Research Guides: Harvard Divinity School: The First Hundred Years: Society for the Promotion of Theological Education

Society for the Promotion of Theological Education

In 1816, the Society for the Promotion of Theological Education at Harvard University was organized to provide money for instruction in theology and to run the new Harvard Divinity School.

After 1830, the Divinity School faculty assumed direction of the School and dissolved the Society. A new Society for Promoting Theological Education was formed and continues today. A bequest of John Davis Williams in 1848 gave this Society the financial capacity to help worthy Harvard Divinity School students through the Williams Fund.

An account of the "Society for the Promotion of Theological Education in Harvard University" formed in Boston, July 17, 1816 : with the constitution, rules &c. [Harvard Logon]

Historical Sketch, Act of Incorporation, Devise, Decree of Court, By-laws, Officers, and Lists of Members. [Print Only] Includes memorial inscriptions that were on tables in the first Harvard Divinity School Library (now Farlow Herbarium).

Archival Collections

Draft of a circular letter to the members of the Society for Promoting Theological Education, June 29, 1824.

Records of the Society for the Promotion of Theological Education at Harvard University, 1788-1853

Society for Promoting Theological Education. Records, 1815-1977 [Print Only]

Theological Education in Cambridge University, 1815

Kirkland, John Thornton. Theological education in Cambridge University. : The corporation of Harvard College have thought it their duty to adopt measures for increasing the means of theological education at the university. ... 1815. [Harvard Login]

This 1815 broadside is a proposal "to form a society 'for the education of candidates for the ministry in Cambridge University.'" Includes blank form for subscribers' names. Signed and dated: In behalf of the corporation, with the assent of the Board of Overseers by John T. Kirkland, President of Harvard College.

Probably printed by Hilliard and Metcalf, printer for Harvard University in 1815. Text in two columns; printed area measures 25.5 x 15.8 cm.

Founding the Society for the Promotion of Theological Education

Society for the Promotion of Theological Education in Harvard University. An Account of the "Society for the Promotion of Theological Education in Harvard University" Formed in Boston, July 17, 1816 : With the Constitution, Rules &c. Boston: Printed by John Eliot, 1816. [Harvard Login]

Members of the Society for Promoting Theological Education (1820-21)

According to the Constitution of the Society, adopted in 1816, "a donation of fifty dollars, an annual subscription of five dollars, if by a clergyman of two dollars, constituted a person a member of the Society."

John Adams	Rev. Abiel Abbott	Rev. John Allyn
Mrs. Hannah Amory	Mrs. Elizabeth Amory	John Bright
Andrew Brimmer	Edward Brooks	Rev. W.E. Channing
Jonathan Coolidge	Paul Coffin	Rev. Henry Colman
John Davis	Thomas A. Dexter	Rodolphus Dickerman
Benjamin Fessenden	Rev. John Foster	Rev. N.L. Frothingham
Joseph Gates	Benjamin Goddard	Rev. Thomas Gray
Rev. T.M. Harris	George Hayward	William Hilliard
John Head	Joseph Head, Jr.	John Heard
Samuel Hoar	David Hyslop	Jonathan Hunnewell
Luther Lawrence	William P. Mason	William Minot
B.R. Nichols	Rev. Asa Packard	Thomas Parsons
George Partridge	Charles P. Phelps	Benjamin Pierce
Rev. John Pierce	H. Prince	Rev. John S. Popkin
Benjamin Rice	Rev. Ezra Ripley	Rev. Samuel Ripley
Benjamin Russell	Daniel Sargent	Henry Sargent
Lemuel Shaw	William Shimmin	L. Saltonstall
Rev. Samuel Sewell	William Sullivan	George Thatcher
George Thatcher, Jr.	Henry S. Thatcher	Philip S.S. Thatcher
Elisha Ticknor	Richard D. Tucker	Gustavus Tuckerman
Rev. Henry Ware	Rev. William Ware	Rev. Henry Ware, Jr.
William Wells	James H. Wells	Rev. John White
Rev. Peter Whitney	Thomas Wigglesworth	Rev. Samuel Willard
Eben H. Williams	Edmund Winchester	Rev. Noah Worcester
Deacon White

Incorporation of The Society for Promoting Theological Education

Act of Incorporation - Feb. 15, 1826

On February 15, 1826, the Massachusetts legislature approved "An Act to incorporate certain persons by the name of the Society for the Promotion of Theological Education at Cambridge"

Channing's fundraising

Channing, William Ellery. Observations on the Proposition for Increasing the Means of Theological Education at the University in Cambridge. Printed by Hilliard and Metcalf, 1816.

William Ellery Channing led a campaign to fund Harvard Divinity School. Observations is Channing's appeal "to the friends of Harvard University, of an enlightened ministry, of free inquiry, and of pure Christianity" (p 20)