Samuel Martin Thompson

        “Sam” Thompson made a great impact on Monmouth College and his students during his time here.  He earned his undergraduate degree from Monmouth College and his M.A. degree from Princeton University in 1925.  The following year he accepted a teaching job at Monmouth College.  In 1931, he received his Ph.D. from Princeton University.  While on Monmouth College’s faculty he became chairman of the Philosophy Department.  He also developed the Thompson Plan which served as a starting point for a later curriculum reform at Monmouth College and in 1972 he retired.  His first book, A Modern Philosophy of Religion, as well as his second book, The Nature of Philosophy, became widely used in many colleges and universities.  Dr. Thompson also made an impact around the city where he worked very hard on behalf of the Presbyterian church in Monmouth, which resulted in the creation of the Faith United Presbyterian Church of Monmouth.  The Papers of Samuel M. Thompson include some of his original writings/publications, lectures, correspondence, newspaper articles, a list of articles and books written by him as well as information on his memorial service.       

Folder List

Box 1:

•             Clippings

•             Bibliographies

•             Memorial Service

•             Misc.

•             Publications

•             Reflection Concerning Aesthetics and the Arts (2)

•             Belief and Fact (2 copies)

•             The Christian Church

•             The Authority of Law

•             The Force of Law (xerox copy)

•             The Primacy of Law

•             Coercion and Freedom

•             Credibility and Truth

•             Impersonal Law and Personal Freedom

•             Limits of Social Planning

•             The Meaning of Liberal Education

•             Our Need for Books

•             Law and Social Continuity

•             Religion, Nature and the Autonomy of Law

•             American Heritage of Law (3)

•             Philosophy of Religion MS (9)

•             Fragments of Interpretation of Religion and Faith “Original from 1^st Typed   

•                         Version”

•             Fragments of Interpretation of Religion and Faith “From One Christian’s

•                         Perspective”

•             Fragments of Interpretation of Religion and Faith “From One Christians

•                         Perspective” (2)

•             Christian Faith for Modern Man (3)

•             The Creedal Statement of Our Church

•             The Genius of Western Law

•             The Genius of Western Law (7)

Box 2:

•             Articles and Lectures Table of Contents

•             Articles and Lectures--Existence, Essence and the Work of Art

•             Articles and Lectures--Christ, Culture and the Church-Related College

•             Articles and Lectures—On Books and Reading

•             Articles and Lectures—The Church and Ethics

•             Articles and Lectures—The Place of Theory in a World of Fact (2 copies)

•             Articles and Lectures—Paul Goodman and the Reform of Education (2 copies)

•             Articles and Lectures—To Duncan Wimpress with Thanks

•             Articles and Lectures—Reflections on Political Themes

•             Articles and Lectures—Political Power and Conflicts of Interests (2 copies)

•             Articles and Lectures—Mill’s Logic (2)

•             Articles and Lectures—Are College Professors Obsolete? (2 copies)

•             Existence and Meaning, Revised 9/20/78 (4)

•             Some Loose Bundles of Truisms 3/13/76 (2)

•             Some Loose Bundles of Truisms (5)

•             Book---A Modern Philosophy of Religion