The Edward Increase Bosworth Papers, 1852(1898-1926)-1934, consist of correspondence, journals, and writings documenting Bosworth's personal and professional life during his tenure (1892-1927) as Chair of New Testament Language and Literature at Oberlin's Graduate School of Theology. The correspondence includes early letters (1852) from family, "steamer" letters, and letters from colleagues regarding speaking engagements, missionary work, job offers, biblical interpretation and spiritual matters. Several letters from Oberlin President Henry Churchill King (1858-1934) describe King's war service (1918-19) with the Y.M.C.A. in Paris. The correspondence of Ernest Pye (1934) includes personal reminiscence from Bosworth's friends, solicited by Pye preparatory to his writing The Biography of a Mind, Bosworth of Oberlin (New York, [1948]). In his journals (1886-1927), Bosworth recorded his travels, personal reflections, and reading notes. His writings include manuscript drafts of talks; printed articles, and the book Christ in Everyday Life.

Series I. Correspondence, 1852, 1890-1926, 1934 (8 Folders, 0.40 l.f.)

The correspondence of Bosworth is separated from the correspondence of his biographer, Ernest Pye. Each subseries is chronologically arranged.

Series II. Journals and Student Notes, 1877-1927 (4 folders, 0.30 l.f.)

The four journal volumes are chronologically arranged and include accounts of an European Tour in 1892. The student notes consist of notes on Greek exegesis (1883), and a notebook dated 1877-86, which includes debates of the literary society.

Series III. Talks and Sermons, 1877, 1894-1919, 1923-27, n.d. (27 folders, 0.95 l.f.)

The series is arranged by accession, then by type of material. Accession 1988/155 consists of 0.20 l.f. of talks and sermons (titles listed on the inventory). Accession 1997/154 includes talks (arranged alphabetically by title), and sermons that are arranged chronologically. In addition, the sermon titles for two folders, 1894-1910 and n.d., are listed.

Series IV. Writings, 1882, 1898, 1903-13, 1916, 1919, 1927, n.d. (10 folders, 0.30 l.f.)

The writings are divided into two subersies: 1. Writings by Edward I. Bosworth; and 2: Writings of others collected by Bosworth. Bosworth¹s writings cover topics such as prayer, Christian Theology, "The Christian Witness in War", Oberlin, and the life of St.Paul. Titles are arranged alphabetically.

Series V. Photographs (1 folder, 0.05 l.f.)

This series consists of photographs of Edward I. Bosworth, along with those of his family and friends. Also present is a newspaper article concerning the Monroe-Bosworth house at 78 S. Professor, along with a separate photo of this Bosworth residence.

Series VI. Diplomas

This series consists of diplomas earned by Edward I. Bosworth at Elgin Academy (College Prep with Honors, 1977), Yale University (A.B., 1883), and Oberlin College (B.D., 1886).

The bulk of the papers of Edward Increase Bosworth were received by the Oberlin College Archives under deeds of gift from Bosworth descendants in 1988 and in 1997. Bosworth's notes on Greek exegesis were given to the Oberlin College Library by Bosworth's estate in 1934 and were transferred to the Oberlin College Archives in 2001. The book What It Means To Be a Christian (1922) was received as part of accession 2002/118.

For Bosworth's professional correspondence files kept while Dean of the Graduate School of Theology, consult the records of that institution, Record Group 11, Subgroup I, Operating Records. Subgroup V in the same collection contains Bosworth's voluminous files of writings, talks and sermons, and teaching materials. Subgroup II, Theological Instruction, includes correspondence and documentation relating to the Kyrias Girls School in Albania.