By Ed Gerritsen, 2004; Emily Koelzer, 2022
Title: Ford Lewis Battles Collection, 1925-1980
Predominant Dates:1950-1979
ID: COLL/466
Primary Creator: Battles, Ford Lewis
Extent: 42.5 Cubic Feet. More info below.
Arrangement: Folder level description
Date Acquired: 00/00/2004. More info below under Accruals.
Subjects: Battles, Ford Lewis, Calvin, Jean, 1509-1564, Translating
Languages: English
This collection details the personal and professional life of Ford Lewis Battles (1915-1979), renowned scholar of Christian church history and of John Calvin, and contains extensive personal and professional correspondence, with such individuals as John Walchenbach, John McNeill, P. T. Furhmann, Robert Benedetto, and Fred Klooster. Also details Battles’ research and scholarship, presents examples of his teaching syllabi, lecture notes, and papers written by his students. As the leading scholar of John Calvin during the twentieth century, the collection provides insight into the historiography of Reformed Christianity. The material is particularly rich in detailing his various translation projects beginning in 1950.
There are some historical documents in this collection of unknown provenance including German administrative documents from 1727 and a diaries and letters from the late 19th century which belonged to the family of Samuel Hanna.
Battles graduated from West Virginia University (AB, 1936); Tufts University (MA, 1938; and Hartford Seminary Foundation (PhD, 1950). He was a Rhodes Scholar at Exeter College, Oxford University, 1938-1940; and he served in the United States Army, 1941-1945.
Following WW II, Battles began his teaching career at his alma mater, West Virginia University. He resigned three years later, in 1948, to join the faculty of Hartford Seminary Foundation, ultimately becoming academic dean. In 1968 he went to the faculty of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, which he left in 1978 to join the Calvin Theological Seminary faculty.
An accomplished teacher, Battles was also a prodigious and groundbreaking scholar. Among numerous books and articles is an annotated translation of John Calvin 1559 Institutes that became the standard for all Calvin studies, the Commentary on Seneca’s De Clementia, a translation of Calvin’s 1536 Institutes, as well as a computerized index to the Institutes.
He was born 30 Jan 1915 in Erie, Pennsylvania, the son of Ford Lewis Battles and Lucy Clare Stewart. In 1945 Battles married Marion Davis, an accomplished pianist and student of law and diplomacy. They had two daughters, Nancy Marion (b. 1946) and Emily Stewart (b. 1951). Battles died 22 Nov 1979 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Battles graduated from West Virginia University (AB, 1936); Tufts University (MA, 1938; and Hartford Seminary Foundation (PhD, 1950). He was a Rhodes Scholar at Exeter College, Oxford University, 1938-1940; and he served in the United States Army, 1941-1945.
Following WW II, Battles began his teaching career at his alma mater, West Virginia University. He resigned three years later, in 1948, to join the faculty of Hartford Seminary Foundation, ultimately becoming academic dean. In 1967 he went to the faculty of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, which he left in 1978 to join the Calvin Theological Seminary faculty.
An accomplished teacher, Battles was also a prodigious and groundbreaking scholar. Among numerous books and articles is an annotated translation of John Calvin 1559 Institutes that became the standard for all Calvin studies, the Commentary on Seneca's De Clementia, a translation of Calvin's 1536 Institutes, as well as a computerized index to the Institutes.
He was born 30 Jan 1915 in Erie, Pennsylvania, the son of Ford Lewis Battles and Lucy Clare Stewart. In 1945 Battles married Marion Davis. Marion earned a Master's degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. She worked for the Office of Strategic Services in Washington, DC where she met Battles, who was stationed in DC as a member of the Air Force Army. Marion specialized in the human rights of prisoners of war at the close of World War II and also participated in the International Communities of Calvin Scholars. Battles and Marion had two daughters, Nancy Marion (b. 1946) and Emily Stewart (b. 1951). Battles died 22 Nov 1979 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Repository: Heritage Hall, Hekman Library
Alternate Extent Statement: 90 Boxes
Access Restrictions: Collection held in Heritage Hall; materials are not available for circulation
Acquisition Source: Meeter Center, Calvin College, 2004
Finding Aid Revision History: 24 cubic feet of material was added to the collection in late 2021. These materials were added to the end of the collection.
