Archival Resources

Edmonds, Henry Morris
Papers, 1895-1961

Henry Morris Edmonds was born in York, Alabama, in 1878. He was educated at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and the Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Edmonds came to Birmingham in 1913 to become pastor of the South Highland Presbyterian Church. A split in the congregation led to the formation of Independent Presbyterian Church on Highland Avenue in 1915. Edmonds remained at Independent until his resignation in 1942, when he accepted a deanship at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. After five years in Winter Park, Edmonds returned to Birmingham. Edmonds was a prolific writer. Throughout his career he contributed to the Birmingham Post-Herald and various magazines, and he published several books. He died in Birmingham in 1960.

Sources:

Edmonds, Henry Morris. A Parson's Notebook. Birmingham: Elizabeth Agee's Bookshelf, 1961.

Independent Presbyterian Church of Alabama. The Other Side of the Recent Case of Dr. Henry M. Edmonds and the North Alabama Presbytery. Birmingham, Ala: The Church, 1916?] (Dispatch Printing Co.).

Presbyterian Ministers of Birmingham, Alabama. A Review and an Exposition of the Case of Dr. H.M. Edmonds and the Presbytery of North Alabama. Birmingham, Ala: The Ministers, [1915?].

Waldrep, B. Dwain. "Henry Edmonds and his Controversy with the Southern Presbyterian Church, 1913-1915." The Journal of the Birmingham Historical Society. Vol. 9 No. 1 (December 1985).

The bulk of this collection spans 1915-1960, although it includes material from as early as 1895 and as late as 1961. The collection includes correspondence, magazine articles, newspaper clippings, sermons, eulogies, speeches, books of prayer, diaries, scrapbooks, photographs, and books, magazines, and pamphlets. Among the letters and newspaper clippings are many relating to the theological differences between Edmonds and members of the congregation of South Highland Presbyterian Church, the split that developed between the supporters and opponents of Edmonds, the resulting North Alabama Presbytery Court Hearings, and the formation of Independent Presbyterian Church. Other correspondence is from church members, family, and family friends.

File level guide available in the Archives Department.

Clergy -- Alabama.
Edmonds, Henry Morris, 1878-1960.
Birmingham (Ala.) -- Church history.
Independent Presbyterian Church (Birmingham, Ala.).
Presbyterian Church in the U.S. Presbytery of North Alabama (1876-1983)
South Highland Presbyterian Church (Birmingham, Ala.).

Collection Number: 159

Size: 12 linear feet (21 boxes)

Restrictions: Standard preservation and copyright restrictions.