Hill Family Papers and Publications,1844-1931

Biographical Note:
The Hill family came to the Midwest in the years before the Civil War, living in both Iowa and Minnesota. James Jeremiah Hill was married twice: his first wife, Sarah Hyde, bore him many children, but only two survived, being Gershom Hyde Hill (born 1846) and James Langdon Hill (born 1848). Both of these sons would graduate from Iowa College in 1871. Sarah Hyde Hill died in 1852. James J. remarried a year later to Sarah Harriman, who bore James six children. The eldest, George Frederick, would graduate in the class of 1881 at Iowa College. This collection contains works of James Jeremiah, Sarah Hyde, Sarah Harriman, the two oldest boys, Gershom and James Langdon, and James Langdon’s wife.

James Jeremiah, a minister from the east coast, is well known for his contribution to begin Iowa College, putting down the first dollar to start it. His son Gershom became a doctor, and worked for many years at the State Hospital for the Insane in Independence, Iowa. Most of his works represented here are related to his work with the mentally ill.
James Langdon was the most prolific writer in the family, boasting a collection of works three volumes in size. He became a minister like his father, and many of his works concern themselves with either the history of Iowa College or morality. There is also a book that James L. was putting together of his family’s genealogy.

Both of James Jeremiah’s wives are represented in the collection, although Sarah Harriman’s “Life and Work of James J. Hill in Minnesota and Iowa, 1853-1870” is by far the more substantial of the two.
James Langdon Hill’s wife also wrote a history of sorts, entitled “Memories”, commemorating her husband’s death in 1931. In it are stories, anecdotes, and some Hill genealogy.

Provenance:
The different materials in the collection were dispersed throughout the larger Iowa Room collection, until they were integrated into a single collection in May, 2002.

Quantity: 2 boxes plus three books (volumes of J.L. Hill’s Works

Scope and Content Note:
The collection contains mostly printed materials, and a few letters of correspondence. Either Gershom Hyde or James Langdon Hill authored the bulk of the collection. Most of their works are in the form of pamphlets, small books, and occasionally typed manuscripts.

Suggested citation: Hill Family papers, Grinnell College Libraries, Department of Special Collections, Grinnell, Iowa. Ms.01.81.

Box Listing:
Box 1:
Hill, James Jeremiah
Correspondence
Hill, Sarah Hyde
Letter to her brother, 1844
Hill, Sarah Harriman
“The Life and Works of James Jeremiah Hill in Minnesota and Iowa, 1853-1870”
“Sermons by Rev. Ray Palmer”
Hill, Mrs. James Langdon
“Memories”
Hill, Gershom Hyde
“Dementia praecox”
“Joan of Arc”
“Klebs-Leoffler bacillus”
“Prevention of Insanity”
“Psychic Treatment for Psychopathic Patients”
“Record of post-mortem examinations”
“Review of pathological work in the hospital”
“Senility, senile dementia”
“Ways and means of preventing physical, mental, and moral degeneracy”
Memorial notice of Henry A. Gilman
Memorial notice of Frank Crampton Hoyt
Letters to Professor Parker, 3.

Box 2:
Hill, James Langdon
“James J. Hill”
“A Crowning Achievement: Early Exploits of the Iowa Band”
“The Evolution of a Christian College”
“The Gift of the Bottom Dollar”
“Iowa College in the War”
“The Last of the Iowa Band”
“What Iowa College Means to an Alumnus”
“Response of James L. Hill at Alumni Dinner”
Notes on a speech about Iowa College
“Notes and Suggestions Upon a Prayer Meeting”
“Some of My Mottoes”
“Personal Statement…at [Hill’s] installment as pastor of Mystic Church, Medford MA”
“The Song of Hilawatha by Amos R. Wells”
“The Sunday Evening Problem”
“Women and Satan”
“Not Negro Churches, But Churches”
“The Problem of Spiritual Awakenings”
“Young People’s Prayer Meeting”
“Christian Nurture”
“Little Willis”
“Laymen to the Front”
“A Sermon Delivered Before the Executive and Legislative Departments of the Government of Massachusetts”
“Encouraging Words from New England Endeavourers”
“Contrasts of Forty Years in Indian Camps”
“The Century’s Capstone”
“Boys in the Late War”
“Antiphonal Service”
Letter to the Grinnell Herald
Correspondence
Hill family genealogy

Unboxed: Works, The bound works of James Langdon Hill

Processed by Melissa Bailey, May 2002.