Desriptive Summary
The American Catholic Research Center and University Archives
1946-2010
The Catholic Theological Society of America
The Catholic Theological Society of America Records
31 linear feet; 25 boxes
The Catholic Theological Society of America (CTSA) was formed in New York City in 1946. The CTSA is a professional organization that works to promote studies and research in theology, to relate theological reflection to current problems, and to raise the professional standards of seminary teaching. The records provide necessary background material from the Society's activities, showing the its evolution from being primarily an association of seminary professors to being a society open to religious, laity, and clerics without distinction. They include correspondence, minutes, reports, publications, and financial records.
88
English
Historical Note
A group of Catholic University of America (CUA) theological faculty members saw the need in the fall of 1945 for a professional association of Catholic theologians similar to the existing associations of philosophers, historians, sociologists, and biblical scholars. The group obtained the episcopal approval and patronage of the Archbishop of New York. It is legally incorporated in the State of New York as a non-profit corporation. With the appointment of temporary officers, the Society convened its first annual meeting in June 1946 in New York City.
The Board of Directors oversees the Society and consists of ten members who serve two year terms. These are the current president, the president-elect, the vice president, the secretary, the treasurer, the immediate Past Presiden, and four others. At each annual convention a new vice-president is elected who then moves on to become president-elect and president. Among the notable presidents have been Francis J. Connell in 1946-1947, Charles Curran in 1969-1970, Carl J. Peter in 1971-1972, Avery Dulles in 1975-1976, and Monika K. Hellwig in 1986-1987. There are standing committees for nomination, admissions, and resolutions. In addition, there are ad hoc committees on special research projects and cooperation with the hierarchy or other professional associations.
After Vatican Council II the Society changed the academic requirements for membership. This change allowed more religious and laity to apply for membership. The subjects treated at the annual meetings broadened from those related to a seminary curriculum to all phases of life. With a decline in the study of Latin has come the concern that many theologians no longer have the tools of access to their Catholic theological traditions. The Society has striven for greater cooperation with the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and in particular with its Committee on Doctrine.
The society publishes its annual proceedings as well as special study projects such as Women in Church and Society in 1978 and the Report on the Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity in 1990.
Scope and Contents
This is a finding aid following the minimal processing standards of More Product Less Process (MPLP) used in order to promote greater access to this valuable collection.
The first series contains Board of Directors Records 1951(1958-1992)1992 in boxes 1-3. The records have been divided into four subseries. The first subseries is the CTSA Constitution and it Bylaws (1953-1982). The second subseries has correspondence, 1951-1992, and some news clippings. The third subseries contains the Board's meeting minutes and exhibits, 1960-1992. The files include one bound ledger with handwritten minutes. Topics of the meetings of the Committee on Current Problems are Morality of Gambling, Laws of Fast and Abstinence, The Morality of Pre-Frontal Lobotomy, The Moral Problems of Biological Warfare, Governmental Suppression of Subversive Organizations, Morality of the Truth Serum in Criminal Investigations, Relationships with Non-Catholics in the Light of Recent Papal Directives. The fourth subseries consists of committee files, 1946-1992, that are sorted by committee name and date.
The second series contains the executive secretary correspondence of Luke C. Salm, 1976-1985. Other secretary correspondence is filed in the third series, Elected CTSA Officers' Records.
The third series includes Elected CTSA Officers' Records, 1945-1992 and is divided into four subseries. The first subseries has Mixed Officers' Correspondence, 1945-1964. The second subseries contains Individual Officers' Records, including Presidents' Correspondence, sorted chronologically by name of President, and file boxes of membership cards. The third subseries contains Secretaries' Records, including Correspondence, Membership Records, and Directories. The fourth subseries is the Treasurers' Records and is sorted chronologically by Treasurers' name. These records include correspondence, ledgers, bank stubs, and financial reports.
The fourth series contains Convention Records, 1946-1992, and is divided into two subseries. The first subseries is Convention Correspondence, 1945-1992, including documents from the International Congress of Learned Societies in the Field of Religion. These files also contain three copies of a convention program: Religion and the Humanizing of Man (Los Angeles, 1972). The second subseries contains the records for the periodical "Proceedings" (1949-1991). These records include Editorial Correspondence, 1949-1991; Copyright Correspondence, 1952-1977; Book Reviews, 1967-1984; and copies of "Proceedings," volumes 1-46, (see addendum). The annual convention progressed from a few major papers to an elaborate program of plenary addresses, seminars, workshops, and special interest functions. It became the vice-president's responsibility to plan the annual convention. These records will be found in the third series, Elected Officers' Records, under the individual's name.
The fifth series is Regional Meeting Records, 1955-1985, including Annual Reports and Correspondence. These records are arranged alphabetically by place.
The sixth series is the Addendum of miscellaneous and unprocessed records, 1950-2010, of the multiple accessions received since 1992 from various officers and stored in boxes 11-25. Additional record deposits are expected and the material in this series will hopefully be processed in greater detail at a future date. The aforementioned convention proceedings are herein as well.
Arrangement
The Catholic Theological Society of America records, 1946-1992, are organized into 5 Series:
- Series 1: Board of Directors Records, 1951, 1958-1992, Boxes 1-3
- Series 2: Executive Secretary Correspondence, 1976-1984, Box 3
- Series 3: Elected Officers Records, 1945-1992, Boxes 4-9
- Series 4: Convention Records, 1946-1992, Boxes 9-10
- Series 5: Regional Meeting Records, 1951-1967, Box 10
- Series 6: Addendum: Miscellaneous and Unprocessed, 1946-2010, Boxes 11-25
Restrictions on Access
Permission of the current CTSA president in writing or email to the CUA Archivist or Associate Archivist.
Related Material
American Catholic History Research Center and University Archives:
Notre Dame University Archives:
Index Terms
This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
Persons:
Francis J. Connell
Cardinal Spellman
Charles E. Curran
Raymond Lucker
Carl J. Peter
C. Luke Salm
Richard P. McBrien
Edmond D. Benard
Walter J. Burghardt
Avery Dulles
Leo J. O'Donovan
Edward Schillebeeckx
John H. Wright
Walter H. Principe
E.R. Carroll
P.E. McKeever
R.A. McCormick
K.B. Osborne
W.J. Hill
T.F. O'Meara
P. Granfield
F.S. Fiorenza
A.E. Patrick
M.J. Buckley
J.E. Rea
P.D. Morris
M.J. Scanlon
G. Kilcourse
Organizations:
Canon Law Society of America
Catholic Theological Society of America
Catholic University of America
College Theology Society
Places:
New York
Subjects:
Catholic Church
Catholic Universities and Colleges
Congresses
Doctrines
History -- 20th century
Liturgy -- Pontifical
Periodicals
Sacraments and Christian Union
Sex -- Religious Aspects -- Christianity
Sexual Ethics
Theology
Women in the Catholic Church
Acquisition Information
Received in multiple accessions from various CTSA officers, 1977-2009.
Processing Information
Processing by H. Warren Willis in 1992, with additional contributions from William John Shepherd, 1993-2008, and Raymond Moore in 2011. EAD markup completed in December 2011 by Cynthia Farnquist and William John Shepherd, with special thanks to Robin C. Pike.
Bibliography
Rodgers, Rosemary. A History of the College Theology Society. Villanova, Pennsylvania: College Theology Society, 1983.
Yocum Mize, Sandra. Joining the Revolution in Theology: the College Theology Society, 1954-2004. Lanham: Rowman and Littlefield, 2007.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Board of Directors' Records,
1951, 1958-1992
(3 Boxes)
This series is divided into 4 subseries: Constitution and By-Laws, Correspondence, and Minutes and Exhibits in box 1; Committee Files, A-T, in boxes 2-3.
Subseries 1.1: Constitution and By-laws,
6/24/1953-1982
1
1
Constitution and By-laws,
1953-1982
Subseries 1.2: Correspondence,
11/14/1951-4/6/1992
The earliest records are arranged alphabetically by addressee. From 1965, the individual president's correspondence is arranged by date.
1
2-22
Correspondence,
1951-1992
Subseries 1.3: Minutes and Exhibits,
6/20/1960-6/7/1992
Minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors were not kept until 1960. Minutes of the annual business meeting of the Society, held during the convention, are published in the "Proceedings."
1
23-85
Minutes and Exhibits,
1960-1992
Subseries 1.4: Committee Files, A-T,
1946-1992
The first Society committee was the Committee on Current Problems, which first met on 12/11/1946. Some committee terminology is not always consistently used. A few are standing committees, and the ad hoc committees could continue for a few months or for several years.
2
1-2
Ad Hoc Advisory Committee on the Imprimatur and Doctrinal Responsibilities Correspondence,
6/13/1984-5/7/1986
2
3
Admissions Committee Correspondence,
10/30/1974-4/23/1992
2
4-24
Committee for a Statement of N. American Concerns Correspondence,
3/27/1989-6/4/1991
2
25-29
Committee for Liaison with the Bishops' Committee on Doctrine Correspondence,
11/4/1966-8/9/1975
2
30
Committee for the Study of the Permanent Diaconate Correspondence,
6/30/1970-2/5/1973
2
31
Committee on Cooperation between Theologians and the Church's Teaching Authority Correspondence,
1/30/1980-6/1980
2
32
Minutes of Meetings,
12/11/1946-10/25/1950
Bound Volume
2
33-35
Committee on Current Problems Correspondence,
12/11/1946-1969
2
36
Committee on Ecclesiastical Academic Legislation (Sapientia Christiana) Correspondence,
6/1979-6/7/1980
2
37-38
Committee on Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Hospitals Correspondence,
11/17/1971-3/5/1973
2
39
Committee on Penance Correspondence,
9/6/1972-10/27/1975
2
40
Committee on Research and Publications Correspondence,
4/17/1980-6/14/1991
2
41
Committee on Research and Publications: Union Catalog Correspondence,
1/16/1950-11/16/1960
2
42-52
Committee on the Award for Theology Correspondence,
5/29/1952-7/16/1991
2
53
Committee on the History of the CTSA Correspondence,
10/20/1990-1/18/1992
2
54
Committee on the Problem of Second Marriages Correspondence,
11/17/1971-8/16/1972
2
55-62
Committee on the Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity Correspondence,
4/9/1989-10/25/1991
2
63-68
Human Sexuality Correspondence,
9/10/1972-6/29/1976
3
1-14
Human Sexuality Correspondence,
7/2/1976-10/31/1985
3
15
Intersocietal Committee on Academic Freedom and Ecclesial Responsibility Correspondence,
4/4/1987-5/9/1988
3
16-20
Joint Committee of Catholic Learned Societies and Scholars Correspondence,
12/10/1974-3/26/1992
3
21-23
Metropolis: Christian Presence and Responsibility Correspondence,
1969-3/14/1971
3
24-26
National Catechetical Directory Consultation Correspondence,
1/23/1973-5/16/1975
3
27-30
NCCB Committee for Liaison with Priests, Religious and Laity Correspondence,
3/13/1974-1/2/1975
3
31-32
NCCB Committee on Doctrine: Doctrinal Responsibilities Correspondence,
11/17/1988-7/24/1990
3
33
Pontifical Document on Catholic Universities, Text,
7/15/1985
3
34-35
Pontifical Document on Catholic Universities Correspondence,
10/19/1985-1/30/1986
3
36-37
Committee on Bilaterals Correspondence,
9/13/1971-10/20/1974
3
38-46
Research Team on Bilateral Consultations,
9/20/1976-11/1/1979
3
47-50
Research Team on Bilateral Consultations, Resource File,
1979
3
51
Research Team on the Lima Document: "Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry" Correspondence,
8/26/1985-3/17/1986
3
52
Research Team to Study the Present State of Theology and Religious Studies as Distinct Disciplines Correspondence,
6/1979-1980
3
53-54
Search Committee for Executive Secretary Correspondence,
6/15/1988-5/16/1991
3
55
Statement on Academic Freedom and Due Process Correspondence,
6/1979-2/26/1980
3
56
The Status of Women in Church and Society Correspondence,
6/4/1974-11/27/1979
3
57
Task Force on the Letter: Partners in the Mystery of Redemption, Correspondence,
4/26/1988-10/4/1989
Series 2: Executive Secretary Correspondence,
7/23/1976-9/23/1985
(1 Box)
As the Society grew in membership and because of the annual change of the president and vice-president, the Board of Directors saw the need of a permanent executive secretary to take care of certain ongoing responsibilities and to provide continuity in managing the Society's operations. An executive secretary was appointed who would attend the Board of Directors' meetings with voice but without vote.
3
58-63
Salm, C. Luke,
7/23/1976-9/23/1985
Series 3: Elected CTSA Officers' Records,
1945-1991
(6 Boxes)
Subseries 3.1: Mixed Officers' Correspondence,
10/31/1945-7/16/1964
These files were arranged alphabetically by addressee by Rev. Alfred C. Rush, the Society's first archivist. They have been preserved in their original order.
4
1-39
Mixed Officers' Correspondence,
10/31/1945-7/16/1964
Subseries 3.2: Individual Officer Records: Presidents' Correspondence,
1945-1991
The correspondence of the president from June 1965 to June 1966 is the earliest to be maintained intact.
4
40
Carroll, E.R.,
12/11/1964-2/1/1966
4
41
McKeever, P.E.,
9/12/1966-6/7/1967
4
42-43
Burghardt, W.J.,
4/20/1951-3/23/1968
4
44-45
McCormick, R.A. ,
6/17/1970-6/14/1971
4
46
Peter, C.J.,
9/9/1971-6/11/1974
4
47-61
Wright, J.H.,
6/22/1971-7/26/1973
4
62-70
McBrien, R.P.,
7/17/1969-1980
4
71-73
Salm, C.L.,
6/20/1973-7/15/1975
4
74-85
Dulles, A.,
6/17/1975-11/15/1976
4
86
Osborne, K.B.,
3/16/1978-5/29/1979
4
87-88
Hill, W.J.,
5/8/1979-6/23/1980
4
89-90
O'Meara, T.F.,
8/15/1980-1/31/1985
4
91
Granfield, P.,
1985
4
92-100
Fiorenza, F.S.,
5/2/1983-2/20/1987
5
1-6
Fiorenza, F.S.,
5/2/1983-2/20/1987
5
7-10
Patrick, A.E.,
9/22/1988-5/19/1990
5
11-38
Principe, W.E.,
12/12/1986-11/22/1991
5
39-50
Buckley, M.J.,
11/18/1989-3/1992
Subseries 3.2: Secretaries Records,
1946-1991
The correspondence of the secretary can be found in various officers' files in addition to this general file.
5
Box B
Membership Cards,
1959-1971
5
Box C
Former Member Cards,
1946-1972
6
1-3
Correspondence,
10/15/1949-5/7/1991
6
Box A
Membership Cards,
1959-1971
6
Box 1
Membership Cards, A-M,
1962-1969
6
Box 2
Membership Cards, N-Z,
1962-1969
6
4-15
Membership Lists,
1959-1970
7
1-3
Membership Lists,
1970-1975
7
4
Membership Distribution,
1963-1964
7
5
Deceased Members,
1961-64, 1980
7
6
Directories,
1963
7
7-29
Directories Correspondence,
11/9/1976-1/24/1978
7
30-46
Council of Societies for the Study of Religion Correspondence,
10/1/1969-11/7/1989
7
47-55
Administrative Service Center Correspondence,
5/25/1970-7/31/1979
7
56-57
ACLS Travel Grants Correspondence,
11/7/1969-4/21/1975
7
58
CTSA Proceedings Correspondence,
5/28/1973-4/28/1975
Subseries 3.4: Treasurers' Records,
1946-1991
The correspondence of the treasurer is the bulk of the financial record of the Society, besides what is published in the "Proceedings."
7
59-62
Rea, J.E., Financial Records,
1946-1970
7
63-70
Salm, C.L., Correspondence,
2/27/1959-3/18/1969
8
1-2
Salm, C.L., Correspondence,
4/8/1969-8/6/1970
8
3-15
Salm, C.L., Financial Records,
10/1959-10/1970
8
16-28
Morris, P.D., Correspondence,
1/26/1970-12/5/1975
8
29-37
Morris, P.D., Financial Records,
7/13/1970-9/29/1975
9
1
Scanlon, M.J., Correspondence,
10/29/1974-8/1975
9
2
Kilcourse, G., Correspondence,
10/22/1983-10/22/1987
9
3-9
Bishops' Fund Drive Correspondence,
2/23/1971-8/8/1991
9
10-11
Financial Reports,
12/31/1959-12/31/1980
Series 4: Convention Records,
1946-1992
(2 Boxes)
When the preparations for the more recent conventions are the work of an individual president or vice-president, these records will be found under the individual's name in Series 3: Elected Officers' records.
Subseries 4.1: Convention Correspondence,
4/25/1946-6/14/1992
9
12-75
Convention Correspondence,
4/25/1946-6/18/1987
10
1-15
Convention Correspondence,
7/7/1987-6/14/1992
Subseries 4.2:Proceedings Records,
1949-1991
16-47
Editorial Correspondence,
12/19/1949-6/27/1991
10
48
Copyright Correspondence,
4/11/1952-3/28/1977
10
49-50
Book Reviews,
1967-1984
Series 5: Regional Meeting Records,
1954-1985
(1 Box)
In the 1950s and 1960s, theologians in a geographical area met once or twice a year to hear papers on a timely subject.
10
51
Annual Reports,
6/27/1955-6/26/1957
10
52-62
Correspondence,
5/24/1954-6/5/1985
Series 6: Addendum: Miscellaneous and Unprocessed Records
1946-2010
(15 boxes)
These unprocessed records, as indicated above, have not yet been organized and integrated but a preliminary box listing of the various accessions was made and is presented here until such time as a more detailed finding aid can be completed.
11
(Acc. #94-49) Ann Patrick Files, 1983-1990
Committee file on Doctrinal Responsibilities and file of fragmentary Correspondence
11
(Acc. #96-20) Membership Records, 1950s
Cards (5 X 8) that include information on members’ academic affiliations and special interests
11
(Acc. #96-20) Sister Agnes Cunningham Presidential Records, 1976-1977
Two large folders
12
(Acc. #96-22) Sister Agnes Cunningham Presidential Records, 1976-1977
Correspondence, Reports, Publications, Correspondence with Church Organizations, Human Sexuality
13
(Acc. #96-23) Edward Konerman, Warren Reich, Sister Agnes Cunningham, et. al., secretaries, 1967-1996
Selections of monthly Board Meetings, the Minutes from those Meetings, end of the year Reports, and yearly Convention Notes, 1970-1991
14
(Acc. #96-23) Edward Konerman, Warren Reich, Sister Agnes Cunningham, et. al., secretaries, 1967-1996
Admission Committee Minutes, 1975-1993; Convention Minutes, 1971-1991; Convention Programs included with Minutes, and Correspondence on Academic Freedom, 1967
15
(Acc. #96-23) Edward Konerman, Warren Reich, Sister Agnes Cunningham, et. al., secretaries, 1967-1996
Correspondence, 1984-1988; Treasurer 1976-1988; CTSA Directory of Members, 1977, 1982, 1992; John Courtney Award Notes; and Nominating Committee Notes
16
(Acc. #96-23) Edward Konerman, Warren Reich, Sister Agnes Cunningham, et. al., secretaries, 1967-1996
Board of Director Proceedings, Membership Printouts, Protestant Convention Guests, Publishers, Railroad Notes, Regional Meetings, Research Material, Secretary Report, Telephone Bills, and Convention Bills, 1967-1988
17
(Acc. #96-23) Edward Konerman, Warren Reich, Sister Agnes Cunningham, et. al., secretaries, 1967-1996
Cancelled Checks, Council on the Study of Religion Meeting Minutes, Publications, Membership Statements, and Financial Reports, 1971-1996
18
(Acc. #97-8) William M. Thompson, president-elect, president, and immediate past president, 1994-1997
Files include Correspondence, subject files on CTSA Conventions, Board meetings, and responses to an essay “Tradition and Ordination of Women,” written by Jon Nilson of Loyola University.
18
(Acc. #97-15) Elizabeth Johnson, Vice President, President-Elect, President, and Past President, 1993-1997
Correspondence, Photographs
19
(Acc. #02-09) Jon Nilson, Elizabeth Johnson, 1996-1997
Correspondence, Report (including floppy disk)re: Task Force on the Ordination of Women.
20
(Acc. #02-23) Robert Wister, Chair of the CTSA History Committee, 1946(1991-1996)1996
Correspondence, 1991-1996, about archiving the records and writing the history of CTSA and material, such as photocopies of CTSA minutes and correspondence, from CUA Archives and other places, covering the period of 1946 to about 1996.
21
(Acc. #03-05) Peter Phan, 1999-2001
2001 Convention files
21
(Acc. #06-16) Mary Ann Donovan, 1994-1998
US Catholic Award nominees, newspaper copies and correspondence on female ordination, 1997 convention notes, Canadian Bishop response to female ordination, press clippings
22
(Acc. #08-05) Roger Haight, S.J., 1992-1996
convention planning, agenda for business meetings, and other business
23-25
Convention Proceedings, 1946-2010
Bound books from the annual CTSA convention, with dates and location as well as complete proceedings