PAR 355: Southern Religion

In this interview, Dr. Walter Harrelson discusses his North Carolina upbringing and his academic history and career. He includes his time spent studying at Chapel Hill, Union Seminary, and at Berle in Switzerland, where he studied with Karl Barth. Dr. Harrelson served as Dean at the University of Chicago and Vanderbilt Divinity School, where he was also a professor, and is the author of several books as well as the chair of the translation committee for the New Revised Standard version of the Bible. Dr. Harrelson also relates some of his own, personal philosophy and perspectives on religion, and shares his interests in pseudoapocrypha and the relations between Judaism and Christianity.

This is the first tape in a two-tape interview of Dr. James J. Megivern, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Religion at UNCW. Dr. Megivern discusses his training, education and work experiences prior to coming to UNCW in 1974. He discusses his service as chair of the department from January 1975-1992. He also describes the UNCW Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), which he served as president. The interview includes conversation of some of Dr. Megivern's teaching and scholarly interests.

In tape 2 of this two-part interview, Dr. Megivern continues discussion of his teaching and scholarly interests, and also discusses his work on behaf of the Wilmington community. He discusses his research on the death penalty, and the 1999 publication of his book, a scholarly look at Christianity and capital punishment. Dr. Megivern also discusses his work to improve race relations in Wilmington and in North Carolina. He has written about the Wilmington Ten, and he served as co-chair of the 1898 Foundation with Bertha Todd in 1998, the centennial year.

Dr. James K. McGowan, UNCW Professor Emeritus, studied philosophy at Mary Immaculate College, the Catholic University of America, and the University of Louvain. Joining UNCW's Philosophy and Religion Department in 1971, Dr. McGowan taught introductory courses, which he found most rewarding. In this interview, he discusses his schooling, theories of teaching, and years in administration, as well as the growth of the department.

An oral history interview with military chaplain, Rabbi James Apple.

Oral history interview with military chaplain, Thomas Groome.

Oral history interview with Brigadier General Chaplain Charles C. Baldwin.

Oral history interview with military chaplain, William Calbert.