Daniel Day Williams papers, 1935 -- 1970
Collection context
- Creator:
- Williams, Daniel Day, 1910-1973
- Abstract:
- Daniel Day Williams was a United Church of Christ (Congregational) minister, systematic theologian, and Union Theological Seminary professor. The collection contains documents related to Williams's research, teaching, and publishing, including material related to conferences and lectures on science and theology, sermons, and material specifically related to the Theology-Science Discussion Group to which he belonged.
- Extent:
- 0.5 linear feet (0.5 linear feet; 1 box)
- Language:
- English .
- Scope and content:
-
This collection contains documents related to Daniel Day Williams's research, teaching, and publishing, including material related to conferences, lectures, and presentations on science and theology, and material specifically related to the Theology-Science Discussion Group to which he belonged. Also included is correspondence from and work by some of the group's members, including the nuclear physicist and Episcopal priest William G. Pollard ("The Mystery of Matter" and "Nature and Supernature"); Harold K. Schilling, professor of Physics and Dean of the Graduate School at Pennsylvania State University ("Cosmic Mystery", as well as prints and reprints of his "On the Significance of Science for Religious Thought", "A Human Enterprise", and "Concerning the Nature of Science and = Religion"); Harmon R. Holcomb from the Department of Philosophy at the University of Kentucky; and Frederick Ferré from the University of Georgia. Other= materials include "Understanding Science" by John J. Compton, as well as Williams's personal notebook from 1935.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Daniel Day Williams was born on September 12, 1910, in Denver, Colorado. In 1931 he graduated from the University of Denver, and in 1933 he earned his Master's degree from the University of Chicago. The following year he earned his BD from the University of Chicago's Theological Seminary, where he had taken classes with William Pauck and had been influenced by the work of Henry Nelson Wieman, Charles Hartshorne and Alfred North Whitehead. In 1934 he also began his studies in History of Philosophy at Columbia University, where he wrote his dissertation on the development of liberalism at Andover Theological Seminary during the nineteenth century. He was ordained in 1936 and received his doctorate in philosophy from Columbia University in 1940. From 1939-1954 he was professor of Christian Theology at Chicago Theological Seminary, where he was associated with the exponent of process philosophy, Charles Hartshorne. In 1954 he joined Union Theological Seminary in New York City, where he served as Professor of Theology and was involved in the Program in Psychiatry and Religion. Among his colleagues at Union were Paul Tillich, John Knox, Frederick Grant, and John Macquarrie. As of 1971 he served as representative to the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches in The United Church of Christ. He was the author of numerous books, including a study of his Union Seminary colleague Reinhold Niebuhr's thinking, God's Grace and Man's Hope (1949), The Family Learns about Jesus (1960), The Minister and the Care of Souls (1961), The Spirit and the Forms of Love (1968), and The Andover Liberals: A Study in American Theology (1970). He died in New York City on December 3, 1973, at the age of 63 years. Following his death, Union Seminary established the Daniel Day Williams Award, which is given to a doctoral student "doing outstanding work in theology in ways exemplified by the late Professor Daniel Day Williams."
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
This collection is open for research.
The following boxes are located offsite: Box 1. 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, UTS 1: Daniel Day Williams papers, 1935-1970, 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