Houghton, James Russell, 1897-1981 | Theology Library Archives

Collection Overview

Title: Houghton, James Russell, 1897-1981

ID: 03/021

Extent: 26.0 Boxes

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The collection contains papers from the various activities during Dr. Houghton's life, primarily 1931-1964. Included are: Minutes of the Joint Hymnal Commission (1931-1934) with resource materials; Preliminary report of the Commission on Rituals and Orders of Worship (1944); Minutes of the Commission on Worship and the Arts (1955-56) and later Commission on Worship (1956-1960), including some correspondence; Minutes, correspondence and other resource materials from the Commission on Worship and Hymnal Committee (1960-64), with a collection of general Methodist resource materials. From Boston University, the collection includes: Programs and Handbills for the University Chorus and Glee Clubs (1936-1964); Seminary Singers programs and tour records (1936-1964); and other scattered music, programs, correspondence (mostly from 1937-38); Sermons from Dr. Stidger's radio program (1937-39) annotated with hymns presented, plus correspondence and fan letters to the New England Singers. Memorabilia and scrapbooks, mostly from the Glee Club and Seminary Singers.

Collection Historical Note

Born April 11, 1899 in Davenport, Iowa, he came to Boston University in 1927 as Instructor in Worship and Church Music, rising to Assistant Professor in 1929 and Professor of Church Music and Worship in 1937 following his graduation from Simpson College with the Mus.D. degree.

Prof." led the Seminary Singers and founded the Boston University Glee Club, served as Director of Music for the General Conferences of the Methodist Church (1939-1960), as well as serving on the Hymnal Committees (1935, 1964) and Worship Committees (1944, 1964). He created the New England Singers, which provided music for Dr. William L. Stidger's radio sermon program sponsored by Fleischmann's Yeast (1937-39). Dr. Houghton retired to California, where he died on May 2, 1990, at the age of 91.

Information from: http://socialarchive.iath.virginia.edu/ark:/99166/w6qz2nsx

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1: 1905-1962],
[Box 2: 1933-1963],
[Box 3: 1927-1981],
[Box 4: 1932-1973],
[Box 5: 1937-1939],
[Box 6: 1911-1948],
[Box 7: 1925-1960],
[Box 8: 1898-1939],
[Box 9: 1941-1962],
[Box 10: 1949-1962],
[Box 11: 1939-1981],
[Box 12],
[Box 13],
[Box 14],
[Box 15: 1933-1981],
[Box 16: 1925-1944],
[Box 17: 1922-1981],
[Box 18: 1931-1985],
[Box 19: 1911-1945],
[Box 20: 1939-1968],
[Box 21: 1897-1979],
[Box 22: 1918-1980],
[Box 23: 1922-1981],
[Box 24: 1950-1977],
[Box 25: 1938-1952],
[Box 26],
[Box 27: Glee Club, Notes, Student notes, Programs, Correspondence],
[All]

Box 23: 1922-1981

Photos and certificates, resource and publicity material

Item 1: Rolled photo of BU group (perhaps chorus) with some names on back, n.d.
Item 2: 2a and 2b - Two copies, rolled photo of BU chorus at Symphony Hall, 1948
Item 3: Rolled sheet music, "The Spirit of the Lord" composed for BU Seminary Singers, n.d.
Item 4: Rolled photo of Methodist Hymnal Committee with names on back, 1932
Item 5: Rolled certificate - National Association of Teachers of Singing, 1946
Item 6: Rolled photo of the opening meeting of the Methodist Unification Conference, 1939
Item 7: Rolled photo of the General Conference of the Methodist Church, Boston MA, 1948
Item 8: Rolled photo of the Maine Sunday School Association meeting, August ME, 1926
Item 9: Rolled photo of the opening session of the General Conference, Kansas City MO, 1944
Item 10: Rolled photo of BU group (perhaps chorus) with signatures on back, undated, n.d.
Item 11: Rolled photo of BU chorus at Symphony Hall, 1950
Item 12: Rolled portrait of unknown man by W. Strasser, undated, n.d.
Item 13: Rolled bundle of Air Force Base materials, photos and clippings, 1950s
Item 14: Rolled photo of the General Conference in Atlantic City, 1940
Item 15: Rolled photo of the Northern Baptist Convention in Atlantic City, 1940
Folder 16: Selected resource material, 1960-1965
Folder 17: Selected resource material, 1966-1976
Folder 18: Misc. undated handwritten notes - hymnology, choir membership, performance lists, etc., n.d.
Folder 19: Misc. undated resource material, n.d.
Folder 20: Misc. undated resource material, n.d.
Folder 21: Publiciity material, n.d.
Folder 22: Graceland College yearbook, 1922
Folder 23: Photos from frames - Glee Club, Seminary Singers, JRH, 1932-1937, 1981, n.d.