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.

Record types include journals, sermons, correspondence, bank drafts, ministerial licenses, circuit plans, and a legal document. There is also a typed manuscript of the journal. The journal is the handwritten original manuscript recording the events of York's daily life, as well as his physical and spiritual health, from 1869 to 1871. The typed manuscript is a transcription of this same journal by the donor, though the sequence of entries is not the same as in the original document. The original order of the journal entries is unclear, as the document arrived with the pages out of sequence, and much re- arranging was necessary. An exact match between the chronology of the manuscript journal and the transcription was not possible. The sermons consist of two handwritten sermon fragments on texts from Exodus and Galatians. There is also a short handwritten poem. The correspondence is two letters to York, one of which is from William Mugoleton and the other, from George Ripley. Both are handwritten originals. The bank drafts are receipts for money loaned. The ministerial licenses consist of four local preacher licenses issued to York by Quarterly Meetings from 1841 to 1856. The circuit local preacher's plans are from Market Darborough Circuit (Wesleyan Methodist Church, England, 1841) and New York and New York East Districts (Methodist Episcopal Church, 1852). Both show the locations in which local preachers are scheduled to take services during one quarter. The legal document is a court summons pertaining to the execution of York's will in 1884.