Description
Thomas Starr King (1824 - 1864) was a Unitarian and Universalist minister and popular lecturer. Son of a Universalist minister
who served in New York and Massachusetts, he also served churches in the Boston area. He accepted a call to San Francisco
in 1860 to serve the Unitarian Church. With the start of the Civil War, he lectured and campaigned successfully throughout
the state to keep California in the Union and raised substantial funding for the Sanitary Commission. His was one of two statues
from the State of California in the Capital Building, Washington, D.C., until replaced by Ronald Reagan in June 2009. The
King statue was installed in the Civil War Grove in Capitol Park, Sacramento, December 8, 2009.
Background
Thomas Starr King (1824-64) was born December 17, 1824, his parents, Thomas Farrington King, a Universalist minister, and
Susan Starr, both of New York. T.F. King was called to the Universalist Church, Charlestown, MA in 1835, serving there until
his death in September 1839. After the death of his father, Starr (as he was known in the family), had to leave school to
help support his mother and five brothers and sisters. He worked in a dry goods store, then as a teacher, becoming principal
of the West Medford Grammar School at age 18. He resigned this position to accept a clerking job in the Navy Yard were he
had a larger salary and more time for independent study. Through self study, he mastered the requirements for entrance to
the ministry.
Extent
2.5 linear feet (7 boxes and 4 folios).
Digital materials : 1 scrapbook (3 parts), 1 book, and 6 photographs
Restrictions
Copyright has not been assigned to The Graduate Theological Union. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts
must be submitted in writing to the Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Graduate Theological Union
as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must
also be obtained by the reader.
Availability
Collection is open for research.