Episcopal Theological School. Records

AO-00-R0354-02

The Archives of the Episcopal Church

Fonds

Episcopal Theological School. Records

• 1817-2014 (Creation)

67 cu.ft. (76 boxes)

The Episcopal Theological School (ETS), founded in 1867 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, emerged from earlier efforts to establish an Episcopal seminary in the New England area. Led by Benjamin Tyler Reed and Francis Wharton, ETS adopted a distinctive governance structure that emphasized donor and faculty autonomy. Early faculty cultivated a close-knit academic community noted for its intellectual rigor, modern Anglican theology, and progressive culture. Between 1869 and 1912, ETS developed a permanent campus that included St. John’s Memorial Chapel and several academic and residential buildings. Throughout the 20th century, ETS fostered a commitment to social justice and ecumenical cooperation. Alumni included influential bishops and activists, such as John M. Burgess, Henry Knox Sherrill, and civil rights martyr Jonathan Daniels. The school supported curricular innovation, cross-denominational collaboration through the Boston Theological Institute, and shared facilities with Lesley University. In 1974, ETS merged with Philadelphia Divinity School to form the Episcopal Divinity School (EDS), which remained on the original ETS campus until its merger with Union Theological Seminary in 2017. In July of 2018, the former EDS campus was purchased by Lesley University.

The Episcopal Theological School (ETS) archives broadly documents the administration, governance, instruction, and community of The Episcopal Church’s seminary in Cambridge, Massachusetts before its merger with the Philadelphia Divinity School (PDS) to form the Episcopal Divinity School (EDS). The records include the Board of Trustees and Board of Visitors; extensive financial records; student matriculation and performance records; records of the Deans and faculty; records of the ETS chapel, alumni association, and student organizations; and publications such as the ETS Bulletin and Catalog. The archive features audio recordings of sermons and conference proceedings made during important ETS events, as well as photographs of graduating classes, buildings, and seminary life. The ETS Centennial, celebrated in 1967 with conferences, commemorative events, and a major capital campaign, is well documented.

Board of Trustees, 1867-1973
Board of Visitors, 1874-1929
Faculty-Student Senate, 1969-1974
Faculty, 1845-2013
Student Enrollment, 1869-1969
Seminary Deans, 1817-2010
Treasurer and Financial Documents, 1868-1969
Administrative Files, 1868-2006
Student Life, 1867-1969
Alumni, 1864-2006
Library, 1874-2014
St. John’s Memorial Chapel, 1868-2007
Centennial Celebration and Campaign, 1961-1969
Historical Research Files, 1836-1995
Publications, 1868-1974
Audio/Visual, 1878-2003
Artifacts, 1902-1940

Access to Episcopal Church records is governed by the Archives Public Access Policy. Research requests must be submitted in writing.

• English

Philadelphia Divinity School. Records
Episcopal Divinity School. Records

• Boston Theological Institute
• Episcopal Divinity School
• Philadelphia Divinity School
• Seminaries
• Theological education
• Weston College

• Cambridge, Massachusetts

• Allen, Alexander V. G. (Subject)
• Coburn, John (Subject)
• Daniels, Jonathan (Subject)
• Lawrence, William (Subject)
• Reed, Benjamin Tyler (Subject)
• Stone, John Seeley (Subject)
• Washburn, Henry B. (Subject)
• Wharton, Francis (Subject)