Phineas Gurley was born in 1816 in Hamilton, N.Y. Gurley served as chaplain of the United States Senate in 1858 and as moderator of the General Assembly in 1867. He is perhaps best remembered for having been the pastor in attendance at the deathbed of Abraham Lincoln and for the sermon he preached at the President's funeral. The Phineas Densmore Gurley Papers include photographs, correspondence, and manuscript sermons, including a facsimile and transcript of "Faith in God," the sermon Gurley preached at the funeral of Abraham Lincoln, and a transcript of the sermon he preached at the funeral of Lincoln's young son, William. View the collection guide to learn more. The entire physical collection has been digitized.
Featured image: Portrait of Reverend Phineas D. Gurley. Photographed byJohn Goldin and Company, 1867.