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COLLECTION Identifier: bMS 368

Robert C. Kimball. Papers, 1959-1988.

Overview

The collection consists of materials from Robert C. Kimball's tenure as literary executor of Paul Tillich's literary estate from 1959 to 1987. The materials include personal and professional correspondence, and several published and unpublished manuscripts by Paul Tillich's wife, Hannah Tillich.

Dates

  • Creation: 1959-1988.

Access

There are no restrictions on access to this collection.

Extent

13 boxes

The collection consists of materials from Robert C. Kimball's tenure as literary executor of Paul Tillich's literary estate from 1959 to 1987. The materials include personal and professional correspondence, contract renewals, and requests from various publishers and scholars to reprint and access Paul Tillich's writings. The collection also includes annotated typescripts and copies of several of Tillich's lectures. A significant portion of the collection is dedicated to personal correspondence between Robert Kimball and Hannah Tillich after Paul Tillich's death in 1965. Kimball also served in an informal capacity as literary advisor to Paul Tillich's wife Hannah Tillich, and therefore the collection contains several published and unpublished manuscripts by Hannah Tillich.

Biographical / Historical

Robert C. Kimball (1928- ) was born in Rochester, New York. He married Lorna Jean Thomas and they have four children. Kimball received a BA in psychology from Oberlin College in 1951; an MA in philosophy from Oberlin Graduate School in 1953; a BD from Oberlin Graduate School of Theology in 1955; and a PhD in the history and philosophy of religion from Harvard University in 1960. Kimball was ordained in 1955 by the Medina Association of the Congregational Churches of Northern Ohio (now the United Church of Christ). He also holds joint ministerial standing in the Unitarian Universalist Associations of Congregations. He served as minister of education in the First Hungarian Reformed Church of Cleveland, Ohio (1952-1955), and First Congregational Church of Hyde Park, Massachusetts (1955-1958). Kimball served as Lecturer on Religion and Mental Health at Harvard Divinity School (1959-1960), Professor of Theology at Starr King School for the Ministry, and member of the core doctoral faculty of the Graduate Theological Union of Berkeley, California (1960-1998). He was also President of Starr King School for the Ministry from 1963-1983, and Dean from 1963-1997. In 1959, theologian Paul Tillich appointed Robert Kimball as his literary executor, a position he held until 1987. Following Tillich's death in 1965, Kimball worked closely with Hannah Tillich, the executor of Paul Tillich's estate, concerning literary matters and the establishment of the Tillich archives at Andover-Harvard Theological Library. Kimball is the editor of Theology of Culture: Essays by Paul Tillich (1959) and the author of several books including Restless is the Heart (1988); Sanctified Violence (2004); A Chinese Lady and Friends (2010); and Dilemma: The Christianity Faith (2011).

Acquisition Information

Gift of Robert Kimball.

Related Materials

For related collections, please see bMS 649, bMS 621, bMS 651, bMS 722, and bMS 721.

Title
Kimball, Robert C. Papers, 1959-1988: A Finding Aid.
Author
Andover-Harvard Theological Library
Language of description
und
EAD ID
div00368

Repository Details

Part of the Harvard Divinity School Library, Harvard University Repository

Special Collections at Harvard Divinity School Library preserves and makes accessible primary source materials documenting the history of religion and theology, with particular historical emphasis on American liberal religious traditions. Though the historical strengths of the collections have been in the field of Christianity, other religious traditions are increasingly reflected, in step with Harvard Divinity School's evolving focus on global religious studies. Known as Andover-Harvard Theological Library since 1911, it was renamed the Harvard Divinity School Library in 2021.

Contact:
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