Baptist History in America (16 vols.)

History of Middle Tennessee Baptists

J.H. Grime collects important records, biographies, accounts of events, and other details that recount the story of the Baptists of middle Tennessee, with special reference to the Salem, New Salem, Enon, and Wiseman Baptist Associations. This carefully compiled history, with its stories of figures and times that went before, leads readers—as John T. Oakley writes in the introduction—“back amid the hard fought battles of other years; and the origin and history of the old churches will acquaint us with pastors, deacons, clerks, and membership of God’s obedient children who are on the other side.”

The Early Baptists of Virginia

Enlarged and adapted from an address originally given by Robert Boyle Howell in 1856 to the American Baptist Society, this history discusses the character and work of Baptists in the early days of Virginia. The volume “commends itself indeed to all students of history, and especially to the friends of religious liberty, as a careful delineation drawn for the most part from original sources of a part of one of the great movements of modern society.”

A History of Kentucky Baptists, vol. 1

J.H. and Burrilla Spencer lay out the history of Kentucky Baptists as a story explored primarily through its principal actors. Containing biographical sketches of more than 800 pastors, church planters, lay members, and other figures, A History of Kentucky Baptists covers more than a century, from 1769 to 1885. The first of two volumes, this regional Baptist history provides both a framework of the historical narrative, and fleshes out those dates and events through a personal approach. Complete with indexes and accounts of important associations, this work is a valuable encyclopedia of early Baptist history in the Bluegrass state.

A History of Kentucky Baptists, vol. 2

J.H. and Burrilla Spencer lay out the history of Baptists in Kentucky as a story explored primarily through its principal actors. Containing biographical sketches of more than 800 pastors, church planters, lay members, and other figures, A History of Kentucky Baptists covers more than a century, from 1769 to 1885. The second of two volumes, this regional Baptist history provides both a framework of the historical narrative, and fleshes out those dates and events through a personal approach. Complete with indexes and accounts of important associations, this work is a valuable encyclopedia of early Baptist history in the Bluegrass State.

History of Texas Baptists

Former lawyer B.F. Fuller lays out a careful history of Baptists in the Lone Star State in this comprehensive text. Fuller writes that “the work is intended to be mainly historical, but is interwoven to some extent with expositions of prominent Baptist principles.” He moves from general questions of the nature, structure, and function of the church, to Baptists generally, to the history of Baptists in Texas. Fuller chronologically discusses the introduction and growth of Baptist churches and organizations in Texas through major events such as the Declaration of Texas Independence, the founding of Baylor University, the Civil War, and much more. This carefully-researched work provides valuable record of Baptist churches, leaders, general assemblies, missionary bodies, educational enterprises, and newspapers through the end of the twentieth century.

A History of Seventh Day Baptists in West Virginia

Prepared originally as a historical paper relating to the Seventh Day Baptist South-Eastern Association to commemorate the centennial of the Seventh Day Baptist General Conference, this volume draws from original records to present “a classified epitome of all existing records relating to Seventh Day Baptists in Western Virginia . . . to supply the material needed for some future historian to write a narrative of these people in story form.” Corliss Fitz Randolph compiles important information to give readers a historical overview of the Seventh Day Baptist denomination in the Mountain State. He also includes a number of interesting maps, photos, excerpts from letters, membership lists, and other images.

The Early Baptists of Philadelphia

David Spencer presents this history of early Baptists in Philadelphia from the founding of the city through the early 1800s. Spencer covers significant figures, events, associations, churches, and more. Spencer’s detailed but concise history—complete with images and index—offers a fascinating look at Baptists in the City of Brotherly Love.

History of the Baptists in Vermont

Delving through the minutes of Vermont Baptist associations and historical societies, histories of individual churches, biographies of Baptist ministers, and a wealth of other historical materials, Henry Crocker completed a project left unfinished by numerous others before him: compiling a history of the Baptist denomination in the Green Mountain State. Telling the story of the Vermont Baptists, Crocker includes copious historical details from their beginnings in the state through the early 1900s, and all the challenges and growths along the way. This volume includes an index, along with lists detailing churches, extinct churches, conventions, associations, and more.

A History of the Baptists in Maine

Joshua Millet’s detailed Baptist history provides a chronological overview of the origins and developments of the denomination in Maine. Working from Baptists’ earliest days in the area through the mid-1800s, Millet provides a fascinating overview of the Baptists in the Pine Tree State, complete with notices of societies and institutions, and a dictionary of the labors of Maine ministers.

A History of Baptists in New Jersey

Published in 1904, Thomas S. Griffiths’ Baptist history adds a valuable contribution to the regional histories of the Baptist denomination. This engagingly-written history draws from historical documents and previous histories to relate the story of Baptists from their earliest days in New Jersey through the early 1900s. Including a general index and an index of names, providing an overview of Baptists in the Garden State.

A History of the Baptists in the Middle States

This volume presents an overview of Baptists in what were known as the “Middle Colonies,” now New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Author Henry Vedder covers their early history, growth of the denomination, Western movement, evangelism and revivals, period of controversies, Baptist education, publication society, and more. The volume also includes a number of appendixes with tables and graphs charting important figures.

A History of Baptists in Missouri

Including a number of portraits and engravings, R.S. Duncan’s work on Missouri Baptists provides a wealth of valuable material on the history of the denomination in the Show Me State. Duncan gives an account of the organization and growth of Baptist churches and associates, biographical sketches of ministers and other significant figures, the founding of Baptist institutions and periodicals, and much more.

Illinois Baptists: A History

Longtime general superintendent of the Illinois Baptist State Convention, Edward P. Brand was charged with gathering historical data and writing an account of the Baptists’ history across the prairies of Illinois. His work, published posthumously by the Convention in 1930, is not, as Charles Durden notes in the foreword, “an official history. It is better than that. It is the outpouring of the rich mind of one whose life-roots were deeply embedded in the life and progress of the Baptists in [Illinois].” This thoughtful, personal history features concise chapters that lay out significant events, people, growth, and challenges faced by early Illinois Baptists.

History of Baptists in Michigan

Mary Elizabeth Day Trowbridge was chosen as historian for the Michigan Baptist State Convention—which, like so many conventions around the turn of the century, was interested in setting down the denominational history in their state. This volume, the fruit of Trowbridge’s labors to that end, provides a detailed account of the Baptist denomination in the Great Lake State through the early 1900s.

Trowbridge features a variety of material, covering missions, aid, and publication societies, biographies, the founding of Kalamazoo College, prominent women and women’s societies, interesting reminiscences from ministers, and more. Also included are illustrations, statistical charts, and an index.

The Baptist History of South Dakota

Published in 1899, T.M. Shanafelt’s work compiles a valuable record of the origin and growth of the Baptist denomination in South Dakota. Introducing the volume, O.A. Williams notes that their time in history was special in that they could consult those who were principle actors in those early days, laying Baptist foundations, as many were still living, and thus “render to coming generations a noble service.” Shanafelt gathers preserves as a heritage the story “of the planting and training of Baptist churches on what was not long ago the frontier, and to tell the story of the trials and experiences of some of the pioneers who have been helping to mold the character and destiny of a new state.”

Indiana Baptist History: 1798–1908

In this volume, William T. Stott lays out the history of Baptists in Indiana from 1798 through 1908. Stott surveys general conditions, goes in depth about the Silver Creek and Maria Creek Churches, covers Indiana Baptist associations, and finishes with a discussion of the Indiana Baptist Convention with its organization, missions, and educational institutions. Stott includes numerous photos, financial figures, and an index.