ABSTRACT
Most American graduate theological seminaries are affiliated with a denomination. For example, of the approximately 200 institutions holding membership in the Association of Theological Schools, only about ten percent are independent. The typical non-aligned seminary is either an older, relatively liberal, divinity school branch of an academically elite university or else a conservative, self-standing institution born as a twentieth century reaction to the growth of liberal theology in either a specific Protestant denomination or in Protestantism in general. The quality of the written histories of these institutions varies widely; in general the best works are on the older seminaries. However, some first-rate studies of the newer evangelical schools are beginning to appear.
