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MEMORIALS

2018 Memorials
Read during the ATLA Business 
Meeting on Friday, June 15, 2018

THOMAS CAMP 
Read by Romulus Stefanut 

Thomas Edward Camp (1929–2018) was 
the first full-time professional librarian at 
the School of Theology of the University of 
the South, in Sewanee, Tennessee, a posi-
tion he held from 1957 to his retirement 
in 1993.  

  Born in Louisiana, Ed studied at Cente-
nary College, Vanderbilt Divinity School, 
and Louisiana State University. After army service, he became circu-
lation librarian for Bridwell Library at Perkins School of Theology. At 
Sewanee, he became Associate University Librarian in 1976 and was 
Acting University Librarian in 1981–82. Theology collections grew 
from about 9,000 volumes in 1957 to over 100,000 volumes in 1999, 
requiring him to plan a move into the University Library building. Ed 
built up a useful vertical file on the Episcopal Church, ecumenism, 
and civil rights.  

Ed was active in the American Theological Library Association, 
the Tennessee Theological Library Association, and the American 
Library Association. He was secretary of ATLA for two years (1965–67). 



58  ANNUAL YEARBOOK

He wrote (with Ella Aldrich) Using Theological Books and Libraries (Pren-
tice-Hall, 1963).  

  Ed and his wife Elizabeth were leaders in desegregating public 
schools in Sewanee’s county. He was a founding member of the 
Sewanee-based Cumberland Center for Justice and Peace and the 
Sewanee chapter of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship. He served as 
president of the Franklin County Association for the Retarded, and he 
helped establish Folks at Home, assisting elderly and handicapped 
persons to stay in their own homes.  

Ed was organist at his parish church in Sewanee for thirty years, 
generous contributor to many worthy causes, and a quiet helper to 
many.  

Ed Camp died on 25 February 2018 in Sewanee.  

A personal note from Jim Dunkly: I succeeded Ed Camp as Librarian of 
the School of Theology in 1993, and I immediately recognized the 
quality of his work from the quality of the collections he had amassed, 
but even more from the testimony of faculty, students, and graduates 
to the quality of Ed’s remarkable service to their needs. He was very 
helpful to me in getting oriented to a new and demanding job, but he 
never once sought to interfere, though he continued to use the library 
himself quite regularly. As I grew into the job, my respect and appre-
ciation for Ed Camp grew as well. It was a privilege to succeed him, 
and a greater privilege to know him.

MYRTA ANN LATIMER GARRETT 
Read by Robert Phillips 

 Myrta Ann Latimer Garrett (October 13, 
1924–October 3, 2015)—librarian, semi-
nary faculty spouse, committed Christian 
and ecumenical Baptist—joined ATLA in 
1980. 

 Myrta Ann’s first library position was 
as secretary to the Librarian at Princeton 
Seminary in 1948–1949. After several 
years as a “stay-at-home mom” in Fort  



Memorials  59

Worth, Texas, and Louisville, Kentucky, she resumed her library  
career first as an elementary school librarian in Louisville and then as 
a high school librarian in Waco, Texas. After years of summer study, 
she completed her MLS degree at Spalding College in 1979. 

In 1980, she began at Southwestern Seminary as the first full-time 
Serials Librarian. In 1985, she was elected to the general faculty as 
Director of Technical Services. Among her many accomplishments at 
Southwestern were moving the Serials Department into a new library 
and coordinating the library’s four hundred thousand volume reclas-
sification project. She first retired in 1994 but returned as part-time 
Serials Librarian from 1997 until 2003.  

 Myrta Ann is remembered by legions of friends and admirers as 
a woman with Southern graciousness, keen intellect, moral earnest-
ness, and a playful spirit. She is survived by her husband of sixty- 
seven years, James Leo Garrett, Jr., their children, and their families. 
She now rests in the peace and joy of her Lord.  
  

SETH E. KASTEN 
Read by Christine Wenderoth 

Seth Kasten was an amazing man: research 
librarian, devout Jew, organist, choir direc-
tor of both Christian and Jewish music, 
colleague, and friend. Seth Eugene Kasten 
was born on November 8, 1945, to Sol 
and Goldie Kasten in Manhattan. He grew up in Queens, New York. 
He attended Harper College, which later became SUNY Binghamton, 
majoring in organ and choral music. (I remember he once told me that 
this college experience was the first time he had ventured outside of 
New York City, and he could not WAIT to get back to the safety of New 
York City! How could anyone live “out there?” he wondered.) Seth really 
wanted to pursue sacred music, but from a practical perspective he 
decided that getting a library degree would give him a way to make a 
living.  

After college, therefore, he started at Columbia University Library 
School and simultaneously at the School of Sacred Music at Union 
Theological Seminary. Before finishing these degrees, Seth was drafted 
into the Army.  



60  ANNUAL YEARBOOK

Seth told Drew Kadel this story: “As the draft was heating up (and 
this was before the lottery), Seth decided to not try to wangle a defer-
ment, because he saw that when white kids got deferments black 
kids got sent to Vietnam. So, his draft board called him up and he 
was drafted. Now, Seth was never suited to shooting anyone (except 
perhaps by raising his famous eyebrow) but he persuaded his draft 
board to delay his induction until he finished library school, because 
he had been given to understand that the Army was desperate for 
enlisted librarians. Of course, the shortage of enlisted librarians 
caused the Army to do away with enlisted librarians altogether before 
he finished basic training ... So at the end of basic, everyone received 
their orders for their next assignment and Seth’s was for Advanced 
Infantry Training. As noted above, Seth was not suited to killing people 
or other living things, and Advanced Infantry Training was the last 
stop before the jungles of Vietnam, and probable death. But Seth heard 
that the chief chaplain on that massive training base where he was in 
Georgia needed a Chaplain’s Assistant, whose main duty was playing 
the organ at services. Seth arranged an interview/audition. So picture 
it: There is Seth in fatigues and combat boots, playing an organ audi-
tion (a Bach Chorale prelude), with his life literally depending on it!”  

Seth spent the duration of his term in the Army as Chaplain’s Assis-
tant on that base in Georgia. He then he returned to New York City, 
completing master’s degrees in both Library Science from Columbia 
and sacred music from Union Theological Seminary in 1973. Shortly 
thereafter, he became Assistant Reference Librarian at Union Theo-
logical Seminary, New York, working for Richard Spoor. When Spoor 
became Director and the library was renamed the Burke Library, Seth 
became the Reference Librarian. In January 1998, he became Interim 
Co-director of Burke along with Drew Kadel until the end of December 
1999, thereafter returning to being Head Reference Librarian.  

Throughout all this time, Seth organized a weekly Evensong choir 
at Union and directed the men’s Schola Cantorum. He was organist at 
the Church of the Crucifixion in Harlem (a high church, West Indian) 
Episcopal Church for eleven years, and later he was very active in 
choirs that sang for Orthodox Christian parishes.

 We, of course, remember Seth as an active member of ATLA from 
1979 until his retirement in 2011. He served on the Board of Directors 
from 1989 to 1992, the Board Member Services Committee during  
those years, the Nominating Committee, the Public Services Interest 



Memorials  61

Group, the Judaica Interest Group, and, most memorably, was the direc-
tor of the ATLA Choir from its inception until his retirement. 

Seth retired from Union in December 2011 after more than thirty-
five years. At his retirement, he was described as “the soul of the Burke 
Library: its institutional memory, its constructive critic and fondest 
lover, and its most resourceful and collegially helpful research librar-
ian … He was a great scholar, a brilliant researcher, and a dedicated, 
incomparable guide to the annals of theological manuscripts, articles, 
books, and primary sources. He was also a friend.” 

Seth was a devout Jew his whole life long. He was for many years a 
member of Congregation Shearith Israel, the Spanish and Portuguese 
Synagogue, and more recently of Temple Emmanuel on Fifth Avenue 
and B’nai Jeshurun on the Upper West Side. 

While working and in retirement, Kasten enjoyed traveling with 
friends. Among other places, he visited ancient sites in Syria and  
India, relishing history and soaking up new knowledge wherever he 
went, and he played church organs all over Europe. Seth died in his 
home on June 21, 2017. He is survived by his brother, Donald and 
sister-in-law, Karen; and by his friend, Mim Warden.  

“Even at the grave we sing our song, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!” 

JOHN MEEKS 
Read by Brenda Bailey-Hainer 

 John Meeks, ATLA Digital Products Supervi-
sor, passed away August 19, 2017. 

 John joined ATLA’s Production staff 
in 2005 to create bibliographic records 
that supported the growth of ATLASeri-
als® (ATLAS®). From there, he quickly tran-
sitioned into a Metadata Analyst role, working on the ATLA Religion 
Database® (ATLA RDB®) and the ATLA Catholic Periodical and Literature 
Index® (ATLA CPLI®). As a supervisor, he hired and trained new meta-
data analysts, managed the indexing workflow, and supported content 
development. John was instrumental in the launch of ATLASerials 
PLUS™ (ATLAS PLUS™), as he managed schedules and subprojects to 
help ensure that the majority of the titles released started with volume 
1 / issue 1.  



62  ANNUAL YEARBOOK

  John graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 
with a BA in Philosophy. He received his MA at Maryknoll School Theol-
ogy in New York and MTh at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago.  

 On a personal note, John served on the hiring committee when I 
was hired; and he provided me with tremendous support as I transi-
tioned into my new role with ATLA. My earliest memories are of his 
great smile and generous nature.  

  We are sad to have lost one of our dear colleagues.  

WILLIAM M. ROBARTS 
Read by Erica Durham 

 William Robarts was born in Lake City, 
Florida, in 1923. He received a BA from 
Maryville College, Maryville, Tennessee, 
and then went to Columbia University to 
obtain an MLIS.  

 During his time at Columbia University, 
he served as Senior Reference Assistant.  

 After graduation in 1956, William 
became the Assistant Librarian at Union Theological Seminary in New 
York, a position which he held from 1956 until March 1976—twenty 
years!—when the position was eliminated for budgetary reasons.  

 In 1977 he became Director of the Library at Franconia College in 
Franconia, New Hampshire, until the college closed the following year.  

From 1978 until his retirement in 1985, Bill was a proofreader at 
The Stinehour Press in Lunenburg, Vermont, and often served as part-
time assistant to his wife Barbara who was, and still is, the Director of 
the William D. Weeks Memorial Library in Lancaster, New Hampshire.  

 An active member of the Lancaster Congregational Church, William 
sang in the choir and served many years as the church historian. 
 Gardening, especially African violets, stamp collecting, and photography 
were special pastimes for him.  

He died in Lancaster on July 6, 2017, at the age of 93.  
  



Memorials  63

RICHARD D. (MARK) SPOOR 
Read by Miranda Bennett 

Richard Spoor, known as Mark, was born 
in Meriden, Connecticut, in 1928. Over 
the course of his long and rich life, he 
earned Eagle Scout rank, served in the US 
Marine Corps, studied philosophy and reli-
gion, worked as an editor, and led both an 
academic and a public library.  

Mark developed expertise in Buddhism 
and non-dualistic Hinduism. Seeking a deeper understanding of the 
mystery of life, time, space, and eternity, he joined St. Gregory’s Abbey, 
an Anglican Benedictine community in Michigan, where he took the 
name “Mark.” In 1967, following Vatican II, Mark was drawn to the 
Abbaye de Boquen in Brittany, France, where a number of Anglican 
brothers joined a larger group of Roman Catholic Cistercian monks  
to form an ecumenical community. During this time, he met the Rev. 
Dr. Franck A. de Chambeau, who became his spouse and life partner.  

Educated in library science at Columbia University, Mark served as 
Director of the Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary in New 
York City. He introduced new digital capabilities and directed a total 
architectural renovation. After retiring from UTS in 1994, he became 
Director, then President, of Scoville Memorial Library in Salisbury, 
Connecticut.  

Perhaps the best way to remember Mark are with words he and 
Franck wrote for an exhibit at Noble Horizons retirement community:  

 •  Life is very uncertain. Grasp the challenges/opportunities of the 
day with optimism.  

 •  The world is a place of wonder. Open your eyes to everything 
around you: people, nature, music, art, silence.  

 •  Love always overwhelms intellect. Love provides strength to over-
come any challenge.  

Mark Spoor died on March 4, 2018, at his home in Rancho Mirage, 
California.  
 



64  ANNUAL YEARBOOK

JOSEPH TROUTMAN
Read by Brad Ost 

 Joseph Edward Troutman was born on 
January 4, 1938, in Concord, North Caro-
lina. He graduated from Mt. Pleasant High 
School in Mt. Pleasant, North Carolina, in 
May 1956. He earned a Bachelor of Arts 
Degree in Religious Education from Lenoir 
Rhyne College in Hickory, North Carolina, in May 1960. He went on 
to earn three masters degrees: Master of Arts from Lutheran School 
of Theology in Maywood, Illinois in May 1964; a Master in Religious 
Education from Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey in 
June 1964; and in May 1980 Joe earned a Master of Science in Library 
Service from The Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia. 

He earned a Doctor of Ministry from The Interdenominational 
Theological Center in Atlanta in May 1992. Joe was employed as the 
Theological Librarian at the Robert W. Woodruff Library in 1980 at The 
Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC), which is part of The 
Atlanta University Center. While serving in that role, he co-edited the 
Journal of ITC and became an Associate Professor of Theological Bibli-
ography at ITC, teaching both at the Master of Divinity and Doctoral 
level while maintaining his library responsibilities.  

  On April 21, 2008, he retired after twenty-eight years of service  
with AUC Woodruff Library and ITC. Joe passed away at Piedmont 
Hospital on November 8, 2017, after a brief illness at the age of 79.
 


	Preface
	Committee reports
	Committee for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
	Conference
	Endowment
	Professional Development

	Task Forcereports
	International Theological Librarian Education
	Scholarly Communication

	Interest Group Reports
	Public Services
	Small Libraries 
	Special Collections 
	Technical Services 
	World Religions 

	denominational Group reports
	Anabaptist Mennonite
	Anglican/Episcopal
	Baptist
	Campbell-Stone
	Lutheran 
	Methodist
	Orthodox
	Presbyterian and Reformed Librarians
	Roman Catholic

	memorials
	Officers of ATLA (1947–2018)
	ATLA Organizational Directory (2017–2018)
	ATLA Member Directory (2017–2018)
	historical Annual conferences
	AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS OF AMERICAN THEOLOGICAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
	2017 ATS Library Statistics

