The University of Chicago Library > Special Collections Research Center > Finding Aids > Guide to the Baptist Theological Union and Baptist Union Theological Seminary Records 1865-1944
© 2006 University of Chicago Library
| Title: | Baptist Theological Union and Baptist Union Theological Seminary. Records |
|---|---|
| Dates: | 1865-1944 |
| Size: | 5.5 linear ft. (10 boxes) |
| Repository: |
Special Collections Research Center |
| Abstract: | The Baptist Theological Union (1865-1924) and the Baptist Union Theological Seminary (1867-1892) were founded to meet the needs of students of the first University of Chicago who wished to prepare for the ministry. The records contain material documenting the organizations' histories from 1865 to 1924. |
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When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: Baptist Theological Union and Baptist Union Theological Seminary. Records, [Box #, Folder #], Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library
The Baptist Theological Union was founded to meet the needs of students at the first University of Chicago [1856-1866] who wished to prepare for the ministry. On August 13, 1863, "The Baptist Theological Union located at Chicago" was organized, and on August 27, incorporated under a general law. On Feb. 16, 1865, the Illinois legislature granted the Union a charter for "the founding, endowment, support, and direction of an institution for theological instruction." That same year, Dr. Nathaniel Colver began to give instruction to a few students in his study. Later, classes were held in Douglas Hall of the old University of Chicago.
The formal work of the Baptist Union Theological Seminary begins with the appointment of Dr. George W. Northrup as President and Professor of Systematic Theology. In the fall of 1867, courses in that subject as well as Ecclesiastical History and Biblical Literature and Exegesis were given to nineteen students. On July 1, 1869, the seminary building was dedicated. Debts connected with this building and the offer of free land in the Chicago suburb of Morgan Park encouraged the move to new quarters in 1877. When John D. Rockefeller made his subscription of $1,000,000.00 toward the founding of The University of Chicago, he made it a condition of the gift that the seminary become the Divinity School of the new institution. This took place formally on July 1, 1892, with the B.T.U. continuing as a separate organization.
The history of the B.T.U. is closely connected with that of the University of Chicago, not only because of the organic connection in 1892, but because many of the individuals in the B.T.U. prior to that connection were important in founding the new University. E. Nelson Blake was President of the Board of the B.T.U. from 1877-1893; a major contributor to the University, he was the first chairman of its Board of Trustees. Edward Goodman and Thomas W. Goodspeed were also active in both institutions. In 1879, William R. Harper became professor of Hebrew and Cognate Languages in the Seminary and taught there until 1886 when he went to Yale. Dr. Eri B. Hulbert joined the faculty in 1881. In 1892 he became the first dean of the Divinity School (until 1907). Other B.U.T.S. faculty later associated with the University included James R. Boise and Ira M. Price.
The material in this collection has been organized into five series. Series I concerns the founding and general administration of The Baptist Theological Union (Material after 1892 will often pertain to the University and particularly the Divinity School-see also Series III.). Series II concerns the Baptist Union Theological Seminary. Manuscripts-principally lectures- of Nathaniel Colver, George W. Northrup, and R. E. Pattison are included here. Series III deals with relations between B.T.U. and the University, while Series IV contains financial records of the Union. Series V contains scrapbooks [ca. 1876-1907] compiled by Edward Goodman, two volumes of notes on theological lectures given at the Old University of Chicago and several pamphlets and ephemeral items related to B.T.U. and B.U.T.S.
The following related resources are located in the Department of Special Collections:
http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/spcl/select.html
Baptist Theological Union. Records
Frederick Taylor Gates. Papers
Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed. Papers
Harold Swift. Papers
John Nuveen, Jr. Papers
American Baptist Education Society. Records
Northwestern Baptist Education Society. Records
University of Chicago. Divinity School. Records
Series I: Baptist Theological Seminary, Founding and Early Administration |
| Box 1 Folder 1 | An Act to Incorporate the Baptist Theological Union, located in Chicago" (1865); By-Laws of the Board of Trustees |
| Box 1 Folder 2 | "Memorandum of the Baptist Theological Union of Chicago." Notes and records taken by G.S. Bailey, Financial and Recording Secretary [1867-75]. Includes B.T.U. Board of Trustees minutes 1867 |
| Box 1 Folder 3 | Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1897-1900 [T.W. Goodspeed, Secy.] |
| Box 1 Folder 4 | Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1900-02 |
| Box 1 Folder 5 | Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1902-04 |
| Box 1 Folder 6 | Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1904-07 |
| Box 1 Folder 7 | Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1907-10 |
| Box 1 Folder 8 | Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1902-1910 [mimeographed] |
| Box 2 Folder 1a | Correspondence, 1872-1874 |
| Box 2 Folder 1 | Correspondence of the Board of Trustees of the B.T.U., 1877-92 |
| Box 2 Folder 2 | Correspondence of the Board of Trustees of the B.T.U. March 1893-November, 1901 |
| Box 2 Folder 3 | Correspondence of the Board of Trustees of the B.T.U. December, 1901 |
| Box 2 Folder 4 | Correspondence of the Board of Trustees of the B.T.U. January, 1902-March, 1912 |
| Box 2 Folder 5 | Correspondence of the Board of Trustees of the B.T.U. April, 1912-November, 1924 |
| Box 2 Folder 6 | Annual Reports of the Board of Trustees, 1891-92; 1895-1904. See also The Baptist Union Theological Seminary; Annual Report [1869-1888], Box II, folder 11 |
| Box 2 Folder 7 | Special Committee Reports. See also Box VI, folders 1-5 |
Series II: Baptist Union Theological Seminary |
| Box 2 Folder 8 | Seventy-Five Years; History of The Baptist Union Theological Seminary 1867-92. Holograph notes by C.E. Hewitt |
| Box 2 Folder 9 | Agreement to donate land and money for the establishment of The Baptist Theological Seminary at Morgan Park, August 15, 1876 |
| Box 2 Folder 10 | Baptist Union Theological Seminary; early descriptive pamphlets and memorabilia |
| Box 2 Folder 11 | Baptist Union Theological Seminary Annual Reports, 1869-88 |
| Box 2 Folder 12 | Scandinavian Theological Education; Correspondence, 1888-1912 |
| Box 2 Folder 13 | Reports of the Board of Visitors to the Seminary 1885-ca.1889 [descriptive material on content and conduct of courses] |
| Box 2 Folder 14 | B.U.T.S. matriculates for the years 1886-1890 |
| Box 2 Folder 15 | B.U.T.S. matriculates for the years 1890-1892 |
| Box 3 Folder 1 | Colver, Nathaniel. "Restricted Communion," Sermon delivered at Union Park Church, July 9, 1865 |
| Box 3 Folder 2 | Colver, Nathaniel. "Lectures on Doctrinal Theology," lectures 1-2 |
| Box 3 Folder 3 | Colver, Nathaniel. "Lectures on Doctrinal Theology," lectures 3-5 |
| Box 3 Folder 4 | Colver, Nathaniel. "Lectures on Doctrinal Theology," lectures 6-8 |
| Box 3 Folder 5 | Colver, Nathaniel. "Lectures on Doctrinal Theology," lectures 9-10 |
| Box 3 Folder 6 | Colver, Nathaniel. "Lectures on Doctrinal Theology," lectures 11-13 |
| Box 3 Folder 7 | Reports of Professors Boise, Hulbert and Price for the year 1889-92. Recitation Schedules, 1889-92 |
| Box 3 Folder 8 | Conference of Representatives of Baptist Seminaries, New York, 1892, Minutes [attended by William Rainey Harper and A.H. Strong] |
| Box 3 Folder 9 | General Catalogue of The Baptist Union Theological Seminary, 1st edition, 1867-1890; 2nd edition 1867-92 [alumni and faculty directory] |
| Box 3 Folder 10 | Baptist Union Theological Seminary Library; Charge Book, ca. 1880 |
| Box 4 Folder 1 | Alphabetical Catalogue of the library of the Rev. G.B. Ide given to B.U.T.S. 1871 |
| Box 4 Folder 2 | Northrup, George W. "List of books in the library of Dr. George W. Northrup given to the U. of C. Library, May 1, 1900" |
| Box 4 Folder 3 | Northrup, George W. "Fragmentary Notes." |
| Box 4 Folder 4 | Northrup, George W. "Lectures on Church History," [winter, 1870-71], 2 vols. Student notebooks of Austin H. Weir |
| Box 4 Folder 5 | Pattison, R.E. "Analysis of the Bible," [1870-71], Student notebook of Austin H. Weir |
| Box 4 Folder 6 | Alumni Association Minutes; B.U.T.S., 1876-92; The Divinity School of the U. of C., 1892-1922 |
| Box 4 Folder 7 | Class of 1888; Tenth Reunion, 1898 |
| Box 5 Folder 1 | Student Exams; 1880-1, Middle Theology, A-G |
| Box 5 Folder 2 | Student Exams; 1880-1, Middle Theology, H-W |
| Box 5 Folder 3 | Student Exams; 1880-1, Senior Theology, |
| Box 5 Folder 4 | Student Exams; History of Doctrine, 1881 |
| Box 5 Folder 5 | Student Exams; History of Doctrine, 1882 |
| Box 6 Folder 1 | Student Exams; Hebrew, 1880, Middle |
| Box 6 Folder 2 | Student Exams; Hebrew, 1-81, Senior & Junior |
| Box 6 Folder 3 | Student Exams; Hebrew, 1881 |
Series III: The Baptist Theological Union and The University of Chicago |
| Box 6 Folder 4 | Early Reports of the B.T.U. at time of union with U of C |
| Box 6 Folder 5 | Agreements between The Baptist Theological Union and The University of Chicago |
| Box 6 Folder 6 | Commission on the Affairs of The Divinity School of The University of Chicago; Preliminary Report (1908) |
| Box 6 Folder 7 | Commission on the Affairs of The Divinity School of The University of Chicago; Report to the Board of Trustees of the Baptist Theological Union, June 29, 1908 |
| Box 6 Folder 8 | Reports of committees on relation between the B.T.U. and the U. of C |
Series IV: Financial Records of The Baptist Theological Union |
Subseries 1: Ledgers and Account Books |
| Box 7 Folder 1 | Contributors, n.d. |
| Box 7 Folder 2 | "Memorandum of names of subscribers and amounts of subscriptions and donations for support and endowment of theological chair of N. Colver, DD. and successors, nd |
| Box 7 Folder 3 | Treasurer's book, no. 1, 1863-70 |
| Box 7 Folder 4 | Treasurer's book, 1866 |
| Box 7 Folder 5 | Treasurer's book of the Ladies Baptist Education Society, 1867 |
| Box 7 Folder 6 | Subscriptions of the Second Baptist Church of Chicago to the Theological Seminary Building, 1868 |
| Box 7 Folder 7 | Subscriptions for a theological building, 2 vols, 1868 |
| Box 7 Folder 8 | contributions, ca. 1869 1872 |
| Box 7 Folder 9 | Treasurer's book, 1873 |
| Box 7 Folder 10 | Treasurer's book, 1875 |
| Box 7 Folder 11 | Subscriptions to the $100,000 endowment fund, ca. 1882- |
| Box 7 Folder 12 | Treasurer's book, 1884-1893 |
| Box 7 Folder 13 | Treasurer's book, 1891 |
| Box 7 Folder 14 | Treasurer's book, 1900 |
Subseries 2: Financial Documents |
| Box 7 Folder 15 | Financial Statements 1885-1901 |
| Box 7 Folder 16 | Financial Statements 1901-24 |
| Box 7 Folder 17 | Annual Reports of the Treasurer, 1884-1924 (Printed) |
| Box 8 Folder 1 | Accountant's and Auditor's Reports |
| Box 8 Folder 2 | Securities, various funds |
| Box 8 Folder 3 | Real-estate investments |
| Box 8 Folder 4 | Tax-suits-The State of Illinois vs. The B.T.U. |
| Box 8 Folder 5 | Budget Information about the U. of C. and The Divinity School |
| Box 8 Folder 6 | Misc. Financial Documents |
Series V: Scrapbooks, Ephemera and Oversize |
| Box 8 Folder 7 | Scrapbook, News clippings, April, 1876-April, 1892 |
| Box 8 Folder 8 | Scrapbook, News clippings, April, 1892-March, 1904 |
| Box 8 Folder 9 | Scrapbook, News clippings, March, 1904-March, 1907 |
| Box 9 Folder 1 | Receipt book, Old University of Chicago, 1866 |
| Box 9 Folder 2 | Notes on theology by Dr. Northup, Old University of Chicago (Chicago University) 1868 |
| Box 9 Folder 3 | Notes of the theological lectures, Old University of Chicago, 1866 |
| Box 9 Folder 4 | Brochures and ephemera, 1866-1944 |
| Box 9 Folder 5 | Correspondence and texts, fragments |
| Box 10 | Biographical Records; Students of The Baptist Union Theological Seminary; Class History, 1865-1881; The Divinity School of the U. of C., 1893-1906. Bound volume |