Rev. James R. Tanis, 87, Bryn Mawr College prof

The Rev. James Robert Tanis, 87, formerly of Villanova, a minister, a scholar, and a professor and director of libraries at Bryn Mawr College, died Sunday, July 19, of respiratory failure at Shannondell in Audubon.

He had lived at the senior community for more than a decade.

He grew up in Phillipsburg, N.J., where he was born. Dr. Tanis earned a bachelor's degree in history from Yale University; a master of divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary, New York City, in 1954; and a doctor of theology degree in 1967 from Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

From 1953 to 1955, he was a co-pastor at Greystone Presbyterian Church in Elizabeth, N.J. Over the years, he was a parish associate for Valley Forge Presbyterian Church, doing weddings or preaching when the senior pastor was away.

"He's just so smart and has so much rolling around in his head, people really look forward to this," his friend the Rev. Mike Dunfee told The Inquirer in 2001.

Dr. Tanis served as the curator of rare books and manuscripts at Union Theological Seminary. At the same time, he progressed from librarian and lecturer at Harvard Divinity School to the same roles at Yale University in the mid-1960s, and finally to Bryn Mawr in 1969.

He was the college's director of libraries and Rufus M. Jones Professor of Philosophy and Religion from 1977 to 1992; was the Constance A. Jones Director of Libraries from 1992 to 1997, and was named director emeritus of libraries and professor emeritus of history after retiring in 1997.

In 2001, he pulled together "Leaves of Gold," an exhibit of 80 manuscripts that were displayed at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The title derived from the gold leaf used to illuminate the manuscripts.

His intellectual interests were wide-ranging. He wrote or collaborated on books about the Dutch Calvinists in America, the history of bookbinding, and the history of costume. He also published chapters and articles in books and scholarly journals.

He served on numerous boards of museums and library associations, both in America and the Netherlands.

Dr. Tanis received many honors: the Order of Orange-Nassau, conferred in 1993 by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands; an honorary degree of doctor of literature from Dickinson College in 1994; and the Netherlands Society of Philadelphia Gold Medal Award in 1997.

His hobbies were enjoying books, art, and postcards.

He is survived by sons James and Justin; two grandchildren; and a brother. Wives Tracy Tanis and Florence Elaine Borgmann Tanis died earlier.

A memorial service is to be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Reformed Church of the Ascension, United Church of Christ, 1700 W. Main St., Jeffersonville. Interment was private.

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