Nancy A. Hardesty papers, circa 1960 -- 2002

Summary Information

Abstract

Nancy A. Hardesty was a church historian, feminist scholar, and Professor of Religion at Clemson University. The collection contains support materials for Hardesty's 1998 application for tenure at Clemson University, materials related to Hardesty's writings and publications, materials related to a proposed book about adult children of fundamentalists (ACOF), manuscript outlines of sermons, materials relating to the Evangelical and Ecumenical Women's Caucus (EEWC) conferences between 1975 and 2002, as well as personal and professional correspondence, journals, and speeches.

Description

Scope and Contents

This collection contains support materials for Hardesty's 1998 application for tenure at Clemson University, including a resume, books, articles, and speaking and teaching materials; notes, clippings, drafts, articles, correspondence, book reviews, and records of royalties related to Hardesty's writings and publications; notes, clippings, survey questionnaires, preliminary drafts and correspondence regarding a proposed book about adult children of fundamentalists (ACOF); manuscript outlines of sermons given by Hardesty between 1987 and 1998; notes, brochures, programs, council records, and correspondence relating to the Evangelical and Ecumenical Women's Caucus (EEWC) conferences between 1975 and 2002; as well as personal and professional correspondence, journals, and speeches, including addresses to numerous colleges and universities relating to the topic of the single woman in the 1970's.

• Series 1: Tenure application materials, circa 1970 -- 1999

  This series contains support materials for Hardesty's 1998 application for tenure at Clemson University, including a resume, books, articles, and speaking and teaching materials.

• Series 2: Writings, circa 1960 -- 1999

  This series contains notes, clippings, drafts, articles, correspondence, book reviews, and records of royalties related to Hardesty's writings and publications.

• Series 3: Adult Children of Fundamentalists research materials, 1969 -- 1991

  This series contains notes, clippings, survey questionnaires, preliminary drafts and correspondence regarding a proposed book about adult children of fundamentalists (ACOF).

• Series 4: Sermons, 1987 -- 1998

  This series contains manuscript outlines of sermons given by Hardesty between 1987 and 1998.

• Series 5: Evangelical and Ecumenical Women's Caucus conferences, 1975 -- 2002

  This series contains notes, brochures, programs, council records, and correspondence relating to the Evangelical and Ecumenical Women's Caucus (EEWC) conferences between 1975 and 2002.

• Series 6: Correspondence, journals, speeches, 1971 -- 1995

  This series contains personal and professional correspondence, journals, and speeches, including addresses to numerous colleges and universities relating to the topic of the single woman in the 1970's.

Burke Library record group:

Archives of Women in Theological Scholarship (AWTS)

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in 6 series: 1. Tenure application materials; 2. Writings; 3. Adult children of fundamentalists research materials; 4. Sermons; 5. Evangelical and Ecumenical Women's Caucus conferences; and 6. Correspondence, journals, speeches.

• Series 1: Tenure application materials, circa 1970 -- 1999
• Series 2: Writings, circa 1960 -- 1999
• Series 3: Adult Children of Fundamentalists research materials, 1969 -- 1991
• Series 4: Sermons, 1987 -- 1998
• Series 5: Evangelical and Ecumenical Women's Caucus conferences, 1975 -- 2002
• Series 6: Correspondence, journals, speeches, 1971 -- 1995

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access

This collection contains some restricted material. Restrictions related to specific material are listed in the detailed contents list.

Conditions Governing Use

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: Nancy A. Hardesty papers, circa 1960-2002, series #, box #, folder #, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.

Related Materials

AWTS: Evangelical and Ecumenical Women's Caucus- Christian Feminism Today Records, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Nancy A. Hardesty donated her papers to the Archives of Women in Theological Scholarship in 2001.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary

Processing Information

When the Burke Library acquired Hardesty's papers, an attempt was made to maintain the original order she imposed throughout the course of her career. Folded materials were flattened. Newspaper clippings were photocopied on acid free paper. Staples, rubber bands, and metal clips were removed and replaced with plastic clips. All materials were placed in acid-free folders and boxes. Copies were substituted for originals in order to suppress SSNs in royalty statements. The finding aid was created by Alison J. Killeen in 2007, and edited by Leah Edelman in 2022.

Revision Description

2022-05-24 PDF converted to EAD and description, including series rearrangement, updated by Leah Edelman.

Biographical / Historical

Nancy A. Hardesty was born on August 22, 1941 in Lima, Ohio. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Wheaton College in 1963 and received a Masters degree in newspaper journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in 1964. Hardesty worked for both The Christian Century and Eternity magazines before returning to graduate school, receiving her PhD in 1976. She earned her doctorate in the History of Christianity under the tutelage of Martin Marty at the University of Chicago, titling her thesis "Your Daughters Shall Prophesy': Revivalism and Feminism in the Age of Finney." It was later published in 1991 by Carlson Publishing. Hardesty's first published book, All We're Meant to Be: A Biblical Approach to Women's Liberation, was co-authored with Letha Dawson Scanzoni in 1974 as she was simultaneously working on her doctorate. At this time her career as a speaker burgeoned while she traveled extensively to promote the book, giving addresses on the topics of women's liberation and Biblical feminism within the evangelical Christian movement. All We're Meant to Be was named 23rd of the Top 50 books that have most shaped evangelicals in Christianity Today (October 2006), and the book has numerous editions. Hardesty began her teaching career at Candler School of Theology at Emory University in 1976 until 1980, when she took a break from teaching, working instead as an independent historian, editor and speaker for eight years. She returned to be Professor of religion at Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina in 1988. Hardesty was a contributing founder of both the Evangelical and Ecumenical Women's Caucus in 1975; she also helped to found Daughters of Sarah, a Christian feminist newsletter in publication from 1974-1995. Hardesty's publications relate to the role of women in the Christian church. In addition to All We're Meant to Be (1974), and Your Daughters Shall Prophesy (1991), Hardesty's works include Women Called to Witness (1984), Great Women of Faith (1982), Inclusive Language in the Church (1987), The Memory Book (1989), and Faith Cure: Divine Healing in the Holiness and Pentecostal Movements (2003). Some of her other research interests included adult children of fundamentalists, African American religion, and women and religion in the South. Hardesty died on April 8, 2011.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

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Name
Hardesty, Nancy -- : Archives	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID