King’s History Initiative

The King’s College is pleased to announce the launch of its history initiative, exploring the college’s history and relationship to American evangelicalism since 1938.

“Why is The King’s College important to the Christian movement at large?” asks President Gregory Alan Thornbury. “Movements do not typically progress beyond or rise above the defining academic institutions of their cause. The most important and strategic institutions of higher education in this country are located in or near major urban centers . . . You cannot outflank the great texts and traditions and genius of Christianity as a tireless generator of human flourishing. We are the legatees of a great inheritance, and we owe it to ourselves and we owe it to the world to get this right.”

Emily Schatz (PPE ’11) will conduct the research for the history initiative, covering all eras of the college’s history and compiling a written resource to be made available to alumni and other interested parties. She comes back to King’s from the New Jersey Family Policy Council, where she handled communications for constituents, legislators, the press, and the web since graduating from the college.

“While I was a student, King’s went through a time of intense change, which made me naturally interested in where we had come from and where we were going,” said Schatz. “Then when I left King’s for a time to defend a traditional Christian witness in public policy, I became very interested to learn more about how God works in time and history. I am excited to be researching and sharing the details of God’s providence and direction in the history of The King’s College.”

The history initiative consists of two major parts: compiling a written history for alumni use, and collecting and organizing an institutional archive. The former project is in need of $75,000 in funding; the second project is in need of artifacts. The college is accepting documents, photographs, and other memorabilia associated with previous campuses for the archive initiative. Please direct any packages to the attention of Emily Schatz. Donations for the written history initiative may be made via personal check (write “history” in the memo line), online via Crowdrise, or by text, as follows: type in your desired amount plus the keywords “Kings History” to 45888. Example: “$100 Kings History.”

“At King’s, we are seeking to take Christian imagination in America to new heights and be a starting place of cultural reformation,” said Schatz. “To approach that goal we have to depend on the providence and power of God—and part of that providence is the spiritual and intellectual inheritance that has been storing up for The King’s College since its earliest years, and beyond. As we look toward the college’s future in New York City, it’s important that we understand this heritage.”

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