Ira G. Zepp, Jr. Papers

Collection

Identifier: MS-2011-23

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The papers in this collecton consist of Dr. Zepp's notes, newspaper and magazine clippings, photographs, and ephemera documenting his activities as educator and author.

Dates

1950 - 2008
Other: Date acquired: 08/10/2011

Creator

Zepp, Ira G. (Person)

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright: McDaniel College may hold copyright to sections of this material. McDaniel College makes no representation that it is the owner of any copyright or other literary property in the materials contained in its archives, manuscript collections, and special collections unless specifically stated, (b) that in providing access to or permitting the reproduction of any such materials, McDaniel Archives does not assume any responsibility for obtaining or granting any permission to publish or use the same, and (c) that the responsibility (i) for determining the nature of any rights, and the ownership or interest therein, and for obtaining the appropriate permissions to publish or use and (ii) for determining the nature of any liabilities (including liabilities for defamation and invasion of privacy or publicity) that may arise from any publication or use, rest entirely with the researcher. Copying: Papers may be copied in accordance with the Archives' usual procedures.

Biographical or Historical Information

Ira G. Zepp, Jr. was born in 1929 to Ira G. Zepp , Sr. and Nellie Katheryn Foard Zepp in Hartford County, Maryland. He graduated from Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College) in 1952. It was at college where he met Mary Elizabeth Dodd. They were married in 1954 and had four children. Dr. Zepp received his B.D. in theology from Drew Theological Seminary, 1956. He continued his studies at the Universities of Edinburgh and Gottingen, and at Harvard Divinity School. In 1971 he earned his Ph.D. in theology at St. Mary’s Seminary and University, Baltimore. Later he studied at Hebrew University in Jerusalem and the Hartford Seminary. He did further study in Cuernavaca, Mexico and spent a summer in Eastern Europe studying Christian-Marxist dialogue and was a Fulbright scholar in India. Zepp took the position of Dean of Chapel at Western Maryland College in 1963. He was an Assistant Professor of Religion; promoted to Associate Professor; and full Professor of Religious Studies in 1981. During his tenure he was awarded many honors including Distinguished Teacher in 1973 and 1982, Maryland Professor of the Year in 1989. He also taught at St. Mary’s Seminary and University, Iliff Theological School in Denver, and Wesley Theological Seminary in D.C. His courses were popular at Carroll Community College in Maryland. Many of the courses taught by Zepp tackled divisive issues including racism, sexuality, and liberation movements and human freedom, as well as controversial issues of religion and gender, religion and sex, and religion and death. Zepp not only lectured about liberation and human freedom he was an activist. In the 1960s he walked with Martin Luther King, Jr. and other Civil Rights protesters in the march on Selma, Alabama. At home he helped desegregate many restaurants in Westminster, Maryland. On campus he involved himself with Student Opportunities Service (SOS) and Operation Hinge helping communities and individuals through access to education. Dr. Zepp authored and co-authored a dozen books including A Muslim Primer: Beginner’s Guide to Islam, Search the Beloved Community: The Thinking of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rabindranath Tagore, American Interpretations. Pedagogy of the Heart: A Teachers Credo was published just before his death August 1, 2009.

Note written by Barbara O'Brien

Extent

150.00 Linear Feet

Books listed on the attached spread sheet or in the collection under books were part of Dr. Ira Zepp's Library and are for reference only. These books are not in the collection. other_unmapped

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection consists of 20 linear ft of unprocessed papers.

Arrangement Note

The collection is arrange loosely around broad subjects: Religion, theologies, religion and politics, religion and personal liberty, issues in religion including women, sexuality, suicide, and homosexuality, S.O.S. and Hinge, his writings, and his personal papers.

Source of Acquisition

Allen Zepp

Method of Acquisition

Gift

Other Descriptive Information

Because of space limitations, Ira Zepp's library will be deaccessioned. A record of all books in this library will be kept and will include title, author(s)/editor(s), publication date, publisher, place of publication, edition, and number of pages.