Douglas V. Steere
Encyclopedia
Douglas Van Steere was an American Quaker ecumenist.
He served as a professor of philosophy at Haverford College
from 1928 to 1964 and visiting professor of theology at Union Theological Seminary
from 1961 to 1962. Steere organized Quaker post-war relief work in Finland
, Norway
and Poland
, was invited to participate as an ecumenical observer in the Second Vatican Council
and co-founded the Ecumenical Institute of Spirituality. He authored, edited, translated and wrote introductions for many books on Quakerism, as well as other religions and philosophy.
Steere was an undergraduate at Michigan State University
, received a Ph.D. from Harvard University
in 1931, and was a Rhodes scholar at Oxford University, receiving degrees from Oxford in 1927 and 1954.
In 1987, he was awarded the Decoration of Knight 1st Class of the White Rose of Finland
, in recognition of his post-war relief work in that country.
He served as a professor of philosophy at Haverford College
Haverford College
Haverford College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Haverford, Pennsylvania, United States, a suburb of Philadelphia...
from 1928 to 1964 and visiting professor of theology at Union Theological Seminary
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York is a preeminent independent graduate school of theology, located in Manhattan between Claremont Avenue and Broadway, 120th to 122nd Streets. The seminary was founded in 1836 under the Presbyterian Church, and is affiliated with nearby Columbia...
from 1961 to 1962. Steere organized Quaker post-war relief work in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, was invited to participate as an ecumenical observer in the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
and co-founded the Ecumenical Institute of Spirituality. He authored, edited, translated and wrote introductions for many books on Quakerism, as well as other religions and philosophy.
Steere was an undergraduate at Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
, received a Ph.D. from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1931, and was a Rhodes scholar at Oxford University, receiving degrees from Oxford in 1927 and 1954.
In 1987, he was awarded the Decoration of Knight 1st Class of the White Rose of Finland
Order of the White Rose
The Order of the White Rose of Finland is one of three official orders in Finland, along with the Order of the Cross of Liberty, and the Order of the Lion of Finland. The President of Finland is the Grand Master of all three orders. The orders are administered by boards consisting of a chancellor,...
, in recognition of his post-war relief work in that country.
Further reading
- Love at the Heart of Things: a biography of Douglas V. Steere, by E. Glenn Hinson. 1998