Rev. Harvey Daniel Hoover Papers

Rev. Harvey Daviel Hoover was born June 17, 1880, near New Oxford, a son of Samuel E. and Joanna Jane (Gable) Hoover. He was educated in the public schools of Adams County, attended Gettysburg Academy and Gettysburg College before going to Susquehanna Seminary University where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1900. He graduated from Susquehanna Seminary in 1902 receiving the Bachelor of Divinity degree. In 1907 he received his Doctor of Philosophy Degree from Wesleyan University and was awarded the Doctor of Divinity degree by Wittenberg College in 1922 and the Doctor of Literature degree from Wittenberg in 1935.

He served as pastor of the Lutheran Church at Friedens from 1902 to 1904 and as pastor of a Lutheran Church in East Pittsburgh from 1904 to 1907. He was professor of sociology and psychology at Susquehanna University from 1907 to 1909 and then became professor of psychology at Carthage College, serving in that capacity from 1909 to 1922. During the period he was professor of psychology at Carthage College, and for four years afterward, he was president of that college.

In 1928 he was called to Gettysburg Lutheran Theological Seminary where he served as professor of pastoral theology and Liturgies from 1926 to 1952. He also taught at the Lutheran Deaconess School of Baltimore and was a member of the Board of Deaconess Work from 1934 to 1946. Dr. Hoover, during his years at Gettysburg seminary and particulary since his retirement there, had served many churches in the area as pulpit supply and had served as temporary pastor for a number of congregations between regular pastorates. He had been for many years a member of the staff on the Adams County Leadership Training School that conducted classes each fall for church and Sunday school leaders of all denominations in the county.

In 1950, he was a member of the executive committee that planned and executed the Susquicentennial of Adams County. He was a member and a recent speaker for the Adams County Historical Society. For more than quarter century he had been in steady demand as a speaker at school, church and community events over a wide area.

He was a member of the Common Service Book Committee of the United Lutheran Church of America since 1929 and was secretary of that committee for a number of years. Serving as a member of the joint commission of Liturgy and Hymnal of the Lutheran Bodies, he was among those who prepared the new service book of the church. He was a member of the American Hymnal Society and of the London Hymn Society and served as vice president of the board of governors of the Council for Clergy Training. He served as the editor of the Bible Reading Fellowship and of the publication, "The Light For Today." He served on the board at Camp Nawakwa for many years and was president of the board of the camp. He also served as advisor for Sigma Nu fraternity at Gettysburg College.