James Madison University Libraries Special Collections
820 Madison DriveMSC 1706
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807
Telephone: (540) 568-3612
library-special@jmu.edu
URL: https://www.lib.jmu.edu/special/
Chelsea Tholen, Tiffany Cole
Administrative Information
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).
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.
Provenance
Bridgewater College acquired the collection from the Thomas estate, presumably as a bequest.
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.
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.
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.
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, 1954-2004Separated Material
Published books were separated from the collection and cataloged as part of Special Collections rare book holdings.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Bridgewater College
- College students -- Conduct of life
- Education, Higher -- Virginia -- Harrisonburg -- History
- Faculty papers
- Greek letter societies
- James Madison University -- Curricula
- James Madison University -- Faculty
- James Madison University -- History
- James Madison University. Department of Philosophy and Religion
- Lecture notes
- Madison College -- Curricula
- Madison College -- Faculty
- Madison College -- History
- Madison College. Department of Philosophy and Religion
- Student activities -- Virginia -- Harrisonburg
- Students -- Conduct of life
- Syllabi
- Theta Alpha Kappa
- Universities and colleges -- Virginia -- History
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Thomas, William W. (William West), 1933-2008
Container List
Series 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.
- Mixed Materials [1000897724] box: 1 folder: 1
Undergraduate and graduate coursework1955-1959
- Mixed Materials [1000897724] box: 1 folder: 2
PHIL 240circa 1971-1976
- Mixed Materials [1000897724] box: 1 folder: 3
Pascal lecture notes and class assignments1971-1990
- Mixed Materials [1000897724] box: 1 folder: 4
Courses taught and descriptions1971-1994
- Mixed Materials [1000897724] box: 1 folder: 5
REL 320circa 1971-1997
- Mixed Materials [1000897724] box: 1 folder: 6
REL 4901972
- Mixed Materials [1000897724] box: 1 folder: 7
Textbook orders1972-1997
- Mixed Materials [1000897724] box: 1 folder: 8
Theology for Everyday Living - School of Continuing Studies1973
- Mixed Materials [1000897724] box: 1 folder: 9
Summary Listing of Topics Considered Important by Some Harrisonburg (and Valley) Residents1974 November 20
- Mixed Materials [1000897724] box: 1 folder: 10
HUM 5011975
- Mixed Materials [1000897724] box: 1 folder: 11
Lecture notes - Satre1976
- Mixed Materials [1000897724] box: 1 folder: 12
Assorted syllabi1977-2000
- Mixed Materials [1000897724] box: 1 folder: 13
REL 200/201/202 reviews1979
- Mixed Materials [1000897724] box: 1 folder: 14
B. A. Gerrish, University of Chicago, lecture notes and syllabus1979-1982
- Mixed Materials [1000897724] box: 1 folder: 15
NEH seminars1979-1987
- Mixed Materials [1000897725] box: 2 folder: 1
REL 4901980
- Mixed Materials [1000897725] box: 2 folder: 2
PHIL/REL 375 lecture notes and syllabus1982
- Mixed Materials [1000897725] box: 2 folder: 3
Course proposal1982
- Mixed Materials [1000897725] box: 2 folder: 4
The 19th Century: Age of Ideology progressive course evaluations1982
- Mixed Materials [1000897725] box: 2 folder: 5
Karl Barth introduction and notescirca 1982
- Mixed Materials [1000897725] box: 2 folder: 6
"Honor to God: Barth's Assessment of Hegel"1984
- Mixed Materials [1000897725] box: 2 folder: 7
Introductory lecture on Barth1984
- Mixed Materials [1000897725] box: 2 folder: 8
REL 3601984-1997
- Mixed Materials [1000897725] box: 2 folder: 9
Lecture notes - Sartre, Freud, Barth, etc.1985-1994
- Mixed Materials [1000897725] box: 2 folder: 10
PHIL/REL 3751986
- Mixed Materials [1000897725] box: 2 folder: 11
PHIL 360circa 1986
- Mixed Materials [1000897725] box: 2 folder: 12
Freshman seminar in humanities proposal1987-1993
- Mixed Materials [1000897725] box: 2 folder: 13
REL 210/2021988
- Mixed Materials [1000897725] box: 2 folder: 14
Daily lesson plans1988-1999
- Mixed Materials [1000897725] box: 2 folder: 15
Faculty educational leave proposal1989-1990
- Mixed Materials [1000897725] box: 2 folder: 16
Faculty development seminar1989-1993
- Mixed Materials [1000897725] box: 2 folder: 17
Faculty educational leave - Karl Barth1990
- Mixed Materials [1000897725] box: 2 folder: 18
Gospels1990
- Mixed Materials [1000897725] box: 2 folder: 19
PHIL/REL 37519901994
- Mixed Materials [1000897725] box: 2 folder: 20
Honor pledge1991
- Mixed Materials [1000897725] box: 2 folder: 21
Notes on Friedrich Schleiermacher1991
- Mixed Materials [1000897725] box: 2 folder: 22
Bibles1991
- Mixed Materials [1000897725] box: 2 folder: 23
Assorted syllabi and Barth essay1991-1998
- Mixed Materials [1000897726] box: 3 folder: 1
Lecture notes - Kings, Deuteronomy, wisdom, etc.1993, undated
- Mixed Materials [1000897726] box: 3 folder: 2
Sacré-Coeur articles1993-1994
- Mixed Materials [1000897726] box: 3 folder: 3
Capstone class1994
- Mixed Materials [1000897726] box: 3 folder: 4
PHIL 2001995
- Mixed Materials [1000897726] box: 3 folder: 5
Lecture notes - Niebuhr, theology, Bonhoeffer, fundamentalism, etc.1995, undated
- Mixed Materials [1000897726] box: 3 folder: 6
Eastern Orthodox patriarch speech1997
- Mixed Materials [1000897726] box: 3 folder: 7
GPHIL 10119992001
- Mixed Materials [1000897726] box: 3 folder: 8
GPHIL 1012001
- Mixed Materials [1000897726] box: 3 folder: 9
Lecture notes - St. Thomas Aquinas, Irenaeus, etc.undated
- Mixed Materials [1000897726] box: 3 folder: 10
Lecture notes - New Testament, Jewish history, ministry of Jesus, etc.undated
- Mixed Materials [1000897726] box: 3 folder: 11
Lecture notes - Schopenhauer, Euthyphro, The Apologyundated
- Mixed Materials [1000897726] box: 3 folder: 12
Lecture notes - Pascal, Leibnitz, Brecht, Marxism, etc.undated
- Mixed Materials [1000897727] box: 4 folder: 1
Lecture notes - Novum Organum, Hobbs, free will vs. determinismundated
- Mixed Materials [1000897727] box: 4 folder: 2
Lecture notes - Jeremy Benthamundated
- Mixed Materials [1000897727] box: 4 folder: 3
Lecture notes - Acts, Paul, Thessalonians, Revelationundated
- Mixed Materials [1000897727] box: 4 folder: 4
Lecture notes - Descartes' Evil Genius, Demon, Godundated
- Mixed Materials [1000897727] box: 4 folder: 5
Lecture notes - John Locke, Berkeley, modern philosophy, Spinoza, etc.undated
- Mixed Materials [1000897727] box: 4 folder: 6
Lecture notes - Martin Luther, Schleiermacher, St. Thomasundated
- Mixed Materials [1000897727] box: 4 folder: 7
REL 330 syllabus and notesundated
- Mixed Materials [1000897727] box: 4 folder: 8
REL 201/202 blank testsundated
- Mixed Materials [1000897727] box: 4 folder: 9
PHIL 101 blank testsundated
- Mixed Materials [1000897727] box: 4 folder: 10
Book of Mark readings and notesundated
- Mixed Materials [1000897727] box: 4 folder: 11
"Religion is an Illusion" Sigmund Freudundated
- Mixed Materials [1000897727] box: 4 folder: 12
Speeches and addressesundated
- Mixed Materials [1000897727] box: 4 folder: 13
Notes - Kingdom of God, John Brightundated
- Mixed Materials [1000897727] box: 4 folder: 14
Women's issues bibliographyundated
- Mixed Materials [1000897727] box: 4 folder: 15
Irony vs. satireundated
Series 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.
- Mixed Materials [1000897727] box: 4 folder: 16
Personnel record and course outlines1954-1987
- Mixed Materials [1000897728] box: 5 folder: 1
Faculty activities reports1960-1988
- Mixed Materials [1000897728] box: 5 folder: 2
Promotion and tenure criteria1971-1982
- Mixed Materials [1000897728] box: 5 folder: 3
Promotion and tenure criteria1973-1981
- Mixed Materials [1000897728] box: 5 folder: 4
Fall Symposium of Arts and Sciences - Morse Peckham1974
- Mixed Materials [1000897728] box: 5 folder: 5
Correspondence1976-2004
- Mixed Materials [1000897728] box: 5 folder: 6
Resume1984
- Mixed Materials [1000897728] box: 5 folder: 7
Carrier Library Faculty-Student Advisory Committee charge1986
- Mixed Materials [1000897728] box: 5 folder: 8
Visiting Scholars Committee - Manfred Stassen1988
- Mixed Materials [1000897728] box: 5 folder: 9
G. Tyler Miller memorial service1988-1989
- Mixed Materials [1000897728] box: 5 folder: 10
Promotion and tenure reports1988-1992
- Mixed Materials [1000897728] box: 5 folder: 11
Faculty activities report1988-1993
- Mixed Materials [1000897728] box: 5 folder: 12
Faculty activities reports1988-1997
- Mixed Materials [1000897728] box: 5 folder: 13
Departmental tea1994
- Mixed Materials [1000897728] box: 5 folder: 14
Faculty activities report1994-1995
- Mixed Materials [1000897728] box: 5 folder: 15
Visiting Scholars Committee - James Burtness1994-1995
- Mixed Materials [1000897729] box: 6 folder: 1
Personnel Advisory Committee nominations for Distinguished Teaching Award and Madison Scholar Award1996
- Mixed Materials [1000897729] box: 6 folder: 2
Department head activities survey1996-1997
- Mixed Materials [1000897729] box: 6 folder: 3
Departmental tea1997
- Mixed Materials [1000897729] box: 6 folder: 4
Union Theological Seminary Luncheon - James Smylie1997
- Mixed Materials [1000897729] box: 6 folder: 5
Curriculum vitaecirca 1997
- Mixed Materials [1000897729] box: 6 folder: 6
Retirement1997-1998
- Mixed Materials [1000897729] box: 6 folder: 7
Student relations1997-1999
- Mixed Materials [1000897729] box: 6 folder: 8
Retirement1997-2001
- Mixed Materials [1000897729] box: 6 folder: 9
Athletic-academic banquet1998
- Mixed Materials [1000897729] box: 6 folder: 10
Assorted JMU news items2001-2003
-
Theta Alpha Kappa
- Mixed Materials [1000897729] box: 6 folder: 11
Theta Alpha Kappa assorted records1977-1979
- Mixed Materials [1000897729] box: 6 folder: 12
Theta Alpha Kappa assorted records1977-1981
- Mixed Materials [1000897729] box: 6 folder: 13
Theta Alpha Kappa replies1979-1980
- Mixed Materials [1000897729] box: 6 folder: 14
Theta Alpha Kappa/Phi Sigma Tau membership requirements19791992
- Mixed Materials [1000897729] box: 6 folder: 15
Neil Mowbray Daily News-Record article1981
- Mixed Materials [1000897729] box: 6 folder: 16
Theta Alpha KAppa letters of invitation to students1983-1995
- Mixed Materials [1000897729] box: 6 folder: 17
Theta Alpha Kappa/Phi Sigma Tau joint initiation invitation to speak, Charles Swezey1984
- Mixed Materials [1000897729] box: 6 folder: 18
Theta Alpha Kappa/Phi Sigma Tau joint initiation ceremony1985
- Mixed Materials [1000897729] box: 6 folder: 19
Theta Alpha Kappa charge1985-1986
- Mixed Materials [1000897729] box: 6 folder: 20
Theta Alpha Kappa/Phi Sigma TAu joint initiation invitationscirca 1986
- Mixed Materials [1000897729] box: 6 folder: 21
Theta Alpha Kappa/Phi Sigma Tau joint initiation ceremony programs1987-1994
- Mixed Materials [1000897729] box: 6 folder: 22
Theta Alpha Kappa correspondence1992-1995
- Mixed Materials [1000897729] box: 6 folder: 23
Theta Alpha Kappa chapter dues1993
- Mixed Materials [1000897729] box: 6 folder: 24
Theta Alpha Kappa letters of invitation to students1993-1994
- Mixed Materials [1000897729] box: 6 folder: 25
Theta Alpha Kappa/Phi Sigma Tau membership requirements1994
- Mixed Materials [1000897730] box: 7 folder: 1
Theta Alpha Kappa/Phi Sigma Tau joint initiation ceremony1994
- Mixed Materials [1000897730] box: 7 folder: 2
Theta Alpha Kappa general correspondence1994-1995
- Mixed Materials [1000897730] box: 7 folder: 3
Theta Alpha Kappa forms1994-1995
- Mixed Materials [1000897730] box: 7 folder: 4
Theta Alpha Kappa activities1995
- Mixed Materials [1000897730] box: 7 folder: 5
Theta Alpha Kappa student records1995
- Mixed Materials [1000897730] box: 7 folder: 6
Theta Alpha Kappa assorted records1995-1997
- Mixed Materials [1000897730] box: 7 folder: 7
Theta Alpha Kappa/Phi Sigma Tau joint initiation ceremony1996
- Mixed Materials [1000897730] box: 7 folder: 8
Journal of Theta Alpha Kappa Albert Clark Prize1996-1997
- Mixed Materials [1000897730] box: 7 folder: 9
Theta Alpha Kappa initiation1997
- Mixed Materials [1000897730] box: 7 folder: 10
Theta Alpha Kappa/Phi Sigma Tau membership requirements1997
- Mixed Materials [1000897730] box: 7 folder: 11
Theta Alpha Kappa membership listsundated
- Mixed Materials [1000897730] box: 7 folder: 12
Luncheon seatingundated
- Mixed Materials [1000897730] box: 7 folder: 13
Theta Alpha Kappa faculty advisor instructionsundated
- Mixed Materials [1000897729] box: 6 folder: 11