Letty Mandeville Russell papers, 1947 -- 2005
Collection context
- Creator:
- Russell, Letty M.
- Abstract:
- Letty Mandeville Russell was a renowned theologian and Professor of Theology at Yale Divinity School (YDS) and an alumna of Harvard Divinity School and Union Theological Seminary, who worked in East Harlem Protestant Parish, was a director of Religious Education at Church of the Ascension, and a PCUSA home missionary. The collection includes syllabi, notes and course material relating to her tenure at YDS; manuscripts, notes and correspondence relating to her publications; reports, minutes and correspondence concerning work on denominational bodies, ecumenical task forces and committees, nonprofit organizations, and professional associations; correspondence; and memorabilia.
- Extent:
- 51.5 linear feet 51.5 linear feet; 98 boxes 2 oversized boxes
- Language:
- English .
- Scope and content:
-
This collection contains material relating to Russell's work at YDS, including her work with students, her curriculum research and reading files, and her taught courses; material relating to Russell's administrative responsibilities and community involvement at YDS, including documentation of faculty meetings, committee participation, tenure reviews, and ad-hoc activities; material regarding Russell's role as guest lecturer or visiting professor at other seminaries, colleges and universities; material documenting Russell's literary scholarship, including draft and final versions of writing and editorial projects, as well as research (reading files), correspondence, and other items related to manuscript publication; drafts of journal articles, sermons, addresses, a research collection of bibliographic card files representing issues in theology and ecclesiology, and book reviews; materials documenting Russell's public service, advocacy and activism with religious, academic and political organizations and coalitions; materials related to Russell's participation as a professor, consultant, preacher, and learner in events ranging from denominational or mission specific conferences and trainings, academic lectures, seminars and workshops, and worship celebrations to grassroots education initiatives; personal and professional correspondence; news articles and clippings, journals, and denominational resources related to Russell's ongoing areas of interest; and personal memorabilia.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Letty Mandeville Russell was born in Westfield, New Jersey, in 1929. She graduated from Wellesley College in 1951 with majors in biblical history and philosophy. After teaching third grade for one year in Connecticut, she moved to New York City and began working with the East Harlem Protestant Parish (EHPP), as director of Religious Education at the Church of the Ascension, and as a home missionary of the Presbyterian Church, USA. As Russell served her mostly minority congregation, she came to believe that becoming an "official" member of the ministry was key to lifting the work of Christian educators from the stigma of "women's work." She left EHPP in 1955 to attend Harvard Divinity School and was among the first class of women admitted to its program of ministry. In August 1958 Russell returned to the Church of the Ascension in East Harlem as an ordained minister. In her new capacity as a member of the ordained clergy, Russell maintained her focus on both secular and religious education. The theology of partnership, which would become a guiding principle of Russell's career and thought, was first developed during these early years in parish ministry. She also served as a North American representative on the Working Committee on Studies in Evangelism of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and was one of the authors of the North American Report on the Missionary Structures of the Congregation, The Church for Others. Russell would become the coordinator of the various units of EHPP in 1965. That same year she began coursework at Union Theological Seminary in New York toward a Master's degree in Sacred Theology (STM). Despite her return to formal education, she continued working for the EHPP and remained in that position until 1968. Russell received her STM summa cum laude in 1966 and continued into the doctoral program, completing her Doctorate of Theology at Union in 1969 with a dissertation entitled Tradition as Mission: Study of a New Current in Theology and its Implications for Theological Education. She began her academic teaching career soon thereafter, becoming an assistant professor of Religious Studies at Manhattan College, Bronx, New York and teaching courses in Protestant Theology. She also taught joint courses for the Manhattan College Graduate Division and the New York Theological Seminary (NYTS). In 1974 she joined the faculty of Yale Divinity School (YDS), and after rising to the rank of Professor of Theology in 1985 remained there until her retirement in 2001. In addition to teaching graduate courses on liberation theology, vocation and ethics, Russell wrote nine books and edited seven others during her tenure at Yale. Her books have been translated into Japanese, Korean, Dutch, German, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Italian. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Russell worked to bring the ideas of justice and equality to local, national and global audiences. Described as a "consummate organizer," she coordinated a group of women administrators, faculty and staff soon after she arrived at Yale to work on issues of concern for all women at Yale. Russell also worked to address women's concerns in the Church, especially with regards to inclusive language. In 1982, in collaboration with Yale colleague Margaret Farley, Russell organized the Women's Theological Center (WTC) in Boston, with the aim of providing a one year seminary experience for women eager to study feminist theology and ethics. As WTC began to attract students internationally, particularly from third-world countries, she helped to organize and recruit students for a new Doctor of Ministry degree, called an International Feminist Doctorate of Ministry, offered through San Francisco Theological Seminary. Russell was an active leader in the ecumenical movement, having worked with the National Council of the Churches of Christ, USA as well as with the WCC and the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) at the national and international levels. She served on numerous study committees and task forces including the WCC Commission on Faith and Order (COFO), the International Dialogue among Women Theologians of the Ecumenical Association of Third World Theologians (EATWOT) and the Candler School of Theology Project "Faith and the Practices of Christian Congregations." She was also active in the movements for LGBTQ rights, AIDS awareness, and peace following the attacks of September 11, 2001. Russell received honorary doctorates from Dickinson College and Coe College and an honorary Masters degree from Yale University. She was the first Wellesley alumna to receive the Emmavail Luce Severinghaus Award for her work in the field of religion. In 1999 she was honored by the Festschrift Liberating Eschatology. Russell married Johannes C. ("Hans") Hoekendijk, professor of World Christianity at Union Theological Seminary, in 1970, and lived with him at UTS until his death in 1975. She then lived with J. Shannon Clarkson in Guilford, CT from 1976 until her death on July 12, 2007. In 2005, she and her life partner of 30 years, Shannon Clarkson, celebrated a civil union service in their home, along with three other lesbian couples from their church, the First Congregational Church of Guilford, CT. Margaret Farley, Gilbert Stark Professor of Ethics at Yale Divinity School gave the sermon at their service.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
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This collection contains some restricted material. Restrictions related to specific material are listed in the detailed contents list. Before access is granted FERPA items must be removed from each box and transferred in insert folders marked with source, box and folder to an additional box.
The following boxes are located offsite: Box 1-96 (entire collection except oversize boxes). Please note that requests for use of boxes held in offsite storage must be made three business days in advance.
- Terms of access:
-
Some material in this collection may be protected by copyright and other rights. Information concerning copyright, fair use, and reproduction requests can be consulted at Columbia's Copyright Advisory Office.
- Preferred citation:
-
Item description, AWTS: Letty Mandeville Russell papers, 1947-2005, series#, box #, folder #, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.
- Location of this collection:
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- Contact:
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