Dr. Bushman, emeritus from the Gouverneur Morris Chair of American
History at Columbia University, will play a key role in establishing
at Claremont the first permanent, graduate-level study of Mormonism
at a secular university.
“We consider him to be the single most widely known and highly regarded
historian of Mormonism,” said Karen Torjesen, dean of the Claremont
School of Religion. “Here, we are committed to studying the full breadth
of religious experience. With his broad background in American cultural
and religious history, Professor Bushman will make a vitally important
contribution to our mission.”
Dr. Bushman's appointment as visiting professor is named after President
Howard W. Hunter, the fourteenth president of the Church.
Elder Holland Comments
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles noted
the appropriateness of eventually establishing a chair in Mormon studies
at Claremont in the name of President Hunter. Because of his ties
to Southern California and knowledge of Claremont's academic reputation,
President Hunter knew that Claremont “would influence some of the
most impressive thinkers of our time.”
He was aware, Elder Holland continued, “that a Mormon studies program
in just such an environment could greatly impact scholars, opinion
leaders and public policy makers, ultimately from all over the world.”
Elder Holland recalled that President Hunter encouraged us to “talk
with those beyond our own circle.” He urged us to “communicate first
and foremost in our language of faith.” But, Elder Holland reminded,
President Hunter also urged that wherever possible we should “add
the language of scholarship, which would expand our circle of influence
even further.”
A Prolific Author
Dr. Bushman is the author of twelve books, receiving such recognitions
as the Bancroft Prize in American History and the Phi Alpha Theta
Prize. In Mormon studies he has published Joseph Smith and the
Beginnings of Mormonism , which received the best biography award
from the Mormon History Association in 1985. In 2005, he published
his award-winning Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling . It
has received wide praise from Mormons and non-Mormons alike.
In addition to his career at Columbia, Dr. Bushman has taught at
Boston University, Harvard, Brown, the University of Delaware and
Brigham Young University.
"Thrilling Challenge"
Dr. Bushman expressed his deep satisfaction at the appointment. “It
is an honor to hold a position named after President Hunter, a man
whom I greatly admired. Establishing a program in Mormon studies at
a university of Claremont's stature is a thrilling challenge,” he
said. “I want to do whatever it takes to get the program going.”
During the academic year 2007-2008, Dr. Bushman will hold a Huntington
Library fellowship while residing at nearby Pasadena. His presence
in southern California will allow him to begin development of the
Claremont program. His wife, Dr. Claudia Lauper Bushman, herself a
distinguished scholar in American history at Columbia University,
will also teach courses at Claremont as an adjunct professor.
President Robert Klitgaard of CGU has previously observed that in
addressing the problem of religious intolerance and misunderstanding,
the Claremont School of Religion is tackling one of the biggest problems
in the world today. At April 2006, at the time of the formal agreement
inaugurating the funding drive to establish the Hunter Chair, he noted
that the Hunter Chair in Mormon Studies is “absolutely pivotal” to
the school's mission.
“God willing,” he observed, in a few years hence, “we will be a world
leader in creating religious tolerance and understanding.”
Mormon Application
Dean Torjesen has echoed those sentiments and foresees a particular
Mormon application. “ We believe that we are creating a place that
can make a great deal of difference for the understanding of Mormonism
in contemporary American society.”
According to Dr. Bushman, the significance of inaugurating Mormon
studies at Claremont lies in the opportunity for M ormons will “enter
into conversation with people of other faiths about the deep issues
of human life in a way that has never been possible before.” He continued,
“We've been observed and thought about. But we have not been part
of the conversation. Here [at Claremont] we will be.”
The School of Religion at CGU was founded in 2000, although it existed
as a department since 1925. Preparations to establish the Mormon studies
program have been underway since 2000, under the direction of Dean
Torjesen and the Mormon Studies Council at Claremont, one of eight
advisory councils to the School of Religion. Activities have included
courses taught by Dr. Armand L. Mauss and several conferences and
public lectures by nationally renowned scholars.
Momentum increased when the university and the Howard W. Hunter Foundation
publicly announced in April 2006 a multi-million dollar endowment
campaign to fund the Howard W. Hunter Chair and accompanying programs.
Dr. Bushman will hold the position of Howard W. Hunter Visiting Professor
until the endowed chair is fully funded. Fundraising for the chair
named after President Hunter is ongoing. “These funds will enable
the establishment of the first permanent, graduate-level study of
the Church anywhere in the world,” said Joseph Bentley, chair of the
Mormon Studies Council at Claremont. He encouraged all advocates of
Mormon studies in a university setting and friends of President Hunter
to donate to the Howard W. Hunter Foundation.
Dr. Mauss, a prominent scholar in Mormon studies in his own right,
chose not to be a candidate for the appointment. “ The Claremont program
will be in excellent hands with Richard Bushman as its founder, ”
he observed. “No other scholar in the field can match his stature
and accomplishment.”
