1946-1958
The Seminarian was a publication of the American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville, Tennessee. The bulletin-formatted periodical, which ranged from 4 to 12 pages in length, began in December 1946 and was issued 6 times per year. Victor Glass served as managing editor from The Seminarian’s inception through 1955 when Primrose Funches assumed the role of managing editor. The purpose of The Seminarian was to keep Baptist people informed of the Seminary’s growth and progress. The audience included pastors and laypeople, churches, alumni, and other interested individuals. The publication included a president’s corner, faculty news, updates on student activities and events, alumni updates, and news and announcements of guest speakers and conferences. Several photographs were also included in each issue. The publication is any word searchable.
The American Baptist Theological Seminary (now American Baptist College), an institution of learning for the training of black ministers and religious workers, was established in 1924 as a joint opportunity between the National Baptist Convention, Inc. and the Southern Baptist Convention. It is located in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1913, E. Y. Mullins offered a resolution at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting calling for the establishment of a seminary to train African American ministers. A 9-member committee was appointed to study the issue. The committee recommended the establishment of a seminary that would operate under the control of the National Baptist Convention. Because of conditions resulting from World War I and a division in the NBC, the founding and opening of the seminary was delayed until 1924. The seminary, which opened October 1, 1924, with an enrollment of 28 men and 2 women, was first located on land adjacent to Roger Williams University in Nashville. The first faculty consisted of William T. Amiger, J. H. Garnett, and O. L. Hailey. Sutton E. Griggs was elected the first president. In the 1950s and 1960s, several ABTS students and faculty played key roles during the Civil Rights Movement. In the 1990s, the SBC relinquished any ownership and authority over the ABTS.
