Guide to the Norman Perrin Papers 1964-1977


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Table of Contents

• Descriptive Summary
• Information on Use
• Access
• Citation
• Biographical Note
• Scope Note
• Related Resources
• Subject Headings
• INVENTORY
• Series I: Personal and Biographical
• Series II: Teaching
• Series III: Writings

Descriptive Summary

Information on Use

Access

The collection is open for research.

Citation

When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: Perrin, Norman. Papers, [Box #, Folder #], Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library

Biographical Note

Dr. Norman Perrin (b. November 29th, 1920, d. November 25, 1976) was an associate professor of New Testament Studies at the University of Chicago from August 1964 until his death November 1976. Born in Wellingborough, England, Perrin served in the Royal Air Force from 1940-45 during World War II. After the war, he earned a Bachelor of Arts from Manchester University in 1949, a Bachelor of Divinity (1952) and Masters of Theology (1955) from London University, and a Doctoral of Theology from Göttingen University in 1959.

Prior to teaching at the University of Chicago, Perrin taught at the Candler School of Theology in Emory University, Atlanta Georgia from 1959-1964. Perrin’s notable contributions were his work on Christ miracle stories, and translated the work of his mentor, Joachim Jeremias, from German into English.

Perrin was an active scholar and member of the church, especially in the later years of his life. Prior to moving to the United States, he held various pastorate positions in the Baptist Church of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Perrin became a US citizen in September 1967. Perrin would become involved in many publications and groups dedicated to Biblical and Religious study, and would become president of the Society of Biblical Literature in 1973. Included within the collection is an audio cassette recording Perrin’s presidential address to the joint American Academy of Religion and Society of Biblical Literature in 1973.

Perrin married Rosemary (nee. Watson) after completion of his first Bachelors in 1952. In October 1968, they divorced. He would later marry Nancy Perrin in 1976 and adopt her two daughters.

Dr. Perrin died at the age of 55.

Scope Note

The Norman Perrin papers are organized into 3 series: Series I: Personal and Biographical; Series II: Teaching; and Series III: Writings.

Series I, Personal and Biographical, contains personal items like photographs and a chess book; professional correspondences from publishers and colleagues; university biographical information from Perrin’s hiring into the University of Chicago to a memorial pamphlet for his death; legal letters concerning the affairs of his office and belongings after his death; clippings from university and local news reporting on his publication history and death; multiple drafts of an obituary; and a newspaper interview.

Series II, Teaching, contains lecture drafts for his autumn 1975 seminar, joint taught with Dr. David Tracy; a photocopy of handwritten lecture notes; and a book list for an MA student.

Series III, Writings, contains journals that Perrin submitted to, did book reviews for, or otherwise contributed to; essay and book drafts; a translation of his mentors lecture on “The Sermon on the Mount;” a book review list; an audio cassette containing Perrin’s Presidential Address at the 1973 joint AAR/SBL meeting; and speech manuscripts with handwritten annotations.

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Subject Headings

• Perrin, Norman Horace, b. 1920
• University of Chicago. Divinity School
• Theology -- Study and teaching

INVENTORY

Personal correspondence from Perrin to colleagues; a collection of personal items including photographs, negatives, miscellaneous coupons and bank statements, and a chess book; and university records concerning Perrin’s appointment, publishing, awards, death and subsequent legal affairs.

Lectures from autumn 1975 joint seminar with Professor David Tracy, copy of notes from seminar in October 1975, and book list for MA student, undated

Officially published writings in journals, essay and speech drafts, and audio cassette tape recording a speech he gave for American Academy of Religion and Society of Biblical Literature (Presidential Address 1973).