BRETHREN HISTORICAL LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES
Title: Rev. H. Austin Cooper Collection
Series: 18/
Boxes: 4 record center cartons, 3 regular Hollinger boxes
History:
Herbert Austin Cooper was born April 20, 1911, in Brunswick, MD, to Herbert E. and Lillie Mae Orrison Cooper. He was married to Virginia A. Younkins Cooper, and had two sons, Lynn A. Cooper and Larry C. Cooper.
He graduated valedictorian from Brunswick High School in Brunswick, MD. Cooper earned a bachelor’s of sacred literature from Bethany Biblical Seminary, Chicago, IL, and a bachelor’s from Bridgewater College. He conducted his post-graduate studies at the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago and Northwestern University.
During his long and distinguished career, Rev. Cooper was pastor of the Hastings Church of the Brethren, Chicago, IL; Stoney Creek Church of the Brethren in OH; Pleasantview and the Sharpsburg Churches of the Brethren in MD; Brothersvalley Church of the Brethren, Brotherton, PA.; Salem Church of the Brethren and Reiman Church of the Brethren, both of Sommerset, PA; Barren Ridge Church of the Brethren, Staunton, VA; Pipe Creek Church of the Brethren, New Windsor, MD; Bush Creek Church of the Brethren, Monrovia, MD; and returned again to Pleasantview Church of the Brethren, Burkittsville, MD, from where he retired.
He was a founding member of Camp Woodbrook, near Mount Airy, and Camp Peniel, Thurmont, both in Maryland, and served as camp director for Camp Harmony at Johnstown, PA; and Camp Bethel, near Natural Chimney, VA, for many years.
Cooper was a member of Frederick (MD) Church of the Brethren and served as secretary of the three districts of the Eastern, Middle and Mid-Atlantic Regions of the Church of the Brethren, and for many years, conducted evangelist services for the Church of the Brethren at large. He served 11 years as chairman for the General Historical Society committee for the Church of the Brethren, Elgin, IL. Cooper helped to organize the reconstruction of Antietam’s Dunker Church in 1962, and also assisted with the Sharpsburg-Antietam Observance of the Battles of South Mountain and Antietam during the 1960s.
H. Austin Cooper was on the Western District Historical Committee, which penned Two Centuries of the Church of the Brethren in Western Pennsylvania, 1751-1950. On his own he wrote four books: The Church of the Singing Hills: A History of the Locust Grove Church of the Brethren, at Linganore Creek, Mt. Airy, Maryland, 1760-1988; Two centuries of Brothersvalley Church of the Brethren, 1762-1962: An Account of the Old Colonial Church, the Stony Creek German Baptist Church; The Church in the Valley: Brownsville Church of the Brethren, 1760-1993, Brownsville Heights, Maryland; A Pleasant View: Pleasant View Church of the Brethren, Burkittsville, Maryland.
Rev. H. Austin Cooper passed away on Jan. 22, 1999, at the age of 87. At the time of his death he was a resident at College View Nursing Center, Frederick, MD.
Description of the Records: Research on the history of the Brethren and related topics and localities, and a collection of books of varying topics and dates.
Provenance: Larry C. Cooper (son of Rev. Cooper), of Landenberg, PA, donated these materials to BHLA on April 23, 2011.
Restrictions: All original research in the collection was done by the late Rev. H. Austin Cooper.
Separations: Books relevant to the Church of the Brethren will be added to the library, or sold if two copies are already present in the library. Non-relevant books were discarded.
Processors: Terry Barkley and Virginia Harness
Container List:
Box 1 Folder 1 Ephrata and Snow Hill Cloisters (PA)
2 “Beginnings of the Menno. Church in Mid. and E. MD” by H. A. Cooper
3 Photographs: Churches of the Brethren in Maryland and Pennsylvania
4 Images: Defunct Brethren Congregations in Maryland and Pennsylvania
5 Early Brethren History to 1860
6 “The Importance of Youth in the Early Church” by H. Austin Cooper
7 The Brethren and the Outbreak of the Civil War
8 Brethren Doctrines and Practices during the Civil War
9 “A Brief Outline of the History of the CoB” by H. A. Cooper
10 “A House Divided” by H. Austin Cooper
11 The Church of the Brethren in Maryland
12 History of the Brethren in Frederick County, Maryland
13 The Brethren in Frederick Country, Maryland
14 The Brethren in Washington County, Maryland
15 The Brethren in Hagerstown – Washington County, Maryland
16 Map of Washington County, Maryland (Civil War Sites)
17 Maryland Civil War Newspaper Clippings
18 “The Invasion of Maryland” (Antietam Dunker Church) by H. A. Cooper
19 Images: Lee’s Invasion of Maryland, 1862 (Harper’s Ferry – Antietam)
20 Lee’s 1862 Invasion of Maryland
21 “A Brief Resume of the Battle of South Mountain” by H. A. Cooper
22 Battles of South Mountain and Crampton’s Gap
23 The Mumma Church, Sharpsburg, MD (Dunker Church of Antietam)
24 “Thunder on the Mountain or Antietam Dunker Church” by H. A. Cooper
25 Dunker Church Images: Carlisle Barracks (PA) and the Library of Congress
26 Photographs/Images: Dunker Church of Antietam Battlefield (MD)
27 Photographs: Dunker Church and Antietam Battlefield, Sharpsburg, MD
28 Images: Dunker Church, Dunker Church Bible
29 “Stonewall Jackson’s Map, 1862” - Found: Piper Barn, September 19, 1862
30 The Dunker Church of Antietam Battlefield, 1862-1863
31 “Antietam Dunkard Church, 1851-1923”
32 Misc. Articles: Dunker Church of Antietam Battlefield
33 Misc. Papers: Dunker Church of Antietam Battlefield
34 “Antietam Dunkard Church” by H. Austin Cooper
35 “By Antietam Creek” by David Biles
36 The Battle of Antietam, Sharpsburg, MD, Sept. 17, 1862
37 Burning of the Samuel Mumma Buildings, Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862
38 Capt. John A. Tompkins, Co. A, 1st RI Artillery, Antietam
39 Capt. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (wounded at Antietam, 9/17/1862)
40 Pvt. Thomas J. Sanders, Co. H, 17th MS Inf. (wounded at Antietam)
41 Maj. Frank Holsinger (1836-1916) – “Woodbury Kid”
42 Chaplain Richard Eddy, 60th Regiment, NY Volunteers
43 Mrs. George B. McClellan – Garret House, Pleasant Valley, MD, Oct. 1862
44 Daniel Miller House/Meetinghouse (Brethren), Antietam Battlefield
45 Henry Neikirk House, Antietam Battlefield
46 Samuel Poffenberger House, Antietam Battlefield
47 Antietam Battlefield Hospitals
48 Pipe Creek Church, September 19, 1862 (Elder D.P. Snyder)
49 Abraham Lincoln’s visit to Antietam Battlefield, Oct. 1862
50 Lincoln’s Antietam Battlefield visit, Oct. 1862
51 Abraham Lincoln’s Virginia Ancestors
52 “Was Lincoln a Dunker?” by Floyd Mallott
53 The Lincoln Library and Museum, Fort Wayne, IN
54 John Lewis, Mark Twain, and the Antietam Dunker Church Bible
55 President William McKinley’s visit to Antietam Battlefield, c. 1900
56 Antietam National Cemetery and Monuments
57 “Report on the Old Dunker Church…at Antietam Natl. Battlefield…” 1951
58 Mumma Dunker Church Restoration, 1961-1962
59 Dunker Church of Antietam Battlefield Restoration Project, c. 1951-1964
60 The Dunker Church: NPS Historic Structure Report, Part 1
61 Dedication of the Reconstructed Dunker Church, Sept. 2, 1962
62 Memorial Day Ceremonies, Antietam Natl. Cemetery, May 27, 1974
63 Dunker Church Commemorative Worship Services, c. 1971-1984
64 The Battle of Piedmont Virginia, June 5, 1964
Box 2 Folder 1 Photographs: Misc. Maryland and Pennsylvania scenes
2 Photographs/Images: Miscellaneous
3 “An Historical Sketch of the State of MD, 1632-1741” by H.A. Cooper
4 350th Anniversary of Maryland
5 “Our Earliest Roads” by H.A. Cooper
6 Items taken from a 1776 Bible
7 “Elder George Adam Martin-Frontier Preacher” by H.A. Cooper
8 “Important Frontier Migrations from Frederick Co., MD” H.A. Cooper
9 “The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal” by H.A. Cooper
10 Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (Smithsonian Institution)
11 Washington County – Hagerstown, MD
12 “Erection of Frederick County, MD” by H.A. Cooper
13 Post Offices of Frederick Co., MD, for 1887
14 Maps: Frederick, MD (2), and the State of Maryland
15 Frederick, Maryland
16 Stone Barracks, Frederick, Maryland
17 The Reconstruction of Fort Frederick, Washington Co., Maryland
18 Bedford and Somerset Court Records (PA), 1782-1818
19 Somerset County, PA (Kentucky migration, etc.)
20 Iowa migrations from Orange Township, Somerset Co., PA, c. 1855-1908
21 “Laurel Messenger” (Historical and Genealogical Soc. of Somerset Co., PA)
22 “The Town of Brunswick” by Carroll Ayres
23 “A Chron. Hist. of Berlin-Brunswick, MD” by R.G. Barger & H.A. Cooper
24 History of Brunswick, Maryland
25 History of Brunswick, Maryland: various H.A. Cooper writings
26 “A Brief History of Berlin – Brunswick, MD, 1634-1976” by H.A. Cooper
27 Old Methodist Church, Brunswick, MD (First United Methodist Church)
28 “The Berlin Ferry” by H.A. Cooper
29 Dedication Ceremonies: Brunswick Bridge, July 30, 1955
30 History of Boy Scouting in Brunswick, MD
31 Auction: Wm. L. Gross, Gen. Merch./Gross Bros., Brunswick, MD, 1987
32 Brunswick, MD – Commission on History and Distinguished Citizens
33 Distinguished Citizens of Brunswick, MD, 1981, 1983
34 Burkittsville, MD: Historic Documents
35 Burkittsville, MD – 1839 Court Docket
36 Western Pennsylvania Surveys
37 Kentucky Petition, 1780
38 Migrations – Maryland, Virginia and Kentucky
39 Hancock Historical Society, Hancock, Maryland
40 140th Anniv., Keedysville Charge, Church of the UBC, 1780-1920
41 Salem United Methodist Church, Keedysville, Maryland
42 “Historical Sketch: People and Geography, Lovettsville, VA” - H.A. Cooper
43 St. James Reformed Church, Lovettsville, Virginia
44 Evangelical Lutheran Church Zion, Middletown, Maryland
45 Trinity Lutheran Church, Knoxville, MD
46 “A Brief Hist. Sketch of Knoxville Trinity Luth. Church” by H.A. Cooper
47 “The 47 Charter Members of the Wolfsville Lutheran Church”
48 The Rip Raps at Solomon’s Gap
49 Arnold Family (Samuel)
50 Arnold Family: John George and Daniel Arnold
51 Cable Family (Abraham, Benjamin and Joseph)
52 Carter and Holder Families: Isaac Carter, Jr., and Mary Ann Holder
53 Dick-Faw-Lowe Families
54 “A Farmer’s Answered Prayer” (Roger M. Geisbert) by Paul G. Geisbert
55 Harshbarger Family (Jacob and Maria Eva)
56 Hunsacker Family
57 Kimmel, Philip
58 Knepper Family
59 Lehman, Christian and Elizabeth Venda
60 Miller Family (Peter)
61 Newcomer-Weber Families
62 Peterman, Fred (Sharpsburg, MD)
63 Rhoads (Rhoades), Daniel and Henry
64 Rhoades Family: Henry Rhoades Bible, 1763
65 Rhoades, Joseph & Family (files of Wilma Hetrick Koelling)
66 “A History of the Sayler Family” by James Lanning Sayler
67 Rinehart, William Henry (Maryland sculptor)
68 Roth, Henry, Sr. and Jr.
69 Smith, Conrad (Smith Family)
70 Suman, Peter B., Trial and Execution, 1781
Box 3 Folder 1 Personal Items: H. Austin Cooper
2 Personal Correspondence, c. 1964-1995
3 Bible Lands Tour (H. Austin Cooper and Virginia Cooper), 1977
4 Scouters Training Camp, Laurel Hill State Park, PA
5 Congregational obituaries – Rev. H.A. Cooper
6 “Brethren History Lives in My Heart” by H.A. Cooper
7 Brethren Historical Committee (1)
8 Brethren Historical Committee (2)
9 “A Brief Outline of the History of the CoB,” 1959, by H.A. Cooper
10 Beginnings of the Church of the Brethren – H.A. Cooper
11 “A Roving Reporter Writes about Hist. of the CoB”-Susan K. Thomas, 1955
12 Excerpts of Brethren History compiled by H. Austin Cooper
13 Rev. Cooper, Chp. preacher, Fahrney-Keedy Home, Boonsboro, MD, 1984
14 Church hist. class - H.A. Cooper, New Windsor, MD, BVS Summer Unit
15 Church Choral Music
16 “Does the Bible Sanction War?” by M. Guy West (img. H.A. Cooper), 1958
17 German hymns and choruses (Herrite Meeting House)
18 “Below the Mason-Dixon Line” by H.A. Cooper
19 Photograph: Chorus pres., Blue Rdg. College, New Windsor, MD, 1924
20 The Gospel Visitor fragments, c. 1862-1865
21 Mural History of the CoB, Camp Alexander Mack, Milford, IN
22 The Kentucky Churches (Brethren)
23 Barren Ridge CoB, Rt. 3, Staunton, VA
24 “A Century of Light and Life,” Barren Ridge CoB, VA, 1865-1965
25 Beaver Creek CoB, MD – materials by H.A. Cooper
26 Beaver Dam CoB, Frederick Co., MD
27 Beaver Run CoB, oldest Brethren church in WV
28 Broad Run CoB, MD, earliest list of members, 1776
29 Brothersvalley CoB, Berlin, PA
30 “A History of the Brothersvalley CoB” by H.A. Cooper, 1951
31 “Two Centuries of Brothersvalley” by H.A. Cooper (partial & related writ.)
32 Images: Two Centuries of Brothersvalley CoB, 1762-1962, by H.A. Cooper
33 Brethren ministers and elders, Brothersvalley, 1762-1962
34 Brownsville CoB, MD (1)
35 Brownsville CoB, MD (2)
36 Brownsville CoB, MD (3)
37 Church programs, Brownsville CoB (MD), c. 1920s
38 Member lists: Brownsville, Broad Run, and Pleasant View CoB, 1879-1896
39 Congregational lists: Brownsville, Broad Run and Pleasant View CoB
40 Chapters from The Church of the Singing Hills, Part 1, by H.A. Cooper
41 Chapters from The Church of the Singing Hills, Part 2, by H.A. Cooper
42 “Church of the Singing Hills” by H.A. Cooper, newspaper article, 1989
43 Bush Creek CoB: Plans for 150th Anniversary (1992)
44 The Glades Meetinghouse (Brethren)
45 Grove Church (Brethren), 1860
46 Kimmel Church (Stony Creek), summer of 1858 (Brethren)
47 Longmeadow CoB, Hagerstown, MD (1)
48 Longmeadow CoB, Hagerstown, MD (2)
49 “Manor CoB – Historical Sketch” by H.A. Cooper
50 Meadow Branch CoB, Westminster, MD
51 “The Middle River Congregation” (CoB) by John S. Flory (VA)
52 Monocacy Congregation (MD) Council Meeting Books, 1862-1865, 1880s
53 Monocacy Congregation (MD) Council Meeting Book, 1882-1883
54 Piney Creek CoB, Taneytown, MD, 1989
55 Conclusion of the Great Meeting at Pipe Creek (MD), May 25-26, 1787
56 Germ. Bapt. Brethren Annual Meeting, Pipe Creek (MD), June 11-13, 1867
57 Maps of Pleasant Valley – Rohrersville, MD
58 Images: Pleasant View CoB (Rev. John Bowlus/Guyton Family)
59 Pleasant View CoB, Burkittsville, MD
60 Pleasant View CoB Homecoming, November 13-14, 1993
61 Pricetown Meeting House (1777), oldest unaltered CoB in America
62 Stone Bridge CoB (100th Anniversary, Sept. 12, 1971)
Box 4 Item 1 Calendars, diaries and “The Brethren Reminder” – H.A. Cooper, c. 1944-85
2 Small New Testament belonging to Rev. Cooper, 1922
Box 5 Folder 1 Brethren almanacs and magazines
2 Civil War – related publications
3 Maryland – Antietam Battlefield booklets
4 Prather, Benjamin F., Co. K, 16th Reg., GA Volunteers, CSA (d. 10/9/1862)
5 “Illustrated Atlas of Washington Co., Maryland” (1877), photocopy excerpts
Box 6 Item 1 Unidentified group photograph, camp scene, c. 1930s or 1940s
2 Gathland St. Park, 1926: Vesper Service-Rev. H. Erdman, Burkittsville, MD
3 Unidentified CoB AC group photo, c. 1920s or 1930s (Hershey Park, PA?)
4 Unidentified CoB Annual Conf. group photograph, n.d., c. 1930s
5 CoB Annual Conf. group photo, N. Manchester, IN, June 12-19, 1926
6 J. Miller Ledger, c.1851-61, Antiet. Crk., Boonsboro-Williamsport Rd., MD
Box 7 Item 1 Pleasant View CoB Minutes/Records (Burkittsville, MD)
2 “Death Book”, Sharpsburg, MD (1831-1901) – Fred Peterman
3 “Daily Register of P.S. 13, 3rd Dist., Frederick Co., MD,” c. 1864-1868
4 “A History of Flat Rock CoB” by Jacob David Wine (1962)
5 “A Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs…,” BPH 1898
6 “A Coll. of Psalms, Hymns…,” James Quinter, Covington, OH, 1869
7 W. G. Schroek’s Diary, 1877 (purchased at Meyers Dale)
8 Personal diary/journal of Rev. H.A. Cooper, R.F.D. 2, Berlin, PA c. 1960-68
9 “Minister’s Manual,” Brethren Publishing House, Elgin, IL, 1946
10 “Berlin, PA, 1837-1937,” Centen. Gen. Comm., July 1937, Souvenir Book
11 “A Textbook History of Frederick Co.” by Paul P. & Rita S. Gordon
12 “Brunswick Diamond Jubilee Celeb., 1890-1965,” Brunswick, MD (1965)
13 “The History of Brunswick, 1834-1982” by Ricky Heffner, c. 1982
14 “Brunswick: 100 Years of Memories,” Brunswick Hist. Commission, 1990
15 Bush Crk.-Pleasant Hill CoB, Monrovia, MD-Record 12/3/1855-11/19/1892