Guide to the Eugene Carson Blake Papers
Open for research.
To browse this collection's digitized materials visit Pearl.
Materials marked "Digital" in the Collection Inventory may not be available on Pearl or in their entirety.
Eugene Carson Blake was born in St. Louis on November 7, 1906. He graduated from Princeton University in 1928 and spent the following year teaching English in Forman College, Lahore, India (now Pakistan). He returned to his studies in 1929, spending a year at New College, Edinburgh, Scotland and two years at Princeton Theological Seminary, where he received a Th.B. in 1932. Blake married Valina Gillespie in 1929. He served as pastor of churches in New York City, Albany, and Pasadena, CA from 1932-51. In 1951 he was elected Stated Clerk of the General Assembly (PCUSA), a post he held until 1958. In 1958 the PCUSA became the UPCUSA, and Blake was elected Stated Clerk of the UPCUSA General Assembly; he served until 1966. From 1954-57 he served as president of the National Council of Churches, and in 1966 he became general secretary to the World Council of Churches, from which he retired in 1972.
Dr. Blake is noted for his contributions to the 1967 confessional revision in the Presbyterian Church, to the civil rights movement, to church union efforts, for his leadership in the WCC's Programme to Combat Racism, and to the WCC's world development activities.
Record Group 3 consists of Blake's correspondence from 1951-66, the years of his tenure as Stated Clerk. It also includes approximately 3.50 cubic feet of Blake's sermons, speeches, articles, writings, and various personal papers.
SERIES 1: CORRESPONDENCE, 1951-1966
SERIES 2: PERSONAL PAPERS, 1940-1963
To browse this collection's digitized materials visit Pearl.
Materials marked "Digital" in the Collection Inventory may not be available on Pearl or in their entirety.
Blake's Stated Clerk's files from 1951-66 and additional writings and addresses from as far back as 1938 comprise Record Group 95: decision letters from 1949-58 and Stated Clerk's subject files from 1951-66, including 2.5 cubic feet of material on the WCC, comprise Record Group 121.
| Box | Folder | Description | Alternative Formats |
| 1 | 1 | Finding Aid to Record Group 3 | |
| SERIES 1: CORRESPONDENCE, 1951-1966 | |||
| 1 | 2 | A, 1951 | |
| 3 | B, 1951 | ||
| 4 | C, 1951 | ||
| 5 | D-F, 1951 | ||
| 6 | G, 1951 | ||
| 7 | H, 1951 | ||
| 8 | I-K, 1951 | ||
| 9 | Korea trip, 1951 | ||
| 10 | L, 1951 | ||
| 11 | M, 1951 | ||
| 12 | N-P, 1951 | ||
| 13 | Occidental College, 1951 | ||
| 14 | R, 1951 | ||
| 15 | S, 1951 | ||
| 16 | T-Z, 1951 | ||
| 17 | A, 1952 | ||
| 18 | B, 1952 | ||
| 2 | 1 | C, 1952 | |
| 2 | D-E, 1952 | ||
| 3 | F-G, 1952 | ||
| 4 | H, 1952 | ||
| 5 | I-K, 1952 | ||
| 6 | L, 1952 | ||
| 7 | Lawrenceville School, Trustees' Minutes, 1952 | ||
| 8 | Lawrenceville School, 1952 | ||
| 9 | M, 1952 | ||
| 10 | N-Q, 1952 | ||
| 11 | Occidental College, 1952 | ||
| 12 | R, 1952 | ||
| 13 | S, 1952 | ||
| 14 | San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1952 | ||
| 15 | T-Z, 1952 | ||
| 3 | 1 | A-B, 1953 | |
| 2 | C, 1953 | ||
| 3 | D-G, 1953 | ||
| 4 | H, 1953 | ||
| 5 | I-L, 1953 | ||
| 6 | Lawrenceville School, 1953 | ||
| 7 | M, 1953 | ||
| 8 | N-Q, 1953 | ||
| 9 | Occidental College, 1953 | ||
| 10 | R-S, 1953 | ||
| 11 | San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1953 | ||
| 12 | T-V, 1953 | ||
| 13 | W-Z, 1953 | ||
| 14 | Travel Account, 1952-53 | ||
| 15 | A, 1954 | ||
| 16 | B, 1954 | ||
| 17 | C, 1954 | ||
| 18 | D, 1954 | ||
| 19 | E-G, 1954 | ||
| 20 | Frontiers of Faith, 1954 | ||
| 4 | 1 | Frontiers of Faith, Scripts, 1954 | |
| 2 | H, 1954 | ||
| 3 | I-K, 1954 | ||
| 4 | L-M, 1954 | ||
| 5 | Lawrenceville School, 1954 | ||
| 6 | Blake, M.R.A, 1954 | ||
| 7 | N-P, 1954 | ||
| 8 | Occidental College, 1954 | ||
| 9 | Presbyterian Hospital, Philadelphia, 1954 | ||
| 10 | R-S, 1951 | ||
| 11 | San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1954 | ||
| 12 | T-Z, 1954 | ||
| 13 | Travel Accounts, 1953-54 | ||
| 14 | A-B, 1955 | ||
| 15 | C, 1955 | ||
| 16 | D-E, 1955 | ||
| 5 | 1 | F-G, 1955 | |
| 2 | Frontiers of Faith, 1955 | ||
| 3 | H, 1955 | ||
| 4 | H, 1955 | ||
| 5 | I-K, 1955 | ||
| 6 | L, 1955 | ||
| 7 | M, 1955 | ||
| 8 | Mc, 1955 | ||
| 9 | N-O, 1955 | ||
| 10 | P, 1955 | ||
| 11 | Q-R, 1955 | ||
| 12 | S, 1955 | ||
| 13 | T-V, 1955 | ||
| 14 | W-Z, 1955 | ||
| 15 | Travel Accounts, 1955 | ||
| 6 | 1 | Occidental College, 1955 | |
| 2 | San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1955 | ||
| 3 | A, 1956 | ||
| 4 | B, 1956 | ||
| 5 | C, 1956 | ||
| 6 | D, 1956 | ||
| 7 | E-F, 1956 | ||
| 8 | Frontiers of Faith, 1956 | ||
| 9 | G-H, 1956 | ||
| 10 | I-K, 1956 | ||
| 11 | International Social Service, Inc, 1956 | ||
| 12 | L, 1956 | ||
| 13 | Lawrenceville School, 1956 | ||
| 14 | N-O, 1956 | ||
| 15 | Occidental College, 1956 | ||
| 7 | 1 | P, 1956 | |
| 2 | Presbyterian Hospital, Philadelphia, 1956 | ||
| 3 | Princeton Theological Seminary, 1956 | ||
| 4 | R, 1956 | ||
| 5 | S, 1956 | ||
| 6 | San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1956 | ||
| 7 | T-V, 1956 | ||
| 8 | W-Z, 1956 | ||
| 9 | A, 1957 | ||
| 10-11 | B, 1957 | ||
| 12 | C, 1957 | ||
| 13 | D, 1957 | ||
| 14 | E-G, 1957 | ||
| 15 | Frontiers of Faith, 1957 | ||
| 16 | H, 1957 | ||
| 17 | Harvard Divinity School, 1957 | ||
| 18 | I-K, 1957 | ||
| 8 | 1 | International Social Service, American Branch, 1957 | |
| 2 | L, 1957 | ||
| 3 | Lawrenceville School, 1957 | ||
| 4 | M, 1957 | ||
| 5 | N-P, 1957 | ||
| 6 | Occidental College, 1957 | ||
| 7 | Princeton Theological Seminary, 1957-59 | ||
| 8 | R, 1957 | ||
| 9 | S, 1957 | ||
| 10 | San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1957 | ||
| 11 | T-V, 1957 | ||
| 12 | W-Z, 1957 | ||
| 13 | A-B, 1958 | ||
| 14 | Travel Schedules, Expenses, 1958-59 | ||
| 15 | C, 1958 | ||
| 16 | D, 1958 | ||
| 9 | 1 | E-G, 1958 | |
| 2 | Frontiers of Faith, 1958 | ||
| 3 | H, 1958 | ||
| 4 | I, 1958 | ||
| 5 | Integration Statement, 1958 | ||
| 6 | International Social Service, American Branch, 1958 | ||
| 7 | K, 1958 | ||
| 8 | L, 1958 | ||
| 9 | M, 1958 | ||
| 10 | N-O, 1958 | ||
| 11 | Occidental College, 1958 | ||
| 12 | P, 1958 | ||
| 13 | Princeton Theological Seminary, 1958 | ||
| 14 | Princeton Theological Seminary, Committee on the Presidency, 1958 | ||
| 15 | Princeton Seminary President, 1958 | ||
| 16 | Princeton Seminary Trustees, 1958 | ||
| 17 | R, 1958 | ||
| 18 | S, 1958 | ||
| 10 | 1 | San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1958 | |
| 2 | T-Z, 1958 | ||
| 3 | A-B, 1959 | ||
| 4 | C, 1959 | ||
| 5 | D-F, 1959 | ||
| 6 | G-H, 1959 | ||
| 7 | I-L, 1959 | ||
| 8 | International Social Service, American Branch, 1959 | ||
| 9 | M-O, 1959 | ||
| 10 | Occidental College, 1959 | ||
| 11 | P, 1959 | ||
| 12 | Princeton Theological Seminary Trustees, 1959 | ||
| 13 | Princeton University Trustees, 1959 | ||
| 14 | R-S, 1959 | ||
| 15 | San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1959 | ||
| 16 | T-Z, 1959 | ||
| 17 | A-B, 1960 | ||
| 18-19 | ECB Income Tax, 1956-60 | ||
| 11 | 1 | South Africa Trip, 1960 | |
| 2 | C, 1959 | ||
| 3 | D-E, 1960 | ||
| 4 | F-G, 1960 | ||
| 5 | H, 1960 | ||
| 6 | Hanover College, 1960 | ||
| 7 | International Social Service, American Branch, 1960 | ||
| 8 | I-L, 1960 | ||
| 9 | M, 1960 | ||
| 10 | N-P, 1960 | ||
| 11 | Occidental College, 1960 | ||
| 12 | Princeton Theological Seminary, 1960 | ||
| 13 | Princeton Theological Seminary, Trustees, 1960 | ||
| 12 | 1-2 | Princeton University, Trustees, 1960 | |
| 3 | R, 1960 | ||
| 4 | S, 1960 | ||
| 5 | San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1960 | ||
| 6 | Rev. Russell Stevenson, 1960 | ||
| 7 | T-Z, 1960 | ||
| 8 | West Africa, 1959-61 | ||
| 9 | A-B, 1961 | ||
| 10 | C, 1961 | ||
| 11 | Committee on Secretary of the General Council, 1961 | ||
| 12 | D-F, 1961 | ||
| 13 | G-H, 1961 | ||
| 14 | I-K, 1961 | ||
| 15 | I, 1961 | ||
| 16 | M, 1961 | ||
| 13 | 1 | N-P, 1961 | |
| 2 | Princeton Theological Seminary, 1961 | ||
| 3-4 | Princeton University, 1961 | ||
| 5 | R, 1961 | ||
| 6 | S, 1961 | ||
| 7 | San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1961 | ||
| 8 | T-V, 1961 | ||
| 9 | W-Z, 1961 | ||
| 10 | A, 1962 | ||
| 11 | American University, 1962 | ||
| 12 | ECB, Personal, 1962 | ||
| 13 | B, 1962 | ||
| 14 | C, 1962 | ||
| 15 | D-F, 1962 | ||
| 14 | 1 | G, 1962 | |
| 2 | H, 1962 | ||
| 3 | I-K, 1962 | ||
| 4 | International Social Service, American Branch, 1962 | ||
| 5 | L, 1962 | ||
| 6 | M, 1962 | ||
| 7 | N-P, 1962 | ||
| 8 | Occidental College, 1962 | ||
| 9 | Princeton Theological Seminary, 1962 | ||
| 10 | R, 1962 | ||
| 11 | S, 1962 | ||
| 12 | San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1962 | ||
| 13 | T-Z, 1962 | ||
| 15 | 1 | A, 1963 | |
| 2 | American University, Washington DC, 1963 | ||
| 3 | B, 1963-65 | ||
| 4 | B, 1963-64 | ||
| 5-6 | C, 1963-64 | ||
| 7 | D, 1963-64 | ||
| 8 | E-F, 1963-64 | ||
| 9 | G, 1963-64 | ||
| 10 | H, 1963-64 | ||
| 11 | I-K, 1963-64 | ||
| 12 | International Social Service, American Branch, 1963 | ||
| 16 | 1 | L, 1963-64 | |
| 2 | M, 1963-64 | ||
| 3 | M, 1963-64 | ||
| 4 | Mc, 1963-64 | ||
| 5 | N-P, 1963-64 | ||
| 6 | Occidental College, 1963 | ||
| 7 | Princeton Theological Seminary, 1963 | ||
| 8 | Princeton University, 1963-64 | ||
| 9 | Q-R, 1963-64 | ||
| 10-11 | S, 1963-64 | ||
| 12 | San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1963-64 | ||
| 13 | T, 1963-65 | ||
| 14 | U-V, 1963-65 | ||
| 15 | US-Africa Leadership Exchange Program, 1964 | ||
| 16-17 | W-Z, 1963-65 | ||
| 17 | 1 | Civil Rights, 1964 | |
| 2 | Presidential Election Issues, 1964 | ||
| 3 | ECB/Martin Niemoller Sermons, 1965 | ||
| 4 | ECB Trip to Rome, 1964 | ||
| 5 | ECB Monthly Schedule 1965-66 | ||
| 6 | Itineraries, 1964-66 | ||
| SERIES 2: PERSONAL PAPERS AND WRITINGS, 1940-1963 | |||
| 17 | 7 | Photographs and Biographies | |
| 8 | Call papers, Pasadena Presbyterian Church, 1940 | ||
| 9 | Marriages Performed, Albany, NY | ||
| 10 | Degree Award Certificates | ||
| 11 | Diary and Notes, 1951-52 | ||
| 12 | Pasadena Presbyterian Church, Directory of Members, 1948 | ||
| 13 | Appointment Calendars, 1950-1952 | ||
| 14 | 1953-55 | ||
| 15 | 1956-58 | ||
| 16 | 1959-63 | ||
| 17 | Articles, Speeches, Publicity, 1953 | ||
| 18 | Speeches, Sermons, Articles; including address delivered at March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, August 28, 1963 | ||
| 19 | Speeches, Sermons, Articles, 1951-1963 | ||
| 20 | Rev. Bruce William Klunder memorial address by Eugene Carson Blake, April 1964 | Digital | |
| 20 | Speeches, Sermons, Articles | ||
| 21 | Speeches, Sermons, Articles | ||
| 18 | 1-9 | Speeches, Sermons, Articles | |
| 10 | Funeral Sermons and Memorial Addresses | ||
| 11-12 | Speeches, Sermons, Articles | ||
| 19 | 1-5 | Speeches, Sermons, Articles | |
| 6 | Poetry and Doggerel | ||
| 7 | Lecture Notes | ||
| 8-12 | Speeches, Sermons, Articles | ||
| 20 | 1-4 | Speeches, Sermons, Articles | |
| 5 | Speeches, Sermons, Articles, Clippings | ||
| 6 | Clippings | ||
| 7 | Personal | ||
| 8 | Five publications of interest |