preaching and his circuit. He also states "O therefore pray for me and tell your dear Christians to do the same, that God would go with me and help me for at present I can't desire the Indians should be converted and yet I can't but go among'em." Additionally, there are notes written by Anglican clergyperson Arthur Bennett concerning Brainerd's published works.
To browse this collection's digitized materials visit Pearl.
Materials marked "Digital" in the Collection Inventory may not have been digitized in their entirety.
The library has several editions of Brainerd's diary, including John Wesley's edition and editions of other Brainerd publications. The library also has a volume of transcriptions of letters of Brainerd and others to the Reverend Joseph Bellamy, made by the Presbyterian historian, Richard Webster.
Collection processed and finding aid prepared: January 1993
Glenn Colliver, Assistant Archivist
| Box | Folder | Description | Alternative Formats |
| 1 | 1 | Letter to the Reverend Joseph Bellamy, 1742 or 1743 February 4 (handwritten and typescript copies) | Digital |
| 1 | 2 | Notes regarding David Brainerd's works by the Reverend Arthur Bennett, circa 1960 |