Guide to the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Board of National Missions War Services Unit Records

Descriptive Summary

Title

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Board of National Missions War Services Unit Records

Inclusive Dates

1941-1948

Call Number

RG 301.6

Creator(s)

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Board of National Missions. War Services Unit.

Quantity

7.50 cubic feet (9 boxes)

Restrictions on Access

Open for research.

Digital Content

To browse this collection's digital content visit Pearl.

Materials marked "Digital" in the Collection Inventory may not be available on Pearl or in their entirety.

Repository

Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147-1516 USA

Biographical Note / Administrative History

Administrative History

The 1941 General Assembly (PCUSA) assigned responsibility for ministry to "War Industry Communities" to the Board of National Missions. The term "War Industry Communities" covered all critical problems in the home field within the general scope of National Missions except those having to do with service to US military forces, to refugees, or to prisoners of war. This mission work extended to include Puerto Rico and Cuba.

The BNM created a special War Services Unit. A.L. Roberts, Assistant Secretary of Rural Church Work, was placed in charge of this unit; assisting him was Thomas B. Foster. The Unit operated under the supervision of Administrative Secretary Hermann N. Morse.

The Unit worked with the Board of Christian Education and the Committee on Camp and Church Activities as well as with interdenominational agencies such as the Home Missions Council of North America. Its primary concern was to minister to the massive numbers of Americans who had left their homes and churches to find work in the newly created industrial defense areas. BNM field workers established Sunday schools, built churches, and organized parishes. Temporary housing areas such as trailer parks were served by a "wayside chapel"--a missionary drove from place to place in a bus and conducted services along his route.

Since War Service work was national in scope, it had to be administered locally to some extent. Roberts and Foster worked with five contacts at the synod level: Jacob A. Long, J. Earl Jackman, Henry S. Randolph, A.B. McCoy, and E.A. Odell. All five were departmental secretaries in the BNM, Jackman in the Department of Missionary Support and the other four men in the Department of Missionary Operation. These men made recommendations for continuation of grants and employment of field personnel.

Upon the end of the war in 1945, the Unit's focus shifted towards helping the population to readjust to peacetime conditions. On June 1, 1946, drastic budget cuts went into effect in the Unit. Most of its funds from that point on were expended on projects which were to be permanent work done by regular national missionaries. In the course of the next two years all such projects were absorbed into various permanent departments of the BNM.

Collection Overview

Organization and Arrangement

Alternative Formats

Related Material

Administrative Information

Catalog Headings

Collection Inventory

Box	Folder	Description	Alternative Formats

1	1	Finding Aid to Record Group 301.6	Microfilm: MF/POS./1400/r.1
1	2	BNM Emergency Executive Committee Minutes--Creation of War Services Unit, 1941-42
1	3	Organization/Operation of Unit; Closing of Unit, 1943-46

		SERIES 1: ADMINISTRATIVE FILES, 1941-1947

1	4	Alaska
1	5	Annual Report Materials, 1943-46
1	6	Board of Foreign Missions, 1946
1	7	Board of National Missions--Educational/Medical Work, 1946-47
1	8	Board of Pensions--Lists of War Services Workers, 1942-45
1	9-12	Budget (by synod), 1941-47
1	13	Camp and Defense Communities Survey--correspondence, 1941-42
1	14	Children's Work
1	15	Christian Commission for Camp and Defense Communities– General
1	16	Christian Commission for Camp and Defense Communities– Budget Committee, 1943-45
1	17	Christian Commission for Camp and Defense Communities– Church Letter on War Communities, 1944
1	18	Christian Commission for Camp and Defense Communities– Church Mobilization, 1942
1	19	Christian Commission for Camp and Defense Communities– Correspondence, 1942-45
1	20	Christian Commission for Camp and Defense Communities– Executive Committee, 1943-45
1	21	Christian Commission for Camp and Defense Communities– Industrial Division, 1942-46
1	22	Christian Commission for Camp and Defense Communities– Literature Committee, 1943-44

1	23-25	Christian Commission for Camp and Defense Communities– Minutes, 1941-45	Microfilm: MF/POS./1400/r.2
1	26	Christian Commission for Camp and Defense Communities– New Mexico/Arizona, 1944
1	27	Christian Commission for Camp and Defense Communities– Policy and Program Committee, 1945-46
1	28	Christian Commission for Camp and Defense Communities– Reports, 1941-44
1	29	Christian Commission for Camp and Defense Communities– Special Committee, 1942
1	30	Christian Commission for Camp and Defense Communities– Volunteer Services, 1942-46
1	31	Committee on Camp and Church Activities, 1941-46
1	32	Conferences--Atlantic Synod
1	33	Conferences on Churches' Official Standing

1	34	Conferences--Presbytery Enlistment Chairmen	Microfilm: MF/POS./1400/r.3
1	35	Special Administrative Conferences, general, 1943
1	36	Special Administrative Conferences--Arizona Synod, 1943
1	37	Special Administrative Conferences--Arkansas Synod, 1943
1	38	Special Administrative Conferences--Baltimore Synod, 1943
1	39	Special Administrative Conferences--California Synod, 1943
1	40	Special Administrative Conferences--Colorado Synod, 1943
1	41	Special Administrative Conferences--Illinois Synod, 1943
1	42	Special Administrative Conferences--Intermountain Area (UT, WY, ID), 1943
1	43	Special Administrative Conferences--Japanese Work, 1942
1	44	Special Administrative Conferences--Kansas Synod, 1943
1	45	Special Administrative Conferences--Kentucky Synod, 1943
1	46	Special Administrative Conferences--Michigan Synod, 1943
1	47	Special Administrative Conferences--Mid-South Synod (AL, TN), 1943
1	48	Special Administrative Conferences--Minnesota Synod, 1943
1	49	Special Administrative Conferences--Missouri Synod, 1943
1	50	Special Administrative Conferences--Montana Synod, 1943
1	51	Special Administrative Conference--Montana/Dakotas, 1943
1	52	Special Administrative Conference--Nebraska Synod, 1943
1	53	Special Administrative Conference--New England Synod, 1943
1	54	Special Administrative Conference--New Jersey Synod, 1943
1	55	Special Administrative Conference--New Mexico Synod, 1943
1	56	Special Administrative Conference--Ohio Synod, 1943
1	57	Special Administrative Conference--Oklahoma Synod, 1942
1	58	Special Administrative Conference--Oregon/Washington, 1943
1	59	Special Administrative Conference--Pennsylvania Synod, 1943
1	60	Special Administrative Conference--Texas Synod, 1942-43
1	61	Conscientious Objectors, 1942
1	62	Contact Officers' Meetings--Minutes, 1945
1	63	Church Work in Defense Industries--Outlines, Pamphlet Material, 1941-42
1	64	Defense Service Council (PCUS), 1941
1	65	Episcopal Church, 1942-44
1	66	Evangelism, 1942
1	67	Federal Council of Churches, 1942
1	68-69	Federal Public Housing Projects, 1942-46
1	70	Federal Security Agency, 1942-43

1	71-73	Hazel, William, 1941-45	Microfilm: MF/POS./1400/r.4
1	74	Home Missions Council of North America, 1942-47
1	75	Home Missions Japanese-American Resettlement Committee
1	76	Home Missions Reports, 1942, 1947
1	77	Home Missions Student Veterans' Emergency Committee, 1946-47

2	1-2	Industrial Chaplaincy, 1942-47	Microfilm: MF/POS./1400/r.5
2	3	Interboard Committee on Conference on Church and Social Services, 1944
2	4	Japanese-American Work, 1943-44
2	5	Missionaries--Job Descriptions/Definitions, 1945
2	6	National Family Week, 1943
2	7	Negro Populations in Camp and Defense Areas, 1942
2	8-9	Newsletter--"Defense/War Industry/War-Time Service Bulletin", 1942-44
2	10	Newsletter--Correspondence, 1942
2	11	Newsletter--Supplements to Bulletins, 1942-43
2	11a	Newsletter--War Service News," 1945-46
2	12	Office of Civilian Defense, 1942-44
2	13	Office of Defense Health and Welfare Services, 1942-43
2	14	People's Institute of Applied Religion
2	15	Policy and Procedure Manual
2	16	Postwar Planning, 1943-50
2	17	Presbyterian Wartime Service Commission--Restoration Fund, 1945-46

2	18	Publicity, general	Microfilm: MF/POS./1400/r.6
2	19	Publicity, Articles
2	20	Publicity, Articles, Monday Morning, 1941-44
2	21	Publicity, Articles, The Presbyterian, 1944-46
2	22	Publicity, Movies, 1942-43
2	23	Publicity, Notes, 1942-43

2	24	Publicity, Publicity Committee, 1943-44	Microfilm: MF/POS./1400/r.7
2	25	Publicity, Radio Ministry, 1943-44
2	26	Publicity, Sermons for Junior Groups, 1944
2	27	Quota Report--Synods and Presbyteries, 1945
2	28	Restoration Fund Projects Committee, 1944-46
2	29	Returning Service Personnel, 1944
2	30	Rural Concerns, 1942-44
2	31	Summer Service, general, 1943-44
2	32	Summer Service, Chicago, 1943-44
2	33	Summer Service, Illinois, 1943-44
2	34	Summer Service, Texas--Spanish-Speaking Work, 1943-44
2	35	Summer Service, Training Course--Class Notes, Papers, 1945
2	36	Summer Service, Training Course--Correspondence, 1945-47
2	37	Sunday School Materials--Correspondence, 1943
2	38	Tire and Gas Rationing, 1942-44
2	39	Wayside Chapel--Arizona, 1942
2	40	Wayside Chapel--California, 1943
2	41	Wayside Chapel-- Illinois, 1942
2	42	Wayside Chapel--Indiana, 1942
2	43	Wayside Chapel-- Kansas, 1942

2	44	Wayside Chapel--Michigan, 1942	Microfilm: MF/POS./1400/r.8
2	45	Wayside Chapel--Nevada, 1943
2	46	Wayside Chapel--Eastman, Fred, 1942-43
2	47	Wayside Chapel--Young, S. Edward, 1943-44
2	48	Wayside Chapel--Publicity Manual, 1942
2	49	War Services Committee Minutes, 1945-46
2	50	War Services Workers, general
2	51	Dates and Places of Service, 1943-44
2	52	Lists of Workers and Projects, 1943
2	53	Youth--"Presbyterian Youth Program" by Inez Hazel

		SERIES 2: FIELD CORRESPONDENCE AND REPORTS, 1941-1948

2	54	Monthly Field Report Data (by synod), A-C, 1946

3	1	Monthly Field Report Data (by synod), D-Z, 1946	Microfilm: MF/POS./1400/r.9
3	2	Alabama--Birmingham--Inglenook Church, 1942-47
3	3	Alabama--Decatur, 1945-46
3	4	Alabama--Sheffield, 1941-47
3	5	Alaska, general
3	6	Alaska--Anchorage--First Church, 1943-47
3	7	Alaska--David Crawford, 1943-44
3	8	Arizona, general
3	9	Arizona--Clifton/Morenci, 1942-46
3	10	Arizona--Flagstaff--Ordinance Depot, 1942-45
3	11	Arizona--Florence/Valley Farms, 1942-43
3	12	Arizona--McNary--McNary Church, 1945
3	13	Arizona--Miami, 1942-45

3	14	Arizona--Navajo Missions, 1943-47	Microfilm: MF/POS./1400/r.10
3	15	Arizona--Phoenix-- Desert Mission, 1945
3	16	Arizona--Phoenix-- First Church, 1943-46
3	17	Arizona--Phoenix-- Negro Work, 1944
3	18	Arizona--Tempe, 1944-45
3	19	Arizona--Winkleman/Hayden/Ray, 1943-45
3	20	Arkansas, general
3	21	Arkansas--Benton Bauxite, 1942-45
3	22	Arkansas--Hot Springs, 1942
3	23	California, general
3	24	California--Alameda (interdenominational), 1943-46
3	25	California--California--Belleflower--Belleflower Church, 1943
3	26	California--Herlong (interdenominational), 1943-44
3	27	California--Inglewood--Inglewood Church, 1942-47
3	28	California--Los Angeles--El Cajon Church, 1945
3	29	California--Marin City (interdenominational), 1942-46
3	30	California--Oxnard/Port Huneme, 1945-46
3	31	California--Richmond, 1943-45

3	32	California--Riverside Presbytery survey, 1942-45	Microfilm: MF/POS./1400/r.11
3	33	California--Rodeo, 1942-46
3	34	California--San Bernardino--First Church, 1943-45
3	35	California--San Diego--Cyane Project, 1945-46
3	36	California--East San Diego Church, 1945-46
3	37	California--San Francisco--Interracial Church, 1943-45
3	38	California--Park Boulevard Church, 1943-46
3	39	California--Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, 1941-42
3	40	California--Redwoods survey, 1942-43
3	41	California--Trinity Center, 1943
3	42	California--San Mateo, 1942-46
3	43	California--Santa Ana--First Church, 1943-45
3	44	California--Vallejo (interdenominational), 1942-44
3	45	Colorado, general, 1945
3	46	Connecticut--Bridgeport, 1943-46
3	47-48	Connecticut--CT Council of Churches, 1941-45
3	49	Connecticut--Hartford, 1942-44
3	50	Cuba, 1942-45
3	51	Indiana-- Rising Sun, 1943
3	52	Iowa--Bettendorf, 1943-45
3	53	Kansas, general, 1942-44
3	54	Kansas--Witchita Council of Churches, 1942-46

3	55	Kansas--Witchita Council of Churches, 1942-46	Microfilm: MF/POS./1400/r.12
3	56	Kentucky, general, 1943
3	57	Louisiana--New Orleans, 1942
3	58-59	Maine--Portland, 1942-47
3	60	Maryland--Baltimore--Aisquith Church, 1944-45
3	61	Maryland--Baltimore--Fairfield Project, 1942-46
3	62	Maryland--Baltimore--1942-47

4	1-2	Maryland--MD Council of Churches, 1941-47	Microfilm: MF/POS./1400/r.13
4	3	Maryland--Dundalk, 1942-46
4	4	Maryland--Elkton/Cecil County (interdenominational), 1942-45
4	5	Massachusetts--Quincy (interdenominational), 1942-45
4	6	Massachusetts--Waltham/Watertown, 1943
4	7	Michigan, general
4	8-9	Michigan--Detroit Council of Churches, 1942-46
4	10	Michigan—Detroit, Special Ministry to Labour, 1942-45
4	11	Michigan--Flint--Flint Community Church, 1944-46
4	12	Michigan--Willow Run, 1942-47
4	13	Minnesota, general, 1942-43

4	14	Mississippi, general, 1942-44	Microfilm: MF/POS./1400/r.14
4	15	Missouri, general, 1943-47
4	16	Missouri--Affton--First Church, 1944-48
4	17	Missouri--Independence--First Church, 1943-46
4	18	Missouri--Kansas City--Paseo and Broadland Churches, 1945-47
4	19	Missouri--Neosho, 1941-43
4	20	Missouri--St Louis--Manor Church, 1943
4	21	Missouri--St Louis--Markham Memorial Church, 1944-48
4	22	Nebraska, general, 1942-45
4	23-24	Nebraska--Bellevue, 1941-46

4	25	Nebraska--Grand Island, 1942-43	Microfilm: MF/POS./1400/r.15
4	26	Nebraska--Hastings (interdenominational), 1942-43
4	27	Nebraska--Omaha--Wheeler Church, 1944-45
4	28	Nebraska--Sidney, 1942-45
4	29	Nevada--Basic Magnesium, 1942-46
4	30	Nevada--Reno--Italian Missions, 1946-47
4	31	New Jersey, general, 1942-45
4	32	New Jersey--Avenel, 1943
4	33	New Jersey--Bayonne, 1942-43
4	34	New Jersey--Dover, 1943-46
4	35	New Jersey--Grandview, 1945-47
4	36	New Jersey--Lower Penn's Neck, 1942-43
4	37	New Jersey--New Brunswick--First Hungarian Church, 1943-46
4	38	New Jersey--Osceola/Winfield, 1941-46
4	39	New Jersey--Paterson (interdenominational), 1943-44
4	40	New Jersey--Rahway, 1943-45
4	41	New Jersey--Red Bank, 1943-45
4	42	New Mexico--Albuquerque, 1945
4	43	New Mexico--Carlsbad, 1943-44

4	44	New Mexico--Hobbs, 1943-46	Microfilm: MF/POS./1400/r.16
4	45	New York, general, 1942-43
4	46	New York--Brooklyn Navy Yard (interdenominational), 1944-47
4	47	New York--Buffalo, 1942-45
4	48	New York--NY Council of Churches, 1942-44
4	49	New York--Geneva (interdenominational), 1943-45
4	50	New York--Minersville, 1943
4	51	New York--Niagara Falls, 1942-44
4	52	New York--Niagara Falls, (interdenominational)
4	53	New York--Nyack, 1942
4	54	New York--Rome (interdenominational), 1943-46
4	55	New York--Romulus, 1941
4	56	New York--Star Lake/Benson Mine, 1943-44
4	57	North Carolina--Charlotte, 1943-45
4	58	North Carolina--Wilmington--Maffit Village, 1945
4	59	Ohio, general, 1942

5	1	Ohio--Cincinnati--Golf Manor, 1942-45	Microfilm: MF/POS./1400/r.17
5	2	Ohio--Dayton (interdenominational), 1943-46
5	3	Ohio--Middleport–First Church, 1942
5	4	Ohio--New Carlisle--New Carlisle Church, 1944-47
5	5	Ohio--Osborn--First Church, 1944-47
5	6	Ohio--Ravenna, 1943
5	7	Ohio--Warren (interdenominational), 1942-46
5	8	Oklahoma, general, 1942-46
5	9-10	Oklahoma--Chouteau--First Church, 1941-43
5	11	Oklahoma--Kiowa--First Church, 1943-44
5	12	Oklahoma--Lawton--First Church, 1944-45
5	13	Oklahoma--McAlester, 1942-47
5	14	Oklahoma--Tulsa--Yale Avenue Church, 1941-46
5	15	Oregon, general
5	16	Oregon--Guild Lake, 1943-47

5	17	Oregon--Portland Council of Churches, 1943-46	Microfilm: MF/POS./1400/r.18
5	18	Oregon--Portland--northeast section, 1945-46
5	19	Oregon--St. John's Woods, 1943
5	20	Pennsylvania Synod, 1941-47
5	21	Pennsylvania--Beaver County, 1944-46
5	22	Pennsylvania--Carlisle Presbytery (Harrisburg area), 1943-46
5	23	Pennsylvania--Middletown, 1941-45
5	24	Pennsylvania--Philadelphia--Beth Eden House, 1943-45
5	25	Pennsylvania--Philadelphia Presbytery, general, 1943-46
5	26	Puerto Rico--Aguadilla, 1941-46
5	27	Rhode Island, general, 1944
5	28	Rhode Island, Council of Churches, 1942-45
5	29	South Dakota, general, 1942-45
5	30	Tennessee, general

5	31	Tennessee--Alcoa, 1941	Microfilm: MF/POS./1400/r.19
5	32	Tennessee--Humboldt, 1943-45
5	33	Tennessee--Huntingdon, 1941
5	34	Tennessee--Kingston, 1944-47
5	35	Tennessee--LaVergne, 1941-42
5	36	Tennessee--Memphis--Bethel Church, 1946-47
5	37	Tennessee-- Milan, 1941-44
5	38	Tennessee-- Tullahoma, 1941-44
5	39	Texas, general
5	40	Texas--Dumas--Cactus Ordinance Works, 1943-44
5	41	Texas--Houston--Southwest Bohemian Presbytery, 1942-44

5	42	Texas--McGregor, 1942-44	Microfilm: MF/POS./1400/r.20
5	43	Texas--San Antonio Council of Churches, 1945-46
5	44	Utah, general
5	45	Utah--Ogden/Salt Lake (interdenominational), 1942-47
5	46	Utah--Springerville, 1941-45
5	47	Utah--Utah County Larger Parish, 1943-45
5	48	Virginia, general, 1943-45
5	49	Virginia --Arlington--First Church, 1945
5	50	Virginia --McLean--Lainsville Church, 1945
5	51	Washington DC--Tabor Church, 1943-44
5	52	Washington DC--Washington Federation of Churches, 1942-43
5	53	Washington State, general
5	54	Washington State--Auburn, 1944-46
5	55	Washington State-- Bremerton--First Church, 1941-43
5	56	Washington State-- Bremerton--Summit Avenue Church, 1943
5	57	Washington State--Ephrata, 1943
5	58	Washington State--Hanford--United Protestant Church, 1944

6	1	Washington State-- Hanford-Richland area, 1943-44	Microfilm: MF/POS./1400/r.21
6	2	Washington State-- Howell, William J, 1942-43
6	3	Washington State-- Neah Bay, 1941-43
6	4	Washington State--Opportunity-Dishman, area, 1944-47
6	5	Washington State-- Seattle--Boulevard Park Church, 1941-44
6	6	Washington State-- Seattle--Lake Burien Church, 1943-46
6	7	Washington State-- Seattle--Riverton Heights Church, 1945
6	8	Washington State-- Spokane--First Church, 1943
6	9	Washington State-- Spokane--Ligerwood Church, 1943-47
6	10	Washington State-- Spokane--Whitworth Church, 1946-47
6	11	West Virginia--Julius Scheidel, 1944
6	12	Wisconsin Council of Churches, 1942-44
6	13	Wisconsin--Madison--Badger Ordnance Works, 1942-47
6	14	Wyoming--Cheyenne, 1942

		SERIES 3: PHOTOGRAPHS, 1941-1947

		Oversize Photographs and Poster

7		12 Oversize Photographs with captions, two with negatives
7		1 Poster

		8 x 10 Photographs and Illustrated Reports

8	1	California--Bellflower Church, 1946	Microfilm: MF/POS./1400/r.22
8	2	California--Los Angeles--Pilgrim House
8	3	California--Pacific Beach
8	4	California--Richmond
8	5	California--West Oakland
8	6	Illinois--Chicago--Grace Community Church and Center
8	7	Nebraska--Bellevue, 1944
8	8	Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh
8	9	South Side Church
8	10	South Carolina--Charleston
8	11	Texas--Dallas
8	12	Fort Worth--Liberator Village
8	13	Grand Prairie, 1944
8	14	Utah--Ogden, 1943
8	15	Virginia--Portsmouth--Carver Homes
8	16	Northwestern US
8	17	Identified Photos
8	18	Unidentified Photos

		Small Photographs

8	19	Letter Identifying Affton, MO Photos, 1947 (photos in Box 9 Folder 25)

9	1	Alabama, 1945-47	Microfilm: MF/POS./1400/r.23
9	2	Alaska, 1944
9	3	Arizona
9	4	Arizona --Florence
9	5	Arizona --Phoenix
9	6	Arizona --Tucson
9	7	Arizona --Valley Farms
9	8	California--Belleflower/Mayfair, 1944-46
9	9	California--Belleflower Church, negatives, 1946
9	10	California--Inglewood, 1943
9	11-12	California--Linda Vista, 1944
9	13	California-- Oxnard/Port Huneme, 1945-46
9	14	California--Pacific Beach/Bayview Terrace, 1943-45
9	15	California--Richmond, 1944
9	16	California--West Oakland
9	17	Connecticut--Bridgeport, 1944
9	18	Illinois, 1943-45
9	19	Indiana, 1942-43
9	20	Iowa--Burlington, 1943
9	21	Kansas, 1945
9	22	Maine--Elizabeth Park/Portland, 1945-1946
9	23	Maine--Elizabeth Park/Portland, 1945-1946	Digital
9	24	Maryland, 1947
9	25	Missouri--Affton, 1947 (letter identifying these photos in Box 8 Folder 19)
9	26	Nebraska, 1941-44
9	27	New Jersey
9	28	New Mexico
9	29	North Carolina
9	30	Ohio, 1943-46
9	31	Tennessee
9	32	Texas, 1944-45
9	33	Virginia, 1945-46
9	34	Washington, 1944-46
9	35	Wayside Chapel, 1944	Digital
9	36	Photographs, general
9	37	Negatives, general

Guide to the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Board of National Missions War Services Unit Records

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