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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 Duplication Policy section for more information.
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Collection Overview
| Size | 8.0 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 6000 items) |
| 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). |
| Curatorial Unit | Southern Historical Collection |
| Language | English. |
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Information For Users
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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.
Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.
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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.
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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.
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Series Quick Links
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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 |
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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.
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Subseries 2.1. Correspondence 1, 1939-1955.
Arrangement: alphabetical.
| Folder 2 |
A |
Folder 3-4
Folder 3Folder 4 |
B |
| Folder 5 |
C |
| Folder 6 |
D |
| Folder 7 |
E |
| Separated Folder SEP-4910/1 |
Letter, 9 August 1942, Albert Einstein on philosophy of scienceRestriction to Access: The original item is not available for immediate or same day access. Please contact staff at wilsonlibrary@unc.edu to discuss options. |
| Folder 8 |
F |
| Folder 9 |
G |
| Folder 10 |
H |
| Folder 11 |
I |
| Folder 12 |
J |
| Folder 13 |
K |
| Folder 14 |
L |
| Folder 15 |
M |
| Folder 16 |
N |
| Folder 17 |
O |
| Folder 18 |
P |
Folder 19-20
Folder 19Folder 20 |
R |
| Folder 21 |
S |
| Folder 22 |
T |
| Folder 23 |
U |
| Folder 24 |
V-Z |
| Folder 25 |
Unidentified Correspondents |
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Subseries 2.2. Correspondence 2, 1939-1969.
Arrangement: alphabetical with frequent correspondents in their own folders at the beginning of the series.
| Folder 26 |
Heard, Alex |
| Folder 27 |
Irwin, Keith |
| Folder 28 |
Lenski, Gerhard |
| Folder 29 |
Niebuhr, Reinhold |
| Folder 30 |
Okun, Dan |
| Folder 31 |
Shannon, Jones |
| Folder 32 |
Willard, Don |
| Folder 33 |
J |
| Folder 34 |
M-N |
| Folder 35 |
O |
Folder 36-38
Folder 36Folder 37Folder 38 |
P |
| Folder 39 |
Q |
| Folder 40 |
R |
Folder 41-43
Folder 41Folder 42Folder 43 |
S |
Folder 44-45
Folder 44Folder 45 |
T |
| Folder 46 |
U-V |
Folder 47-48
Folder 47Folder 48 |
W-Z |
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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.
| Folder 49 |
Christian Scholar |
| Folder 50 |
Copies of Articles |
| Folder 51 |
Making of a Minister |
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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.
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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.
Folder 52-54
Folder 52Folder 53Folder 54 |
Department of Religion |
| Folder 55 |
Course Evaluations |
| Folder 56 |
Departmental Meetings and Bernard Boyd |
| Folder 57 |
Graduate School Correspondence 1948-1964 |
| Folder 58 |
Research Grant from UNC to ASN (Arnold Nash) |
| Folder 59 |
Research Leaves |
| Folder 60 |
Semitic Studies: Correspondence re: 1951-60 |
| Folder 61 |
Task of Religion-USA |
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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 |
| Folder 63 |
Correspondence with UNC Library |
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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.
Folder 64-65
Folder 64Folder 65 |
Correspondence |
| Folder 66 |
Correspondence with Washington |
| Folder 67 |
Gag Law |
| Folder 68 |
House Bill 1395 |
| Folder 69 |
Graham, John |
| Folder 70 |
Notes and Minutes |
| Folder 71 |
Speaker Ban |
| Folder 72 |
Statements |
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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.
| Folder 73 |
Chapel Hill Weekly |
Folder 74-75
Folder 74Folder 75 |
Committee on Experiments on Human Beings |
| Folder 76 |
Committee on Government |
| Folder 77 |
Correspondence with Governor |
| Folder 78 |
Correspondence with other Institutions NC Fringe Benefits |
| Folder 79 |
Correspondence with State Chairmen |
| Folder 80 |
Faculty Salaries at UNC |
| Folder 81 |
Membership List UNC |
| Folder 82 |
Minutes of Conference and Committee |
| Folder 83 |
Pharmacy School |
| Folder 84 |
Provisions Regarding Academic Freedom |
| Folder 85 |
Religious Emphasis Week |
| Folder 86 |
Secretary |
| Folder 87 |
State Pension Funds |
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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.
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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.
| Folder 88 |
Bob James Tour |
| Folder 89 |
Conference of University Teachers, Swanwick |
| Folder 90 |
Council on Christian Higher Education in Asia |
| Folder 91 |
Dons Conference and Bossey, 1957 |
| Folder 92 |
Duke Assembly |
| Folder 93 |
Ecumenical Institute, Bossey |
| Folder 94 |
Faculty Conference |
| Folder 95 |
First International Congress of Social Psychiatry |
| Folder 96 |
International Sociological Association Congress |
| Folder 97 |
Princeton Bicentennial |
| Folder 98 |
Southern Sociological Society |
| Folder 99 |
Symposium on Love |
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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.
| Folder 100 |
Acceptance |
| Folder 101 |
Accepted Applications |
| Folder 102 |
Advertising |
| Folder 103 |
Applications |
| Folder 104 |
Area Sociological Societies Secretaries |
| Folder 105 |
Chairmen of Departments |
| Folder 106 |
Danforth 1959 |
| Folder 107 |
Elizabeth Lam's Lists |
| Folder 108 |
Enquiries and Invitations Not Answered |
| Folder 109 |
First Reserves |
| Folder 110 |
Foreign Students Advisor |
| Folder 111 |
Inquiries Needing Further Letters From Nash |
| Folder 112 |
Miscellaneous |
| Folder 113 |
Publicity |
| Folder 114 |
Rejected Invitations |
Folder 115-116
Folder 115Folder 116 |
Seminar |
| Folder 117 |
Seminar at Chapel Hill |
| Folder 118 |
Seminars 1956: Summer |
| Folder 119 |
Speakers |
| Folder 120 |
Unsuccessful Applications |
| Folder 121 |
USA Reserves |
Folder 122-123
Folder 122Folder 123 |
Yale Seminar |
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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
Folder 124Folder 125 |
1965 |
Folder 126-127
Folder 126Folder 127 |
1966 |
Folder 128-129
Folder 128Folder 129 |
1967 |
| Folder 130 |
1968 |
| Folder 131 |
1969 |
| Folder 132 |
1970 |
| Folder 133 |
1971 |
| Folder 134 |
1972 |
| Folder 135 |
1973 |
| Folder 136 |
1974 |
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Subseries 5.4. Miscellaneous Files, 1958-1960.
Arrangement: chronological.
Miscellaneous minutes and correspondence.
| Folder 137 |
Miscellaneous |
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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.
| Folder 138 |
American Academy of Arts and Sciences |
| Folder 139 |
Commission on Higher Education |
| Folder 140 |
Faculty Christian Fellowship |
| Folder 141 |
National Association of Biblical Instructors |
| Folder 142 |
National Council of Churches of Christ |
| Folder 143 |
Society for the Scientific Study of Religion |
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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.
| Folder 144 |
A-B |
| Folder 145 |
C-E |
| Folder 146 |
F |
| Folder 147 |
G |
| Folder 148 |
H-I |
| Folder 149 |
J-L |
| Folder 150 |
M |
Folder 151-152
Folder 151Folder 152 |
N |
| Folder 153 |
O-R |
Folder 154-155
Folder 154Folder 155 |
S |
| Folder 156 |
T |
| Folder 157 |
U-V |
Folder 158-159
Folder 158Folder 159 |
W |
| Folder 160 |
X-Z |
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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.
| Folder 161 |
Afro-American Curriculum |
| Folder 162 |
Black Students |
| Folder 163 |
Churches and the Black Power Movement |
| Folder 164 |
Ethical Responsibilities of Science |
| Folder 165 |
New Left/Generation Gap/Women's Lib |
| Folder 166 |
Residential College Concept |
| Folder 167 |
ROTC |
| Folder 168 |
Student Strikes |
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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 |
| Folder 170 |
England and Scandinavia |
Folder 171-173
Folder 171Folder 172Folder 173 |
Europe |
Folder 174-175
Folder 174Folder 175 |
Trip to Asia |
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Items Separated