Thomas W. Gillespie papers

Thomas W. Gillespie was born in Los Angeles, CA, July 18, 1929. He served in the United States Marine Corps for a year before beginning his Bachelor of Arts degree, which he obtained from George Pepperdine College in 1951. Gillespie then went on to obtain a Bachelor of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and was ordained to the pastorate in the Presbytery of Los Angeles in 1954. At that time, Gillespie planted a Presbyterian church in Garden Grove, CA, which he served for 13 years before changing churches to serve as pastor at a church in Burlingame, CA. During his time in California, he obtained his PhD in New Testament from Claremont Graduate School in 1970.

In 1983, Gillespie left his congregation in Burlingame, CA, to accept a call as the fifth president of Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, NJ, a position he held 1983-2004. During that time, PTS went through significant building, faculty, and administration growth and change, including establishment of the Institute for Youth Ministry and the Hispanic Theological Initiative.

President Gillespie prioritized his call as pastor. This focus is reflected in the materials of the collection as they emphasize sermons and addresses and his relationships during his tenure at PTS.

Thomas W. Gillespie died in Princeton, NJ, of a brief and sudden illness on November 5, 2011 at age 83.

1929 July 18

Born: Los Angeles, CA

1946-1947

Served in the United States Marine Corps

1947–1951

George Pepperdine College, Bachelor of Arts Degree

1951–1954

Princeton Theological Seminary, Bachelor of Divinity

1954

Ordained in Presbytery of Los Angeles

1954–1966

Pastored Congregation in Garden Grove, CA.

1966–1983

Pastored Congregation in Burlingame, CA.

1961-1962

Attended University of Southern California

1963-1970

Claremont Graduate School, PhD in New Testament

1983-2004

President of Princeton Theological Seminary

2011 November 5

Died, Princeton, NJ