General Information
History Duke University began as a simple, one-room school house in rural Randolph County, North Carolina. Established as Union Institute by Quakers and Methodists in 1838, it became Normal College in 1851. Normal was reorganized as Trinity College in 1859, when the Methodist Church became a major financial supporter. In 1892 Trinity College moved to Durham, North Carolina. In 1924 James B. Duke established a trust fund for educational and charitable purposes. The chief beneficiary, Trinity College, became Duke University. The purpose for establishing the trust was clear: "I have selected Duke University as one of the principal objects of this trust because I recognize that education, when conducted along sane and practical, as opposed to dogmatic and theoretical lines, is, next to religion, the greatest civilizing influence.... And I advise that the courses at this institution be arranged, first, with special reference to the training of preachers, teachers, lawyers, and physicians, because these are most in the public eye, and by precept and example can do most to uplift mankind." The School of Religion began its work in the academic year 1926-27, and formal exercises for its opening were held on 9 November 1926. In 1940 the name was changed to the Divinity School. During its history, the Divinity School has had outstanding teachers, scholars, and administrative leaders. Since the founding of the school in 1926, the following persons have served as deans or acting deans: Edmund Davidson Soper, 1926-28; Elbert Russell, 1928-41; Paul Neff Garber, 1941-44; Harvie Branscomb, 1944-46; Gilbert T. Rowe, acting dean of the faculty, 1946-47; Paul E. Root (elected in 1947, but died before assuming office); Harold A. Bosley, 1947-50; James Cannon III, acting dean 1950-51, dean 1951-58; Robert Earl Cushman, 1958-71; Thomas A. Langford, 1971-81; Jameson Jones, 1981-82; Dennis M. Campbell, 1982-1997. Its graduates have distinguished themselves by making significant contributions to the church and the world. In 1964 a program of expansion was begun, culminating in February 1972, when the Divinity School doubled its physical facilities and moved into a handsome new building. History 13
The Role of the Divinity School The Divinity School represents theological inquiry and learning within the greater university. By history and indenture, it stands within the Christian tradition, mindful of its distinctive lineage in and its continuing obligation to the United Methodist Church. The Divinity School, although United Methodist in tradition and dependency, receives students from many Christian denominations and offers its educational resources to representatives of the several communions who seek an education for church-related ministry. From its inception, it has been ecumenical in aspiration, teaching, and practice, as well as in its faculty. Educational policy has consistently aspired to foster a Christian understanding "truly catholic, truly evangelical, and truly reformed. The principal purpose of the Divinity School is the professional education for the ministry, which in today s world is manifested in a variety of forms. Although the conventional and inherited styles of ministry are now undergoing change, the Divinity School curriculum continues to prepare students for informed and discriminating exercise of the church s historic offices through the ministry of word, sacrament, order, service, pastoral care, and teaching. The Divinity School believes these offices will remain, although the form and context of the local church may change. With this in mind, the Divinity School tries to prepare students for the mature performance of their vocation. It hopes to develop in each graduate a disciplined intelligence, informed by sound learning and equipped for worthy professional service. Its resources are offered to students with a diversity of ministerial aims, although the school seeks, by recruitment and financial support, to prepare persons for ordination or lay professional vocations in the churches. In all its endeavors, the Divinity School aims to serve Jesus Christ through service to the church and the world. The Relation of the Divinity School to Duke University The Divinity School is an integral part of the university and shares fully in its activities, privileges, and responsibilities. The Sunday services in the university chapel give Divinity School students each year an opportunity to hear several of the country s leading preachers. The university libraries make a rich collection of books and other materials easily accessible. Without paying additional fees, selected courses in the graduate and professional schools are open to Divinity School students, as well as the general, cultural, and recreational resources of the university. Library Resources Divinity School Library. The Divinity School Library contains a collection of more than 321,000 volumes in the field of religion and related disciplines and affords a wealth of material for the seminary student. An integral part of the university s library system, which possesses more than 4,645,000 volumes, the Divinity School Library has its own separate facilities in the Divinity School building. Its book collection is operated on the open stack system, and its reading rooms offer study facilities for students, more than 650 religious periodicals to which the library currently subscribes, and a reference collection in religion. Staffed by the library director, a reference librarian, and an electronic services librarian trained in both theology and library science, by a supporting staff of two persons, and by a number of student assistants, the Divinity School Library offers a variety of services to assist the student in selecting and locating information. The book, microform, and periodical collections are carefully chosen to support basic course work as well as advanced research in all major fields of religious studies. The Divinity School Library offers a wide variety of computerized resources, including an online catalog and circulation system and an array of specialized databases in religion. A computer classroom with ten workstations, connected to the Internet, is available for student use in the library. The library also provides space for laptop computer use. 14 General Information
The seminary student may also use the resources and facilities of all other Duke libraries, including extensive electronic resources, public documents, maps, periodicals, newspapers, microforms, and special collections (within which are eighty-one prized ancient Greek manuscripts). Students may arrange to borrow in person from the other libraries of the Triangle Research Library Network (North Carolina Central University, North Carolina State University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill). Center for Studies in the Wesleyan Tradition The Center for Studies in the Wesleyan Tradition was founded in 1979 and is supported by a permanent endowment of the Divinity School designated for its use. The center supports a wide variety of programs designed to advance teaching, research, and publication in Wesleyan history and theology. Center for Studies in the Wesleyan Tradition 15
Library. The Baker Collection is one of the two largest and finest collections of Wesley and Methodist materials extant. Named for Professor Emeritus Frank Baker, the world s foremost authority on John Wesley and editor emeritus of the bicentennial edition of Wesley s works, a project based at Duke Divinity School, the Baker Collection is an unparalleled resource. Visiting Professors. The center brings distinguished visiting professors to teach in the Divinity School. Visiting recently was Nicholas Lash, Norris-Hulse Professor of Divinity, University of Cambridge, England. Visiting Scholars. The center makes research grants to scholars from around the world to work for various periods of time in the Divinity School. Visiting Lecturers. The center has an extensive program of visiting lecturers that exposes students and faculty of the Divinity School to leading figures in the Wesleyan tradition from throughout the world. Most recently these included: Professor Peder Borgen, University of Trondheim, Norway; Dr. Manfred Marquardt, the Methodist Theological Seminary, Reutlingen, Germany; Ruediger Minor, bishop of the Eurasia Area, Moscow, Russia; the Reverend Helmut Nausner, district superintendent, Vienna, Austria; Professor Norman Young, Queens College, the University of Melbourne, Australia; and Walter Klaiber, bishop of Frankfurt, Germany. Publications. The center is committed to a program of scholarly publication. In 1983, support was given for preparation of a reader in theology in the Wesleyan tradition that was published in 1984. The center recently translated Theologie in Hymnen, a study by Teresa Berger of Charles Wesley s hymnody. Professor Richard Heitzenrater directs the Wesley Works Project, a thirty-five volume collection of John Wesley s writings. Faculty Committee. Divinity School faculty related to the center include Richard Heitzenrater, Thomas A. Langford, Russell E. Richey, Geoffrey Wainwright, Karen Westerfield Tucker, and L. Gregory Jones, dean and chairman. 16 General Information