The J. Christy Wilson Sr. Manuscript Collection

Collection

Identifier: SCM 069

Staff Only

Scope and Content

This collection consists primarily of correspondence, clippings, and lecture notes, most dating from the year 1951. Some items relate to the early career of Dr. Wilson's son, J. Christy Wilson, Jr.

Dates

1951, 1967-1969

Language of Materials

English

Access:

There are no special restrictions to the access of this collection. It may be examined by library patrons under the normal rules and conditions of Special Collections.

Preferred Citation

The following is the acceptable citation for publication: The J. Christy Wilson, Sr. Manuscript Collection. Special Collections, Princeton Theological Seminary Library.

Chronology

1891 July 22
: Born, Columbus, Nebraska to Charles C. and Lillie Gray Moore Wilson
1914
: B.A., University of Kansas, Phi Beta Kappa
1914-1916
: Newspaper editor, Daily Post, Idaho Falls, Idaho
1917 April 8
: Married to C. Fern Wilson in Washington, D.C.
1918 July 19
: Ordained, Lehigh Presbytery, United Presbyterian Church
1919
: Th.B., Princeton Theological Seminary
1919
: M.A., Princeton University
1919-1941
: Evangelistic missionary in Tabriz, Iran, under the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions
1921-1923
: Chairman, Near East Relief Commission for Persia
1926
: Th.M., Princeton Theological Seminary
1934
: Doctor of Divinity (honorary), Lafayette College; Doctor of Divinity (honorary), Emporia College
1937-1940
: Chairman, Near East Christian Council
1941-1961
: Associate Professor of Missions and Dean of Field Services, Princeton Theological Seminary
1942-1956
: Director, Princeton Institute of Theology
1962-1965
: Pastor of Visitation, First Presbyterian Church, Princeton
1965-1970
: Pastor of Visitation, First Presbyterian Church, Monrovia, California
1965-1973
: Resident, Duarte, California
1973 April 8
: Died, Duarte, California; Interment at Live Oaks Cemetery, Monrovia, California.

Biographical Information

Dr. Wilson participated in archaeological expeditions in the closed country of Afghanistan during the years he was stationed in Persia. During his years on the faculty at Princeton Seminary, he traveled with Dr. Frank Laubach's Literacy Campaign in Afghanistan as interpreter and linguistic aid. During these same years he was also a member of the National Council of Churches' Foreign Missions Executive Committee on World Literacy and Christian Literature.

Dr. Wilson was the author of a number of books, including Introducing Islam (1950), The Christian Message to Islam (1950), and Apostle to Islam: A Biography of Samuel M. Zwemer (1952). He edited Minister in Training: Textbook in Field Education (1957), and contributed various articles to encyclopedias and religious journals.

Extent

0.3 Linear Feet (1 Box)

Additional Description

Processing Information:

These papers were given to the Seminary by Mrs. Milton Powelson of Jamesburg, New Jersey, July 30, 1991. When the collection was organized in May of 1996, some other biographical items were added from the Archives' office files.