Collection ID: C575
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Collection context

Summary

Creator:
Indiana University, Bloomington. Department of Religious Studies
Abstract:
The Indiana School of Religion was established in 1910 to provide and promote Biblical and religious education to student who attended Indiana University. When IU established its own Religious Studies program in 1965, the School struggled until 1970 when it closed its doors and its assets were transferred to the IU program. This allowed the program to become an established department and it is now known as one of the oldest and most prominent in the country. This collection contains the records of the Department organized into four series: Administrative files, Committees, Correspondence, and Publications.
Extent:
5.4 cubic feet (6 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English
Preferred citation:

[Item], Indiana University Department of Religious Studies records, Collection C575, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.

Background

Biographical / Historical:

The beginnings of the Department of Religious Studies date to 1910 with the founding of the Indiana School of Religion. The school, established by the Disciples of Christ, was not affiliated with Indiana University but offered non-credit courses to IU students and community members. In 1953, Indiana University developed their own "Area of Comparative Religion" within its College of Arts and Sciences with lecturers coming from the School of Religion. Marriage between the Area of Comparative Religion and the Indiana School of Religion was drawn into the spotlight when the Supreme Court ruled that tax money could be used by public institutions to teach non-denominational religion courses in 1963 and as a result, in 1966 the Indiana School of Religion merged with the Area of Comparative Religion to create the Department of Religious Studies.

Student response to this program was overwhelming and the enrollment in classes from 1966 to 1968 grew at a sixty-five percent increase. In 1968, a master's program was developed alongside the bachelors program to further research opportunities and in the 1970s the department added a PhD program. By the 1980s the department had developed into a nationally ranked program respected throughout the country. Today the Department of Religious Studies is still a place for stimulating education and stellar scholarship. The faculty routinely publish articles that focus on innovations in the field and students are encouraged to seek out research opportunities through funds provided by alumni, former faculty, and the university.

Scope and Content:

The collection is organized into the following series: Administrative files, Committee files, Correspondence, and Publications. The Administrative files series is composed of general subject files, records relating to departmental activities, and faculty profiles. Within the Administrative files series are the exit interviews of unidentified students which provide insight into the changing attitudes of students toward the department and as well as a snapshot review of how the department handled student affairs. The small Committee series consists of records from departmental committees, with a heavy focus on the Comparative Religion Committee. The Correspondence series consists primarily of correspondence between David Smith, the longtime chair of the department, and other members of the department as well as correspondence between students and faculty. The final series, Publications, includes the departmental and alumni newsletter, both of which highlight the growth and development of the department over its many years.

Restricted files are listed where they would fall in the intellectual organization of the collection but are physically located at the end of the collection.

Acquisition information:
Accession 2014/054; 2014/109; 2015/043; Publications
Custodial history:

This collection was transferred to the Indiana University Archives from the Department of Religious Studies in December 2014.

Processing information:

Processed by Randi Beem.

Completed in 2015.

Arrangement:

The collection is organized into four series: Administrative files, Committees, Correspondence, and Publications.

Access

RESTRICTIONS:

Select files are closed to researchers. These are indicated in the finding aid. Some may be opened upon review by an archivist if advance notice is received.

Advance notice required for access.

TERMS OF ACCESS:

Copyrights for records originating with Indiana University administrative units, departments, and other offices are held by the Trustees of Indiana University. For more information, please contact the Indiana University Archives staff.

The Indiana University Archives respects the intellectual property rights of others and does not claim any copyrights for non-university records, materials in the public domain, or materials for which we do not hold a Deed of Gift. Responsibility for the determination of the copyright status of these materials rests with those persons wishing to reuse the materials. Researchers are responsible for securing permission from copyright owners and any other rights holders for any reuse of these materials that extends beyond fair use or other statutory limitations.

Digital reproductions of archival materials from the Indiana University Archives are made available for noncommercial educational and research purposes only. If you are the copyright holder for any of the digitized materials and have questions about its inclusion on our site, please contact the Indiana University Archivist.

PREFERRED CITATION:

[Item], Indiana University Department of Religious Studies records, Collection C575, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.

CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
Herman B Wells Library E460
1320 East Tenth Street
Bloomington, Indiana 47405-7000, United States
CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
CONTACT:
812-855-1127
archives@indiana.edu