Guide to the Hugh Thomson Kerr Papers
Open for research.
Hugh T. Kerr was born in Ontario, Canada, on February 11, 1871. He earned a BA from the University of Toronto in 1894 and graduated from Western Theological Seminary in 1897, receiving ordination that same year. He married Olive M. Boggs in 1901; they had three children. Kerr served as pastor of churches in Pittsburgh, Kansas and Chicago from 1897-1913; in 1913 he returned to Pittsburgh in answer to a call from Shadyside Presbyterian Church, where he would remain pastor until retirement in 1946. In 1917, as the United States prepared to enter the First World War, Kerr became chaplain to several soldiers' training camps in upstate New York.
Over the years, Kerr spent some of his time lecturing at various seminaries, and he became a trustee of Washington and Jefferson College. He served as president of the Board of Christian Education from 1923-41 and was elected moderator of the General Assembly for the year 1930-31. Dr. Kerr died in Pittsburgh in 1950.
Record Group 1 contains Dr. Kerr's correspondence, notebooks and diaries, writings, and scrapbooks.
| Box | Folder | Description | |
| 1 | 1 | Finding Aid to Record Group 1 | |
| 2 | Personal Correspondence, 1944-47 | ||
| 3 | 1948 | ||
| 4 | 1949-50 | ||
| 5 | Condolence Correspondence re HTK's father and grandfather | ||
| 6 | Certificates | ||
| 7 | Correspondence, 1930-31, 1935 | ||
| 8 | Scrapbook, 1930-31 | ||
| 9 | Reflections on the State of Europe, 1945 | ||
| 10 | Sermon Notes, 1949 | ||
| 11 | Notebook--WW I Chaplaincy | ||
| 12 | Trip to Peking, Shanghai and Tokyo, 1926 | ||
| 13 | Writings on Christian Faith | ||
| 14 | Notebook/Diary, 1948 | ||
| 15 | Moderator's Notebook, 1930 | ||
| 16 | Notes on Isaiah | ||
| 17 | Commonplace Book, 1909 | ||
| 18 | Sermon Notes | ||
| 19 | European Trip, 1945; Diaries, 1937-39 | ||
| 20 | Notebook/Diaries, 1935, 1937 | ||
| 21 | Diaries, 1940-44 | ||
| 22 | Notebooks, 1894-96, 1909 | ||
| 23 | Diary, 1900 | ||
| 2 | 1 | Commonplace Book | |
| 2 | Reminiscences of Matthew B. Riddle, 1924-26 | ||
| 3 | Passports, Visas, 1926-35 | ||
| 4 | Literary Productions, 1948 | ||
| 5 | Book Reviews, Evaluations, 1947-48 | ||
| 6 | Correspondence, 1948-50 | ||
| 7 | Requests for Articles, 1947-50 | ||
| 8 | Letters of Recommendation, 1948-50 | ||
| 9 | Invitations, 1948-50 | ||
| 10 | Masonic Correspondence, 1949 | ||
| 11 | Letters of Appreciation, 1949-50 | ||
| 12 | Speaking and Preaching Engagements, 1945-49 | ||
| 13 | Students' Examinations, 1948-49 | ||
| 14 | World Alliance of Reformed Churches, 1947-49 | ||
| 15 | Restoration Fund, 1945-48 | ||
| 16 | Washington and Jefferson College, 1947-50 | ||
| 17 | University of Pittsburgh Building Fund Campaign, 1949 | ||
| 18 | Sermons | ||
| 19 | Committee Correspondence, 1948-49 | ||
| 3 | 1 | Shadyside Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh | |
| 2-3 | Correspondence, 1948-49 | ||
| 4 | General Assembly, 1948-50 | ||
| 5 | Correspondence--"A Year with the Bible," 1948-50 | ||
| 6 | Homiletics | ||
| 7 | "Forward Day by Day," 1948-49 | ||
| 8 | "The Heart of the Lesson," 1949-50 | ||
| 9 | History of Preaching | ||
| 10 | "The Song of Songs," 1947-51 | ||
| 11 | The Bible--Historical Books, 1932-33 | ||
| 12 | Western Theological Seminary, 1948-50 | ||
| 13 | New Book | ||
| 14 | Book of Common Worship, 1946-49 | ||
| 15 | Presbyterian Hospital, Pittsburgh, 1947-50 | ||
| 16 | Lecture Notes | ||
| 17-19 | Prayers | ||
| 4 | 1 | Scrapbook--WW I Clippings | |
| 2 | Christian Endeavor Societies, 1917-20 | ||
| 3 | Lesson Plans for Young People, 1920-27 | ||
| 4 | Lesson Plans, 1927-32 | ||
| 5 | 1933-36 | ||
| 5 | 1 | Scrapbook A, 1897-1901 (indexed) | |
| 2 | Scrapbook B, 1907-1913 | ||
| 3 | Scrapbook, Published Articles, 1907-13 | ||
| 4 | Class Notes, "Religion of Israel in the 7th Century BC," 1909 | ||
| 5 | Class Notes, “Deuteronomy in Relation to the Hexateuch," 1909 | ||
| 6 | Class Notes, History of the 7th Century BC," 1909 | ||
| 7-8 | Speeches, Sermons, Articles | ||
| 9 | Christian Education--Articles and Addresses | ||
| 10 | Address Book |