John Keith Benton

John Keith Benton
Born May 24, 1896
Banks, Alabama
Died August 21, 1956
Nashville, Tennessee
Resting place Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery
Nationality American
Alma mater Birmingham–Southern College
Yale University
University of Edinburgh
Occupation Theologian, academic
Religion Methodist Episcopal Church, South
Spouse(s) Edna Lois Cooper
Parent(s) Arthur Franklin Benton
Martha Frederick

John Keith Benton (May 24, 1896 – August 21, 1956) was an American theologian and university administrator. He served as the Dean of the Vanderbilt University Divinity School from 1939 to 1956.

Early life

John Keith Benton was born on May 24, 1896 in Banks, Alabama.[1][2] His father was Arthur Franklin Benton and his mother, Martha Frederick.[3]

Benton graduated from Birmingham–Southern College, where he received a bachelor of arts degree.[4] He received a bachelor of divinity degree from Yale University, followed by a PhD from Edinburgh University in Scotland.[4]

Career

Benton was a Professor of Philosophy and Psychology at Drew University in the 1930s.[4]

Benton served as the Dean of the Divinity School at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee from 1939 to 1956.[2][5][6][7] In 1951, he rejected the application of the first black student at Vanderbilt University, only to accept him in 1953 with the caveat that he was not allowed to have access to the dorms or dining facilities.[8] During that period, in 1952, he had been asked by Chancellor Harvie Branscomb (1894–1998) to look at the admission policies of other theological schools in the South.[9]

Benton served as the Executive Secretary of the American Association of Theological Schools.[5][10] He was elected President of the American Association of Theological Seminaries in 1950.[11] Additionally, he was a Fellow of the National Council on Religion in Higher Education.[5]

In 1949, he received an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.[5]

Personal life

Benton married Edna Lois Cooper (1907–1999),[4] the daughter of John Robert Beauregard Cooper (1861–1921) and Hester Kelsey Cooper (1869–1936).[2] The wedding took place at the First Methodist Church of Lubbock, Texas.[4][12] They honeymooned in New Mexico and Colorado.[12] They resided in Madison, New Jersey,[12] before they moved to Nashville.

Benton Chapel

Death and legacy

Benton died on August 21, 1956 in Nashville, Tennessee.[2] He was buried in the Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Nashville.[2]

The Benton Chapel on the campus of Vanderbilt University is named in his honor.[6][7] It was built in 1959 as part of the John Frederick Oberlin Divinity Quadrangle.[6]

Bibliography

References

  1. ↑ "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3PZ-GY7 : accessed 7 December 2015), Jack Keith Benton, 1917-1918; citing Birmingham City no 5, Alabama, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,509,357.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 FindAGrave: John Keith Benton
  3. ↑ "Tennessee Death Records, 1914-1955", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKM9-KJNG : accessed 19 November 2015), John Keith Benton, 1956
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ceremony Will Be Read Here Early Monday. Miss Lois Cooper Will Marry Dr. John Keith Benton With Rev. Pat Moreland, Kaufman, Reading The Vows". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal (Lubbock, Texas). August 5, 1934. p. 21. Retrieved November 20, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Southern Methodist University: Honorary Degrees
  6. 1 2 3 Vanderbilt University Office of Religious Life
  7. 1 2 Now Playing Nashville: Benton Chapel
  8. ↑ Nicole Floyd, LIFE: Ask me anything - Vanderbilt's first black students, The Vanderbilt Hustler, February 8, 2007
  9. ↑ Imani-Sheila Newsome-Camara, An Historical and Critical Analysis of Leadership Education of African American Protestant Clergy Within University-Based Black Church Studies Programs, Boston University School of Theology, 2012, pp. 96-97
  10. ↑ 'John Keith Benton of the school of religion, Vanderbilt university, Nashville, Term., to-day is the new president of the American Association of Theological Seminaries', The Lima News, p. 26
  11. ↑ "Vanderbilt Cleric Given position". The Circleville Herald (Circleville, Ohio). June 16, 1950. p. 7. Retrieved November 20, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. 1 2 3 "Newly Weds Go On Honeymoon. Dr. And Mrs. John K. Benton Leave For New Mexico And Colorado After Ceremony Is Read Monday". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal (Lubbock, Texas). August 7, 1934. p. 21. Retrieved November 20, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ Google Books
  14. ↑ Google Books
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