Bangor Theological Seminary Collection
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Bangor Theological Seminary Collection A Finding Aid to the Collection in the Maine Historical Society The Brown Research Library, Maine Historical Society Portland, Maine 2016 Prepared by Patrick Ford, with the assistance of Laurie McQuarrie, Henry Caiazzo, Happy Copley, and Arielle Tselikis Contact information: https://www.mainehistory.org/about_contact.shtml Maine Historical Society | Coll. 2770 | Bangor Theological Seminary Collection, 1798-2013 Table of Contents Descriptive Summary…………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………….…….……3 Administrative History Note………….…………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….……3 Timeline……………………………………………………….……………………………………………………………………………………..………….4 Scope and Contents of the Collection……………….………………………………………………………………….…………….…………..6 System of Arrangement………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…….…………..7 Access Note………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….……………..7 Intellectual Property Rights……………………………………………………………………………………………………….………….………..8 Related Materials……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………….……….8 Selected Search Terms……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………….……….8 Series Arrangement…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….……….10 Series, Subseries, and Subgroup Descriptions…………………………………………………………………………….……….………..23 Inventory…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………….33 Series 1: Founding Documents………………………………………………………………………………………………..........….…………33 Series 2: Trustees…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….………..33 Series 3: Administration………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….…………43 Series 4: Students………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….87 Series 5: Faculty…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….91 Series 6: Library…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….…………103 Series 7: General……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………….105 Series 8: Community Life…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….…………..118 Series 9: Literary Productions…………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….…………121 Series 10: Printed Matter…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….………….169 Series 11: Scrapbooks……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….………….178 Series 12: Photographs……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….…………..180 Series 13: A/V Materials…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….………210 Subgroup 1: General Theological Library………………………………………………………………………………….……….………..226 Subgroup 2: The Interseminary Commission for Training for the Rural Ministry………………………………..……….226 Subgroup 3: Maine Congregational Charitable Society……………………………………………………………………….………226 Subgroup 4: Missionary Files of Non-BTS Affiliates………………………………………………………………………….…………227 Subgroup 5: Subject Files……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….…227 2 Maine Historical Society | Coll. 2770 | Bangor Theological Seminary Collection, 1798-2013 Guide to the Bangor Theological Seminary Collection, 1798-2013 Descriptive Summary Repository: Maine Historical Society, John Marshall and Alida Carroll Brown Research Library Title: Bangor Theological Seminary Collection Creator: Bangor Theological Seminary Date [inclusive]: 1798-2013 Extent: 314.75 linear feet Location: Materials are stored off-site. Advanced notice is required for use. Collection number: 2770 Accession number: 2013.275 Preferred citation: Bangor Theological Seminary Collection, Box #, Folder #, Maine Historical Society, Portland, Maine. Administrative History Note The Bangor Theological Seminary was a private, independent, non-profit religious institution chartered in 1814—6 years prior to Maine statehood—as the Maine Charity School, that closed its doors after its final commencement in June 2013. Under Congregational auspices, the seminary was ecumenical since its inception and was an official Open and Affirming institution. Before its closure it was the third oldest seminary in the country and the only accredited graduate school of religion in Northern New England. BTS granted degrees including Bachelor of Divinity (B.Div.), Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.), Master of Arts (M.A.), and Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.). BTS affiliates include Jonathan Fisher, Kiah Bayley, John Sawyer, Joshua L. Chamberlain, Cyrus Hamlin, Warren Moulton, Samuel C. Fessenden, Elias Bond, Daniel Dole, Samuel Harris, John Smith Sewall, Charles J.H. Ropes, Enoch Pond, Calvin M. Clark, Francis B. Denio, Arthur C. McGiffert, Burton Throckmorton, David Trobisch, Susan E. Davies, and Marvin M. Ellison. The seeds of the Seminary were planted in 1811 when members of the Society for Theological Education—most notably founding trustees Kiah Bayley, John Sawyer, and Jotham Sewall—set out to establish a school, “to procure for pious young men a collegiate education in order that they may be prepared for the Gospel ministry.”1 The charter for the school was granted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1814, classes began at Hampden in October 1916, the campus moved to Bangor in 1819, and the first class graduated in 1820. Many graduates would go on to serve congregations throughout New England, and the school also became a launching pad for missionaries worldwide, who enlightened people in places such as Turkey, Africa, India, China, Hawaii, and Micronesia. Student groups such as the Society for Missionary Inquiry were active from the 1830s through the late 19th Century, and the Seminary collected publications from missionary organizations through the 1980s. 1 Calvin M. Clark, History of Bangor Theological Seminary (Boston: The Pilgrim Press, 1916), 18. 3 Maine Historical Society | Coll. 2770 | Bangor Theological Seminary Collection, 1798-2013 Though many entered BTS with a degree under their belts, the Seminary was perhaps most notable for providing—as its founders had hoped—an opportunity for those who otherwise lacked a formal education, a chance to study the ministry. The Bangor Plan, which began in 1938, escalated this strategy, especially for veterans coming home from World War II. As part of the Bangor Plan, a student could study for two years in the liberal studies program, enter the M.Div. program, and once that was completed, work as a minister while completing the undergraduate degree. It was also known as the “two plus three plus two plan.” In 1980, 60% of BTS students were on the Bangor Plan. In the 1990s, the Bangor Plan began to decline because the Association of Theological Schools started allowing any theology school to let 10% of their students to begin M.Div. studies without Bachelors’ degrees (this rose to 15% by 2012). The Bangor Plan was suspended in 2006. BTS became a hub for progressive theology by the 2000s, and its annual Convocation and lecture series continued to attract top tier theologians and scholars throughout its existence. The suspension of the Bangor Plan and a declining enrollment were just two of many reasons that the Seminary decided to close its doors in 2013. However, BTS lives on as the BTS Center, a charitable organization “that equips and supports faith leaders for theologically grounded, effective leadership in 21st Century communities of faith and practice.”2 Timeline 1811, July 27: Society for Theological Education organized 1812, Feb. 27: Society for Theological Education incorporated 1814, Feb. 25: Charter for Maine Charity School granted by Commonwealth of Massachusetts, chartered by the Great and General Court of Massachusetts 1816, Oct.: Seminary opens at Hampden, Maine 1819: Move to Bangor onto land donated by Isaac Davenport 1820, March 15: Maine becomes a state 1820, Aug. 2: First class graduates 1821: 131 Congregational churches in the state of Maine Circa 1823: The name “Maine Charity School” falls out of common usage (though still used for legal purposes), and Bangor Theological Seminary becomes unofficial name of school 1824: The first building, the original Chapel, is built in Bangor, on the south side of Hammond Street, later site of the Hannibal Hamlin House, burned 1829 1827-1828: Old Commons House (331-341 Hammond Street) built; Architect: Nathan 1829, March: Original Chapel burns 1833-1834: Maine Hall (288 Union Street) built; Architect: Charles H. Pond 1836: New Commons built; Architect: Charles G. Bryant 1856: Harris House (306-308 Union Street) built 1857-1882: The Rev. Enoch Pond President of BTS 1858-1859: Chapel built; Architect: William Morse 1870: Semi-Centennial Celebrated 1882, Jan. 21: Enoch Pond dies 1882-1903: President’s office “in abeyance” 1887: Official name change to Bangor Theological Seminary 2 “About: The BTS Center,” The BTS Center, accessed June 3, 2016, http://www.thebtscenter.org/about/. 4 Maine Historical Society | Coll. 2770 | Bangor Theological Seminary Collection, 1798-2013 1893: Denio House (347-349 Hammond Street) built; Architect: Wilfred Mansur 1895: 75th Anniversary 1895: Gymnasium (later Wellman Commons) built; Architect: Wilfred Mansur 1903-1921: The Rev. David N. Beach President of BTS 1905: Officially authorized to award Degree of Divinity 1905: Convocation Week Established 1907: Lenora Hawkes Jones—the first woman to attend BTS—graduates 1908: Martin House (353 Hammond Street) built 1911: Great Fire of Bangor (BTS unaffected) 1912, Fall: Electric lights introduced in Maine Hall, and central heating plant installed 1912-1913: Warren Moulton in Palestine as head of the American School of Oriental Research 1916, Oct. 15-18: Centennial Celebration 1917, Jan.: Former President Taft speaks at BTS’s 12th Annual Convocation