Doolittle, Theodore Sandford, 1836-1893

Theodore Sandford Doolittle (1836-1893) was born November 30, 1836 in the town of Ovid, in Seneca County, New York. His father was Solomon Doolittle, a merchant in that town, and his mother was Caroline Saterlee. One known relative was second cousin, William F. Doolittle, M.D., of Cleveland, Ohio.

Doolittle became a student at Rutgers College in 1855, and graduated with highest honors as a member of the class of 1859. As a student, he was the last editor of the Rutgers College Quarterly literary magazine. He attended the Theological Seminary in New Brunswick, New Jersey (1859-1862), and was licensed to preach in the Flatlands Dutch Reformed Church in Brooklyn, New York in 1862. Doolittle received his D.D. degree from Wesleyan University in 1872, and his L.L.D. degree from Union College in 1891.

Doolittle served as the pastor of the Flatlands Dutch Reformed Church in Brooklyn, New York from 1862 to 1864. He joined the faculty of Rutgers College in 1864, accepting the chair of Rhetoric, Logic, and Metaphysics. He also taught and lectured on Architecture, Fine Arts, and Elocution. Doolittle became Vice President of Rutgers (1890-1893) and served briefly as acting President (September, 1890-February 4, 1891). He remained associated with the college until his sudden death on April 19, 1893.

A prolific writer, critic, and reviewer, Doolittle served as associate editor of the New York based weekly newspaper, Christian at Work (1873-1893). In that capacity he wrote many editorials, as well as the Sunday School Series column, which consisted of weekly essays on various biblical passages and other related issues. Some of his other writings include A History of Rutgers College for the U.S. Bureau of Education (1876); articles about Rutgers College for various encyclopedias (Appleton's, Johnson's); and a series of letters from European cities, published in 1875 in the Christian Intelligencer called, "Across the Continent."

More biographical material may be found in "Material for General Catalogue," (Box 1, File 3) and in A History of Rutgers College, by William H. S. Demarest (available at Special Collections and University Archives, and other Rutgers Libraries, Call no. LD4753.D4).

From the guide to the Guide to the Theodore Sandford Doolittle Papers, 1857-1930, 1857-1930 (inclusive); 1857-1893 (bulk), (Rutgers University Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives)