Guide to the New Era Movement Records
Open for research.
In response to the World War, the 130th General Assembly (PCUSA) (1918) created the New Era Expansion Program. Its purpose was to foster cooperation among and unity of Presbyterian boards and agencies, synods and presbyteries, and local churches. The New Era Movement was to achieve these goals over five years. The work of the first year was judges preparatory, and the five-year plan was extended to end in 1924. The New Era Movement was supervised by a committee of twenty-five, half PCUSA staff representing boards and agencies and half ministers and laymen representing the church at large.
By 1920 the Movement had reorganized and redefined its purpose as "the enlistment of the whole membership of the Church in a larger Christian life and service" and the promotion of "missionary education, Christian stewardship and Every Member responsibility for the life and work of the Church." The Movement included two divisions, one of Coordination (overseeing stewardship and missionary education) and one of Promotion (overseeing Every Member mobilization and fund-raising.)
The New Era Movement also oversaw the Committee to Administer the Fund for Returning Soldiers and Sailors, and was closely related to the Interchurch World Movement.
Record Group 105 includes committee minutes, reports, correspondence and a publications file of the New Era Movement. It also includes correspondence of the Soldiers and Sailors's Fund Committee and the Interchurch World Movement.
SERIES 1: ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS, 1918-1921
SERIES 2: COMMITTEES, 1919-1921
SERIES 3: PUBLICATIONS, 1914-1933
Record Group 105 originally included records of the Woman's Board of Home Missions. These were, for the most part, the files of M. Katharine Bennett. Bennett served as President of the Woman's Board of Home Missions, as Vice-President of the Board of National Missions, and as a member of the New Era Movement Committee. Her files included records of all three. They have been separated by official organization and processed accordingly.
Collection processed and finding aid prepared: December 1993
Stephanie Muntone, Processing Archivist
Box | Folder | Description | |
1 | 1 | Finding Aid to Record Group 105 | |
Series 1: Administrative Records, 1918-1923 | |||
1 | 2 | Reports; Structures and Function, Goals, 1918-21 | |
3 | Conference Prospectus and Program–New Era, Summer 1919 | ||
4 | Correspondence, 1918 | ||
5 | Correspondence, 1919 | ||
5a | Correspondence, 1920-23 | ||
6 | Indebtedness, New Era and Interchurch Movements--General Assembly Action, 1921 | ||
7 | Indebtedness–Liquidation of Debt, Correspondence, 1921-27 | ||
8 | Interchurch World Movement, 1919-20 | ||
9 | Presbyterial Schools, 1920 | ||
10 | Proposed Program and Field Activities, 1923 | ||
11 | Promotion Departments of Boards and Agencies--Conference Minutes, 1921 | ||
12 | “Raise-the-Budget” Plan, 1920 | ||
12a | Budget Materials, 1920-21 | ||
13 | Schools and Colleges, 1920 | ||
14 | Staff Meetings–Minutes, 1920-21 | ||
15 | World Survey Conference, 1920 | ||
Series 2: Committees, 1919-1921 | |||
1 | 16 | Apportionment Committee (Synodical Chairmen)--Minutes, 1920-21 | |
17 | Executive Commission on Liquidation of Interchurch Debt--Report, 1921 | ||
18 | Executive Committee Minutes, 1920 | ||
19-21 | Fund for Returning Soldiers and Sailors Committee– Correspondence, 1919-20 | ||
22 | Minutes and Reports, 1919-20 | ||
23 | General Committee Minutes, 1920 | ||
24 | New Era Committee Minutes, 1920-21 | ||
25 | Publicity and New Era Magazine Committee--Minutes, 1920 | ||
26 | Readjustment of Field and Forces Committee--Minutes, 1921 | ||
27 | Subcommittee Meeting--Minutes, 1920 | ||
27a | Division of Coordination Report, 1920 | ||
Series 3: Publications, 1914-1933 | |||
1 | 28-34 | Scrapbooks of Publications, 1914-33 | |
35 | Loose Publications, 1919-24 | ||
36 | Interchurch World Movement | ||
2 | 1 | Poster--Organizational Chart of New Era Movement |