The Finding Aid of the Morris M. Womack Research Materials on J.P. Sanders 0061
Katie Richardson and Lindsey Gant
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.
September 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: Morris M. Womack Research Materials on J.P. Sanders
Identifier/Call Number: 0061
Physical Description:
1.42 Linear Feet
(2 boxes)
Date: 1970s-1980s
Abstract: The collection includes research materials that Morris M. Womack used to write the biography
J.P. Sanders: A Champion of Christian Education. Newspaper clippings, taped interviews with Sanders and others who knew him, as well as typed interview transcripts of the
recordings, are part of the collection.
Advance notice required for access.
Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
[Box/folder# or item name], Morris M. Womack Research Materials on J.P. Sanders, Collection no. 0061, Churches of Christ Heritage
Center, Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Pepperdine University.
Joel Pliant (J.P.) Sanders was born in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1906. He received a bachelor of science from Texas Christian
University in 1927, a bachelor of divinity from Vanderbilt University in 1931, and a PhD from the University of Southern California.
Upon completion of his doctoral program, Sanders took a part-time teaching position at David Lipscomb College. During this
time, he also served as a minister for various churches in the area including the Hillsboro Church of Christ in Nashville,
Tennessee, and the Walnut Street Church of Christ in Sherman, Texas.
In 1938, Sanders and M. Norvel Young started the publication
20th Century Christian. Sanders served as founding editor of the publication. Today, the publication is called
21st Century Christian.
In 1939, Sanders accepted the position of chairman of the religion department at Pepperdine College. While at Pepperdine,
Sanders met and married Gloria Millay in 1941. In 1942, the couple moved to Nashville, where Sanders assumed the role of academic
dean at David Lipscomb College. In 1957, Sanders' longtime friend, M. Norvel Young, became the president of Pepperdine College
and asked Sanders to return to Pepperdine to serve as dean, which Sanders accepted.
In 1970, Sanders left Pepperdine for the chance to serve as executive vice president of Columbia Christian College (now Cascade
College) in Portland, Oregon. After four years, he moved to the role of president of the college. In 1982, Sanders left his
position to return to Pepperdine to serve as a professor in the religion division. Sanders also resumed his role as a minister
preaching at Conejo Valley Church of Christ in Thousand Oaks, California.
At the age of 81, Sanders retired from his duties and settled in Nevada. On October 30, 2002, Sanders passed away at the age
of 96 in Reno, Nevada.
Morris M. Womack was born on December 12, 1927, in Daylight, Tennessee, to Oscar and Ida Lee Womack. Womack attended Butler
University where he received a bachelor of arts in 1954 and a bachelor of divinity in 1958. He earned a PhD from Wayne State
in 1967.
Womack began preaching for the Church of Christ at the age of 17 and continued for over 50 years. He preached in a variety
of places including the following states: California, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Tennessee,
Texas, and Wisconsin.
Womack worked at Pepperdine University from 1967-1999, first as an administrator, and then as a Professor in the Communication
Division. He published more than a dozen books and also worked as a visiting professor for the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department.
While involved with the department, he served as a member of the Master Planning Committee for LEEP (Law Enforcement Education
Program), a Pepperdine graduate program which assisted policemen and district attorney personnel.
Up until the time of Morris' death, he was very active in the Simi Valley Church of Christ where he preached for a number
of years. On September 17, 2011, Womack passed away in Ventura County at the age of 83.
The collection includes research materials that Morris M. Womack used to write the biography
J.P. Sanders: A Champion of Christian Education. Newspaper clippings, taped interviews with Sanders and others who knew him, as well as typed transcripts of the recordings,
are part of the collection.
The collection is arranged in two series: 1. Interview Transcripts and Tape Recordings; 2. Research Materials.
Morris M. Womack,
J.P. Sanders: A Champion of Christian Education (Agoura, CA: Professional Communication Services: In cooperation with Pepperdine University Press, 1988). Pepperdine University
Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives.
J.P. Sanders Sermons, 0059, Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Pepperdine University.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Audiocassettes
Biography
Churches of Christ -- History -- 20th century
Christian education
Sanders, J. P. (Joel Pilant)
Womack, Morris M.
box 2, folder 1-11, box 1, folder 1-41