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 26

Records and reels

Item 1: BU X-Mas Carol, Trinity Church, n.d.
Item 2: Two sided record: Following the Master/Aim High, n.d.
Item 3: Two sided record: The Voice of God/The Sound of Trumpets, n.d.
Item 4: Two sided record: The Twenty-Third Psalm/The Sanctuary of the Soul, n.d.
Item 5: Two sided record: Attitudes/Joy, n.d.
Item 6: Trinity Church Audition Part 1, 1950
Item 7: Unlabeled record, n.d.
Item 8: Unlabeled record, n.d.
Item 9: Centenary College Choir, n.d.
Item 10: "Concert after 10", n.d.
Item 11: "Song tape", n.d.
Item 12: Unlabeled record, n.d.
Item 13: Unlabeled record, n.d.
Item 14: Unlabeled record, n.d.
Item 15: Unlabeled record, n.d.
Item 16: Unlabeled record, n.d.