Donald F. Beisswenger Papers
Scope and Contents
The Donald Frederick Beisswenger Papers consists of the materials of minister and social activist Donald Frederick Beisswenger, 1930-2018.
Dates
- Creation: 1960 - 2002
Conditions Governing Access
The physical materials from this collection may be viewed only in the reading room of Vanderbilt’s Special Collections and University Archives. Materials should be requested two to three days in advance to facilitate easier access. Contact specialcollections@vanderbilt.edu to schedule an appointment.
Biographical / Historical
Donald Frederick Beisswenger (1930-2018), son of Fred and Julie Beisswenger, was born on 12 October 1930 in New Brighton, Minnesota. He received his divinity degree from Yale University and was a Presbyterian minister in congregations in Arkansas, Ohio, Illinois, and Georgia. In 1968, Beisswenger moved to Nashville and became a professor at Vanderbilt Divinity School. Known for his work with the homeless, Beisswenger was a champion for social justice, civil rights, and prison reform. He spent six months in federal prison for his activism against injustice. Beisswenger died in Nashville, Tennessee on 26 November 2018.
Full Extent
47.84 Linear Feet (46 Paige boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Donald Frederick Beisswenger Papers consists of the materials of minister and social activist Donald Frederick Beisswenger, 1930-2018.
- Title
- Finding Aid for the Donald G. Beisswenger Papers
- Status
- Unprocessed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Vanderbilt University Special Collections and University Archives Repository
Special Collections Library
1101 19th Ave. S.
Nashville TN 37212 United States
specialcollections@vanderbilt.edu
About this Site
This site contains collection guides, or finding aids, to the archival collections held by Vanderbilt University Special Collections and University Archives, the History of Medicine Collection, and the Scarritt Bennett Center. Finding aids describe the context, arrangement, and structure of archival materials, allowing users to identify and request materials relevant to their research.
Requesting Materials
Each finding aid contains a link to request materials from the collections. Collections can also be requested by emailing the repository directly through the library website. Each repository has its own location, hours, and contact information. Please consult the repository with questions about using the materials. Collections are non-circulating and must be used in the repository’s reading room. In many cases, the collections are stored off-site and require advance notice for retrieval.