James Cannon III papers, 1912 - 1974

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Summary

Creator:
Cannon, James, 1892-1960
Abstract:
James Cannon III worked as an educator and administrator at Trinity College and Duke University from 1919 to 1960, serving as Dean of the Divinity School from 1951 to 1958. The Canon papers contain correspondence, manuscript drafts of sermons and publications, course materials, subject files, clippings, photographs, ephemera, and scrapbooks relating to the life and work of James Cannon III. Major subjects include biblical literature and the Bible as literature, religious education, missionary training, history of religion, Christianity, Buddhism, comparative religion, and the Cannon family, especially James Cannon, Jr. and James Cannon IV. English.
Extent:
4.6 Linear Feet
4,500 Items
Language:
English.
Collection ID:
UA.29.02.0067
University Archives Record Group:
29 -- Papers of Faculty, Staff, and Associates
29 -- Papers of Faculty, Staff, and Associates > 02 -- Individuals

Background

Scope and content:

The Cannon papers were originally organized into three main files and arranged alphabetically within these files. Three series reflecting the original order were created: Personal files and family history, Writings, and Subject files. The Writings series was reorganized by type of writing into three subseries: Sermons, Articles, and Course materials. Some clippings files, reference materials, gradebooks, and duplicates were removed from the papers.

Biographical / historical:

From 1919 to 1960, Reverend Dr. James Cannon III worked as an educator and administrator at Trinity College and Duke University, serving as Dean of the Divinity School from 1951 to 1958. He was born on November 30, 1892 in Farmville, Virginia to Bishop James Cannon, Jr., and Lura Bennett Cannon. He earned a bachelor's degree from Trinity College in 1914 and a master's degree at Princeton University in 1917. Cannon served in the military as a chaplain during World War I, for which he merited the French Croix de Guerre in 1919. Later that year, he returned to Trinity College to teach Biblical Literature and Missions. While he taught at Trinity, he continued his graduate studies at the Princeton Theological Seminary, earning his bachelor's and master's degrees in theology in 1925. When the Duke University Divinity School opened in 1926, Cannon became the Ivey Professor of the History of Religion and Missions, a position he held until his death on March 9, 1960.

In addition to his work at Duke University, Cannon actively participated in several religious and educational organizations and authored and edited a number of scholarly publications. In 1958, he was elected president of the Association of Methodist Theological Schools. Cannon also served as president of the Professors of Missions in Eastern Universities in 1941. He was secretary of the Duke chapter of Phi Beta Kappa and served on the Phi Beta Kappa National Senate in 1953. He wrote the History of Southern Methodist Missions (Cokesbury Press, 1926) and co-authored A Guide to the Study of the English Bible (Duke University Press, 1926). Cannon also edited periodicals such as Christian Advocate and The Muslim World.

Acquisition information:
The James Cannon III Papers was received by the University Archives as a gift in 1974.
Processing information:

Processed by Jill Katte

Completed July 2002

Encoded by Jill Katte, September 2003

Physical location:
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult University Archives, Duke University.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials


Restrictions:

Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection.

Unprocessed materials are closed pending processing.

In off-site storage; 48 hours advance notice is required for use.

Terms of access:

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.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], James Cannon III Papers, Duke University Archives, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.