Petersen, Harry F (1955). Collection, 2016

Collection

Identifier: DC101

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of a 7 volumes of his memoirs which include copies of newsclippings, photographs, and related material. He describes not only his experiences but those of his family and occasionally includes writings by others, especially his wife Martha Jane Morgan Petersen. Volume 1 covers his birth and education including his years at Davidson. He also includes stories from his father's time at Davidson as well (1924-1928). Volume 2 covers a trip to Scotland and his early career as chaplain at the University of South Carolina. Volume 3 cover his work as a missionary in Taiwan 1962-1965 and his travels through Inda, Iran , Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, Italy, and Portugal. Volume 4 includes time in Montreat, his work at the First Presbyterian Church in Huntington (1965-1967), West Virginia, as project director of Villa International Atlanta (1967-1968), and as a missionary in Ghana (1968-1978). Volume 5 covers time in Ghana (1971-1978) and Nigeria (1978-1981). Volume 6 covers his time at Villa International Atlanta (1982-2000). Volume 7 covers his retirement years up to 2016.

Dates

Creation: 2016

Biographical / Historical

The Reverend Harry "Pete" Petersen was born in Cedartown, Georgia. He attend the Darlington School in Rome, Ga, before attending Davidson College. While a student at Davidson, he majored in psychology and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, Spanish Club, and the Business-Economics Association. He was also a judge on the Court of Control and was on the varsity football and track teams, earning a place in the D-Club. After graduation he attended Columbia Theological Seminary graduating in 1958 and then Princeton Theological Seminary before entering into a career in ministry in the United States and Africa.