Guide to the William Torrance Papers

Descriptive Summary

Title

William Torrance Papers

Inclusive Dates

1866-1924

Bulk Dates

1866-1904

Call Number

RG 76

Creator(s)

Torrance, William, 1839-1924

Quantity

3.00 cubic feet

Restrictions on Access

Collection open for research

Repository

Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147-1516 USA

Biographical Note / Administrative History

Biographical Note

At the age of fourteen, William Torrance immigrated from Scotland to the United States with his mother and two brothers. The family settled with relatives near Terre Haute, Indiana, and it was in this region that Torrance first attended and taught school. In 1861, Torrance was granted admission to Hanover College with advanced standing. After graduation from this college, in 1863, Torrance received a scholarship to attend Western Theological Seminary in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. In the summer of 1866, Torrance married and moved to Croyton, Indiana where he was ordained. For the next 30 years he was to serve as minister for eight Presbyterian congregations scattered throughout Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin.

After retirement in 1917, Torrance moved to Muncie, Indiana. He lived in this town, with his two daughters, for the remaining years of his life. Presumably, it was during these later years that he worked on several manuscripts which examined religious philosophy and morality. Torrance died in 1924.

Collection Overview

This collection contains the original drafts of sermons written by William Torrance between 1866 and 1907. These sermons contain allusions to Biblical parables, Greek and Roman philosophers and the theme of the importance of work as a means for spiritual redemption. Torrance seems rarely to have spoken from the pulpit on the cultural or political matters of his era during the time he served as minister, presumably because he did not--in his own words--believe in a "spread eagle" (nationalistic) style of preaching. This collection also includes copies of Torrance's unfinished manuscripts: "The Life of Christ", "Religious Feeling and What it Implies", and "The Pastor and the Bible: How to Study it for Himself."

Organization and Arrangement

SERIES 1: SERMONS, 1866-1904

SERIES 2: MANUSCRIPTS

SERIES 3: GROPING AFTER GOD

Administrative Information

Processing Information

Box 1 Folder 2 contained acquisition correspondence; this material, which is closed to researchers, has been removed.

Catalog Headings

The following headings have been used to index the description of this collection in the society’s electronic catalog.

Personal Name Subject

Torrance, William, 1839-1924 Works.

Topical Subject

Work Religious aspects Sermons.

Collection Inventory

Box	Folder	Description

1	1	Finding Aid to Record Group 76

		SERIES 1: SERMONS, 1866-1904

	3	1866
	4	1868
	5	1872
	6	1873
	7	1874
	8	1875
	9	1876
	10	1876
	11	1877
	12	1877
	13	1878
	14	1878
	15	1878
	16	1879
	17	1880
	18	1881
	19	1882
	20	1882
	21	1882
	22	1883
	23	1883
	24	1884
	25	1885
	26	1886

2	1	1886
	2	1886
	3	1887
	4	1887
	5	1888
	6	1888
	7	1889
	8	1889
	9	1890
	10	1892
	11	1893
	12	1895
	13	1897
	14	1904
	15	Undated Sermons
	16-18	Incomplete Sermons

		SERIES 2: MANUSCRIPTS

2	19	Life of Christ, chapters 1-13
	20	Life of Christ, chapters 14-21
	21	"The Pastor and His Bible: How to Study it for Himself"
	22	"Religious Feeling and What it Implies" (incomplete)

		SERIES 3: GROPING AFTER GOD (typescript)

3	1	Chapters 1-4
	2	Chapters 5-10
	3	Chapters 11-15
	4	Chapters 1-4
	5	Chapters 5-10
	6	Chapters 11-15
	7	Chapters 1-4
	8	Chapters 5-10
	9	Chapters 11-15
	10	Undated Sermon
	11	Incomplete Sermon

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Guide to the William Torrance Papers

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