Baptist Union Theological Seminary Morgan Park, Ill

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Biographical notes:

The Baptist Theological Union was founded to meet the needs of students at the first University of Chicago [1856-1866] who wished to prepare for the ministry. On August 13, 1863, "The Baptist Theological Union located at Chicago" was organized, and on August 27, incorporated under a general law. On Feb. 16, 1865, the Illinois legislature granted the Union a charter for "the founding, endowment, support, and direction of an institution for theological instruction." That same year, Dr. Nathaniel Colver began to give instruction to a few students in his study. Later, classes were held in Douglas Hall of the old University of Chicago.

The formal work of the Baptist Union Theological Seminary begins with the appointment of Dr. George W. Northrup as President and Professor of Systematic Theology. In the fall of 1867, courses in that subject as well as Ecclesiastical History and Biblical Literature and Exegesis were given to nineteen students. On July 1, 1869, the seminary building was dedicated. Debts connected with this building and the offer of free land in the Chicago suburb of Morgan Park encouraged the move to new quarters in 1877. When John D. Rockefeller made his subscription of $1,000,000.00 toward the founding of The University of Chicago, he made it a condition of the gift that the seminary become the Divinity School of the new institution. This took place formally on July 1, 1892, with the B.T.U. continuing as a separate organization.

The history of the B.T.U. is closely connected with that of the University of Chicago, not only because of the organic connection in 1892, but because many of the individuals in the B.T.U. prior to that connection were important in founding the new University. E. Nelson Blake was President of the Board of the B.T.U. from 1877-1893; a major contributor to the University, he was the first chairman of its Board of Trustees. Edward Goodman and Thomas W. Goodspeed were also active in both institutions. In 1879, William R. Harper became professor of Hebrew and Cognate Languages in the Seminary and taught there until 1886 when he went to Yale. Dr. Eri B. Hulbert joined the faculty in 1881. In 1892 he became the first dean of the Divinity School (until 1907). Other B.U.T.S. faculty later associated with the University included James R. Boise and Ira M. Price.

From the guide to the Baptist Theological Union and Baptist Union Theological Seminary. Records, 1865-1944, (Special Collections Research Center University of Chicago Library 1100 East 57th Street Chicago, Illinois 60637 U.S.A.)