Title: Herbert G. May Papers, 1923, 1926-1978, n.d.

ID: RG 30/046

Extent: 13.46 Linear Feet

Herbert Gordon May, the son of Charles Leon and Mabel Maria (Cottrill) May, was born December 26, 1904 in Fairhaven, Vermont. 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 (b. 1933) 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).

Subjects (links to similar collections)

Forms of Material (links to similar genres)

Languages of Materials

Administrative Information

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.

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Series I. Biographical Files, 1936-77, n.d. (14f and 29 appointment books)

This series contains biographical information about Herbert G. May, including personal files that pertain to his sabbaticals, appointments, engagements, and memorial services.

Series II. Files Relating to the Bible (Co-Editor), 1935-76, n.d. (102f)

This series is divided into the following subseries: Subseries I. Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible and Interpreter's One Volume of the Bible, and Subseries II. Oxford University Press and Society of Biblical Literature.

Subseries I. Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible and Interpreter's One Volume of the Bible, 1946-71, n.d. (53f)

This subseries includes committee files, correspondence, maps, illustrations, commentaries and articles pertaining to the Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible and the Interpreter's One Volume of the Bible.

Subseries II. Oxford University Press and Society of Biblical Literature, 1935-76, n.d. (49f)

This subseries consists of files relating to May's position as co-editor for a release under Oxford University Press, and as a member of the Society of Biblical Literature.

Series III. Committee Files: Standard Bible Committee (SBC), and Revised Standard Version (RSV), 1923, 1931-77, n.d. (50f)

The Standard Bible Committee and the Revised Standard Version files consist of general board matters and correspondence, including May's positions on the executive committees. Included is also a draft of May's edition of the Revised Standard Version.

Series IV. Correspondence, 1927-78 (119f)

This series consists of general correspondence arranged in chronological order, and correspondence with students, personal correspondence and professional correspondence arranged in alphabetical order.

Series V. Departmental Files Relating to the Oberlin Graduate School of Theology (GST), 1934-56, 1958-76 (10f)

The departmental files of the Oberlin Graduate School of Theology primarily consist of annual reports to Oberlin College, correspondence with the Department of Religion and Vanderbilt Divinity School, and departmental matters.

Series VI. Instructional Files, 1934-66, n.d. (57f and 20 grade books)

This series contains class lecture notes, syllabi, quizzes, exams, and grade books for May's "History of Archaeology and Research" and "Old Testament Literature" courses. The grade books are restricted.

Series VII. Printed Matter, 1944-76 (2f)

This series consists of two folders of printed matter relating to the career of Herbert G. May.

Series VIII. Sermons and Chapel Talks, 1930-69, 1972-74, n.d. (8f)

Consists of May's chapel talks dating from the 1930s-40s, and his sermons delivered from 1930-69 and 1972-74.

Series IX. Topical Files, 1930s-78, n.d. (51f)

Consists of both professional and personal miscellaneous topical files arranged in alphabetical order.

Series X. Writings, 1934-78, n.d. (12f)

The writings files include two bibliographies of publication, book reviews, reprints of articles, and miscellaneous manuscript drafts, including "Festschrift" and "New Century Bible."

Series XI. Photographs, 1926-76, n.d. (5 boxes)

The photographic series consists of prints, negatives and lantern slides. Six (6) small packets contain negatives taken by Mrs. Helen May during the archeological expeditions to Megiddo in the 1930s. Other negatives and prints used in publications and for instructional purposes are filed in this series. In the spring of 2005, Kate Lansky provided additional information concerning the photographs series.

Box 1 contains two (2) photographs of Herbert May, one taken in c.1930s, and the other in 1976 at the Oberlin College commencement exercises. Also included are photographs and maps of the Megiddo archaeological dig site, including the actual expedition and the mounds of earth moved from the site, and 26 photographs from Megiddo publications. The majority of these photographs are included in the glass lantern slide collection held by the Oberlin College Library Special Collections Department. All images in this folder are either published in book form or are a part of the lantern slide collection.A separate file contains a variety of clippings taken from larger photographs. Most likely these were used to make some of the teaching slides in the collection. A letter from the Tuskegee institute and a photograph of an event held in celebration of the completed Standard Revised Bible are included. Many of the images are of pottery shards and whole pots. Other images depict people and clothing from Palestine, threshing wheat earth mounds (including Tell el-Sultan, Mugharet el-wad, Et-tabun), the Mount of Temptations, the wilderness of Judea, Jerusalem from the hill, and the Dome of the Rock. Also included is the Palestine slide list, as well as a page of notes and phone numbers.

Oversize Box holds photographs from accession 2017/001, consisting of one oversize photograph of Herbert May, one of K. Kenyon at Jericho, two unidentified male portraits, and a large transparency with an image from a publication. Negatives from that accession are in Box 3.

Boxes 2, 3, and 4 contain negatives, which were originally contained in either leather cases or in old cardboard boxes. Some of the images depict images of Oberlin, tourists, the Megiddo site, and those taken of the boat crossing to Palestine.

Download Box / Folder List (pdf)