Call Number:

Ms. Coll. 1295

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

0.2 linear feet (1 box)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

George Aaron Barton Studies in New Testament Christianity manuscript, 1928, Ms. Coll. 1295, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania

Date:

1928 (inclusive)

Creator:

Barton, George A. (George Aaron)

Form:

Photographs, Manuscripts (documents), and Writings (documents)

Abstract:

Reverend George Aaron Barton (1859-1942) was an author and professor of Semitic languages and the history of religion at the University of Pennsylvania from 1922 until his death. This collection contains an annotated manuscript of Barton's Studies in New Testament Christianity, which was published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 1928.

George Aaron Barton was an author, scholar, and professor of Semitic languages. Born in Quebec, Canada, Barton became a minister in the Society of Friends in 1879, after attending the Oakwood Seminary in Poughkeepsie, New York. He continued his education at Haverford College, earning his B.A. in 1882 and M.A. in 1885. He worked briefly in the insurance field before teaching at the Friends School in Providence, Rhode Island from 1884 to 1889. He then resumed his studies at Harvard, focusing on religion, Assyriology and Semitic languages. After gaining his Ph.D. in 1891, Barton became a professor of Semitic languages at Bryn Mawr College, where he also served as college chaplain.

In 1922, Barton came to the University of Pennsylvania where he succeeded Morris Jastrow as professor of Semitic languages and the history of religion from 1922 to1931 and then as a professor emeritus from 1932 until his death. While at Penn, he also served as the director of the American School of Oriental Research in Baghdad from 1921 to 1934. After leaving the Society of Friends in protest of its World War I pacifist stand, Barton was ordained as an Episcopal priest in 1919; he was professor of New Testament literature at the Divinity School of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Philadelphia from 1922 until 1937.

Internationally known for his writings on Biblical subjects, Barton was also a noted scholar of archeology, helping appraise and interpret the findings of many archeological expeditions of the Middle East. His publications on cuneiform writing included work with texts from Penn's University Museum collections as well as with other Sumerian tablets. He also became interested in biblical archeology, writing a popular text book on the subject, published in 1916. His extensive scholarly publications addressed not only Semitic languages and biblical archeology, but also translations and commentaries on biblical texts.

After Barton's first wife, Caroline Brewer Danforth, died in 1930, he later married Katherine Blye Hagy. Barton and his first wife had one adopted son.

Biographical note taken in its entirety from University of Pennsylvania's Archives finding aid for: George Aaron Barton Papers, 1903-1942, UPT 50 B293

This collection contains an annotated manuscript of George Aaron Barton's Studies in New Testament Christianity, which was published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 1928. These manuscripts are heavily annotated by Barton and also include typed additions that are cut out and pasted onto the original manuscript. There is also an index of authors included for Studies in New Testament Christianity and an undated photograph of Barton.