John Harden Hicks papers

A Guide to the Collection

Biographical Note

Professor John Harden Hicks was born in Stephenville, Texas, on February 10, 1887. He studied at Southwestern University (A.B., 1911), Vanderbilt University (B.D., 1913), and the University of Chicago (Ph.D., 1933). A prominent Old Testament scholar, Dr. Hicks published numerous articles, one booklet: The Scholia of Barhebraeus on the Book of Isaiah (1935), and one book: The Books of History (1947). He was a member of the National Association of Biblical Instructors, the Society of Biblical Literature and Exegesis, the Society of Old Testament Study, Chi Alpha, and Theta Phi.

John Harden Hicks joined the Northwest Texas Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in 1915. He was ordained a Deacon in 1917 and an Elder in 1919. Between 1915 and 1922 he served Methodist churches in Ochiltree, Amarillo (Buchanan Street Church), Hedley, Snyder, and Canyon, Texas.

Rev. Hicks joined the SMU School of Theology (now Perkins School of Theology) faculty in 1922 and retired thirty-five years later in 1957. He was the only Old Testament professor on the School of Theology faculty from 1922 to 1950. Beginning in 1928, he also served as Director of the School of Theology’s A. V. Lane Museum - an eclectic collection of archaeological and cultural artifacts from around the world. John Harden Hicks’ approach to teaching is summarized in the School of Theology catalog of 1925-1926, which states:

It is the purpose of the department of Old Testament to acquaint the student not only with the Hebrew language as a basis for accurate study of the Old Testament literature, but also with the life, customs, manners, and thought of the Old Testament period. An attempt will be made to have the Hebrews live again in the thinking of the student and through this vital contact with a living people to furnish the inspiration for meeting the problems in his own life. It will never be forgotten that in the Old Testament are the roots of our own ideals of Christian living.

After retiring from Southern Methodist University, Dr. Hicks served on the religion faculty of McMurry College, Abilene, Texas, 1957-1963. In addition to his classroom teaching, John H. Hicks was a popular Bible conference speaker.

John Harden and Elizabeth Clark Hicks were the parents of one son: John Harden Hicks, Jr. In 2000, Hicks’ grandsons, Tom Hicks of Dallas and Steve Hicks of Austin, established the Dr. John H. Hicks Memorial Scholarship Fund to provide financial support for a Perkins School of Theology graduate student conducting research in archaeology or the Old Testament.

Sources:

"Dr. Hicks, Professor of Bible, Dies." Dallas Morning News, November 24, 1963.

Grimes, Lewis Howard, and Roger Loyd. 1993. A History of the Perkins School of Theology. Dallas, Tex: Southern Methodist University Press.

Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 1964. Journal of the Northwest Texas Annual Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, South. [Texas]: Northwest Texas Conference.

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Scope and Contents of the Collection

The John Harden Hicks papers comprise two linear feet of research files, course notes, office papers, and photographs. Most of these documents were generated or collected by Dr. Hicks during his teaching career at Southern Methodist University (1922-1957) and McMurry College (1957-1963). Materials of special note include copies of Dr. Hicks’s class-opening prayers, information about his trip to Palestine in 1936, correspondence with other scholars, and data about speaking engagements.

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Restrictions

Access to Collection:

The collection is open for research use. Patrons must sign the Acknowledgement of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.

Publication Rights:

Permission to publish materials must be obtained from the Director of the Bridwell Library.

Copyright Statement:

It is the responsibility of the user to obtain copyright authorization.

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Related Material

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], John Harden Hicks papers, Bridwell Library, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University.

Acquisition Information

Acquired prior to 1980.

Processing Information

This collection was arranged and described in 2010 by Timothy S. G. Binkley.

Encoded by

Lara Corazalla, 2010.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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