The Reverend Dr. Alan Seaburg—sometime parish minister, poet, and historiographer, whose archival and bibliographic knowledge assisted hundreds of researchers at the Harvard Divinity Library over the years—died on 22 July 2018 at the age of 86.

Alan Leslie Seaburg was born on 28 February 1932 in Medford, MA to Nils Henry and Eva (Gerrard) Seaburg. From Tufts University (MA) he received a B.A. in 1954 and a B.D. in 1957. He was ordained on September 15 of that year by the First Universalist Church in Medford (MA), where he served an interim ministry (1958–59) while studying for an M.S. at Simmons College (MA, 1959).

The Rev’d Mr. Seaburg worked as a librarian at the Crane Theological School of Tufts University (1959–65) before returning to the parish in a shared ministry with Kenneth Patton at the Charles Street Meeting House in Boston (1965–68).

Then, after two years at the UUA (1968–70), he moved on to what would become his most significant vocation as Curator of Manuscripts at Harvard Divinity School’s Andover- Harvard Theological Library (1970–95). At retirement he was named Curator of Manuscripts, Emeritus, and in 1999 Meadville Lombard Theological School awarded him a D.D. honoris causa.

Alan was a prolific writer, with pieces appearing in The New York Times, Amherst Review, Hawaii Review, and Commonweal. He published five books of poetry and was for many years poetry editor of the nature journal Snowy Egret. He also authored or co-authored more than half a dozen small histories, mostly on New England subjects.

Alan is survived by daughters Carolyn Joy Bell and Ann Leslie Seaburg, two granddaughters, and two nephews. Memorial contributions are encouraged in honor of Alan’s brother, to the “Carl G. Seaburg Scholarship Fund” at Meadville Lombard Theological School, Development Office: 610 South Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605.