Callum Beck Correspondence, 1978-2024, undated; bulk 1981-1986

Collection Title:

Callum Beck Correspondence, 1978-2024, undated; bulk 1981-1986

Repository:

The Helsabeck Archives of the Stone-Campbell Movement

Emmanuel Christian Seminary Library at Milligan

1 Walker Drive

Johnson City, TN 37682

Email: archives@milligan.edu

Creators:

Beck, Callum Vere

Beck, Malcolm Nestor

Hines, Michael

Smith, Joe Carson

Thompson, Fred

Title:

Callum Beck Correspondence, 1978-2024, undated; bulk 1981-1986

Collection No.

HSC0020

Extent

0.4 cubic feet (1 box)

Language(s):

English

Abstract:

This correspondence series covers Callum Beck’s concerns about the curriculum and teaching at Emmanuel during the 1980s, curated from Beck’s files.

Biographical Note:

Callum Vere Beck was born in 1955 in Virginia. His father, Malcolm Beck, was a Christian Church minister on Prince Edward Island. He received his B.A. from the University of Prince Edward Island (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada) in 1978. In 1980, he started seminary at Emmanuel School of Religion (now Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan). Beck had concerns about the curriculum and teaching, and his father, Malcolm Beck, met with Dr. Fred Thompson and Dr. Robert Hull about the family’s concerns. Malcolm subsequently sent a letter to the board as well. Callum Beck graduated with a Master of Arts in Religion in 1983. His thesis, A History of the Interpretation of the Servant Songs in Isaiah 40-53, is in the Emmanuel Library.

Arrangement:

Callum Beck curated and donated the material and asked that the original order be preserved. This request has been upheld, resulting in the material being in one series in the order the creator intended it.

Scope and Content Note:

The collection is organized into one series in its original order per the request of the donor. The collection spans 1978 to 2024 and contains undated material. The bulk of the material is from the 1980s. The collection focuses on Callum Beck’s concerns and thus contains a multitude of correspondence on the matter. It should also be noted that much of the material contains Beck’s personal notes and observations on the material written in the margins and/or highlighted.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information:

Accession 2024-011

Access Restrictions:

The collection is open for research.

The archivist reserves the right to determine on a case-by-case basis if certain folders within the collection that have been requested for viewing cannot be made available due to various restriction compliance, including but not limited to student information, private personal information, and organizational information of a restricted nature.

Preferred Citation:

[Item], Callum Beck Correspondence, Collection HSC0020, The Helsabeck Archives of the Stone-Campbell Movement, Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan Library, Johnson City, TN.

Processing Information:

Processed by Katherine Banks.

Completed in 2025.

Folder List

This folder list is taken from a longer document included in the first folder.

Box 1

• Emmanuel Correspondence Intro, 2024.



• Correspondence Between MNB and Faculty Prior to Sending of the Letter to the Board, and Personal Notes on These By MNB and CVB, 1981.



• Packet to Emmanuel Administration, Faculty, Board of Trustees, and Board of Associates, 1981-1998.



• Correspondence Between MNB and Faculty After Sending of Letter to Board, 1982-1983.



• Letters, Phone Calls, and Discussions Among the 4 Becks. Inspiration of Bible By MNB, 1981-1998.



• Owens Related Material, 1981-1982.



• Bryant Related Material, 1982-1985.



• North Related Material, 1983-1985.



• Correspondence Following Mailing to Board – Positive, 1982-1998.



• Correspondence Following Mailing to Board – Negative, 1982-1983.



• Rumour Related Material, 1982-1985.



• MNB Unsent Letter to Board, 1983.



• Joe Carson Smith Material,
  
  
  
  • # I - Communications with MNB, 1982-1994.
  
  
  
  • # II - The Mailout, 1982-1985.
  
  
  
  • # III - Correspondence Following the Mass Mailing, 1985.



• Mark Maxey Material, 1983-1986, undated.



• Harold Ford Material, 1983-1985.



• Correspondence with James Smith, Mostly on Thesis, 1984-1985.



• Writings By Christian Church People Related to the ‘Issues,’ Most at that Time, 1978-1995.



• Correspondence Between Michael Hines and CVB (2017 and 2024) Concerning His History of the Event, 2017-2024.