Inventory of the Hiram Earl Myers Papers, 1910 - 1977
[top]Descriptive Summary
TitleHiram
Earl Myers Papers,
1910 - 1977.
Creator
Myers, Hiram Earl,
1889-
Extent
4.5 Linear Feet,
4500 Items
Repository
4500 Items
University Archives, Duke
University
Abstract
Hiram Earl Myers was a clergyman,
theologian, and educator. He was ordained as a minister in
the N.C. Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
South (1918) and was an active member as pastor and
theologian. In 1926, Myers joined the Duke University
faculty in as professor of biblical literature. He served
as Chairman of the Department of Religion (1934-1936) and
as Director of Undergraduate Studies in Religion
(1937-1957). The collection consists of correspondence;
texts of sermons and Sunday School lessons; prayers given
in Duke Chapel; records of sermons, baptisms, and
marriages; notes on sermon topics; photographs; pamphlets; blueprints; and
other printed material. Major subjects include Myers'
activities as a clergyman, his reflections on theological
issues, and his involvement in the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South.
Language
English.
[top]
Administrative Information
Access RestrictionsPatrons must sign the Acknowledgement of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.
In off-site storage; 24 hours advance notice is
required for use.
Use Restrictions
Copyright for Official University records is
held by Duke University; all other copyright is retained by
the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants,
as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Hiram Earl Myers
Papers, University Archives, Duke University.
Provenance
The Hiram Earl Myers Papers was received by the
University Archives as a gift in 1980 (A80-28) and in 1983
(A83-55).
Processing Information
Processed by Linda Daniel
Completed February 2004
Encoded by Linda Daniel, February 2004
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
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Biographical Note
Hiram Earl Myers was a clergyman, theologian, and educator. Born in Anson County, near Wadesboro, N.C., in 1889, Myers attended Trinity College (A.B., 1911), Boston University School of Theology (S.T.B., 1920; S.T.M., 1926), University of Chicago and Chicago Theological Seminary (1936), Harvard Divinity School and the Episcopal Theological Seminary (1941). He received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Elon College (1950).
Myers was ordained as a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South (1918) and served as pastor of the Trinity Methodist Church in Manchester, N.H. while attending Boston University. He also served at N.C. churches located in Graham, Salisbury, Elizabeth City, and Durham.
Myers joined the Duke University faculty in 1926 as professor of biblical literature. He served as Chairman of the Department of Religion (1934-1936) and as Director of Undergraduate Studies in Religion (1937-1957). Myers stayed at Duke until his retirement in 1958.
Myers was involved in a number of professional, civic, church, and honorary organizations including the National Association of Biblical Instructors, the American Association of University Professors, and Phi Beta Kappa.
Myers married Rose Mae Warren in 1926. They had one daughter, Martha Rose.
[top]Collection Overview
The collection reflects Myers' activities as a
clergyman and his thoughts on theological issues. The
collection consists of correspondence; texts of sermons and
Sunday School lessons; prayers given in Duke Chapel;
records of sermons, baptisms, and marriages; notes on sermon topics;
pamphlets; and other printed material. Major subjects
include Myers' activities as a clergyman, his reflections
on theological issues, and his involvement in the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South.
The
Writings and Speeches Series
is an important part of the collection. It includes the
typed and manuscript texts of approximately three hundred
sermons and Sunday School lessons given by Myers throughout
his career as a minister, prayers used in Duke Chapel, and
other writings.
The
Correspondence Series
includes correspondence with colleagues and family.
Individual items of particular interest are letters from
R.L. Flowers dealing with the aftermath of the deaths of
James B. Duke and William Preston Few. Other correspondents
include Sarah Pearson Duke, Josephus Daniels, Horace R.
Kornegay, Sam J. Ervin, Jr., Y.E. Smith, William A. Erwin,
and William B. Umstead. A few items within the
correspondence deal with local Methodist affairs in the
N.C. conference, particularly with ministerial
appointments. Most of the correspondence is routine,
although it occasionally reflects historical events such as
the Great Depression and World War II.
Other series in the collection include
Personal and Family Papers,
Pastoral Records,
Lake Junaluska,
Duke University, and
Subject Files.
Material directly related to Duke University is
scanty. There are three folders of tests and examinations
administered by Myers in his classes. Individual items of
interest include Myers' reminiscences at the the 1960
alumni reunion and a copy of a poetic tribute to B. N. Duke
by Wilbur F. Tillett of Vanderbilt University in 1928.
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Subject Headings
These and related materials may be accessed under
the following subject headings in the Duke University
Libraries online catalog.
- Bible--Study and teaching.
- Duke University. Chapel.
- Duke University. Dept. of Religion.
- Duke University--Faculty.
- Duke University--Religious activities.
- Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
- Myers, Hiram Earl, 1889-
- Pastoral prayers.
- Religion--Study and teaching.
- Sunday school teachers.
- Sermons.
- Blueprints.
- Pamphlets.
- Photographs.
- Sermons.
Related Material
Department of Religion
Records.
University Archives, Duke
University.
Rose Mae Warren Myers
Papers.
Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special
Collections Library, Duke University.
News Service Biographical
Files.
University Archives, Duke
University.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Box 1Personal and Family Papers, 1923-1977
Includes biographical information about Myers,
family mementos, certificates, information about honorary
memberships, blueprints for the Myers' home, notes on
vacations, and photographs.
The honorary certificate that Myers received
from Duke Memorial Methodist Church,
May 1,
1977, has been separated from the collection and
is filed in Map Cabinet 7. Please consult University
Archives staff.
Pastoral Records, 1917-1974
Includes records from churches pastored by
Myers, as well as records for the N.C. Conference of the
Methodist Church and the Council of Bishops.
Lake Junaluska, 1927-1937
Includes class records, information about the
Lake Junaluska Summer School, tests, and notes.
Duke University, 1928-1960
Examinations,
ca.
1929-1957
Includes examination questions used by Myers
in his classes at Duke University.
Tribute to B.N. Duke,
1928
Includes a copy of a poetic tribute to B.N.
Duke by Wilbur F. Tillett of Vanderbilt University.
Alumni Affairs, Class of 1935
Reunion,
1960
Includes Myers' reminiscences at the 1960
alumni reunion.
Writings and Speeches, ca. 1920-1972
Lecture Series,
Sept. 5-10,
1937
Includes notes on
"Life and Letters of
Paul"
lecture series.
Prayers,
ca.
1942-1954
Includes prayers delivered in Duke Chapel
services.
Sermon Themes, Meditations, and
Explications,
[ca.
1920]
Box 2
Sermons and Sunday School Lessons,
1925-1972
Includes the typed and manuscript texts of
approximately three hundred sermons and Sunday School
lessons given by Myers.
Box 3
"Paul: Life and
Works,"
1925-1926
Includes three notebooks that contain Myers'
writings about the apostle Paul.
Notes and Quotations
Includes notes, jottings, copied quotations,
and meditations dealing with both religious and
nonreligious themes.
Correspondence, March, 1918-April, 1973 and n.d.
Includes correspondence with colleagues and
family. Individual items of particular interest are letters
from R.L. Flowers dealing with the aftermath of the deaths
of James B. Duke and William Preston Few. Other
correspondents include Sarah Pearson Duke, Josephus
Daniels, Horace R. Kornegay, Sam J. Ervin, Jr., Y.E. Smith,
William A. Erwin, and William B. Umstead. A few items
within the correspondence deal with local Methodist affairs
in the N.C. conference, particularly with ministerial
appointments. Most of the correspondence is routine,
although it occasionally reflects historical events such as
the Great Depression and World War II.
Subject Files, 1910-1960
Includes pamphlets and other types of printed
materials about a wide variety of subjects. Topics include
biblical instruction, integration, prohibition, the Middle
East, Palestine, surveys of religion curricula in colleges
and universities, U.S. diplomatic representation at the
Vatican, and biblical archaeology.
