Brown, Thomas Donaldson Stewart, 1905-1968, arts student and divinity graduate

Thomas Donaldson Stewart Brown was born 11 April 1905, the son of Robert Clawson Brown, an outfitter. Thomas attended the University of Glasgow during the years 1924 until 1930. He took Latin and Political Economy (Ordinary) in his first year; Moral Philosophy (Ordinary), Geology, and History (Ordinary) in his second; and Moral Philosophy (Higher Ordinary), and Constitutional Law and History (for which he was awarded 4th prize) in his third. He graduated MA on 1 July 1927 .

In 1927 he commenced classes in Divinity, taking Theology, Divinity I, and Church History I from 1927-1928; Theology, Senior Divinity and Church History, and Junior Hebrew and New Testament classes in 1928-1929. In 1929-1930, he studied Theology, Senior Bible Criticism, Senior Hebrew, third year Divinity, and Special Divinity.

He gained several prizes throughout his divinity degree: 1st prize in the Divinity first year class 1927-1928; 1st prize in the junior class of Ecclesiastical History 1927-1928; 1st prize in the Divinity second year class 1928-1929; an honourable mention in the junior class of Bible Criticism 1928-1929; 1st prize and the Cleland and Rae-Wilson Gold Medal in the senior class of Ecclesiastical History 1928-1929 and 1st prize and Cleland and Rae-Wilson Gold Medal in the 3rd year Divinity class 1929-1930.

He had no funding, and paid his fees by working in the University Library. However, he did not graduate BD, possibly due to financial difficulties, but did become a minister and his subsequent career included becoming Moderator of the Presbytery of Edinburgh. In addition, he acted as Convener for several committees most notably, the Education for the Ministry committee.

In the minutes of 14th December 1967, the Senate of Glasgow University put forward the motion to confer on him the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity. He died a few days before the ceremony in 1968. At the time of his death he was minister of South Leith. His sons were also graduates of University of Glasgow.

From the guide to the Papers of Thomas Donaldson Stewart Brown, 1905-1968, arts graduate and Divinity student, University of Glasgow, Scotland, 1924-1930, (Glasgow University Archive Services)