Papers of Reverend Professor Ronald Gregor Smith, 1913-1968, minister, Professor of Divinity, University of Glasgow, Scotland, 1956-1968

Scope and Content

  • Folder containing essays and correspondence, 1943-1968;
  • Folder containing photostats of letters, thesis and one photograph of Martin Buber, mainly concerning academic/lingusitic matters, 1936-1958;
  • File containing a collection of essays and sermons of Professor Ronald Gregor Smith, 1952-1958.

Administrative / Biographical History

Ronald Gregor Smith was born on the 17 April 1913 . He was the second son of George Henry and Helen Wilson Smith. In 1947 he married Käthe Wittlake, the younger daughter of Otto and Elizabeth Wittlake. He studied at George Heriot's in Edinburgh, and read English Language and Literature at the University of Edinburgh, and later graduated in Divinity with distinction in Systematic Theology. He also studied at the Universities of Munich, Marburg and Copenhagen. In 1939  he was ordained and was appointed Minister to Lawson Memorial Church, Selkirk. During the War he served in the Scots Guards as a Chaplain. In 1946 he was appointed the Education Control Officer at Bonn University under the British Occupying Authority. In 1947 he became the Associate Editor with the Student Christian Movement Press, becoming Managing Director and sole Editor in 1950 . In 1956  he was appointed the Professor of Divinity at the University of Glasgow. He remained in this post until his death in 1968 . His publications include: Still Point, (1943); The New Man, (1956); (translation of) I and Thou, (1937); Between Man and Man, (1947); as well as papers in various journals.

Sources: Who's Who, (1958, London); The College Courant, Vol. IX, No.17, (1956, Glasgow), The College Courant, Vol.20, No.41, (1968, Glasgow).

Arrangement

The arrangement of this material reflects the original order in which it was received

Access Information

Open

Acquisition Information

J A M Rillie: English Department, Glasgow University: 1983

Other Finding Aids

Digital file level list available in searchroom

Alternative Form Available

No known copies

Conditions Governing Use

Applications for permission to quote should be sent to the Archivist.

Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents.

Appraisal Information

This material has been appraised in line with standard GB 0248 procedures

Custodial History

Received from Glasgow University

Accruals

None expected

Related Material

No related material

Location of Originals

This material is original

Bibliography

No known publications using this material

Additional Information

Description compiled in line with the following international standards: International Council on Archives, ISAD(G) Second Edition, September 1999and National Council on Archives, Rules for the construction of personal, place and corporate names

Fonds level compiled by Vikki Laidlaw, Hub Project Assistant, 14 October 2004. Lower levels converted to Encoded Archival Description by Alma Topen, Senior Assistant Archivist (Cataloguing), 2013.