Irving Francis Wood
Encyclopedia
Irving Francis Wood, Ph. D. (1861-1934 ) was an American
biblical scholar.
Professor Wood was born at Walton, New York. He graduated from Hamilton College in 1885 with a Bachelor of Arts
degree, and taught at Jaffna College
, Ceylon
, until 1889. Wood then studied for his Bachelor of Divinity degree at Yale
and completed it in 1892, the same year he met and married his wife, Katherine Hastings. Katherine bore him two children, Constance and Edna, who both went to get collegiate degrees. He taught for a short time at the University of Chicago
before taking a job as a professor
of Biblical literature and comparative religion at Smith College
in 1893. He went continuously studied and received a Ph. D.
from the University of Chicago in 1903 and a D.D.
from Hamilton College in 1915. He requisitioned a leave of absence
from Smith College for year's time (1934-25) to serve as a visiting professor in Ginling College
, Nanjing
, China
. Wood had served on Ginling's Board of Founders for an extensive period of time. During this period he also taught at Doshisa University in Japan. He retired from Smith College in 1930 and took trips back to China to guest lecture at Ginling and visit his daughter, who was a missionary
. He died in Washington D.C. in 1934.
Professor Wood was the author of The Spirit of God in Biblical Literature-A Study in the History of Religion (1904) and Adult Class Study (1911). He was coauthor with Elihu Grant
of The bible as Literature (1914), and with Newton M. Hall of the following: The Bible Story (five volumes, 1906); Adult Bible Classes (1906); and The Days of the Kings of Israel (1908).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
biblical scholar.
Professor Wood was born at Walton, New York. He graduated from Hamilton College in 1885 with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree, and taught at Jaffna College
Jaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
, Ceylon
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, until 1889. Wood then studied for his Bachelor of Divinity degree at Yale
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and completed it in 1892, the same year he met and married his wife, Katherine Hastings. Katherine bore him two children, Constance and Edna, who both went to get collegiate degrees. He taught for a short time at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
before taking a job as a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Biblical literature and comparative religion at Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
in 1893. He went continuously studied and received a Ph. D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from the University of Chicago in 1903 and a D.D.
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
from Hamilton College in 1915. He requisitioned a leave of absence
Leave of absence
Leave of absence is a term used to describe a period of time that one is to be away from his/her primary job, while maintaining the status of employee...
from Smith College for year's time (1934-25) to serve as a visiting professor in Ginling College
Ginling College
Ginling College was a Christian university founded in 1913 in Nanjing, China...
, Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Wood had served on Ginling's Board of Founders for an extensive period of time. During this period he also taught at Doshisa University in Japan. He retired from Smith College in 1930 and took trips back to China to guest lecture at Ginling and visit his daughter, who was a missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
. He died in Washington D.C. in 1934.
Professor Wood was the author of The Spirit of God in Biblical Literature-A Study in the History of Religion (1904) and Adult Class Study (1911). He was coauthor with Elihu Grant
Elihu Grant
Elihu Grant was an American scholar and writer on Palestine.Grant was ordained Methodist minister in 1900, and between 1901 and 1904 he was superintendent of the American Friends Schools in Ramallah and Jerusalem...
of The bible as Literature (1914), and with Newton M. Hall of the following: The Bible Story (five volumes, 1906); Adult Bible Classes (1906); and The Days of the Kings of Israel (1908).