Bishop William Burt Collection

Identity elements

Reference code

US NjMdUMCG 1563

Name and location of repository

General Commission on Archives and History

Level of description

Collection

Title

Bishop William Burt Collection

Date(s)

  • 1872 - 1978 (Creation)

Extent

9.75 cubic feet

Name of creator

Burt, William
(1852-1936)

Biographical history

William Burt (1852-1936), an American pastor, missionary, and bishop, was born in Padstow, Cornwall, England, on October 23, 1852. His family immigrated to the United States. Burt graduated from Wesleyan University, in Middletown, Connecticut, in 1879, and from Drew Theological School in Madison, New Jersey, in 1881. Eventually, he received honorary doctorates from Grant, Wesleyan, and Syracuse Universities and Dickinson and Allegheny Colleges.

Joining the New York East Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1881, Burt served St. Paul's Church and De Kalb Avenue Church in Brooklyn before being transferred to the Italy Annual Conference in 1886. In 1888 he moved to Florence, establishing a theological school, and became superintendent of the Italy Mission. Coming to Rome in 1890, Burt was instrumental in establishing the Methodist Building, the Boy's College, a Theological School, Publishing House, and Young Ladies College. He also led in building several churches and schools in other parts of Italy.

On May 20, 1904, Burt was elected a Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and appointed resident Bishop of Europe. While in charge of the work in Europe, he organized the France Mission Conference, the Austria- Hungary Mission Conference, the Russian Mission Conference, and the Denmark and Finland Annual Conferences. In 1910 he organized all the Methodist work in Europe into the European Central Annual Conference.

On several occasions the Board of Bishops designated Burt to be an Episcopal visitor in other areas of the world. In 1906 he was Fraternal delegate to the British and Irish Wesleyan Conference, and in that same year made the Quadrennial visit to Methodist missions in Africa. In 1917 he visited the Methodist work in the Orient including China, Japan, the Philippines, India, Korea, and the Malay Peninsula. Finally in 1919 Burt was called upon to study post-war conditions in Europe with the purpose of rebuilding Methodist Episcopal churches.

Burt's contributions and honors were many. He wrote ten books and translated the Discipline into Italian. King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy knighted him in 1903. He was received by the kings of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden as well as by the queens of Italy and Bulgaria, the Emperor of Germany and the Shah of Persia.

Bishop Burt returned to the United States in 1912 assuming episcopal leadership of the Buffalo, New York area. He retired in 1924 and died at Clifton Springs, New York on April 9, 1936. He is buried in Lynn, Massachusetts.

Burt married Helen Bartlett Graves (born April 14, 1856) on April 14, 1881. They had five children.

Content and structure elements

Scope and content

The Bishop William Burt Collection is an excellent documentary on the life and work of a pioneer minister within the Methodist Episcopal Church. In this collection we see the pathos and commitment Burt and his family brought to the work of the church, especially in Europe. These records illuminate his varying roles as clergyperson, presiding elder, bishop, and family member. Well liked by most, Burt was an influential person within the denomination throughout his career.

Records from his wife, Helen, and daughter Edith are located here, as well. The collection shows the historical and sociological involvement Burt had with the life, events, and politics of Europe, the United States, and the rest of the world. This involvement covered society from its lowest common denominator all the way through and including the very top of the social ladder. Burt was a world traveler and the collection sheds light on Methodist Episcopal work around the globe. This is especially true in the correspondence, diaries, and photograph series. Besides reflecting Burt's ministry in Europe, there are significant records concerning his work in the United States. Other notable personalities are also included

Early missionaries to Europe, especially to Russia, have primary documents located here as well. Many of Italy's leading Methodists such as the Taglialatela family have both published and handwritten materials within the collection. Records by other bishops such as Vincent and Bast are interspersed throughout the first section. Another area which is documented is Burt's commitment to the ongoing work of the Jerusalem Home which was started by Bishop J. P. Newman. There is a sizeable amount of records pertaining to the Crandon Institute in Rome, as well.

System of arrangement

This collection is arranged by series.

Conditions of access and use elements

Conditions governing access

There are no restrictions regarding this collection.

Physical access

Technical access

Conditions governing reproduction

Detailed use restrictions relating to our collections can be requested from the office of the archivist at the General Commission on Archives and History. Photocopying is handled by the staff and may be limited in certain instances. Before using any material for publication from this collection a formal request for permission to publish is expected and required.

Languages of the material

  • English
  • Italian

Scripts of the material

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    Finding aids

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    Notes element

    General note

    When citing material from this collection please use the following format: Direct reference to the item or its file folder, William Burt Collection, United Methodist Church Archives - GCAH, Madison, New Jersey. Do not make use of the item"s call number as that is not a stable descriptor.

    Specialized notes

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    Description control element

    Rules or conventions

    Sources used

    Archivist's note

    Prepared by Mark C. Shenise, Associate Archivist, Robert D. Simpson, Archival Assistant, and Aaron Smith, Student Assistant

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