Creator(s): Lolley, W. Randall (William Randall), 1931-2022
Date(s): 1974-1988
Extent: 17.5 cu.ft.
Biographical Note: W. Randall Lolley was born in Troy, Alabama in 1931. He graduated from Howard College, now known as Samford University, in 1952. He then attended Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, earning his B.D. and Th.M. Lolley earned his Th.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. In 1974, Lolley became the third president of SEBTS, a position he held until his resignation in 1987. After his time at SEBTS, Lolley served as pastor at First Baptist Church (Raleigh, NC) and First Baptist Church (Greensboro, NC). Dr. Lolley passed away March 21, 2022.
Scope and Contents: This collection contains material related to Randall Lolley’s time as president of SEBTS from 1974 to 1987. Material details the day-to-day operation of the seminary and highlights several significant projects including the extensive renovations of the Emory B. Denny Building which houses the library, the renovation of Binkley Chapel and Appleby Hall with the addition of five new classrooms and music offices. Gore Gymnasium which was originally built in 1938 for Wake Forest College was also renovated. The gymnasium was renamed Cannon Gymnasium, and the building itself was renamed the Ledford Center. This collection also contains material related to the Southern Baptist Conservative Resurgence and its impact on Southeastern and Lolley’s presidency. Resources include letters, faculty memos, chapel sermons, and examples of both support and criticism of Lolley’s time at Southeastern.
Related Materials: W. Randall Lolley Papers, Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. https://wakespace.lib.wfu.edu/handle/10339/84644
Language(s): English
Conditions Governing Access: This collection is open for research.
Arrangement Note: This collection is arranged into three series. The first series contains both personal correspondence and correspondence directly related to his role as president of SEBTS and his various roles in the Southern Baptist Convention. This series is divided into the subseries: general correspondence and additional specified correspondence. The second series contains materials related to the operation of SEBTS, and the third series includes material related to the Southern Baptist Convention. This arrangement allows researchers to examine the different aspects of Lolley’s role as president on an individual, institutional, and denominational level. The folder titles reflect the original folder titles when available, indicated by a tab located in the front of the file.
Processing History: Arranged and described by Dustin Toone and Drew Dickerson, Assistant Archivists and Joshua Britt, Archives Assistant from October 2018-February 2021.
Preferred Citation: W. Randall Lolley Presidential Records, Archives and Special Collections, Library at Southeastern, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC.
Repository: Archives and Special Collections, Library at Southeastern, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC
Resource Identifier: IRG.01.03
Subjects and Access Points:
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Theological seminary presidents
