The Arthur M. Adams Manuscript Collection

1908

Born, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 28

1927-1931

Attended University of Pennsylvania

1931-1934

Attended and graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary

1934

Ordained by the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, Presbytery of Philadelphia North, June 26

1934

Married Margaret Baker, social worker, October 23

1934-1944

Pastored Glading Memorial Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,

1944-1950

Pastored First Presbyterian Church, Albany, New York

1951

Conferred the degree of Doctor of Divinity, Beaver College, Jenkintown, Pennsylvania

1950-1962

Pastored Central Presbyterian Church, Rochester, New York

1955-1962

Preached on Central Church of the Air

1955-1962

Served as a Trustee at Princeton Theological Seminary

1962

Became Director of Field Education and Professor of Practical Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary

1962

Founded the Center of Continuing Education at Princeton Theological Seminary

1964

Published Pastoral Administration

1966

Became Dean of Princeton Theological Seminary

1968

Published Communication and Decision in the United Presbyterian Church

1979

Founded the Church Administration Society

1979

Retired as Dean of Princeton Theological Seminary, September 1

1979

Arthur Merrihew Adams died at his home, Princeton Theological Seminary, September 9

1980

The home of the Center of Continuing Education is dedicated and renamed in honor of Adams. Adams House Dedication Ceremony at Princeton Theological Seminary, April 23

Arthur Merrihew Adams was born on September 28, 1908, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Alexander Mackie Adams and his wife, Laura Merrihew Dickey Adams. He was the oldest of three children. He attended the University of Pennsylvania and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1931. From there, he proceeded to Princeton Seminary and received a Bachelor of Theology degree in 1934. In the same year, he was ordained by the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America in the Philadelphia North Presbytery and began his first pastorate at Glading Memorial Presbyterian Church. He also was married to Margaret Baker in October of 1934. After serving at Glading for ten years, from 1934-1944, Adams became the pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Albany, New York. He was positioned there from 1944-1950, when he then moved to Central Presbyterian Church of Rochester, New York.

An obituary in Princeton Theological Seminary News states, “Under his leadership Central Church pioneered in migrant work, store-front ministry, service to underprivileged children, … and an annual religious arts festival that drew entries from all over the country. His ministry in Rochester extended beyond the membership of his own congregation to the many that heard him as preacher for more than a decade on the Central Church of the Air, the city’s oldest religious radio program, and as teacher of the lunch-hour Bible classes…”

After twenty-eight years in the pastorate, Adams came back to Princeton Theological Seminary in 1962, where he would stay until his retirement. He had been serving as a trustee at the Seminary for seven years already at that time. Adams was deeply influential in beginning and maintaining the field education and continuing education programs at the Seminary, where he was serving as a professor of Pastoral Theology and the Director of Field Education. In 1966, he became the Dean of Princeton Theological Seminary and he continued his service until September 1979. He retired only days before his passing on September 9, 1979.