The Constitutions of the Presbyterian Church…
The Constitutions of the Presbyterian Church…
Previous
Next
Usage conditions apply
- Description
- The “Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America” contained the Confession of Faith, the Catechisms, the Directory for the Worship of God, and the Plan of Government and Discipline ratified by the Presbyterian General Assembly in May 1805. The booklet was printed by Jane Aitken of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1806. The General Assembly ordered an updated confession as a response to unauthorized versions of the Confession of Faith. The Presbyterian Constitution served as the organizing principle behind the Presbyterian Church, and it was an important document for new churches being formed in early America.
- The Copp Collection contains about 150 books of early American imprint and shows a wide range of reading matter typical of a New England Puritan family living in a port town. Literacy was expected of many New Englanders, as Puritan doctrine required everyone to read the Bible. The abundance of multiple Bibles, psalms, hymnodies, sermons, and morality tales reflects the Copp’s religious beliefs. Other highlights of the library include the works of Shakespeare, almanacs, historical and political texts, and travel narratives.
- The Copp Collection contains a variety of household objects that the Copp family of Connecticut used from around 1700 until the mid-1800s. Part of the Puritan Great Migration from England to Boston, the family eventually made their home in New London County, Connecticut, where their textiles, clothes, utensils, ceramics, books, bibles, and letters provide a vivid picture of daily life. More of the collection from the Division of Home and Community Life can be viewed by searching accession number 28810.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- book
- Measurements
- overall: 4 3/8 in x 7 in x 1 7/8 in; 11.1125 cm x 17.78 cm x 4.7625 cm
- ID Number
- DL.006867.42
- catalog number
- 6867.42
- accession number
- 28810
- Credit Line
- Gift of John Brenton Copp
- See more items in
- Home and Community Life: Domestic Life
- Cultures & Communities
- Copp Collection
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
Nominate this object for photography.
Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.
If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.
Note: Comment submission is temporarily unavailable while we make improvements to the site. We apologize for the interruption. If you have a question relating to the museum's collections, please first check our Collections FAQ. If you require a personal response, please use our Contact page.
