Herbert G. May Papers

Collection

Identifier: RG 30-046

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The papers of Herbert G. May consist of instructional files, correspondence, writings, committee files, files relating to the Bible, files relating to the Oberlin Graduate School of Theology, sermons and chapel talks, and photographs. These papers document May’s distinguished career as teacher and theologian, Biblical translator, cartographer, and linguist. The biographical materials and the extensive correspondence series (professional and personal) provide many examples of the respect and acclaim that May received from colleagues, former students, and friends.

May’s career as a teacher is well documented in the series of instructional files. This series consists of files relating to a wide range of courses taught by May, including Archaeology, Old Testament, and the Dead Sea Scrolls. As a faculty member in the Graduate School of Theology (GST), May maintained files relating to matters associated with GST. These files include materials relating to the closing of the school in Oberlin and the transfer of the program to Vanderbilt University in 1966.

The Herbert May Papers also consist of files relating to his contributions to the Revised Standard Version Bible Committee [originally the Standard Bible Committee], The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, and the Oxford Bible Atlas and Annotated Bible and Apocrypha. These files, along with a wide range of topical files, document May’s extensive research relating to the Bible, religion, and archaeology with assistance form other Biblical scholars.

The photographic series consists of photographs and negatives relating to publications and archaeological works of May. Of particular note are the six brown and maroon packets containing negatives relating to a trip to Megiddo (present-day Israel) as part of the University of Chicago’s archaeological expedition in the 1930s. According to a scholar who visited the College Archives in 2003, the packets were compiled by Mrs. Helen May. Also contained in this series are negatives and prints used for instructional purposes and publications such as The Interpreter’s Bible.

The Herbert G. May Papers are divided into the following eleven series: I. Biographical Files, II. Files Relating to the Bible (Co-Editor), III. Committee Files: The Standard Bible Committee (SBC) and Revised Standard Version (RSV), IV. Correspondence, V. Departmental Files Relating to The Oberlin Graduate School of Theology (GST), VI. Instructional Files, VII. Printed Matter, VIII. Sermons and Chapel Talks, IX. Topical Files, X. Writings, and XI. Photographs.

Dates

Creation: 1923, 1926-1978, undated
Other: Date acquired: 06/01/1970

Creator

May, Herbert G. (May, Herbert Gordon) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Series VI. Instructional Files, Box 3 restricted.

Biographical or Historical Information

Herbert Gordon May, the son of Charles Leon (1879-1953) and Mabel Maria Cottrill May (1879-1977), was born December 26, 1904 in Fairhaven, Vermont. He had five siblings: Charles Alfred (1902-1923), John Harris (1903-1992), Dwight (1907-1907), Darin (1907-1907), and Leola Ella (1909-1977). May was an internationally recognized linguist, cartographer, Biblical translator, and theologian. Between 1934 and 1966, he was a professor of Old Testament Language and Literature at the Oberlin Graduate School of Theology (GST).

A graduate of Wesleyan University (1927), he received a Ph. D. from the University of Chicago (1934), B.D. from Chicago Theological Seminary (1930), and D.D. from Wesleyan University (1952). During the 1930s, as a graduate fellow, he was part of the University of Chicago archeological expedition to the Megiddo in Palestine (modern-day Israel), 1931-1934, and later he was involved in archeological, historical and geographical research in Greece and other parts of the Middle East. Subsequently, he joined Oberlin 's GST faculty, and was honored as a Charles G. Finney Professor of Old Testament Languages and Literature in 1946. After the Graduate School of Theology was transferred to Vanderbilt University, he held a joint professorship at Vanderbilt and Oberlin from 1966 until his retirement in 1970. Post-retirement, he taught at Yale Divinity School and Oberlin College.

Dr. May was a member of the Revised Standard Version Bible Committee [originally the Standard Bible Committee], Division of Education and Ministry of the National Council of Churches of Christ of the U.S.A., 1945-1977. He was chairman of the Committee, 1966-1976, and head of its Old Testament section from 1960 until his death. He was coeditor of the Oxford Bible Atlas and the Oxford Annotated Bible and Apocrypha, and one of four associate editors of the Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible. He was author of Our English Bible in the Making, Ezekiel: Introduction and Exegesis, and Material Remains of the Megiddo Cult. Dr. May's published works numbered over 200 items. In terms of his service to the wider profession, he was past president of the American Oriental Society, Midwest Branch, 1947-1948, and the Society of Biblical Literature and Exegesis, 1961-1962, and held membership in a number of other organizations.

In 1928 Dr. May married Helen Porter (1902-1977). They had two children: Gola Joyce Kina (1933-1985) and Helen Emily (b. 1941). Professor May was both liked and respected. At Oberlin College where the term "Dr." is rarely used in referring to a professor, he was known by that title while some of those close to him addressed him as "Uncle Herbie." In appreciation of this life and work, Oberlin College established the Herbert Gordon May Lecture. Dr. May died in Jacksonville, Florida on October 7, 1977.

SOURCES CONSULTED

William E. Bigglestone's unpublished "[preliminary] Guide to the Oberlin College Archives," which was prepared as individual entry sheets in a three-ring binder during the early 1980s.

Faculty file of Herbert G. May, Alumni and Development Records (RG 28/3).

Extent

13.46 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Method of Acquisition

A majority of the papers were received in 1978 (1978/11) as a gift from Dr. May's two daughters via Mrs. Harriet Reynolds (Dr. May's secretary). A small portion was given to the Archives directly by Dr. May himself or by Mrs. Reynolds (Accession no. 111 and 1978/37). A small amount of photographic material was transferred from the Religion Department in 2017.

Accruals and Additions

Accession Nos: 111, 1978/011, 1978/037, 2017/001.

Related Materials

Records of the Graduate School of Theology 1841(1923-66)-1984 (RG 11); and the faculty file of Herbert G. May (RG 28/3). For materials relating to an Archaeological Dig that Herbert G. May participated in, see the Clarence Ward Papers (30/158). See also the H.G. May Archeology of Palestine Collection in Special Collections at http://www.oberlin.edu/library/special/religion/may.html, or the digital collection at http://cdm15963.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/palestine.