James Madison University Libraries Special Collections
William W. Thomas papers
Bridgewater College
Thomas, William W. (William West), 1933-2008
SC 0227
/repositories/4/resources/692
2.15 cubic feet
7 boxes
1954-2004
The collection comprises the papers related to Dr. William W. Thomas' teaching career at James Madison University.
English
Access Restrictions
Collection open to research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Use Restrictions
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. Staff have taken special care to identify and remove sensitive materials, particularly those relating to students' academic records, found within this collection. However, in rare instances, privacy protected information may be revealed during use of this collection. Researchers agree to make no notes or other recordation of privacy protected information if found within this collection, and further agree not to publish or disclose such information for any purpose. Researchers agree to alert Special Collections staff if potentially privacy protected information is found within this collection. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], [box #, folder #], William W. Thomas Papers, 1954-2004, SC 0227, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.
Acquisition Information
The collection was transferred from Bridgewater College. Special Collections staff collected the materials from the Thomas house on S. Main Street, Harrisonburg in July 2010.
Provenance
Bridgewater College acquired the collection from the Thomas estate, presumably as a bequest.
Appraisal
In September 2022, approximately six boxes of FERPA-protected student records were deaccessioned and discarded. The records included letters of recommendation, grades, papers, and class lists. The records were primarily paper-based but also included floppy disks.
Tenure and promotion documentation related to faculty other than Thomas, collected as part of Thomas' work on the Personnel Advisory Committee (PAC), was also discarded.
Processing Information
The collection was minimally processed in May 2013 by Chelsea Tholen under the collection number SC 5058. A copy of the original finding aid is located in the collection control file. In October 2022, the collection was reprocessed, FERPA-protected student records were deaccessioned, and the collection was renumbered to SC 0227.
Contents of folders were combined when appropriate.
Biographical Note
Dr. William W. Thomas (1933-2008) was a professor of religion and philosophy at James Madison University from 1971 to 2003 when he officially retired. He was a certified reverend and served as an advisor to Theta Alpha Kappa, Honors Religious Studies Fraternity; and Intervarsity; as well as Phi Sigma Kappa, Philosophy Honors Fraternity. Dr. Thomas received his bachelor's degree from Washington and Lee University, where he reached Cum Laude in 1954. He then received his master's degree from Yale University in 1957, and his doctorate from Duke University in 1964. He first began his career teaching at the Lindenwood Colleges and later taught summer sessions at Bridgewater College.
Content Description
The collection comprises the papers related to Dr. William W. Thomas' teaching career at James Madison University where he was a professor from 1971 to 2003. Early papers document Thomas' own undergraduate and graduate coursework. The collection includes lecture notes, syllabi and course descriptions, correspondence, tenure and promotion materials, and materials related to Thomas' advising of student organizations.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into two series with Series 2: Professional Service and Activities including a sub-group dedicated to William Thomas' responsibilities related to Theta Alpha Kappa. Each series is arranged chronologically.
- Teaching and Scholarship, 1955-2001
- Professional Service and Activities, 1954-2004
Separated Materials
Published books were separated from the collection and cataloged as part of Special Collections rare book holdings.
Faculty papers
Syllabi
Lecture notes
Students -- Conduct of life
College students -- Conduct of life
Greek letter societies
Student activities -- Virginia -- Harrisonburg
Universities and colleges -- Virginia -- History
Education, Higher -- Virginia -- Harrisonburg
Bridgewater College
Theta Alpha Kappa
James Madison University. Department of Philosophy and Religion
James Madison University -- History
James Madison University -- Curricula
James Madison University -- Faculty
Madison College. Department of Philosophy and Religion
Madison College -- History
Madison College -- Curricula
Madison College -- Faculty
Teaching and Scholarship1/repositories/4/archival_objects/268881955-2001Scope and ContentsSeries 1: Teaching and Scholarship, 1955-2001, comprises teaching materials and Thomas' own scholarship that informed his teaching. The series primarily includes syllabi and course descriptions, reading and textbook lists, and lecture notes as well as a small amount of material from Thomas' own undergraduate and graduate coursework.
Undergraduate and graduate coursework/repositories/4/archival_objects/270651955-195911PHIL 240/repositories/4/archival_objects/27066circa 1971-197612Pascal lecture notes and class assignments/repositories/4/archival_objects/270671971-199013Courses taught and descriptions/repositories/4/archival_objects/270681971-199414REL 320/repositories/4/archival_objects/27069circa 1971-199715REL 490/repositories/4/archival_objects/27070197216Textbook orders/repositories/4/archival_objects/270711972-199717Theology for Everyday Living - School of Continuing Studies/repositories/4/archival_objects/27072197318Summary Listing of Topics Considered Important by Some Harrisonburg (and Valley) Residents/repositories/4/archival_objects/270731974 November 2019HUM 501/repositories/4/archival_objects/270741975110Lecture notes - Satre/repositories/4/archival_objects/270751976111Assorted syllabi/repositories/4/archival_objects/270761977-2000112REL 200/201/202 reviews/repositories/4/archival_objects/270771979113B. A. Gerrish, University of Chicago, lecture notes and syllabus/repositories/4/archival_objects/270781979-1982114NEH seminars/repositories/4/archival_objects/270791979-1987115REL 490/repositories/4/archival_objects/27080198021PHIL/REL 375 lecture notes and syllabus/repositories/4/archival_objects/27081198222Course proposal/repositories/4/archival_objects/27082198223The 19th Century: Age of Ideology progressive course evaluations/repositories/4/archival_objects/27083198224Karl Barth introduction and notes/repositories/4/archival_objects/27084circa 198225"Honor to God: Barth's Assessment of Hegel"/repositories/4/archival_objects/27085198426Introductory lecture on Barth/repositories/4/archival_objects/27086198427REL 360/repositories/4/archival_objects/270871984-199728Lecture notes - Sartre, Freud, Barth, etc./repositories/4/archival_objects/270881985-199429PHIL/REL 375/repositories/4/archival_objects/270891986210PHIL 360/repositories/4/archival_objects/27090circa 1986211Freshman seminar in humanities proposal/repositories/4/archival_objects/270911987-1993212REL 210/202/repositories/4/archival_objects/270921988213Daily lesson plans/repositories/4/archival_objects/270931988-1999214Faculty educational leave proposal/repositories/4/archival_objects/270941989-1990215Faculty development seminar/repositories/4/archival_objects/270951989-1993216Faculty educational leave - Karl Barth/repositories/4/archival_objects/270961990217Gospels/repositories/4/archival_objects/270971990218PHIL/REL 375/repositories/4/archival_objects/2709819901994219Honor pledge/repositories/4/archival_objects/270991991220Notes on Friedrich Schleiermacher/repositories/4/archival_objects/271001991221Bibles/repositories/4/archival_objects/271011991222Assorted syllabi and Barth essay/repositories/4/archival_objects/271021991-1998223Lecture notes - Kings, Deuteronomy, wisdom, etc./repositories/4/archival_objects/271031993, undated31Sacré-Coeur articles/repositories/4/archival_objects/271041993-199432Capstone class/repositories/4/archival_objects/27105199433PHIL 200/repositories/4/archival_objects/27106199534Lecture notes - Niebuhr, theology, Bonhoeffer, fundamentalism, etc./repositories/4/archival_objects/271071995, undated35Eastern Orthodox patriarch speech/repositories/4/archival_objects/27108199736GPHIL 101/repositories/4/archival_objects/271091999200137GPHIL 101/repositories/4/archival_objects/27110200138Lecture notes - St. Thomas Aquinas, Irenaeus, etc./repositories/4/archival_objects/27111undated39Lecture notes - New Testament, Jewish history, ministry of Jesus, etc./repositories/4/archival_objects/27112undated310Lecture notes - Schopenhauer, Euthyphro, The Apology/repositories/4/archival_objects/27113undated311Lecture notes - Pascal, Leibnitz, Brecht, Marxism, etc./repositories/4/archival_objects/27114undated312Lecture notes - Novum Organum, Hobbs, free will vs. determinism/repositories/4/archival_objects/27115undated41Lecture notes - Jeremy Bentham/repositories/4/archival_objects/27116undated42Lecture notes - Acts, Paul, Thessalonians, Revelation/repositories/4/archival_objects/27117undated43Lecture notes - Descartes' Evil Genius, Demon, God/repositories/4/archival_objects/27118undated44Lecture notes - John Locke, Berkeley, modern philosophy, Spinoza, etc./repositories/4/archival_objects/27119undated45Lecture notes - Martin Luther, Schleiermacher, St. Thomas/repositories/4/archival_objects/27120undated46REL 330 syllabus and notes/repositories/4/archival_objects/27121undated47REL 201/202 blank tests/repositories/4/archival_objects/27122undated48PHIL 101 blank tests/repositories/4/archival_objects/27123undated49Book of Mark readings and notes/repositories/4/archival_objects/27124undated410"Religion is an Illusion" Sigmund Freud/repositories/4/archival_objects/27125undated411Speeches and addresses/repositories/4/archival_objects/27126undated412Notes - Kingdom of God, John Bright/repositories/4/archival_objects/27127undated413Women's issues bibliography/repositories/4/archival_objects/27128undated414Irony vs. satire/repositories/4/archival_objects/27129undated415Professional Service and Activities2/repositories/4/archival_objects/268921954-2004Scope and ContentsSeries 2: Professional Service and Activities, 1954-2004, comprises Thomas' tenure and promotion materials, faculty activities reports, curricula vitae and resumes, and materials related to Thomas' duties as the advisor of student organizations including Theta Alpha Kappa, the religious and theological studies honor society. Thomas' professional activities and service to JMU outside of teaching are documented in this series.
Personnel record and course outlines/repositories/4/archival_objects/271301954-1987416Faculty activities reports/repositories/4/archival_objects/271311960-198851Promotion and tenure criteria/repositories/4/archival_objects/271321971-198252Promotion and tenure criteria/repositories/4/archival_objects/271331973-198153Fall Symposium of Arts and Sciences - Morse Peckham/repositories/4/archival_objects/27134197454Correspondence/repositories/4/archival_objects/271351976-200455Resume/repositories/4/archival_objects/27136198456Carrier Library Faculty-Student Advisory Committee charge/repositories/4/archival_objects/27137198657Visiting Scholars Committee - Manfred Stassen/repositories/4/archival_objects/27170198858G. Tyler Miller memorial service/repositories/4/archival_objects/271711988-198959Promotion and tenure reports/repositories/4/archival_objects/271721988-1992510Faculty activities report/repositories/4/archival_objects/271731988-1993511Faculty activities reports/repositories/4/archival_objects/271741988-1997512Departmental tea/repositories/4/archival_objects/271751994513Faculty activities report/repositories/4/archival_objects/271761994-1995514Visiting Scholars Committee - James Burtness/repositories/4/archival_objects/271771994-1995515Personnel Advisory Committee nominations for Distinguished Teaching Award and Madison Scholar Award/repositories/4/archival_objects/27178199661Department head activities survey/repositories/4/archival_objects/271791996-199762Departmental tea/repositories/4/archival_objects/27180199763Union Theological Seminary Luncheon - James Smylie/repositories/4/archival_objects/27181199764Curriculum vitae/repositories/4/archival_objects/27182circa 199765Retirement/repositories/4/archival_objects/271831997-199866Student relations/repositories/4/archival_objects/271841997-199967Retirement/repositories/4/archival_objects/271851997-200168Athletic-academic banquet/repositories/4/archival_objects/27186199869Assorted JMU news items/repositories/4/archival_objects/271872001-2003610Theta Alpha Kappa/repositories/4/archival_objects/26957Theta Alpha Kappa assorted records/repositories/4/archival_objects/271881977-1979611Theta Alpha Kappa assorted records/repositories/4/archival_objects/271891977-1981612Theta Alpha Kappa replies/repositories/4/archival_objects/271901979-1980613Theta Alpha Kappa/Phi Sigma Tau membership requirements/repositories/4/archival_objects/2719119791992614Neil Mowbray Daily News-Record article/repositories/4/archival_objects/271921981615Theta Alpha KAppa letters of invitation to students/repositories/4/archival_objects/271931983-1995616Theta Alpha Kappa/Phi Sigma Tau joint initiation invitation to speak, Charles Swezey/repositories/4/archival_objects/271941984617Theta Alpha Kappa/Phi Sigma Tau joint initiation ceremony/repositories/4/archival_objects/271951985618Theta Alpha Kappa charge/repositories/4/archival_objects/271961985-1986619Theta Alpha Kappa/Phi Sigma TAu joint initiation invitations/repositories/4/archival_objects/27197circa 1986620Theta Alpha Kappa/Phi Sigma Tau joint initiation ceremony programs/repositories/4/archival_objects/271981987-1994621Theta Alpha Kappa correspondence/repositories/4/archival_objects/271991992-1995622Theta Alpha Kappa chapter dues/repositories/4/archival_objects/272001993623Theta Alpha Kappa letters of invitation to students/repositories/4/archival_objects/272011993-1994624Theta Alpha Kappa/Phi Sigma Tau membership requirements/repositories/4/archival_objects/272021994625Theta Alpha Kappa/Phi Sigma Tau joint initiation ceremony/repositories/4/archival_objects/27203199471Theta Alpha Kappa general correspondence/repositories/4/archival_objects/272041994-199572Theta Alpha Kappa forms/repositories/4/archival_objects/272051994-199573Theta Alpha Kappa activities/repositories/4/archival_objects/27206199574Theta Alpha Kappa student records/repositories/4/archival_objects/27207199575Theta Alpha Kappa assorted records/repositories/4/archival_objects/272081995-199776Theta Alpha Kappa/Phi Sigma Tau joint initiation ceremony/repositories/4/archival_objects/27209199677Journal of Theta Alpha Kappa Albert Clark Prize/repositories/4/archival_objects/272101996-199778Theta Alpha Kappa initiation/repositories/4/archival_objects/27211199779Theta Alpha Kappa/Phi Sigma Tau membership requirements/repositories/4/archival_objects/272121997710Theta Alpha Kappa membership lists/repositories/4/archival_objects/27213undated711Luncheon seating/repositories/4/archival_objects/27214undated712Theta Alpha Kappa faculty advisor instructions/repositories/4/archival_objects/27215undated713