Department of Religion records, 1954-2016

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Summary

Creator:
Duke University. Department of Religion
Abstract:
In 1960, the existing graduate and undergraduate programs in religious studies at Duke University were consolidated into the Department of Religion under the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The Department of Religion offers undergraduate and graduate level courses surrounding numerous aspects of religious study. The collection includes information relating to the management of both academic and administrative affairs and includes correspondence, committee meeting minutes, event planning materials, budgetary information, course materials, and other documents that illustrate the development of the Religious Studies program.
Extent:
5.5 Linear Feet
Language:
Materials in English
Collection ID:
UA.25.35.0001
University Archives Record Group:
25 -- Trinity College of Arts and Sciences
25 -- Trinity College of Arts and Sciences > 35 -- Religion

Background

Scope and content:

The Department of Religion Records contains correspondence, committee meeting minutes and faculty recruitment and departmental budgetary information produced by the Department of Religion between 1954-1978. The collection also provides information on curriculum and course development, planning materials for events and speakers hosted by the department and information about proposals for new professorships including a faculty exchange program with the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. The Department of Religion Records also includes materials related to the development of the Masters and PhD. programs including dissertation proposals and sample copies of PhD. examinations. The collection also contains copies of the departmental newspaper, Tower of Babel; information related to two departmental self-studies conducted in 1965 and 1975; and records from courses on Vatican II taught by Sam Miglarese.

Biographical / historical:

In 1960, the existing graduate and undergraduate programs in religious studies at Duke University were consolidated into the Department of Religion under the provision of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The Department of Religion offers an undergraduate major and minor in Religious Studies, M.A. in Religious Studies and a nationally regarded PhD program. The Department of Religion studies major world religious traditions including Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism and Taoism. The department also offers courses examining the core philosophical notions and broader impacts of religion on human life. Faculty from the department have included William H. Poteat, an influential scholar on the Post-Critical mode of thinking who served as department chairman from 1972-1978 and Thomas Langford who later served as dean of the Duke University Divinity School from 1971-1981 and as Provost from 1991-1994.

Acquisition information:
Transfer, 1974-1984, 1992, 2023
Processing information:

Processed by: Elizabeth J. Hannigan, August 2015

Accessions A84-3 and UA2023-0067 added and finding aid updated by April Blevins, January 2024

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Subjects

Click on terms below to find related finding aids on this site. For other related materials in the Duke University Libraries, search for these terms in the Catalog.

Subjects:
Religious education -- Study and teaching
Names:
Duke University. Department of Religion
Poteat, William H.
Langford, Thomas A.
Miglarese, Sam R.

Contents

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Restrictions:

Access restricted. Some materials in this collection include student records. In accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended, Duke University permits students to inspect their education records and limits the disclosure of personally identifiable information from education records. Contact Research Services for more information.

Access restricted. Some materials in this collection are Duke University administrative materials. For a period of twenty-five years from the origin of the material, permission in writing from the office of origin and the University Archivist is required for use of administrative records. After twenty-five years, records that have been processed may be consulted with the permission of the University Archivist. Contact Research Services for more information.

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], Department of Religion Records, Duke University Archives, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.