Paul Tillich papers, circa 1930 -- 2002
Collection context
- Creator:
- Tillich, Paul, 1886-1965 and John, Peter H
- Abstract:
- Paul Tillich (1886-1956) was a prominent theologian and professor at UTS from 1933-1955. The collection includes speeches, sermons, and other materials; a 1953 stenographic transcription in 4 copies of Tillich's lecture notes for his Spring 1953 course, Church History Systematic Theology 108-Introduction to the History of Christianity; a photocopy and a bound copy of Tillich's Systematic Theology [Vol.1], the preliminary draft meant for his students' private use, in five parts; as well as a separately sourced preliminary draft of Tillich's Systematic Theology [Vol.1] annotated by Eric Gault Finley.
- Extent:
- 1.75 linear feet (1.75 linear feet; 4 boxes)
- Language:
- English .
- Scope and content:
-
This collection contains speeches, sermons, and other materials, including Tillich's 1952 James W. Richard Lecture, eventually published as Biblical Religion and the Search for Ultimate Reality, among others; a 1953 stenographic transcription in 4 copies of Tillich's lecture notes for his Spring 1953 course, Church History Systematic Theology 108-Introduction to the History of Christianity; a photocopy and a bound copy of Tillich's Systematic Theology [Vol.1], the preliminary draft meant for his students' private use, in five parts; as well as a separately sourced preliminary draft of Tillich's Systematic Theology [Vol.1] annotated by Eric Gault Finley, who was a visiting student from Teachers College, Columbia University, and attended Tillich's courses between 1949 and 1951.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Paulus Johannes Oskar was born on August, 20th 1886, to parents Johannes Oskar Tillich and Wilhelmina Mathilde Dürselen, in Starzeddel, Germany. In 1902, the year of his confirmation in the Lutheran Church at the age of sixteen, Paul decided that he would immerse himself in philosophy. Tillich attended three institutions between 1904 and 1907: studying in Berlin, Tübingen and Halle before earning his Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Breslau (1911) and subsequently returning to the University of Halle (1912) to complete his Licentiate of Theology degree. Having held appointments at the faculties of Marburg, Dresden and Leipzig, Tillich was dismissed in 1933 from his chaired professorship in philosophy at Frankfurt am Main as a reprisal for his speaking out against the National Socialist Party. Fortunately for Tillich, his personal and academic history was of great interest to H. Richard Niebuhr of Yale University and his brother Reinhold of Union Theological Seminary. In consultation with the Niebuhr brothers and the Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced German Scholars, Henry Sloane Coffin (Union's president between 1926 and 1946) recruited Tillich to the Seminary. In spite of the enduring Depression, together with apportioning a modest living stipend and on-campus housing for the Tillich family, the Seminary's Board of Directors approved a lectureship for Paul in philosophy of religion and systematic theology. Thanks in part to Union seminarians and others lobbying on his behalf, Tillich was made an associate professor by 1937. Three years later he was promoted to the rank of full professor in the area of philosophical theology. Although Tillich's scholarship was seen as overly theological in nature and thus not squaring well with the methodologies employed by the Department of Philosophy at neighboring Columbia University, his ideas were well received at Union once students grew accustomed to Tillich's Germanisms and the new terminology he coined to better express himself in the English language. Tillich's tenure at Union culminated with the publication of the first installment of his 1951 Systematic Theology, which was followed by the popularly acclaimed 1952 work titled The Courage To Be. Tillich retired from the Seminary as the Charles A. Briggs Graduate Professor of Philosophical Theology in 1955. Tillich went on to spend another ten years in the academy: seven as University Professor at Harvard and three as the Nuveen Professor of Theology at the University of Chicago, up until his death on October, 22nd 1965 at the age of seventy-nine. Paul was survived by his second wife Hannah Werner-Gottschow, whom he married in 1924, and their two children: son René Descartes and daughter Christante Farris. Well past the age of retirement, Paul continued teaching, lecturing widely and writing. He published the third and final installment of his renowned Systematic Theology in 1963, just two years ahead of his passing. Much like The Courage To Be, Tillich's 1957 Dynamics of Faith strove to introduce existential religiosity to a broader audience.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
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The collection is open for research.
Onsite storage.
- Terms of access:
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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, UTS1: Paul Tillich Papers, Series #, box #, folder #, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.
- Location of this collection:
- Before you visit:
- Researchers must book an appointment at least 5 business days in advance to view special collections material in the reading room. To make the most of your visit, be sure to request your desired materials before booking your appointment, as researchers are limited to one item per hour of appointment time.
- Contact:
- burke@library.columbia.edu