McGill Libraries
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
1 cm of textual records
Mathematician and theologian Archibald Duff received his B.A. from McGill in 1864 and his M.A in 1867. From 1869 to 1872 he studied at Andover Theological Seminary and thereafter in Germany. From 1875 to 1877 he lectured in mathematics at McGill and in Hebrew at McGill and the Congregational College. In 1877, he joined the staff of the Airendale Independent College in Bradford, England, where he taught until his retirement in 1929. He published two books on Old Testament theology, and obtained his LL.D. from McGill in 1881.
Apart from a printed copy of his LL.D. thesis on the idea of atonement amongst the ancient Hebrews, and a copy of examination questions in mathematics set by him, Duff's papers are almost entirely concerned with his application for the Bradford position in 1877. These comprise letters of recommendation from J. W. Dawson, Alexander Johnson (Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Arts), and two professors at Andover Theological Seminary, as well as copies of a letter from A.M. Fairbairn of Aberdeen, encouraging Duff to apply for the post. There is also a copy of Duff's letter to the secretary of the Congregational College in which he declines an offer of teaching work.
Originals, copies, printed materials