MenuInventory of the Thor Hall Papers, 1961-1972
Abstract
Thor Hall was Associate Professor of Preaching and Theology in the Duke Divinity School from 1962 until 1972.
The collection contains materials representative of Dr. Hall's work as a teacher and administrator in the Divinity School as well as information on the growth and development of the Divinity School itself. It also includes materials related to Dr. Hall's work outside the Duke community, particularly in the United Methodist Church. Of particular interest are the folders pertaining to his work in the preaching clinic which he directed in 1964 and 1965. The American Association of Theological Schools Report as well as items in the folder "Organization and Structure, 1968-1971" chart the changes in the Divinity School during the turbulent years of academic and political unrest.
Descriptive Summary
- Repository
- University Archives, Duke University
- Creator
- Hall, Thor, 1927-
- Title
- Thor Hall Papers, 1961-1972
- Language of Material
- English
- Extent
- 3 Linear Feet, 3000 Items
- Location
- For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Collection Overview
The materials range in date from 1961-1972 and include correspondence, minutes, reports, brochures, and proposals. Two photographs of students at the Approved Pastors School (circa 1963) were transferred from this collection to the University Archives Photograph Collection.
Administrative Information
A majority of collections are stored off site and must be requested at least 24 business hours in advance for retrieval. Contact Rubenstein Library staff before visiting. Read More »
Access Restrictions
Patrons must sign the Acknowledgement of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.
Collection is open for research.
In off-site storage; 24 hours advanced 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.
Contents of the Collection
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Dr. Thor Hall was born and raised in Larvik, Norway and educated there as well as in Sweden, England and the United States. He received an Examen Artium (B.A.) degree from Oslo University, a Diploma of Theology (B.D.) degree from Scandinavian Methodist Seminary (Sweden), and the M.R.E. and Ph.D. degree from Duke University. Following seminary, he studied for a year at the Selly Oak College in Birmingham, England, holding a scholarship from the World Council of Churches. During his graduate work at Duke, he held a Crusade Scholarship from the Methodist Church, a Kearns Fellowship in Religion, the Angier B. Duke Memorial Fellowship and a James B. Duke Fellowship.
Dr. Hall, his wife Gerd, and their son Jan Tore came to America in 1957. During his five years of graduate study, Dr. Hall served one year as pastor of the Ansonville Methodist Church in the Western North Carolina Conference and almost three years as Assistant to the Minister and Interim Minister of the First Presbyterian Church of Durham, North Carolina. He joined the Duke faculty in September 1962, teaching in the areas of systematic theology and preaching. He spent his sabbatical 1968-69 with his family at the University of Lund, Sweden, completing work on a major book on Lundensian theological methodology, entitled A Framework for Faith. Other books by Dr. Hall include A Theology of Christian Devotion and a collection of sermons by Charles P. Bowles entitled The Unfinished Pyramid.
Dr. Hall was Associate Professor of Preaching and Theology in the Duke Divinity School from 1962 until 1972. Currently, Dr. Hall is a Martin Professor Emeritus in the Department of Philosophy and Religion at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga.
Subject Headings
Related Material
- James T. Cleland papers, 1928-1975 (Duke University Archives)
- Duke University Chapel Sermons, 1954-1987 [sound recording] (Duke University Archives)
- Biographical Reference Collection, 1972-2004 (Duke University Archives)
- News Service Biographical Files, 1960-2004 (Duke University Archives)
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Thor Hall Papers, Duke University Archives, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
Provenance
The Thor Hall Papers were received by the University Archives as a transfer in 1986.
Processing Information
Processed by Jessica Wood, June 2006
Encoded by Kimberly Sims, July 2006
Accession A86-34 is described in this finding aid.
Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and our local Style Guide.
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.