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Emerson Bicentennial Project

UUHS Joins Emerson Bicentennial Project Ralph Waldo Emerson was born on May 25, 1803, and in 2000 the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) board of directors formed a planning group to organize a variety of programs, events, and celebrations to honor the life of the renowned minister, lecturer, writer, and public citizen whose legacy to American culture is unparalleled. As the most recognized and revered figure in the Unitarian movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson continues to attract many to our congregations. Yet his years serving as a Unitarian minister are not well known to most people, even to many Emerson devotees.

The UUA believes, according to the Emerson Bicentennial Committee’s planning document, that “the bicentennial of Emerson’s birth provides a valuable opportunity for us to recognize and celebrate Emerson’s contribution to Unitarian Universalism and to call attention to the growing body of recent scholarship that has led to a greater understanding and appreciation of his influence in American thought and religion.”     

At its October, 2001, board meeting, the UUHS board voted to fund a small traveling exhibit entitled “Emerson as Unitarian” that opened in March, 2003 at the First and Second Church in Boston with a special reception hosted by the UUHS. Emerson scholars David Robinson and Wesley Mott made presentations on Emerson’s ministry and influence on UU history and theology at the reception, and a commemorative anthem was sung for the first time by the congregation’s choir.    

The exhibit, designed by Bonnie Hurd Smith, was installed during the spring months of 2003 at 25 Beacon Street (UUA headquarters), when hundreds of young UUs visit Boston each year. From there, it travels upon request.   Other plans for the Emerson Bicentennial included:

• exhibits at The Emerson Society in Concord, Houghton Library at Harvard University, the Massachusetts Historical Society in Boston, and the Concord Free Public Library;
• youth-oriented educational materials to accompany the UUHS-funded exhibit that were developed by Betsy Williams, Director of Religious Education for the Church of the Larger Fellowship and editor of the magazine UU&Me;
• adult education programming;
• worship resources packets for ministers (hymns, readings, opening and closing words, sermon materials, and bibliographies);
• a workshop and forum on Emerson’s enduring legacy during ministers’ Professional Days prior to 2003 General Assembly (GA) led by Emerson biographer Robert D. Richardson (note: GA 2003 was held in Boston);
• a major lecture at GA 2003;
• a post-GA conference in Concord, MA, including presentations by Emerson scholar Rev. Barry Andrews and Concord historian Jayne Gordon.

In addition, the UUA published articles and announcements in its member magazine, UU World, and the UUHS devoted our entire 2003 issue of the Journal to essays and research notes about Emerson.

For more information about the Emerson Bicentennial, contact Rev. Barry Andrews at RevBMA@aol.com .      

Please send comments or corrections to psprecher@uuma.org . This site was updated April 16, 2008.