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Interseminary Commission for Training for the Rural Ministry Records

 Collection
Call Number: RG 47

Scope and Contents

The minutes, reports and proposals date from 1928 to 1950 and document the development and activities of the Commission including its participation in the Associated Commissions for the Development of the Rural Church in New England. The correspondence dates from 1926 to 1950 and centers around Luther A. Weigle's involvement in the Commission. Correspondence of the staff of the Commission is included as well as letters to and from the deans and presidents of the participating seminaries who served as the board of directors. Correspondence regarding funding, including letters to and from John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and his representatives, is filed with the financial material of Series III. Series III also includes financial statements, expense account reports and minutes of the Finance Committee.

The subject file of Series IV is divided into four sections:
  1. A. Field work instruments; including questionnaires and interview guides, completed and blank. (1929-1945, undated)
  2. B. Staff papers and memoranda (1930-1948, undated)
  3. C. Student seminar reports and course descriptions (1928-1950s)
  4. D. Summer schools and conferences (1928-1948)
One oversize photograph of the Interseminary Commission board and staff completes the record group.

Dates

  • 1926-1954

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The materials are open for research.

Arrangement

  1. I. Minutes, Reports, Proposals, 1928-1950, n.d.
  2. II. Correspondence of Staff and Board Members, 1926-1950, n.d.
  3. III. Financial Material, 1929-1950, n.d.
  4. IV. Subject File, 1928-1954, n.d.
The first three series are arranged chronologically. The fourth series is arranged alphabetically by subject within each of its sub-sections, except in the case of the student seminar reports, which are arranged chronologically.

Extent

3 Linear Feet (6 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Catalog Record

A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/divinity.047

Additional Description

Overview

Minutes, reports and proposals document the development and activities of the Commission, including its participation in the Associated Commissions for the Development of the Rural Church in New England. Correspondence focuses on Luther A. Weigle's involvement in the Commission. The Interseminary Commission for Training for the Rural Ministry was established in 1929, with funding from John D. Rockefeller, Jr., as a cooperative effort to provide more adequate preparation for ministers working in town and country fields. The activities of the Interseminary Commission included summer institutes, research seminars, supervised fieldwork, and courses offered in connection with the seven participating seminaries: Andover Newton Theological School, Auburn Theological Seminary, Boston University School of Theology, Bangor Theological Seminary, Hartford Theological Seminary, Union Theological Seminary and Yale Divinity School.

Biographical / Historical

The Interseminary Commission for Training for the Rural Ministry was established in 1929 as a cooperative effort to provide more adequate preparation for ministers working in town and country ministry fields. Participating seminaries were: the Andover Newton Theological School, Auburn Theological Seminary, Boston University School of Theology, Bangor Theological Seminary, Hartford Theological School, Union Theological Seminary and the Yale Divinity School. Dean Luther A. Weigle of the Yale Divinity School was chairman of the Commission for many years. The activities of the Interseminary Commission included summer institutes, research seminars, supervised fieldwork, and courses offered in connection with the seven schools involved. The initial funding for the Commission was received from John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Later, the Commission was funded by the participating seminaries.

Subjects

Related Names

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Guide to the Interseminary Commission for Training for the Rural Ministry Records
Author
Compiled by Martha Lund Smalley
Date
1977
Description rules
Finding Aid Prepared According To Local Divinity Library Descriptive Practices
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Yale Divinity Library Repository

http://web.library.yale.edu/divinity/special-collections
Contact:
409 Prospect Street
New Haven CT 06511 US
(203) 432-5301

Opening Hours

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