Inventory of the Walter Patten Papers, 1901-1946

Collection Number 4013

Manuscripts Department, University Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Contact Information:

Manuscripts Department

CB#3926, Wilson Library

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC 27514-8890

Phone: 919/962-1345

Fax: 919/962-3594

Email: mss@email.unc.edu

URL: http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/

Descriptive Summary

Repository

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.

Creator

Patten, Walter, 1880-1947.

Title

Walter Patten Papers, 1901-1946

Call Number

4013

Language of Materials

Materials in English

Extent

Items: About 5000

Linear Feet: 9.0

Administrative Information

Restrictions to Access

No restrictions.

Acquisitions Information

Received from Mrs. J. Kempton (Eunice Patten) Jones in 1977 (Acc. 77019) and from Doug Eyre in November 2006 (Acc. 100544).

Processing Information

Processed by: SHC Staff and Amy Johnson, September 2007

Encoded by: Amy Johnson, September 2007

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], in the Walter Patten Papers #4013, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Copyright Notice

Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Online Catalog Headings

These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.

Chapel Hill (N.C.)--Church history.

Clergy--North Carolina--History--20th century.

Family--North Carolina--Social life and customs.

Louisburg College--History.

Methodist Church--Missions--History--20th century.

Methodist Church--North Carolina--History--20th century.

North Carolina--Religion--20th century.

Patten family.

Patten, Walter, 1880-1947.

Sermons, American--North Carolina.

University United Methodist Church (Chapel Hill, N.C.)

Biographical Note

Walter Patten was born in Bridgeville, Del., on 15 September 1880. He graduated from Wesleyan University in Connecticut in 1907 and earned a doctorate in Divinity there in 1928. He also received a master's degree from the University of North Carolina in 1916. On 20 October 1908, Patten married Sarah K. Cady, a graduate of Brown University. Together they had five children.

A Methodist minister, Patten was pastor of the Methodist Church (now University United Methodist Church) in Chapel Hill, N.C., 1913-1917 and 1921-1927; pastor in Greenville, N.C., 1917-1921; pastor of other churches; secretary of the North Carolina Board of Missions, 1921-1927, and president of the Board, 1931-1947; and president of Louisburg College, 1939-1947. He oversaw major renovations to the Chapel Hill church building and was instrumental in creating the University of North Carolina School of Religion, which later led to the establishment of the Department of Religion.

Walter Patten died after suffering a heart attack on 8 March 1947 and was buried in Chapel Hill.

Collection Overview

Papers include topical files Methodist minister Walter Patten maintained of personal and professional correspondence, sermons he gave, and clippings and other material he collected. There are also notebooks of congregational data; much of this material relates to the Methodist Church in Chapel Hill, N.C. There is also material on other churches Patten served; on Methodist missions; on the foundation of the Department of Religion at the University of North Carolina; on Louisburg College; and on members of Patten's family.

One topical file on the foundation of the University of North Carolina School of Religion was added to the collection in September 2007 (folder 235a).

Arrangement of Collection

1. Topical files
2. Volumes
3. Sermon materials

Detailed Description of the Collection