The Finding Aid of the John F. Wilson Papers 0012
Jamie Henricks and Jessica Geiser
The processing of this collection and the creation of this finding aid was funded by the generous support of the National
Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Pepperdine University. Special Collections and University Archives.
March 2012
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA, 90263-4786
kelsey.knox@pepperdine.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Pepperdine University. Special Collections and University Archives.
Title: John F. Wilson Papers
Identifier/Call Number: 0012
Physical Description:
4.17 Linear Feet
(4 boxes)
Date: 1953-1998
Abstract: John F. Wilson is a field archaeologist, writer and lecturer on archaeology in the Middle East, and Professor of Religion,
Emeritus at Pepperdine University. The collection consists of printed materials related to Wilson's career, including correspondence,
date books, and publications authored by Wilson.
Physical Location: Pepperdine University. Special Collections and University Archives.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Advance notice required for access. Chronological files with material from Wilson's time as Dean of Seaver College are closed
for 25 years from their date of creation, beginning with the file for 1983. The entire series will be open in 2023.
Conditions Governing Use
Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder# or item name], John F. Wilson papers, Collection no. 0012, Special Collections and University Archives, University
Libraries, Pepperdine University.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated by John F. Wilson in August 1998.
A new series, "Office of the Seaver Dean," was transferred to us by Dr. David Baird.
Biographical note
John F. Wilson is a field archaeologist, and writer and lecturer on archaeology in the Middle East, particularly focused on
the relationship between archaeology and Christianity.
Wilson attended Central Senior High School in Springfield, Missouri, where he graduated in 1955. While in school, he was
active in choir and musicals, as well as church and service extracurricular activities. He graduated from Harding University
in 1959 with a BA in Religion and Music (and served as the student body president), and then continued at Harding at the Graduate
School of Religion, where he received an MA in 1961. Wilson then went on to receive a PhD from the University of Iowa in
New Testament and Ancient History in 1967. After completing his degrees, Wilson returned to his hometown of Springfield,
Missouri, where he founded the Christian Student Center at Missouri State University as a branch of the South National Church
of Christ in Springfield. He served as the Director of the Student Center from 1959 to 1973, as well as a Professor of Religious
Studies at the University from 1961 to 1983. Wilson also was a visiting lecturer at Abilene Christian University from 1971
to 1976.
Wilson took his first archaelogical trip in the mid-1970s, and went on sabbatical in 1981 to Cambridge University, England,
to study notes taken from 19th century archaeological expeditions to the Holy Land. In 1983, Wilson came to Pepperdine University,
where he served as the Dean of the Seaver College of Letters, Arts and Sciences for 15 years. During this time, Wilson was
also a Professor of Religion at Pepperdine, as well as the Director of Pepperdine's Institute for the Study of Archaeology
and Religion. He took Pepperdine students on archaeological trips to Israel for over 25 years.
Wilson retired in 2006 from his last position as Professor of Religion, Emeritus, at Pepperdine. He is the author of a number
of publications, most notably his work on a famous archaeological site in the Middle East:
Caesarea Philippi: Banias, the Lost City of Pan. He has also written for radio and television, produced religious television programs, and appeared on television in an
A&E series about archaeology and the Bible.
John F. Wilson is married to Dr. Claudette Wilson (a former Assistant Professor of Education at Pepperdine, who retired in
2004). They have three daughters, Laura, Amy, and Emily.
Scope and Content
The collection consists of materials related to John F. Wilson's academic and professional career ranging from high school
through post-graduate degrees, and teaching and administrative positions. The items include correspondence, articles, date
books, calendars, a faculty portfolio compiled for his five-year evaluation at Pepperdine, and a print of the film
One Life. Copies of works authored by Wilson are represented in the collection, including a signed copy of his book
Discovering the Bible, as well as copies of Wilson's master's thesis and PhD dissertation. There are also materials about the activities of the
Office of the Seaver Dean during Wilson's tenure as Dean. The collection dates span from 1953 to 1998.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in five series:
Series 1: Chronological Files
Series 2: Date Books and Calendars
Series 3: Authored Works
Series 4: Miscellaneous
Series 5: Office of the Seaver Dean
Processing Information
The collection was arranged and described by Jamie Henricks and Jessica Geiser in March 2012.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Theses
Dissertations
Appointment books
Correspondence
Wilson, John Francis
box 2, folder 1-11, box 1, folder 1-37
Series 1:
Chronological Files
1950-1998
box 3-4
Series 2:
Date Books and Calendars
1967-1998
box 3
Desk Size Monthly Calendars
1967-1998
1967-1983
box 4
Pocket Day-Timer Monthly Calendars
1983 September-1998 June
box 3
Discovering the Bible (signed copy)
1986
box 3
Masters Thesis -
The Consummation of All Things
June, 1961
box 3
PhD Dissertation -
The Christian Message: Its Place in Ordering the Life of the Pauline Community
February, 1967
box 3, folder 1-2
Pepperdine Faculty Evaluation Portfolio
box 3
Production #9503
One Life 28:23 Color Release Print
General
One Life is one part of a three-part television series titled
The End of the Century: Shall We Hope or Shall We Die? produced in the 1970s by Herald of Truth. The film features John Wilson.
Office of the Seaver Dean
Scope and Contents
The materials in this series revolve around the activities of the Office of the Seaver Dean during John F. Wilson's tenure.
Many of the materials are about Seaver College itself, as well as its faculty members and academic divisions. These materials
include evaluations of the chairs of the academic divisions within Seaver College. The Seaver College's chairpersons meeting
minutes should contain information about the administrative history and agendas of Seaver College. There are also faculty
lists, as well strategic and budget planning documents. The correspondence and memorandums between the staff of the Office
and other staff at Pepperdine, as well as policy documents, should also provide some information about policies regarding
the faculty at Seaver College, including policies about tenure and promotion, hiring policies, and faculty evaluations. There
are also statistical documents, which contain information such as faculty salaries and faculty to student ratio.
box 5, folder 1
Budget Planning
1993-1996
box 5, folder 2
Business Administration Chair (Jere Yates)
1992-1996
Scope and Contents
Contains evaluations and reviews for the Business Administration Chair, Jere Yates.
box 5, folder 3
Chairpersons meeting
1991-1996
box 5, folder 4
Chairpersons meeting
1997-1998
box 5, folder 5
Church Recruitment
1986-1996
box 5, folder 7
Davenport, David
1992-1995
box 5, folder 8
Division Chair Evaluation: Form and Procedures (Seaver College)
1993
box 5, folder 9
Faculty: Churches of Christ
1989-1993
box 5, folder 10
Faculty Salaries
1992-1998
box 5, folder 12
Fine Arts – Gary Cobb
1992-1995
box 6, folder 1
Full Cost Allocation
1993-1995
Scope and Contents
This file contains financial and budgetary documents for Pepperdine University.
box 6, folder 2
Humanities/Teacher Education - Chairperson Search
1994
box 6, folder 3
Humanities/Teacher Education – David Baird
1995
box 6, folder 4
International Program: Strategic Plan
1995-1997
box 6, folder 5
International Studies
1994
box 6, folder 6
Kuchenbecker, Shari - Faculty Search
1990-1996
Scope and Contents
This file mostly contains materials relating to the faculty search and hiring process at Pepperdine. It seems that there are
no materials relating to any individual named Kuchenbecker in this file.
box 6, folder 7
Long Range Planning
1981-1987
Scope and Contents
Contains strategic and academic plans for Seaver College. There are descriptions about majors and academic programs at Pepperdine
in this file. There are also a few statistics, such as the optimum number of enrollments for Seaver College.
box 6, folder 8
Meetings of Christian College Deans (1969-1994)
undated
box 6, folder 9
Miscellaneous Articles about Pepperdine, Malibu, and Los Angeles
1992-1995
Scope and Contents
This file contains a few articles revolving around Los Angeles and Malibu. There is a community profile for Malibu, which
contains information about its population. There are also articles describing the architecture of Pepperdine's Malibu campus.
A few more miscellaneous items, such as burnout indexes and advertisements for Pepperdine, are also included.
box 6, folder 10
Rank, Tenure, and Promotion (RTP) Committee
1993-1997
box 6, folder 11
Recruiting: Natural Science/Physical Education
1984-1997
box 6, folder 12
Religion – Tom Olbricht
1993-1995
box 7, folder 1
Religion Division Chairs Search
1995-1996
box 7, folder 2
Religious Standard Committee
1998-2000
box 7, folder 3
Review of Ben Hutchinson
1994-1995
box 7, folder 4
Seaver College Faculty Lists
1972-1998
box 7, folder 5-6
Seaver College Faculty Lists
2000-2007
box 7, folder 7
Seaver College worship services
1993, March 23.
box 7, folder 8
Seaver Organization
1993
Scope and Contents
Contains a survey taken by several deans from various universities. Those deans spoke about their experience as deans, and
also offered tips on how to be deans to new deans.
box 7, folder 9
Social Science – Ron Fagan
1994-1995
box 7, folder 11
Student Engagement Proposal – Seaver Trust
2008
box 7, folder 12
University Planning Committee
1993-1996
