Council for the Clinical Training of Theological Students records, circa 1923 -- 1949
Collection context
- Creator:
- Council for Clinical Training
- Abstract:
- The Council for the Clinical Training of Theological Students (CCTTS) was founded in 1925 by Anton T. Boisen. In later years, Dr. Helen Flanders Dunbar became the organization's Medical Director and Henry Pitney Van Dusen became a member of the CCTTS board of governors. The records reflect the development of the concept for CCTTS from Anton Boisen's initial proposal through the project's early activities in lively "Hospital Pictorials" to more formal administrative documents of the incorporated organization and the spread of the program to other hospitals and areas. The collection also contains some typescript writings by Anton Boisen and CCTTS board correspondence from Henry Pitney Van Dusen.
- Extent:
- 1.5 linear feet 1.5 linear feet; 4 boxes
- Language:
- English .
- Scope and content:
-
This collection contains records reflecting the development of the concept for CCTTS from Anton Boisen's initial proposal through the project's early activities in lively "Hospital Pictorials," to more formal administrative documents of the incorporated organization and the spread of the program to other hospitals and areas. Boisen illustrated a number of his reports with small black and white photographs. The collection also contains some typescript writings by Anton Boisen and CCTTS board correspondence from Henry Pitney Van Dusen, records for the project in Massachusetts and the expansion to Elgin, Illinois and other areas, conference records and some administrative records of the Council, as well as a number of the shorter written items by Boisen in typescript from the 1930s and his first course notes for the use of CCTTS training centers, 1946. Additionally, the collection contains the correspondence and supporting documents of Henry Pitney Van Dusen as secretary, theological consultant, and later Board Chairman of CCTTS. The correspondence consists of letters received and carbon copies of replies from Van Dusen. These letters cover issues relating to CCTTS planning and development, including the Phil Guiles' schism. Correspondents include: H. P. Van Dusen, H. Flanders Dunbar, R.E. Brinkman, F.L. Babbott, R.H.P Brown, S. G. Cole, A. A. Dicks, A. Dun, E. G. Dyett, R.A.Felton , A.P. Guiles, T.L. Harris, S. Hiltner, Mrs. J S Hoyt, F.C. Kuether, N. Nash, J.A. Purdie, O. Rice, E.H. Roberts, R. Searl, L.J. Sherrill, C.J Symington, A Weigle, C.T. White, C.A. Wise. Occasional Board and promotional documents are also included with related correspondence.
- Biographical / historical:
-
CCTTS was founded in 1925 under the direction of Anton T Boisen, a former instructor in Romance languages, forester, graduate of Union Theological Seminary in 1911 and ordained Presbyterian Congregationalist minister. Boisen became director of the chaplain's department at Worcester State Hospital, Massachusetts, and a faculty member of Chicago Theological Seminary. He devised and operated a program for theological students to spend a month at the Worcester State Hospital, Massachusetts, in order to obtain clinical experience in dealing with 'maladies of the personality' as a preparation for parish work. CCTTS became an incorporated organization in 1930 and Dr. Helen Flanders Dunbar, also a Union graduate, with a Columbia University Medical degree was participant in the first summer session of CCTTS and became Medical Director of the organization. Boisen moved in 1932 to Elgin Hospital in Illinois and spent the rest of his long life there, constantly nurturing the program and the Council which he had devised. The initial program continued to develop to include a range of hospitals and theological seminaries by 1940. In 1932 Henry Pitney Van Dusen, at that time associate professor at UTS, became a member of the CCTTS board of governors and his involvement lasted for more than 15 years. Later known as the Council for Clinical Training, Inc. this organization is one of the four antecedent bodies which merged to form the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education in 1967.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
The collection is open for research.
Onsite storage.
- 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, Council for the Clinical Training of Theological Students records, 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