PRESTON, ROBERT ASHER, 1912-1996.
Robert Asher Preston papers, 1923-1996

Restrictions on Access

Unrestricted access.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

All requests subject to limitations noted in departmental policies on reproduction.

Citation

[after identification of item(s)], Robert Asher Preston Papers, Archives and Manuscript Dept., Pitts Theology Library, Emory University.

Processing

Processed by Courtney Williams, 2004.

Biographical Note

Robert Asher Preston was born on July 16, 1912 in Corydon, Iowa. He graduated magna cum laude from Texas Christian University at the age of twenty and was asked to stay on for a year and teach Greek. In 1935 he received a Masters degree from the University of Chicago and in 1936 he became the educational assistant to the Clinical Director of the New Jersey State Hospital at Greystone Park. Preston served as a Chaplain in the Air Force during World War II. Immediately after the war he was associated with the Menninger School of Psychiatry in Topeka, Kansas, and during this time many of his articles were published in professional magazines.

In 1955 Preston relocated to Bethany College to be the Dean of Students and went on to earn a Ph.D. in 1960 from the University of Pittsburgh. In 1961 he was named Professor and Chair of the Department of Religion at Bethany College. In 1970 Preston was invited to cap his career at Lexington Theological Seminary. His special ministry was as a counselor, and he was a counselor to the counselors. He practiced his clinical pastoral skills in varied situations throughout his life.

Robert Asher Preston died on May 26, 1996.

Scope and Content Note

This is a collection of papers dating from 1923 until his death in 1996. Topics such as mental health and religion, pastoral care, and religious education are included in his papers. There is also a collection of works regarding Anton T. Boisen, including works by him and about his work on mental disorders. One such item is a dissertation on Boisen by Glenn H. Asquith, Jr. Biographical information by Virgil David Cooper and autobiographical information on Robert Preston are also included.