A Guide to the Papers of Albert Cook Outler A Guide to the Papers of Albert Cook Outler By Colleen Bradley-Sanders and Timothy S. G. Binkley Center for Methodist Studies at Bridwell Library Frontispiece: Portrait of Albert Outler by Bruce A. Sayre, 1974. Copyright © 2014 Bridwell Library, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University All rights reserved. ISBN 0-941881-40-7 Contents List of Illustrations 7 Foreword 9 Introduction 11 Overview 13 Biographical Note 13 Scope and Contents of the Collection 17 Arrangement of the Collection 17 Restrictions 18 Access Terms 19 Related Material 19 Separated Material 20 Administrative Information 20 Detailed Description of the Collection 23 Series 1: Teaching, 1938–1984 23 Series 2: Ecclesiastic, circa 1927–1989 25 Series 3: The Scholarly Enterprise, 1927–1989 47 Series 4: Extra–mural Involvements, 1939–1989 87 Series 5: Perkins School of Theology and Southern Methodist University, 1951–1988 95 Series 6: Correspondence, 1931–1989 101 Series 7: Personal, Biographical, and Family Materials, 1923–1995 130 Series 8: Photographs, 1915–1988 139 Series 9: Audio-visual Materials, circa 1950–1996 143 Processing Archivist Colleen Bradley-Sanders labelling the first box of Albert Cook Outler papers, November 2014. Illustrations 1. Frontispiece: Portrait of Albert Outler by Bruce A. Sayre, 1974. 2 2. Processing Archivist Colleen Bradley-Sanders labelling the first box of Albert Cook Outler papers, November 2014. 6 3. Albert Outler, circa 1940s. 8 4. Carla and Albert Outler at Thanks-Giving Square, Dallas, Texas, circa 1976. 16 5. Albert Outler with students at Southern Methodist University, 1970s. 21 6. Study plan and lecture notes, Duke University, 1939. 22 7. Local preacher’s license, Macon District, South Georgia Annual Conference, 1927. 25 8. Manuscript draft of sermon “Visions and Dreams: The Unfinished Business of an Unfinished Church,” April 23, 1968. 36 9. Fourth World Conference on Faith and Order address, “From Disputation to Dialogue,” July 13, 1963. 42 10. “Professor Outler’s John Wesley Launches A Library of Protestant Thought Series,” Perkins Perspective, June 1964. 82 11. Members of the Wesley Works Editorial Project team meeting at Perkins School of Theology, March 21, 1972. 83 12. Vatican II credentials, 1962. 90 13. Trialogue on “The Death of God” seminar pamphlet, Perkins School of Theology, 1966. 99 14. Ministers’ Week Luncheon program, Southern Methodist University, February 6, 1974. 100 15. Letter from H. Richard Niebuhr to Albert Outler, November 17, 1952. 118 16. Letter from Lois (Mrs. J. J.) Perkins to Albert Outler, April 3, 1968. 120 17. World Outlook “Methodist of the Year” certificate, May 13, 1966. 134 18. Albert Outler reading a scripture lesson during a sacred service in the promotion of Christian unity held at the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, Rome, December 4, 1965. 138 19. Albert Outler at Southern Methodist University with Dean Joseph Quillian, Bishop McFerrin Stowe, and Rev. Dr. Zan Holmes, February 1974. 141 20. “The Hallowing of Life” brochure and recordings, Perkins School of Theology Martin Lectures, November 1981. 142 21. Greek Orthodox crucifix, 1986. 152 8 A GUIDE TO THE PAPERS OF ALBERT COOK OUTLER Albert Outler, circa 1940s. A GUIDE TO THE PAPERS OF ALBERT COOK OUTLER 9 Foreword The Albert Cook Outler papers represent one of the most extensive and significant archival collections at Bridwell Library, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. A prominent Methodist theologian and John Wesley scholar of world renown, Dr. Outler (1908–1989) served on the faculty of Perkins School of Theology for nearly four decades (1951–1979; professor emeritus 1979–1989). The papers fully document his ministerial, scholarly, and professional activities as well as his personal life. Donated in the 1990s through Outler’s trustee, the Rev. Bob W. Parrott, the materials were initially inventoried by Page A. Thomas and Julie Halstead. On the occasion of the 2008 Perkins School of Theology Ministers Week devoted to the theme “Albert Outler and the Wesleyan Spirit,” the library presented the small exhibition “Albert Cook Outler (1908–1989): A Centenary Exhibit,” on display November 14, 2007–May 5, 2008. Following the appointment in 2009 of Timothy Binkley as the first Bridwell Library Archivist, Colleen Bradley-Sanders was hired to review, organize, and process the Outler papers according to modern professional standards and guidelines. Supported throughout the process by Bridwell Library’s administration, this finding aid is the result of her dedication to the project, the collection, and the library. In addition to this print publication, the finding aid is also accessible online in TARO (Texas Archival Resources Online.) Both the print and online finding aids were reviewed and published with the detailed oversight of the Archivist. To publicize the collection, Bridwell Library has prepared a related exhibition and digital collection. “The Albert Cook Outler Papers,” an exhibition comprising ninety items, will be on display February 2–May 1, 2015 in The Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Galleries. In addition to the exhibition onsite, an online version will be available on the library’s website. Complementing the exhibition, the digital collection for the Outler papers will provide access to additional materials including manuscripts, publications, photographs, audio, and video. The expertise of Exhibition Designer Jon Speck and Digital Projects Librarian Rebecca Howdeshell have contributed greatly to these outreach efforts. To further celebrate the exhibition and promote the use of the collection, Outler’s legacy will be explored by Dr. Leicester Longden, Associate Professor of Evangelism and Discipleship emeritus, University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, when he delivers the Fondren lecture for Ministers Week at Perkins School of Theology in February 2015. 10 A GUIDE TO THE PAPERS OF ALBERT COOK OUTLER In 1988 Dr. Outler wrote to Bridwell Library director Rev. Dr. Robert Maloy regarding the prospect of his materials being made accessible. He expressed his gratitude to the library for undertaking to care for his collection, “to see them shelved, stored, dispersed or discarded in ways that may be judged most useful, if at all, to accredited students (young and old), qualified researchers, and to interested readers.” He also understood the library’s need to make whatever constructive adaptions of it that may enhance its original intentions: “to be as useful as possible both to ‘the academy’ and ‘the church.’” With the publication of this finding aid and supporting exhibition and digital collection, researchers will be able to fully investigate Albert Outler’s rich legacy as a churchman, scholar, theologian, author, teacher, and ecumenicist. DANIEL J. SLIVE Head of Special Collections Bridwell Library Perkins School of Theology Southern Methodist University A GUIDE TO THE PAPERS OF ALBERT COOK OUTLER 11 Introduction Archival finding aids describe the content, historical context, and physical arrangement of archival collections: groups of personal papers and corporate records deemed to have historical research value. This finding aid, A Guide to the Papers of Albert Cook Outler, describes the documentary legacy of a scholar, educator, churchman, and ecumenical Christian leader of great importance to Southern Methodist University (SMU), the United Methodist Church, and beyond. The Albert Cook Outler papers comprise the largest and most significant collection in the Perkins School of Theology archive at Bridwell Library, the principal bibliographic resource at Southern Methodist University for the fields of theology and religious studies. The size of the collection reflects Outler’s long career as a clergyman and educator, his prolific written output, and his frequent speaking engagements combined with an apparent inability to discard anything. When Bridwell Library received the Outler papers in the 1990s, 358 linear feet of materials were placed in archival boxes and indexed by Julie Halstead and Page A. Thomas. Although it was not a standard archival finding aid, the 387-page Halstead–Thomas index has served many researchers since 1993. Realizing that more could be done to organize and describe the Outler materials, in 2010 Bridwell Library administrators hired Colleen Bradley-Sanders to process the collection according to current professional guidelines (Describing Archives: A Content Standard). A Guide to the Papers of Albert Cook Outler is the result of four years of labor studying the collection, re–establishing the original order of materials and crafting additional records series, removing redundant and out–of–scope materials, rehousing the collection, and compiling data necessary for the creation of an Encoded Archival Description (EAD) finding aid. These tasks were performed in order to improve access to the collection, enhance its preservation, and revive interest in Outler now that twenty–five years have passed since his death. Within this finding aid researchers will find data about the collection’s size, date range, scope, and organization. The finding aid also notes the various types of materials found in the collection, mentions related and separated materials, and offers information about Albert Outler’s life. It concludes with a lengthy list of the contents of the collection specified at the folder level. One hundred printed copies of the Guide are being produced for use in selected academic libraries 12 A GUIDE TO THE