By Shirra Rockwood and Fiora Watts
Title: Cuyler Family Collection of Photographs and Papers, 1860-1974
Extent: 5.0 Boxes
Arrangement:
Series 1: Box 1, 2, 3 & 4
Family photographs arranged by individual (if identified), as well as miscellaneous individuals. Also includes exteriors and interiors of homes, family vacations, military photographs, framed portraits, family photo albums, associated negatives, and postcards.
Series 2: Box 5
Certificates, diplomas, and graduation programs arranged by individual, plus wedding album.
Series 3: Box 5
Lafayette Church programs and newspaper clippings arranged by material.
Date Acquired: 02/00/2015
Subjects: Cuyler, Theodore Ledyard, Jr 1863-2943, Cuyler, Theodore Ledyard 1822-1909, Cuyler, Theodore Ledyard III 1891-1976, Cuyler, Theodore Ledyard IV 1920-2003
Forms of Material: Newspaper Clippings, Photographs
Languages: English
Theodore Ledyard Cuyler was born in Aurora, New York in 1822. He graduated from Princeton University in 1841 and from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1846. In 1853, he became pastor of the Market Street Reformed Dutch Church in New York City. There, Cuyler cultivated a large following and was approached to head a new church to be built in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. In 1860 he became the first pastor of the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, which grew to be the largest and most powerful Presbyterian church in the country. Cuyler wrote for a variety of newspapers such as the Christian Intelligencer, Evangelist, Independent and others, and was the author of over 20 books. He was an ardent supporter of the temperance movement as well as numerous charities such as the YMCA and Children’s Aid Society. As a speaker, he was known for his natural and easy-going style. Cuyler had a large circle of acquaintances and an influence that extended to Great Britain, where he was widely admired. Reverend Theodore Cuyler died in Brooklyn in 1909 and was buried at Green-Wood Cemetery.
Chronology for Rev. Theodore Ledyard Cuyler:
1822 January 10, Born, Aurora, New york
1841 Graduated, Princeton University
1846 Graduated, Princeton Theological Seminary
1846 Presbyterian Church, Burlington, New Jersey
1849-1853 Pastor, Third Presbyterian Church, Trenton, New Jersey
1853-1860 Pastor, Market Street Reformed Dutch Church, New York, New York
1860-1890 Pastor, Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, Brooklyn
1909 February 26, Died, Brooklyn
Cuyler, Theodore Ledyard, Jr 1863-2943
Cuyler, Theodore Ledyard 1822-1909
Cuyler, Theodore Ledyard III 1891-1976
Cuyler, Theodore Ledyard IV 1920-2003
Repository: Historical Collections
Physical Access Note: Photo albums are delicate and must be handled with care.
Acquisition Source: Mike Stewart
Separated Materials: This collection was part of a donation that was shared with the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church.
Related Materials:
Brooklyn Historical Society holdings:
Theodore L. Cuyler correspondence
Presbyterian Churches of Brooklyn
Princeton Theological Seminary Collection holdings:
The Theodore L. Cuyler Manuscript Collection
Internet Archive:
Thoedore L. Cuyler’s book Recollections of a Long Life
New York Public Library Digital Collections:
Digitized pictures and documents
Processing Information: Accession #: 012-2015
