Reasons for Not Observing Christmas from the Baptist Missionary Magazine, 1820

ABHS Selected for Japanese American Confinement Sites (JACS) Grant

Herbert & Elizabeth Cope Collection Open

J. Herbert & Elizabeth Cope served as missionaries in the Chin Hills of Burma, 1908-1938.  A collection of artifacts and photos was donated in 1985 by A. Danforth Cope, their son, and a collection of family letters was recently donated by Penny and Bill Cutler, their granddaughter and her husband. The collection is now open to researchers.

An exhibit highlighting the work of the Copes and Chin Baptists is on display at ABHS until November, 2024.

Torbet Prize Call for Papers

The American Baptist Historical Society announces a Call for Papers for the Torbet Prize. Each year ABHS seeks essays on Baptist history from authors who have not already published a major scholarly work.  The Research and Publication Committee of the ABHS Board of Manager serves as judges, and the winning essay is eligible for publication in an upcoming issue of the American Baptist Quarterly and its author awarded $500. The deadline for submission is September 1. Here are downloadable details.

Send entry, contact information, and a brief bio including a list of prior publications to: ABHSoffice@ABHSarchives.org

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION:

  • Author has not already published a major scholarly work;
  • Submissions make a unique contribution to the field of Baptist history and/or theology;
  • Professional and academic writing standards are met, especially re:  attributions and citations;
  • Citations, format, and style must follow the Chicago Manual of Style;
  • Maximum length: 25 double-spaced pages (excluding notes);
  • Submission must be in final draft form, free from errors and ready for publication.

Robert George Torbet (1912-1995) was an American Baptist historian and educator, born in Spokane, WA and later a graduate of Wheaton College, Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and the University of Pennsylvania.  He taught church history at Eastern Seminary (1944-1952), served as director of educational services for the American Baptist Board of Education and Publication (1952-1958), as dean and church history professor at Central Baptist Theological Seminary (1958-1967), and as Associate General Secretary for Ecumenical Relations of the American Baptist Churches, USA (1967-1977).  His significant contributions to Baptist research and publication led the American Baptist Historical Society to establish a prize in his honor to encourage development of young scholars in the field of Baptist history studies. 

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