Finding aid for the Archbishop William H. Elder
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Title: |
Archbishop William H. Elder |
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Repository: |
Archdiocese of Cincinnati Archives
Phone: 513-421-3131
http://www.catholiccincinnati.org/ministries-offices/archives-office/
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Creator: |
Archbishop William H. Elder |
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Dates: |
1811-1937 |
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Bulk dates: |
1880-1904 |
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Quantity: |
38.25 linear feet |
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Abstract: |
Archbishop William H. Elder was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on March 22, 1819 and received his seminary training at Mt. St.
Mary in Emmitsburg. He was ordained in Rome in 1846. After 11 years as a professor of dogmatic theology at Mount St. Mary,
he was named bishop of Natchez (Mississippi) in 1857. Although appointed coadjutor archbishop of San Francisco in 1878, he
never fulfilled the assignment, believing himself more critically needed in Natchez. In 1880 he was appointed coadjutor to
the archbishop of Cincinnati with right of succession. He succeeded as archbishop of Cincinnati July 4, 1883. Following the
1903 appointment of Bishop Henry Moeller as his coadjutor, Archbishop Elder turned the administration of the archdiocese over
to his successor. He died Oct. 31, 1904.
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Identification: |
RG 1.3 |
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Language: |
The records are in English, Latin, German and French |
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Sample Image: |
Archbishop William H. Elder Folder List |
Biography of Archbishop William H. Elder
William Henry Elder was born on March 22, 1819 in Baltimore, Maryland, son of Basil S. Elder and Elisabeth Miles (née Snowden)
Elder. Beginning at the age of 14 he attended Mount St. Mary’s College in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He continued his seminary
studies at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in 1837. In 1842 Elder was sent to study at Urban College, Rome and was ordained in that
city on March 29, 1846. That year he returned to the United States to teach dogmatic theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary.
On May 3, 1857, Elder was consecrated bishop of Natchez, Mississippi.
Eventually, Bishop Elder’s services would be needed in Ohio. From 1880 to 1883, when Archbishop John Purcell was ill and living
in Brown County, Ohio, Bishop Elder served as coadjutor and administrator of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Upon the death
of Archbishop Purcell on July 4, 1883, Archbishop Elder became the third ordinary of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
Much of Archbishop Elder’s time as administrator and archbishop was spent addressing the financial failure of the archdiocese.
He also established important administrative procedures for the archdiocese, most notably a chancery office, a building commission,
and a system for parishes to send in annual reports to the archdiocese. Archbishop Elder died on October 31, 1904 in Cincinnati.
Scope and Content
The Archbishop William H. Elder Records consist predominantly of records generated during his tenure as the Archbishop of
Cincinnati. These are mostly paper records in the form of correspondence with the archbishop. This record group includes
correspondence among Elder family members, and notably, records relating to the Civil War and Bishop Elder's imprisonment
in 1864 for refusing to require Catholic Churches to publicly recite a prayer for the President of the United States. The
bishop had refused and protested that this order violated rights of religious freedom. Bishop Elder took control of administrative
duties of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in 1880 until 1883. Upon the death of Archbishop John B. Purcell in 1883, Elder became
the Archbishop of Cincinnati, which he remained until his death in 1904. Records created during his time as coadjutor and
as archbishop are separated into two separate record series. Other record series from his tenure as archbishop include legal
and marriage case files, as well as outgoing correspondence files. A series of miscellaneous records include parish boundary
line delineations and financial matters, the Catholic Knights of Ohio, and Archbishop Elder's funeral. In 1903 Bishop Henry
K. Moeller took over administrative duties of the archdiocese and records from 1903-1904 can be found in RG 1.4. Lastly,
and alphabetical listing of record series include personal papers such as Elder family correspondence, sermons and notes written
by Archbishop Elder, his 50th priestly ordination jubilee, personal journals of the archbishop, and scrapbooks of newspaper
clippings regarding archdiocesan news and Archbishop Elder's death.
Archbishop William H. Elder Folder List
Statement of Arrangement
Most record series are arranged chronologically. Generally, they are arranged chronologically by year and then alphabetically
by correspondent. If known, an associated parish or institution and location of correspondent are given. Although most letters
are written to Bishop and later Archbishop Elder, copies of certain letters sent by Archbishop Elder and other writings are
filed under “E” for “Elder.” Some files are of correspondence written to other persons, such as the archdiocesan chancellor,
priests, or family members. Correspondence by religious sisters and religious brothers are filed alphabetically by “Sister”
and “Brother.”
Series 1.3-02: Civil War Files
Series 1.3-03: Purcell-Elder Files
Series 1.3-04: General Files
Sub-Series 1.3-04a: Rev. John Cusack
Sub-Series 1.3-04b: Anton A. Müller
Sub-Series 1.3-04c: Roman Correspondence
Series 1.3-05: Outgoing Correspondence
Series 1.3-06: Legal Files
Series 1.3-07: Marriage Cases
Series 1.3-08: Miscellaneous
Series 1.3-09: Barrot Estate
Series 1.3-10: Elder Family Correspondence
Series 1.3-11: Jubilee
Series 1.3-12: Sermons and Notes
Series 1.3-13: Notebooks
Series 1.3-14: Scrapbooks
Series 1.3-02: Civil War Files 1863-1864
These are predominantly copies and transcriptions of records relating to Bishop Elder’s activities during the Civil War, particularly
his imprisonment in 1864.
Series 1.3-03: Purcell-Elder Files 1880-1883
With the Purcell Financial Failure of 1878, Bishop Elder was brought to Cincinnati as coadjutor and charged with the administration
of the archdiocese, chiefly its financial troubles. During this time of transition, there is also a significant amount of
correspondence with activities in Mississippi. Records are arranged chronologically by year and then alphabetically by correspondent.
Series 1.3-04: General Files 1884-1902
The General Files include all activities and correspondence of the archbishop with parishes, religious communities, schools,
Catholic clubs, civic affairs, the Purcell Financial Failure, etc. Records are arranged chronologically by year and then alphabetically
by correspondent. Although Elder family correspondence is included in Series 1.3-01 and particularly Series 1.3-10, there
is Elder family correspondence within this series. In 1903 Bishop Henry K. Moeller took over administrative duties of the
archdiocese and records from 1903-1904 can be found in RG01.04.
Sub-Series 1.3-04a: Rev. John Cusack 1895-1904
Rev. John Cusack (1855-1924), a priest of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, sued various congregations he served and the archdiocese,
claiming he was not given his promised stipends. After the settlements of the cases, Rev. Cusack was sent to the Dioceses
of Rockford and Fargo but remained a priest of this archdiocese. This series includes correspondence and legal files.
Sub-Series 1.3-04b: Anton A. Müller 1898-1905
Anton A. Müller was a priest with the Old Catholic Church, a religious sect that broke away from the Roman Catholic Church
in the late 19th century over disagreements of doctrine. His correspondence with Archbishop Elder includes his attempts to
rejoin the Roman Catholic Church and various issues within his family.
Sub-Series 1.3-04c: Roman Correspondence 1880-1904
This subseries is Archbishop Elder’s correspondence with the apostolic delegate to the archdiocese. Topics cover ad limina
visits, various episcopal appointments in the United States, parish and priest issues, and church guidelines.
Series 1.3-05: Outgoing Correspondence 1880-1904
This series is a collection of bound books of copied letters sent out by the chancery. There are 16 volumes of letters arranged
chronologically. The remaining volumes are dedicated to specific topics, such as seminary affairs and official church appointments.
Series 1.3-06: Legal Files 1870-1905
This series includes the wills of Archbishops Purcell and Elder, various estate papers, church and cemetery property disputes,
legal suits with the archdiocese and other citizens.
Series 1.3-07: Marriage Cases 1892-1903
Arranged chronologically, files are arranged by the last names of the parties in question. These are files requesting dispensations
and/or to have marriages recognized by the church.
Series 1.3-08: Miscellaneous 1881-1902
These miscellaneous Chancery files include records relating to Archbishop Elder’s 50th priesthood anniversary in 1896 and
funeral in 1904, scandals with the Catholic Knights of Ohio, cemetery and institutions properties, church regulations, and
taxation on church properties. Of note are records regarding select parish boundary lines in Hamilton and Montgomery Counties
as drawn up in the late 19th century and requests for new parishes in Hamilton County.,
Series 1.3-09: Barrot Estate 1878-1898
In 1879, Bishop Elder was requested to be the guardian of siblings Angela Barrot (age 15), Claude Barrot (age 10), and Charles
Barrot (age 3), living in Port Gibson, Mississippi, children of Charles and Mary Barrot, deceased. Elder arranged for the
children to attend school in the Bardstown, Ky. area and Angela was soon declared a legal adult. These files continue until
the two brothers were no longer minors. Included are legal documents, financial records, and correspondence of the children
with Archbishop Elder.
Series 1.3-10: Elder Family Correspondence 1811-1937
Various correspondences between Archbishop Elder’s parents, Basil S. Elder and Elizabeth Miles Snowden Elder, his siblings
Basil, Sister Helena, Susan, and Charles, and other family members and friends. Notably, Mrs. Elder corresponded with Bishop
Jean [John] David, auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Bardstown, Ky., and includes mentions of interactions with Bishop Benedict
Joseph Flaget.
Series 1.3-11: Episcopal Jubilee 1882
1882 marked the 25th anniversary of Elder’s consecration as bishop in Natchez, Mississippi, prior to being Archbishop of Cincinnati.
Records include letters of congratulations and speeches made in his honor.
Series 1.3-12: Sermons and Notes 1826-1880
Arranged chronologically, these records include school notes and sermons given by Elder for various occasions. Topics include
scripture, freemasonry, saints, seasons of the liturgical year, and matters of doctrine.
Series 1.3-13: Notebooks 1838-1885
These various notebooks include Archbishop Elder’s diary from 1883 to 1885, memorandum books of daily notes from 1858 to 1885,
and a student notebook from 1838.
Series 1.3-14: Scrapbooks 1881-1888, 1904
Three scrapbooks are in this series. The first is a scrapbook of archdiocesan news from 1881-1888 as taken from secular newspapers.
It includes an index in the back. Lastly, two scrapbooks document Archbishop Elder’s death and funeral in 1904.
Restrictions on Access
This record group is open for research.
Related Material: Related Material
Existence and Location of Originals
Records relating to Elder’s tenure as Bishop of Natchez are at the Catholic Diocese of Jackson (formerly Natchez) Archives.
Related Archival Materials
The following record groups held by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Archives contain materials relevant to the Archbishop William
H. Elder Records:
RG 1.2 Archbishop John B. Purcell Records
RG 1.4 Archbishop Henry K. Moeller Records
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects:
Catholic Church--History--19th century
Catholic Church--United States--History
Catholic Church. Archdiocese of Cincinnati (Ohio)
Elder, William Henry, 1819-1904
Fraternal organizations
Purcell, John Baptist, 1800-1883
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Preferred Citation
Item Description, date, box number, folder number, Record Group Number, Record Group Name, Archdiocese of Cincinnati Archives.
Detailed Description of The Collection
Civil War Files, 1863-1864
Purcell-Elder Files, 1880-1883
Rev. John Cusack, 1895-1904
Anton A. Müller, 1898-1905
Roman Correspondence, 1880-1904
Outgoing Correspondence, 1880-1904
Marriage Cases, 1892-1903
Elder Family Correspondence, 1811-1937
Sermons and Notes, 1826-1880
Scrapbooks, 1881-1888, 1904