]
]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the FAQ section for more information.
Expand/collapse
Collection Overview
| Size | About 6000 items (8.0 linear feet). |
| Abstract | Arnold Samuel Nash (1906- ) was a professor in the Department of Religion of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and an Anglican minister. Nash moved to the United States from his native England in 1939. His particular areas of academic interest were philosophy of science, sociology of science, and the sociology of religion. He was the author of The University and the Modern World (1944) and numerous articles. Arnold Samuel Nash's papers reflect his interests in current events and issues facing the University of North Carolina. Included are records from UNC Department of Religion; routine business papers as well as records of Nash's speaking engagements and conferences, extensive correspondence files, and subject files on current events. Most of the speech and conference materials relate to religion and the university or the university and society. In the correspondence files are letters to and from the friends he left in England; topics discussed in these letters include the experience of living in London through World War II, the Lend Lease Program, and the Speaker Ban at the University of North Carolina. Also included is a letter to Nash from Albert Einstein. |
| Creator | Nash, Arnold S. (Arnold Samuel). |
| Language | English. |
Expand/collapse
Information For Users
Expand/collapse
Subject Headings
The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
Expand/collapse
Biographical Information
Arnold Nash was born in England in 1906 and was educated at the University of Liverpool, Ripon Hall, Oxford, and the London School of Economics. He held graduate degrees in chemistry, philosophy, and sociology and was a minister in the Anglican church. His particular areas of interest were philosophy of science, sociology of science, and the sociology of religion. He also studied the relationship of the university to society. In 1939, he moved to the United States and embarked on a series of guest lectureships at various universities that ended with his taking a position as professor in the Department of Religion at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill in 1947. He was the author of The University and the Modern World (1944) and numerous articles. Nash frequently lectured at other institutions, both in the United States and throughout the world. He served on many committees and in groups on campus, and his papers indicate his concern with issues that affected the University.
Nash married Ethel M. Nash in 1933 and they had two sons, Keir and David. Ethel Nash graduated from the University of Liverpool and then obtained a graduate degree in guidance and counseling from the University of North Carolina. She traveled around the country lecturing at various universities and published articles on marriage and the family.
Back to Top
Expand/collapse
Scope and Content
Arnold Samuel Nash's papers reflect his interests in current events and issues facing the University of North Carolina. Included are records from UNC Department of Religion; routine business papers as well as records of Nash's speaking engagements and conferences, extensive correspondence files, and subject files on current events. Most of the speech and conference materials relate to religion and the university or the university and society. In the correspondence files are letters to and from the friends he left in England; topics discussed in these letters include the experience of living in London through World War II, the Lend Lease Program, and the Speaker Ban at the University of North Carolina. Also included is a letter to Nash from Albert Einstein.
Back to Top
Expand/collapse
Series Quick Links
Expand/collapse
Series 1. Biography, undated.
Arrangement: chronological.
Various versions of Arnold Samuel Nash's curriculum vitae. Also two versions of Ethel Nash's curriculum vitae.
| Folder 1 |
Biography #04910, Series: "1. Biography, undated. " Folder 1 |
Expand/collapse
Series 2. Correspondence, 1939-1967.
Arrangement: alphabetical.
The correspondence of Arnold Samuel Nash. Nash divided his correspondence into two separate categories here labeled Correspondence 1 and Correspondence 2. The reason for the distinction remains unclear. The two sets of correspondence contain letters about similar subjects. Both contain carbon copies of Nash's outgoing letters. Unfortunately, the first half, A-I, of Correspondence 2 was destroyed by mold and mildew.
The correspondence concerns questions of the role of the university in society, the role of religion in society, and the place of religion in the university. Also included are letters from the 1930s and 1940s concerning the outbreak of World War II from the perspective of the English. One particularly striking series of letters is from Nash's friend Gilbert Russell (located in Correspondence 1 filed under R) detailing his experiences preparing for war, Russell's plea to Nash to shelter his children in America for the duration of the war, the birth of his baby in a Morrison shelter, the erroneous report of his wife's death on a ship sunk by the Germans, and the reconstruction of England after the Blitz. Another interesting letter stating a British point of view about America's Lend-Lease program is filed in Correspondence 1 under H for Hudson.
Correspondence 1 includes a letter to Nash from Albert Einstein (filed under E). The series also includes a carbon of Nash's letter to Einstein in which Nash asked Einstein about the philosophy behind science. In his response, Einstein briefly mentioned a few philosophers who influenced him.
Another topic covered sporadically in the correspondence is the Speaker Ban at the University of North Carolina in the 1960s. Nash corresponded with other academics and friends about his frustration with the North Carolina state legislature's ban on Communist Party-affliated speakers on state school campuses and Nash's own efforts to remedy the situation.
Expand/collapse
Subseries 2.1. Correspondence 1, 1939-1955.
Arrangement: alphabetical.
Expand/collapse
Subseries 2.2. Correspondence 2, 1939-1969.
Arrangement: alphabetical with frequent correspondents in their own folders at the beginning of the series.
Expand/collapse
Series 3. Publications, 1949-1964.
Arrangement: alphabetical by folder title then chronological within folders.
Drafts of an article by Nash and letters to The Christian Scholar, as well as minutes of editorial staff meetings, copies of Nash's articles and articles by others, and correspondence about and Nash's contribution to the book The Making of a Minister, a collection of speeches from a syposium of the same name.
Expand/collapse
Series 4. University of North Carolina,
1948-1972.
Arrangement: alphabetical.
Papers relating to Nash's work at the University of North Carolina. These subseries document the many areas of campus life in which Nash was involved. Nash was a faculty member during some very tumultuous years at UNC, and he took a great interest in the students and their problems relating to traditional curricula. The 1963-1968 Speaker Ban created much controversy on campus, and Nash was at the center of the faculty response to the ban.
Expand/collapse
Subseries 4.1 Department of Religion,
1948-1972.
Arrangement: alphabetical by folder name then chronological within the folders.
Correspondence, memos, meeting agendas, committee reports, class evaluations, and other materials, all focusing on issues facing the Department of Religion. A significant portion of the material concerns the development of a Semitic studies teaching position.
Expand/collapse
Subseries 4.2. Library, 1949-1963.
Arrangement: alphabetical by folder name then chronological within folders.
Nash's requests for the library to purchase certain books. Also included is a copy of the Report and Recommendations of the Special Committee on Book Allocations for the UNC library.
| Folder 62 |
Acquisitions and Holdings #04910, Subseries: "4.2. Library, 1949-1963. " Folder 62 |
| Folder 63 |
Correspondence with UNC Library #04910, Subseries: "4.2. Library, 1949-1963. " Folder 63 |
Expand/collapse
Subseries 4.3. Speaker Ban, 1963-1965.
Arrangement: alphabetical by folder titles then chronological within folders.
Papers documenting the Chapel Hill student and faculty response to the Speaker Ban legislation, the opposition to the bill of the American Association of University Professors, Chapel Hill chapter, and the measures taken to influence the legislature to change the bill. In 1963, the North Carolina General Assembly had passed Bill 1395, which stated that no member of the Communist Party, anyone who was known to advocate the overthrow of the Constitution of the United States or the state of North Carolina, or anyone who pled the Fifth Amendment when asked about membership in the Communist Party was permitted to use the facilities of state colleges or universities. This law caused tremendous controversy in the state and a great deal of opposition to the bill arose at UNC. Nash was heavily involved in this controversy as president of the Chapel Hill chapter of the American Association of University Professors.
Expand/collapse
Subseries 4.4. UNC Business, 1951-1970.
Arrangement: alphabetical by folder title then chronological within folders.
Collection of papers on topics relating to events and issues at the University of North Carolina. Nash was on several commitees studying ethical problems, faculty salaries and benefits relative to the rest of the country, and academic freedom in American universities. He also served on the committee formed to help organize a campus wide religion week.
Expand/collapse
Series 5. Professional Activities, 1946-1974.
Arrangement: alphabetical.
Nash's files relating to his participation in a number of professional activities, including conferences, summer teaching seminars, professional organizations, and a large number of speaking engagements. He divided his files on speaking engagements into two separate series: one series (Engagements) is arranged chronologically by date of the speech, and the other (Speaking Engagements) is alphabetical by the name of the institution.
Expand/collapse
Subseries 5.1. Conferences, 1946-1964.
Arrangement: alphabetical by folder title, chronological within folders.
Correspondence, meeting schedules, and some participant lists and transcripts of speeches relating to conferences on a variety of topics. Most of the conferences focused on issues of religion in higher education.
Expand/collapse
Subseries 5.2. Danforth, 1955-1973.
Arrangement: alphabetical by folder title, chronological within folders.
These papers deal with the organizational details of putting together summer seminars for college and university teachers on the Christian foundations of teaching. Nash helped to lead these conferences, which were sponsored by the Danforth Foundation and were attended by professors from many disciplines from all over the United States and the world.
Expand/collapse
Subseries 5.3. Engagements, 1965-1974.
Arrangement: chronological.
News releases, programs, texts of speeches, and correspondence concerning Nash's speaking engagements at various universities, colleges, and organizational meetings. Nash frequently spoke on a variety of topics, mostly dealing with religion in some fashion. This series is organized by the date of the speaking engagement.
| Folder 124-125 |
1965 #04910, Subseries: "5.3. Engagements, 1965-1974. " Folder 124-125Folder 124Folder 125 |
| Folder 126-127 |
1966 #04910, Subseries: "5.3. Engagements, 1965-1974. " Folder 126-127Folder 126Folder 127 |
| Folder 128-129 |
1967 #04910, Subseries: "5.3. Engagements, 1965-1974. " Folder 128-129Folder 128Folder 129 |
| Folder 130 |
1968 #04910, Subseries: "5.3. Engagements, 1965-1974. " Folder 130 |
| Folder 131 |
1969 #04910, Subseries: "5.3. Engagements, 1965-1974. " Folder 131 |
| Folder 132 |
1970 #04910, Subseries: "5.3. Engagements, 1965-1974. " Folder 132 |
| Folder 133 |
1971 #04910, Subseries: "5.3. Engagements, 1965-1974. " Folder 133 |
| Folder 134 |
1972 #04910, Subseries: "5.3. Engagements, 1965-1974. " Folder 134 |
| Folder 135 |
1973 #04910, Subseries: "5.3. Engagements, 1965-1974. " Folder 135 |
| Folder 136 |
1974 #04910, Subseries: "5.3. Engagements, 1965-1974. " Folder 136 |
Expand/collapse
Subseries 5.4. Miscellaneous Files, 1958-1960.
Arrangement: chronological.
Miscellaneous minutes and correspondence.
| Folder 137 |
Miscellaneous #04910, Subseries: "5.4. Miscellaneous Files, 1958-1960. " Folder 137 |
Expand/collapse
Subseries 5.5. Organizations, 1954-1964.
Arrangement: alphabetical by folder name then chronological within folder.
Meeting notes, director's reports, and correspondence relating to the various organizations of which Nash was a member.
Expand/collapse
Subseries 5.6. Speaking Engagements, 1955-1964.
Arrangement: alphabetical by the name of the institution.
News releases, programs, texts of speeches, and correspondence concerning Nash's speaking engagements at various universities, colleges, and organizational meetings.
Expand/collapse
Subseries 5.7. Subject Files, 1964-1971.
Arrangement: alphabetical by folder name then chronological inside the folders.
Files on various topics in the 1960s, including women's liberation and the Black Power Movement. Nash collected booklets, speeches, and articles on these topics.
Expand/collapse
Subseries 5.8. Travel, 1946-1965.
Arrangement: chronological.
Correspondence, meeting agendas, and reports relating to Nash's trips around the world. Nash studied the role of religion in the lives and teaching of college and university professors in a variety of countries. Although primarily interested in Christianity, Nash also attended multifaith conferences.
| Folder 169 |
Asia, Africa and Australia #04910, Subseries: "5.8. Travel, 1946-1965. " Folder 169 |
| Folder 170 |
England and Scandinavia #04910, Subseries: "5.8. Travel, 1946-1965. " Folder 170 |
| Folder 171-173 |
Europe #04910, Subseries: "5.8. Travel, 1946-1965. " Folder 171-173Folder 171Folder 172Folder 173 |
| Folder 174-175 |
Trip to Asia #04910, Subseries: "5.8. Travel, 1946-1965. " Folder 174-175Folder 174Folder 175 |