Sunday, Billy, 1862-1935

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William Ashley Sunday, Sr., American evangelist, was born November 19, 1862 in Ames, Iowa. After holding various jobs while completing high school, he was recruited to join the Chicago White Stockings, a professional baseball team. He committed his life to Christ in 1886 or 1887, upon following a street gospel band back to their mission. He married Helen Amelia Thompson in 1888. He gave talks to young men in the cities his team visited and worked part-time for the Chicago YMCA. He coached the baseball team in exchange for tuition at Evanston Academy of Northwestern University in Illinois. In 1891, he quit baseball to devote himself to full-time Christian service. He worked briefly with evangelists J. Wilbur Chapman and Milan B. Williams in 1893 and, in 1896, began to hold his own revival campaigns. He died in November of 1935. Helen Sunday continued her husband's ministry after his death, and became an important Christian leader in her own right. She died in 1957.

From the description of Billy Sunday papers [microform] : part 2 and 3. (Yale University). WorldCat record id: 702690512

From the description of Papers of William and Helen Sunday, 1882-1974 (inclusive), 1888-1957 (bulk) [microform]. (Yale University). WorldCat record id: 702690355

William (Billy) Ashley Sunday was born November 19, 1962 in Ames, Iowa. His father died while serving in the Civil War. Unable to provide for her family, Billy's mother sent her sons to an orphanage. Sunday started playing professional baseball in 1883 with the Chicago White Stockings, and later played with Pittsburgh and Philadelphia clubs. He was converted about 1886 and became active in Bible studies as well as Sunday services. He married Helen Amelia ("Nell") Thompson on September 5, 1888, and they had four children. In 1891 Sunday began working full time for the Chicago YMCA in the Religious Department. Later Sunday spent three years assisting evangelist J. Wilbur Chapman in his meetings, until Chapman returned to the pastorate. Sunday began his own evangelistic crusade ministry in Garner, Iowa, in 1896. He was ordained in 1903 by the Chicago Presbytery. Sunday died of a heart attack on November 5, 1935.

From the description of Billy Sunday sermon notes, ca. 1927, 1968 (Dallas Theological Seminary). WorldCat record id: 65192434

Evangelist. Born William Ashley Sunday.

From the description of Collection compiled by William L. Daley relating to Billy Sunday, 1914-1925. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 71068591

In the early twentieth century Billy Sunday was one of the most popular evangelists in America. He preached revivals all over the country, reportedly converting over 300,000 people to Christianity over the course of his career. William Ashley Sunday was born in 1862 and grew up in Iowa. His baseball skills landed him a spot on the Chicago Whitestockings team in 1883. Billy's life changed dramatically in 1886 after meeting a group of evangelists from the Pacific Garden Mission and converting to Christianity. His religious convictions eventually led him to give up his baseball career and later to lead revivals across the country. Billy's wife Helen selected the cities where Billy would preach and arranged the details of the tours. Sunday moved to Winona Lake, Indiana, late in life. The peak years of his ministry were 1910-1920, but he continued to hold meetings until his death from a heart attack in 1935.

From the description of Collection, 1883-ca. 1935. (Indiana Historical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 55003549

William Ashley "Billy" Sunday came to Boulder, Colo., in the late summer of 1909 to hold 5 weeks of revival meetings, organized by A. L. Ward, pastor of the Christian Church and chairman of the local Evangelical Association. Volunteers built a 4,000 seat sand-floored wooden tabernacle at 13th and High streets, later site of Casey Jr. High. The Boulder Daily Camera covered the meetings extensively. 5,000 persons jammed the tabernacle Oct. 5 for Sunday's final appearance.

The number of conversions during the 1909 meetings was said to reach 1,471. The newspaper reported that Billy Sunday departed from Boulder in a procession of more than 6,000 people, led by the University of Colorado band. He "stood up in an automobile and shook hands with hundreds as they passed by in regular procession, while the throng again broke into inspiring hymns." [Source: article in Boulder Public Library newsletter, The Public Bridge, Spring 1990, by Janet Ross.].

Billy Sunday returned to Colorado for meetings in Denver in 1914, and returned to Boulder in 1925.

From the description of Billy Sunday meetings scrapbook 1909-1917. (Boulder Public Library). WorldCat record id: 427287646

Biographical Note

Sunday, Billy

  • 1862, Nov. 19: Born near Ames, Iowa
  • 1872: Sent by impoverished mother to orphanage in Glenwood, Iowa
  • 1880: Moved to Marshalltown, Iowa
  • 1883: Signed to play baseball by the Chicago White Stockings baseball club
  • 1886 - 1887 : Converted to Christianity and began attending the Presbyterian Church
  • 1888: Sold to the Pittsburgh Alleghenys baseball club Married Helen Amelia Thompson
  • 1890 - 1891 : Played for the Philadelphia Phillies before retiring from baseball
  • 1891: Became assistant secretary of the Chicago, Ill., YMCA
  • 1896 - 1935 : Conducted Christian evangelistic meetings throughout the country; credited with giving more than twenty thousand sermons to audiences totaling more than one hundred million people
  • 1903: Ordained by the Presbyterian Church
  • 1935, Nov. 6: Died, Chicago, Ill.

From the guide to the William L. Daley Collection Relating to Billy Sunday, 1914-1925, (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Clint O. Dumm (Photographer). Rev. William A. Sunday photograph, [undated]. Boulder Public Library
referencedIn Keller, Percy. Percy Keller papers, 1910-1917. New Jersey Historical Society Library
creatorOf Sunday, Billy, 1862-1935. Collection, 1883-ca. 1935. Indiana Historical Society Library
referencedIn Reed, Robert B., 1874-1960,. Collection, 1955-1960. North Dakota State University Library
creatorOf Glass, Carter, 1858-1946. Papers of Carter Glass [manuscript], 1858-1946, and n.d. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Quillen, Robert, 1887-1948. Papers, 1906-1976; (bulk 1906-1949). South Carolina Newspaper Project
creatorOf Sunday, Billy, 1862-1935. Photograph : of Billy Sunday, n.d. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Henry Wellington Stough collection, 1911-1939. Billy Graham Archive & Research Center
referencedIn Gregory, Lois Vashti. Papers of Lois Vashti Gregory, 1887, 1902-1961, n.d. Billy Graham Archive & Research Center
referencedIn Homer A. Rodeheaver collection, 1880-1955. Billy Graham Archive & Research Center
referencedIn Edwin Tangen (Boulder, Colo.),. Billy Sunday : "the world's greatest evangelist" photograph, 1909. Boulder Public Library
referencedIn First Free Baptist Church of Buffalo, N.Y. Records, 1850-1924. Buffalo History Museum, Research Library
referencedIn Adams, Annie Strawn, 1865-1940. Boulder events scrapbook 1899-1919. Boulder Public Library
referencedIn Biederwolf, William E. (William Edward), 1867-1939. Papers of William E. Biederwolf, 1884-1922. Billy Graham Archive & Research Center
creatorOf Sunday, Billy, 1862-1935. Billy Sunday meetings scrapbook 1909-1917. Boulder Public Library
referencedIn Thomas, Ruth Hatcher, 1901-. Oral history interview with Ruth Hatcher Thomas, 1985. Billy Graham Archive & Research Center
referencedIn Mitchell, Everett, 1898-. Oral history interview with Everett Mitchell, 1980. Billy Graham Archive & Research Center
referencedIn Office of the Messrs Rockefeller. General files. 1890-1961. Rockefeller Archive Center
referencedIn William Jennings Bryan Papers, 1877-1940, (bulk 1896-1925) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Ripley, Rick. Breaking up the fallow ground : the Providence revivals of Dwight L. Moody and Billy Sunday : typescript, 1975 / Rick Ripley. Rhode Island Historical Society
referencedIn Charlotte Evangelistic Campaigns Research Project (1982-1983). Records of Charlotte Evangelistic Campaigns Research Project, 1915-1983. Billy Graham Archive & Research Center
referencedIn Mordecai Fowler Ham collection, 1934, 1983. Billy Graham Archive & Research Center
referencedIn Griffith, Alice. Scrapbook, f 1893-1913. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
referencedIn Redd, F. Marion. Papers, 1882-1962. University of North Carolina, Charlotte, J. Murrey Atkins Library
creatorOf Scott, Charles F., b. 1860. Charles F. Scott papers, 1883-1938. Kansas State Historical Society
referencedIn Muntz, John Palmer, 1897-. Papers of J. Palmer Muntz, 1947-1977. Billy Graham Archive & Research Center
creatorOf Sunday, Billy, 1862-1935. Letter, 1920, Jan. 31, Norfolk, Va., to Dear Doctor. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
referencedIn Moody Memorial Church (Chicago, Ill.). Records of Moody Memorial Church, 1864-1987. Billy Graham Archive & Research Center
referencedIn Stough, Paul Pinney. Oral history interviews with Paul Pinney Stough, 1979-1980. Billy Graham Archive & Research Center
creatorOf Sunday, Billy, 1862-1935. Letters to Rev. W. D. Herrstrom. Mt. Carmel, IL., 1926-1927. University of Iowa Libraries
referencedIn Wyrtzen, Jack, 1913-. Papers of Jack Wyrtzen, 1991. Billy Graham Archive & Research Center
referencedIn Edwin Tangen (Boulder, Colo.),. Billy Sunday : parade in Denver, Colorado photograph, 1914. Boulder Public Library
creatorOf Sunday, Billy, 1862-1935. Photograph [manuscript] : of Billy Sunday, n.d. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Christgau, O. G. (Oscar Gottlieb), 1884-1978. Oscar Christgau papers, 1900-1978. Minnesota Historical Society Library
referencedIn Asher, Virginia Healey, 1869-1937. Papers of Virginia Healey Asher, 1903-1941. Billy Graham Archive & Research Center
referencedIn Merrill Dunlop collection, 1978-1988. Billy Graham Archive & Research Center
referencedIn Wiley, Guilford M. Papers, 1908-1954. La Crosse County Historical Society
referencedIn Edwin Tangen (Boulder, Colo.),. Billy Sunday : school children at the depot. Boulder Public Library
referencedIn Edwin Tangen (Boulder, Colo.),. Billy Sunday : reception on leaving Boulder photograph, 1909. Boulder Public Library
referencedIn George F. Johnson Papers, 1882-1956 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Wyzenbeek, Andrew. Oral history interview with Andrew Wyzenbeek, 1978. Billy Graham Archive & Research Center
referencedIn Miller, Ralph L., 1884-1961,. Collection, 1954-1961. North Dakota State University Library
referencedIn Wilson, Francis Sterling, 1894-. Letter, 1918 Jan. 7, Annapolis, Md., to Harold G. Rugg, Hanover, N.H. Dartmouth College Library
referencedIn Edwin Tangen (Boulder, Colo.),. Billy Sunday : farewell address photograph, 1909. Boulder Public Library
referencedIn Shore, Robert, 1828-1908. Robert Shore papers, 1872-1908, 1981. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
referencedIn William Jennings Bryan Papers, 1877-1940, (bulk 1896-1925) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Case, Edna. Oral history interview with Edna Case, 1981. Billy Graham Archive & Research Center
referencedIn William Bell Riley collection, 1903-1945. Billy Graham Archive & Research Center
creatorOf Sunday, Billy, 1862-1935. Papers of William and Helen Sunday, 1882-1974 (inclusive), 1888-1957 (bulk) [microform]. Yake University Divinity School Library
creatorOf Douglass, Esther W. Esther W. Douglass papers, 1864-1914. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Washington Street Mission. Records of Washington Street Mission, 1916-1982. Billy Graham Archive & Research Center
referencedIn [Player File. Sunday, William Ashley, 1883- / compiled by the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library, Cooperstown, N.Y.]. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
referencedIn Furlong, John R., 1855-1941. Printed materials 1896-1941. Boulder Public Library
referencedIn Douglass, Esther W. Papers. 1865-1915. Tulane University, Amistad Research Center
referencedIn Trotter, Melvin E. (Melvin Ernest), 1870-1940. Papers of Melvin E. Trotter, 1899-1972. Billy Graham Archive & Research Center
creatorOf Sunday, Billy, 1862-1935. Billy Sunday papers [microform] : part 2 and 3. Yake University Divinity School Library
referencedIn Williams, M. B. (Milan Bertrand). Ephemera of Milan Bertrand Williams, 1874, 1892-1941. Billy Graham Archive & Research Center
creatorOf Sunday, Billy, 1862-1935. Letters to Harry P. Harrison. 1910-1928. University of Iowa Libraries
referencedIn Moody, Dwight Lyman, 1837-1899. Dwight L. Moody papers, 1852-1965 (inclusive). Yake University Divinity School Library
referencedIn Bennard, George. Billy Sunday campaign music. The old time religion [sound recording]. Billy Graham Archive & Research Center
creatorOf Douglass, Esther W. Esther W. Douglass papers, 1864-1914. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Gray, Beulah B. (Beulah Brazelton), 1882-1964. Papers, 1813-1962. Indiana Historical Society Library
creatorOf William L. Daley Collection Relating to Billy Sunday, 1914-1925 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Christgau, Oscar Gottlieb. Oscar Gottlieb Christgau papers, 1908-1971. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Clint O. Dumm,. Dunlops photographs, 1925. Boulder Public Library
creatorOf Sunday, Billy, 1862-1935. Scrapbook, [ca. 1903]. Ohio History Connection, Ohio Historical Society
referencedIn Quillen, Robert, 1887-1948. Robert Quillen papers, 1904-1985; (bulk, 1906-1949) University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
referencedIn Edwin Tangen (Boulder, Colo.),. Billy Sunday and Harry Cooke shaking hands photograph, 1925. Boulder Public Library
referencedIn Armerding, Carl, 1889-1987. Papers of Carl Armerding, 1903-1987. Billy Graham Archive & Research Center
referencedIn Longino, Frances R. Oral history interview with Frances R. Longino, 1980. Billy Graham Archive & Research Center
referencedIn Gray family letters, 1909-1927 University of Iowa Libraries
referencedIn DeLong, Ira M., 1855-1942. DeLong papers 1867-1945 (bulk 1913-1945). Boulder Public Library
referencedIn Edwin Tangen (Boulder, Colo.),. Billy Sunday : leading parade in Denver, Colorado photograph, 1914. Boulder Public Library
creatorOf Sunday, Billy, 1862-1935. Letter to C. E. Backman. Corpus Christi, TX. 1929 Mar. 5. University of Iowa Libraries
referencedIn Edwin Tangen (Boulder, Colo.),. Billy Sunday : train pulling into depot photograph, 1909. Boulder Public Library
referencedIn Collins, William Ray, 1888-1981. Boulder (Colo.) history scrapbook. Boulder Public Library
referencedIn Huffman, John A., 1912-2004. Papers of John A. Huffman, 1934-1979, 1988, n.d. Billy Graham Archive & Research Center
referencedIn Ren H. Rice Papers, 1895-1955 Eastern Washington State Historical Society/Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture Joel E. Ferris Research Library and Archives
referencedIn Billy Sunday collection, 1908-1989. Billy Graham Archive & Research Center
referencedIn McCormick, Cyrus Hall, 1859-1936. Correspondence, 1870-1936. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Oliver, Margaret More. Margaret More Oliver scrapbook, 1913-1965. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Dwight L. Moody Papers, 1854-1968 Yake University Divinity School Library
creatorOf Sunday, Billy, 1862-1935. Billy Sunday sermon notes, ca. 1927, 1968 Dallas Theological Seminary, Turpin Library
referencedIn Edwin Tangen (Boulder, Colo.),. Billy Sunday : taking leave photograph, 1909. Boulder Public Library
referencedIn Todd Family Papers, 1862-1980, 1889-1980 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Sunday, Billy, 1862-1935. Letters to Redpath Bureau, Chicago. 1910-1914. University of Iowa Libraries
referencedIn Boulder Daily Camera. Focus Magazine 1977 January 16. Boulder Public Library
referencedIn King, Spencer Bidwell, 1904-1977. Spencer Bidwell King papers, [ca. 1917-1973]. Mercer University
referencedIn Oscar Gottlieb Christgau Papers, 1908-1971 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Crawford, Dan Duvall. Oral history interview with Dan Duvall Crawford, 2004. Billy Graham Archive & Research Center
referencedIn Boulder churches : general clippings and histories, [undated]. Boulder Public Library
referencedIn Perry, Bliss, 1860-1954. Papers of Bliss Perry [manuscript], 1896-1920. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Sunday, Billy, 1862-1935. Letter to H-U Coal Company [Syracuse, NY.] 1915 Dec. 9. University of Iowa Libraries
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Adams, Annie Strawn, 1865-1940. person
associatedWith Adriance, Jacob, 1835-1929. person
associatedWith Armerding, Carl, 1889-1987. person
associatedWith Asher, Virginia Healey, 1869-1937. person
associatedWith Backman, Carl E., d. 1973, person
associatedWith Biederwolf, William E. (William Edward), 1867-1939. person
associatedWith Billy Sunday Tabernacle (Boulder, Colo.) corporateBody
associatedWith Boulder Daily Camera. corporateBody
correspondedWith Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925. person
associatedWith Case, Edna. person
associatedWith Charlotte Evangelistic Campaigns Research Project (1982-1983) corporateBody
associatedWith Chicago Whitestockings (Baseball team) corporateBody
associatedWith Christgau, Oscar Gottlieb. person
associatedWith Christgau, Oscar Gottlieb. person
associatedWith Clint O. Dumm (Photographer) corporateBody
associatedWith Collins, William Ray, 1888-1981. person
associatedWith Crawford, Dan Duvall. person
associatedWith Daley, William L. person
associatedWith Daley, William L. William L. Daley collection relating to Billy Sunday. 1914-1925 person
associatedWith DeLong, Ira M., 1855-1942. person
associatedWith Douglass, Esther W. person
associatedWith First Free Baptist Church of Buffalo, N.Y. corporateBody
associatedWith Furlong, John R., 1855-1941. person
associatedWith Gill, Albert P. person
associatedWith Glass, Carter, 1858-1946. person
associatedWith Gray, Beulah B. (Beulah Brazelton), 1882-1964. person
associatedWith Gregory, Lois Vashti. person
associatedWith Griffith, Alice. person
associatedWith Harrison, Harry P., 1878- , person
associatedWith Herrstrom, W. D. (William Dewey), 1898-, person
associatedWith H-U Coal Company, corporateBody
associatedWith Huffman, John A., 1912-2004. person
associatedWith Johnson, George F., 1857-1948 person
associatedWith Keller, Percy. person
associatedWith King, Spencer Bidwell, 1904-1977. person
associatedWith Longino, Frances R. person
associatedWith McCormick, Cyrus Hall, 1859-1936. person
associatedWith Miller, Ralph L., 1884-1961, person
associatedWith Mitchell, Everett, 1898- person
associatedWith Moody, Dwight Lyman, 1837-1899. person
associatedWith Moody Memorial Church (Chicago, Ill.) corporateBody
associatedWith Muntz, John Palmer, 1897- person
associatedWith Office of the Messrs Rockefeller. corporateBody
associatedWith Oliver, Margaret More. person
associatedWith Perry, Bliss, 1860-1954. person
associatedWith Quillen, Robert, 1887-1948. person
associatedWith Redd, F. Marion. person
associatedWith Redpath Lyceum Bureau. corporateBody
associatedWith Reed, Robert B., 1874-1960, person
associatedWith Rice, Ren H., 1872-1957 person
associatedWith Ripley, Rick. person
associatedWith Scott, Charles F., b. 1860. person
associatedWith Shore, Robert, 1828-1908. person
associatedWith Stough, Paul Pinney. person
associatedWith Sunday, Helen Amelia Thompson, 1868-1957. person
associatedWith Thomas, Ruth Hatcher, 1901- person
associatedWith Todd Family family
associatedWith Trotter, Melvin E. (Melvin Ernest), 1870-1940. person
associatedWith Ward, A. L. person
associatedWith Washington Street Mission. corporateBody
associatedWith Wiley, Guilford M. person
associatedWith Williams, M. B. (Milan Bertrand) person
associatedWith Wilson, Francis Sterling, 1894- person
associatedWith Wyrtzen, Jack, 1913- person
associatedWith Wyzenbeek, Andrew. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Colorado--Denver
Maryland--Baltimore
13th Street and High Street (Boulder, Colo.)
New York (State)--Syracuse
New York (State)--Buffalo
Boulder (Colo.)
Colorado
United States
New Jersey--Trenton
United States
Illinois--Chicago
Colorado--Boulder
United States
Subject
Baseball players
Baseball players
Church buildings
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Evangelistic sermons
Evangelists
Evangelists
Evangelists
Evangelists
Preaching
Revivals
Revivals
Revivals
Revivals
Revivals
Revivals
Revivals
Sermons, American
Temperance and religion
Occupation
Evangelist
Activity

Person

Birth 1862-11-19

Death 1935-11-06

English

Information

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