American Baptist Education Society

In 1887 Henry L. Morehouse, Corresponding Secretary of the American Home Mission Society, a national Baptist agency to spread the gospel in North America, recommended the establishment of a new denominational body to supervise the founding of Baptist colleges and schools in the West. This work had fallen by default to his organization. Thus, in 1888, the American Baptist Education Society was established for "the promotion of Christian education, under Baptist auspices, in North America." Under these auspices, the present University of Chicago was founded in 1890, during the tenure of the first Corresponding Secretary of the Society, Frederick T. Gates [1888-92]. Folders 1 through 11 of The Correspondence of Frederick Taylor Gates contain what is, in effect, the correspondence of the American Baptist Education Society during this period.

Founded in 1888 for "the promotion of Christian education, under Baptist auspices, in North America." Under its supervision the University of Chicago was founded, 1891. Frederick Taylor Gates served as first corresponding secretary of the Society, 1888-1892. Succeeded by the Board of Education of the Northern Baptist Convention, 1911.