The creation of the Divinity School, and its foundation in the Study of Religion can be traced back to William Rainey Harper, the University of Chicago’s first president. A scholar and clergyman, Harper was responsible for moving the Baptist Theological Union Seminary to Hyde Park to become the University of Chicago Divinity School.

At its inception the Divinity School’s academic focus was New Testament and Early Christian Literature. While areas of study have greatly multiplied over the last hundred years the Divinity School’s Bible and History of Christianity Areas remain a strength of the institution.

The Divinity School’s centrality to the University of Chicago is evinced by Swift Hall’s location and age; being located centrally on the main quadrangle and one of the University’s oldest buildings that is still in use.

Jerald C. Brauer was Dean of the Divinity School from 1955 to 1970. Dean Brauer was responsible for a number of important developments during his tenure including the launch of the school’s Criterion publication in 1963.

The Divinity School has long been a draw for influential scholars of religion from across the world, such as Mircea Eliade, Paul Tillich and Jonathan Z. Smith. The generations of luminaries that called the Divinity School home have made the school highly respected and a sought-after place to research, teach and study at.

Throughout his career Dr. Martin E. Marty, faculty member from 1963 to 1998, engaged in activities that brought together religious scholarship and public engagement. This included Dr. Marty and other faculty participating in the March at Selma in 1965. The Martin Marty Center for the Public Understanding of Religion continues to honor his legacy by creating programming that reflects that intersection.

Joseph M. Kitagawa was faculty at the Divinity School from 1951-1980 and served as Dean from 1970 – 1980. Kitagawa was known for his scholarly contributions as well as his leadership. He was instrumental in establishing the History of Religions discipline, and for the many notable hires he made while dean which helped to diversify the faculty.

A mark of The Divinity School has long been the boldness and confidence of its faculty in the face of opposition. In true University of Chicago spirit Divinity School faculty have not shied away from controversy when disagreements over their work have arisen but have engaged with opposing viewpoints with confidence in the quality of their scholarship.

The Divinity School is unique in that students in its Master of Divinity program matriculate alongside its MA and PhD students. This creates a unique environment wherein people training to be religious leaders have a deep theological education to draw from and those preparing to go into the academy have the opportunity to engage with individuals working to connect religious knowledge and practice.

Housed in the basement of Swift Hall the student run coffee shop, Grounds of Being, (formerly Swift Kick) has served as a “third space” for the Divinity School and broader University community for many decades.