Baptist Theological Union. Records, 1863-1999

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University of Chicago - Founding and Early History

Religion

Series III contains administrative and financial records that are restricted for fifty years from the date of creation. The remainder of the collection is open for research.

When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: Baptist Theological Union. 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. 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 (with the founding of the Divinity School arising from the B.T.U.’s sister organization, The Baptist Union Theological Seminary), but because many of the same leaders were key to the founding and early histories of both institutions.

E. Nelson Blake, President of the Board of the B.T.U. from 1877 to 1893 was also a major donor to the University, and 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, teaching there until 1886, when he left for Yale. Dr. Eri B. Hulbert joined the faculty in 1881. In 1892, he became the first dean of the Divinity School (until 1907).

Since the establishment of the University of Chicago Divinity School, on July 1, 1892, the B.T.U. has continued its existence as a separate organization, overseeing an endowment that provides support to the Divinity School.

The material in this collection has been organized into three series. Series I includes materials documenting the founding and early history of the B.T.U., including it’s relationship with the University of Chicago. It includes correspondence, financial records, minutes, and reports. Series II documents the operations and governance of the B.T.U. from 1928 through the 1960s, and consists primarily of records relating to the organizations annual meeting and meetings of the Board of Trustees. Series III contains records similar to those in Series II, dating from the 1960s to the 1990s. Access to these records is restricted for fifty years from the date of creation, because they contain materials relating to the financial and personnel affairs of the B.T.U.

The early records of the B.T.U. previously formed parts of the collection “Baptist Theological Union and Baptist Union Theological Seminary. Records.”

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University of Chicago. Divinity School. Records

Baptist Union Theological Seminary. Records

• Names
  • University of Chicago (1857-1866)
  • University of Chicago. Divinity School
  • Baptist Theological Union (Chicago, Ill.)
  • Baptist Union Theological Seminary (Morgan Park, Ill.)