The Thomas F. Torrance Manuscript Collection

Series I: Torrance Family Papers: Boxes 1-9

This series includes published and unpublished writings, reports and travel logs, correspondence and biographical material on Thomas Torrance (1871-1959) and other family members.

Series II: Personal Life: Boxes 10-15

This series includes autobiographical writings of Thomas F. Torrance, family letters, and a collection of biographical material.

Series III: Selected Papers for McGrath Biography: Boxes 16-41

This series is comprised of files collected for the biography of Thomas F. Torrance, written by Alister McGrath. They have been left in their original order and identified by topic. Some of the material in this series is duplicated elsewhere in the collection. Topics in this series are as follows:

- Historical Theology, Early Lectures

- Collection of material by and about Iain Richard Torrance

- War service letters and related documents

- Collection of Karl Barth material (correspondence with Karl Barth and his family, works by or about Karl Barth, and other material related to Barth)

- Collection of early lectures-Dogmatics

- Auburn lectures, 1938-1939 (2 boxes)

- General theology lectures: Revelation, the Word of God, Doctrine of God, Introduction to Christology and Soteriology [Auburn Lectures, New College Lectures and other documents]

- Main Lectures [at New College] - Christian Dogmatics: The Church, Ministry, Sacraments [with other documents]

- Lectures on Christology: Biblical, Patristic, Reformed

- Main Lectures [at New College]-Christian Dogmatics: Doctrine of Christ [original typescripts]

- Main Lectures [at New College]- Christian Dogmatics: Doctrine of Salvation, Redemption, Atonement, Justification, Reconciliation, and Resurrection [typescript and manuscript]

- Lectures on Soteriology

- Lectures on Ecclesiology

- Lectures on Hermeneutics (6 boxes)

- Material collected for a proposed third volume of Conflict and Agreement in the Church

- Hugh Ross Mackintosh, Lecture Summaries and class notes by Thomas F. Torrance, 1935-1936

- Sermons, Lectures and Addresses, in Scotland and Abroad (4 boxes)

Series IV: Writings, Published and Unpublished: Boxes 42-75

This series is arranged into six subseries: Sermons, Lectures at New College, University of Edinburgh, Handwritten and Typescript Documents, Drafts of Published Works, Festschriften, and Published Writings, 1941-1997. The collection of sermons was arranged in Biblical order by Thomas F. Torrance. New College lectures were arranged according to outlines prepared by Thomas F. Torrance. The collection of handwritten and typescript writings were arranged alphabetically by discernable title and the collection of Festschriften is alphabetical by the celebrated individual's last name. Drafts of published works were arranged alphabetically by title, and often the published work itself was consulted to aid in the identification of these papers. The collection of published writings is arranged in chronological order.

Series V: Lectureships and Conferences: Boxes 76-84

This series includes original drafts of lectures and addresses by Thomas F. Torrance, along with related papers and correspondence from many lectureships and conferences. Notable files include the Harris Lectures (1970), the Maxwell Cummings Lecture (1978), The Richards Lectures (1978), the Annie Kinkead Warfield Lectures (1981), international consultations on theology and science cosponsored by the Center of Theological Inquiry and the Templeton Foundation (1988), and papers related to Mission Scotland 1991 led by Billy Graham in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow. This series is arranged in chronological order.

Series VI: Church of Scotland Papers: Boxes 85-101

This series is arranged into two subseries. The first, Church Affairs, is arranged alphabetically by committee or topic. Committees include the Inter-Church Relations Committee, the Overseas Council, and Committee on Church and Israel, and others. A significant portion of this subseries is comprised of papers from the Church of Scotland Special Commission on Baptism. Thomas F. Torrance served as Convener of the Commission from 1955 to 1962. He drafted most of the material for the reports to the General Assembly. This Commission was responsible for issuing The Biblical Doctrine of Baptism: A Study Document, published in 1958.

The second subseries, Moderatorial Papers, is comprised of material from Thomas F. Torrance's appointment as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. It includes correspondence, material related to Moderatorial visits, sermons, speeches, and other writings. This subseries is arranged in chronological order, spanning from 1974 to 1977.

Series VII: Correspondence and Related Papers: Boxes 102-158

This series is arranged into three subseries: Individuals A-Z, Organizations A-Z, and General Chronological. Major academic societies and institutions represented in this series include, the Academie Internationale des Sciences Religieuses, the British Academy, Deutsches Institut fur Bildung und Wissen, Center of Theological Inquiry, Handsel Press Limited, the John Templeton Foundation, the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and Scottish Journal of Theology Limited. Correspondence files often contain related material such as writings by the correspondent, minutes of meetings of a given organization, or information for review.

Series VIII: Special Topics: Boxes 159-178

This series is arranged into seven subseries. The first, China and the Church in China, includes correspondence with individuals in China, and correspondence about China. Topics of correspondence include trips by Thomas F. Torrance to China, researching Jews, China and history, and the presence of the Holy Bible in China.

The second subseries includes papers relating to Michael Polanyi (1891-1976), for whom Thomas F. Torrance was the literary executor during the lifetime of his wife Magda. This subseries includes correspondence with Michael and Magda Polanyi and others, Polanyi Society meeting information and newsletters, papers by and about Michael Polanyi, and conferences on Michael Polanyi.

The third subseries includes papers of the Order of Christian Unity (Scottish Branch), for which Thomas F. Torrance was Inter-Church Consultant; and the Scottish Order of Christian Unity, for which he was President. This subseries includes correspondence, minutes, agendas, newsletters, and various papers relating to the mission of the Order- being teaching in family life, education, the media, and medical ethics.

The fourth subseries includes papers relating to the dialogue between the Greek Orthodox Church and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, which began in 1977. This subseries includes correspondence and papers, including drafts of Theological Dialogue between Orthodox and Reformed Churches, edited by Thomas F. Torrance.

The fifth subseries consists of a collection of material related to science and theology. It is organized by individual and by topic.

The sixth subseries is comprised of World Council of Churches papers. Thomas F. Torrance served on the Faith and Order Commission from 1952-1962.

The seventh and final subseries contains miscellaneous papers; including correspondence related to sales of Thomas F. Torrance's personal library, curricula vitae for various individuals, and other unorganized miscellanea.

Series IX: Works by Others: Boxes 179-199

This series is arranged alphabetically by the author's last name, where it could be determined. This series includes many dissertations and manuscript works by various scholars. It also includes a small set of reviews of works by Thomas F. Torrance.

Series X: Photographic Material: Boxes 200-208

The photographic materials in this series provide a full visual retrospective of the life of Thomas F. Torrance, as well as the life of his father Thomas Torrance, missionary in Chengdu, Sichuan, China.

The collection beautifully chronicles Thomas Torrance's service in China, along with the landscapes, architecture and people of the Sichuan Province. The travels of Thomas F. Torrance throughout his studies and service as army chaplain the Middle East and later Italy, as well as his travels back to Chengdu in the 1980s and 1990s, are particularly well documented and preserved.

Albums in this collection have been maintained as they were originally constructed. The majority of the photographs in the collection are identified within the albums, and the loose photographs arranged separately are mostly duplicates of the identified sets in the albums. Loose photographs were gathered from a number of enclosures, and were arranged by topic by the processor. The bulk of the loose photographs are undated and not labeled, therefore it is suggested that researchers refer to the albums for identification.

Series XI: Ephemera and Realia: Boxes 209-229

This series includes newspapers and clippings collected by Thomas F. Torrance, which have been arranged chronologically by decade. Ephemera include certificates of honor, diplomas, personal belongings, and computer files and audio cassette recordings. Realia includes Thomas F. Torrance's many medals of distinction (including his Templeton Prize), various souvenirs, and other three-dimensional museum objects. Listed in this series are the furniture pieces from Thomas F. Torrance's study in Scotland, which were donated along with the rest of the collection.