Hartford Seminary facts for kids
 |
|
|
Former names
|
Hartford Theological Seminary Hartford Seminary Foundation |
|---|---|
| Type | Theological college |
| Established | 1833 |
| Affiliation | Non-denominational |
| Endowment | $47.9 million (2019) |
| President | Joel N. Lohr |
| Location |
,
,
United States
41°46′12″N 72°42′27″W / 41.7699°N 72.7076°W |
 |
|
Hartford Seminary is a special school in Hartford, Connecticut. It's a place where people learn about different religions and how to work in religious leadership roles. It's not tied to just one specific church or religious group.
Contents
A Look at History
Hartford Seminary started a long time ago, in 1833. Back then, it was called the Pastoral Union of Connecticut. Its main goal was to teach people how to become ministers for Congregational churches.
The very next year, a new school called the Theological Institute of Connecticut opened. It was located in East Windsor Hill, Connecticut.
The school moved to Hartford in 1865. Later, in 1885, it officially became known as Hartford Theological Seminary.
Over the years, other schools joined. In 1902, the Bible Normal College became part of the seminary. It changed its name to Hartford School of Religious Pedagogy. Then, in 1911, the Kennedy School of Missions also joined. By 1913, these three schools were all working together.
In 1961, they officially merged and changed their name to Hartford Seminary Foundation. This name was used until 1981, when the school got its current name: Hartford Seminary.
Since 1972, Hartford Seminary has offered special programs focusing on understanding both Christian and Muslim faiths. In 1990, the seminary officially became a non-denominational school. This means it welcomes students from many different religious backgrounds. On January 1, 2018, Hartford Seminary joined the Boston Theological Institute (BTI). This is a large group of religious schools working together.
The Hartford Campus
When the seminary first moved to Hartford in 1865, it was in the area where the Wadsworth Atheneum is now. In the 1910s, the school planned a new, dedicated campus. This campus was on the west side of Hartford.
Building the new campus was delayed by World War I. But in the 1920s, beautiful buildings were constructed. These buildings were used by the seminary until 1981. Today, they are part of the University of Connecticut School of Law.
The main building of the current seminary was designed by a famous architect named Richard Meier. It was finished in 1981. The seminary also uses other buildings nearby that have always been part of its campus. These older buildings, along with the law school, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is because of their special architecture.
What Students Study
Hartford Seminary has two main study centers. These are the Hartford Institute for Religion Research and the Duncan Black Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations.
The seminary offers different programs and advanced degrees. It has the only accredited Islamic chaplaincy programs. This means it's a recognized place to train Muslim chaplains.
The Muslim World Journal
Since 1938, Hartford Seminary has been the home of an important academic journal called The Muslim World. This journal was first started in 1911. It shares research and ideas about the Muslim world.
Notable People Who Attended
Many interesting people have studied at Hartford Seminary. Here are a few:
- Akaiko Akana: The first pastor of Hawaiian background at Kawaiahaʻo Church.
- Fred Hovey Allen: A clergyman and author who made the first photogravure plates in the U.S.
- Thomas L. Angell: A scholar who taught at Bates College.
- Yahya Hendi: A Muslim chaplain at Georgetown University. He was named one of the World's Most Influential Muslims in 2012.
- Fenwicke Holmes: A leader in the Religious Science movement.
- Fred Kirschenmann: A leader in the sustainable agriculture movement. This means he helps people learn how to farm in ways that protect the environment.
- Charles H. Kraft: An evangelical Christian apologist.
- Vergel L. Lattimore: A professor at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio.
- Rachel Taylor Milton: She helped start the Urban League of Greater Hartford. She is also in the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame.
- Richard T. Nolan: An Episcopal Church canon, writer, and professor of philosophy.
- Beverly Daniel Tatum: A former President of Spelman College.
- Andrew Young: A pastor, mayor of Atlanta, U.S. Congressman, and UN ambassador. He was also a leader in the civil rights movement.
- Henry Allan Gleason Jr: A linguist, someone who studies languages.
- Asnage Castelly: A Haitian-American wrestler who competed for Haiti in the 2016 Summer Olympics.
- Yvonne Y. Haddad: A professor at Georgetown University who studies the history of Islam and Christian-Muslim relations.
