Dr. Paul Stanwood ’03 (Hon.), a respected professor of English, was also a renowned expert on the theologian Richard Hooker. Trinity has benefitted greatly from Dr. Stanwood’s generosity, as he made numerous gifts in kind of volumes and papers of special interest to Divinity scholars. For his exceptional scholarship, he was granted an honorary degree at the Faculty of Divinity convocation in 2003. With his passing in November 2024, we remember him as a great friend to Trinity College.
Dr. Paul Stanwood and the Stanwood Collection
Between 2007 and 2013, Paul Stanwood donated a rich collection of rare books to the John W. Graham Library from his personal collection. These books form the Stanwood Collection and are housed in the Graham Library’s Saunderson Rare Book Room. The collection reflects Stanwood’s interests in 17th-century English literature and theology. The Stanwood Collection includes works by Richard Hooker (1554 – 1600), such as a 1682 printing of Hooker’s Works. In addition, the collection boasts numerous volumes by Jeremy Taylor (1613–1667), a cleric and great writer who came to fame in the time of Oliver Cromwell. Some of these volumes are first editions printed during Taylor’s lifetime, such as a 1651 printing of The Rule and Exercises of Holy Dying. Other notable books include a 1672 printing of Sir Henry Wotton’s (1568 – 1639) Reliquiæ Wottonianæ and a 1687 printing of Sir Edwin Sandys’ (1561 – 1629) Europæ Speculum. All of these titles can be viewed at the Graham Library.
Between 2017 and 2023 Prof. Stanwood donated archival material that is complementary to the library collection. This material includes correspondence, writings, notes, and manuscripts, particularly from his body of work that involved the editing and publishing of the final three books of Hooker’s Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity. Also included is material from his interactions with various individuals and groups that he worked with on further studies of Hooker, Jeremy Taylor, John Cosin and others.
These collections reflect Prof. Stanwood’s outstanding academic scholarship. He was the editor of Books VI-VIII in the very important Folger Library edition of the Works of Richard Hooker, and he co-edited two volumes of sermons preached at Paul’s Cross. He published over 100 articles on early modern religious literature, including the works of John Donne, Izaak Walton, and many other important 17th century figures. He was a fine and learned teacher and academic supervisor, a leader in an international fellowship of professors of English literature.
The Rev’d Canon Dr. David Neelands, former Dean of the Faculty of Divinity, writes of their shared love of their “hero” Richard Hooker and called Prof Stanwood “a great one in our world of academic scholarship”.
Paul Stanwood was a devoted family person, a long-time Anglican and a passionate member of his congregation of St James. In 2013, he was invested into the Order of the Diocese of New Westminster. His citation notes his “intellect, his sacramental theology, deep faith” and the “significant” contributions to his church and the Diocese over many years.
Born April 25, 1933, in Des Moines, Iowa, Paul Stanwood received a Bachelor of Arts in 1954 from the Iowa State Teachers College (now the University of Northern Iowa), obtained his MA in 1956 and PhD in 1961 in English Language and Literature/Letters from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor). He began his teaching career at Tufts University in 1961, but was most active at the University of British Columbia, as Professor of English since 1975 and Professor Emeritus since 1998. Stanwood leaves his wife Dorothy and son Christopher (Mary). He was predeceased by his daughter, Mary Louise.
By Rebekah Bedard, Distinctive Collections Librarian, John W. Graham Library;
Sylvia Lassam, Rolph-Bell Archivist, Trinity College;
Rev. Dr. David Neelands
