The collection is open for research.
Onsite storage.
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.
Series 1: Administrative records, circa 1923 -- 1948
This series 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.
Series 2: H.P. Van Dusen's CCTTS records, 1929 -- 1949
This series 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.
General collections
This collection is arranged in two roughly chronological series: Series 1. Administrative records; and Series 2. H.P. Van Dusen's CCTTS records.
The collection is open for research.
Onsite storage.
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.
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.
The exact provenance of this collection is unknown; however, it may be surmised that both Anton Boisen and Helen Flanders Dunbar, as UTS Alumni, separately gave documents to the Burke Library. The Van Dusen correspondence on this topic was transferred to this collection from Union Seminary's administrative files in 2007.
Columbia University Libraries, Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary
Any deteriorating metal clips and staples were removed from materials and folded items were flattened. Original brass split pins have been retained. Materials were placed in new acid-free folders and boxes. Acidic items were separated from one another by interleaving with acid-free paper as needed. The finding aid was created by Ruth Tonkiss Cameron in 2007, and edited by Leah Edelman in 2023.
2023-04-04 PDF converted to EAD and description updated by Leah Edelman.
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.
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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