Albert Schweitzer at the Turn of the Millennium

On February 19-21, 1999, the Albert Schweitzer Institute hosted an international conference, “Albert Schweitzer at the Turn of the Millennium,” on the campus of Chapman University. The conference was funded by the Schweitzer Institute, the Griset and Huntington Lectureships of the Department of Religious Studies, and the Wang-Fradkin Professorship. The conference was held in honor of Rhena Schweitzer Miller on her 80th birthday and in memory of Alice Bergel. The weekend was a glorious experience, with dramatic, scholarly, liturgical, and musical presentations. John Frederick Jones and Laurel Kelsh Jones performed “Albert Schweitzer and Helene Besslau: Letters of Devotion,” the premiere of a dramatic reading from the correspondence of Albert with his future wife, produced and directed by Edith M. Schwartz. Schweitzer biographer James Brabazon gave the keynote address, and other presentations were given by Mike Martin, Sylvere M’Bondobari, Erich Graesser, Ara Paul Barsam, James M. Robinson, Nikki Lindberg, Kurt Bergel, Marvin Meyer, Rhena Schweitzer Miller, and Antje Lemke. Christiane Schweitzer Engel performed a Mozart piano concerto, Chapman faculty member Margaret Dehning sang “A Requiem for Schweitzer,” and Chapman students provided additional vocal and instrumental music. The Dembrebrah West African Drum and Dance Company played West African music on traditional instruments and performed dances from that region of Africa.

The attached conference photographs are by Donald Desfor, and are used with his permission.