Guide to the Thomas Clinton Pears Papers

Thomas Clinton Pears, Jr. was educated at Princeton University, graduating in 1907, and at Western Theological Seminary, graduating in 1910. In 1935, Washington and Jefferson College conferred on him the honorary degree of Doctor of Literary Humanities. His pastoral service included calls at the First Presbyterian Churches in Follansbee, WV and Braddock, PA. He also served as assistant pastor at Third and Waverly Presbyterian Churches in Pittsburgh. In 1933, he became manager of the Department of History of the Presbyterian Church and remained in that position until his death.

Dr. Pears' research interests were varied. In 1936, he presented a paper about the 17th century Scots settlement in Panama entitled "Design in Darien." In 1942, Princeton Theological Seminary did him the honor of asking him to deliver the annual lectures for the Stone Foundation. These five lectures were entitled "This American Wilderness--A Study of Some of the Main Currents of Colonial American Presbyterianism." Dr. Pears published a number of other notable papers, including the "Documentary History of William Tennent and the Log Cabin."