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Inventory of the Anne McGrew Bennett Collection, 1959-84
GTU 89-5-017
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Title: Anne McGrew Bennett Collection,
Date (inclusive): 1959-84
Accession number: GTU 89-5-017
Shelf location: 2/A/1
Creator:
Bennett, Anne Mcgrew
Size: 7 boxes; 2 ½ ft.
Type of material: Papers; photographs; audio tapes
Repository: The Graduate Theological Union.
Berkeley, California
Language:
English.
John Bennett (husband); April 1989
Collection is open for research.
Copyright has not been assigned to The Graduate Theological Union. All requests for
permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing
to the Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf
of The Graduate Theological Union as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be
obtained by the reader.
[Identification of item], Anne McGrew Bennett Collection, GTU 89-5-017, The Graduate Theological Union Archives, Berkeley,
CA.
Women in the Ministry
Inclusive Language
Feminist Theology
Vietnamese Conflict, 1961-75 -- Protest Movements
Women and Peace
Peace -- Religious Aspects
John Bennett
Jeanette Rankin
Biographical/Historical Description
Anne McGrew (1903-1986) was born November 24, 1903 in Lincoln County, Nebraska of Scotch-Irish homesteaders. Raised in the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the church was always a central part of Anne's life. After high school, Anne taught
in a country school then entered college. She received a B.S. degree in elementary education from the University of Nebraska
in 1928. She entered Auburn Seminary in upstate New York. There she met and married John C. Bennett, professor of theology
and ethics, in 1931. The M.A. in Religious Education was received in 1932.
The next several years were devoted to homemaking and childrearing (three children, Elizabeth, John and William). The Bennetts
were at the Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, CA, 1938-43; Union Theological Seminary, NY, 1943-70; Pacific School of
Religion again 1970-75; Pilgrim Place, a community for retired church workers, Claremont, CA, 1975 until her death October
19, 1986.
After the children were grown, Anne returned to active participation in church and community life as a lay church person.
In the late 30's, the Bennetts had become Congregationalists, that church later becoming the United Church of Christ. She
worked actively on and in various committees and organizations, and spoke and wrote on various issues having to do with peace,
justice and women's rights in the church and society.
In 1983, Anne received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the Starr King School for the Ministry, Berkeley, CA;
and in 1986, she and John were each awarded the Union Medal, Union Theological Seminary's highest honor.
Anne McGrew Bennett and women like her "were role models. They paved the way not simply by their own work, but by encouraging
and empowering other women to enter the theological fray. ... We are indebted to Anne McGrew Bennett who fostered feminist
critical reflection within the Christian tradition, especially in the churches." (Mary E. Hunt, ed., From
Woman-pain to Woman-vision: Anne McGrew Bennett)
This collection includes Ms. Bennett's papers which have to do with her interest in peace issues and the movements to end
the war in Vietnam; and, following the end of the war, the issues of women's ordination -- the place of women in the church
-- and inclusive language. The papers are both generated by her (speeches, etc.), and collected by her (articles and papers
of other persons having to do with Bennett's subjects of interest and research). The papers were received in the Archives
with the provenance entirely destroyed. The collection has therefore been given an artificial arrangement.
Women in a Strange Land: Search for a New Image, eds., Clare B. Fischer, Betsy Brenneman, Anne McGrew Bennett, 1975. Rare Book: HQ1394 W64.