Guide to the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Support Agency Division of Communications-Interpretation Department of Mission Interpretation Records

During the 1950s and to the mid-1960s, the work of public relations and mission interpretation of the Board of National Missions was carried on by a group of people in the Division of Missionary Support and in the General Department of Public Relations and Interpretation after the reorganization of 1960. The staff included Eben. Cobb Brink, responsible for Church Promotion and, after 1960, Secretary of the Division of Interpretation; Janette Harrington, Press and Publications, Feature Writer and Editorial Consultant; Frederick R. Thorne, followed by Joseph M. Elkins, for Audio-Visuals. Hope D. Cromwell became Editor-Director of the Division of Interpretative Material.

In 1964 the Division of Communication was created through a merger of the Department of Interpretive Materials and the Department of Press Relations. Charles E. Van Voorhis was chairman of the new division and Mildred Hermann served as Director of Press Relations. A separate Division of Interpretation, on an equal administrative level with the Division of Communications, was responsible for interpretation and audio visuals.

In 1967 Charles T. Leber, Jr., became Chairman of a new Division of Interpretation Strategy which replaced the Division of Communication, with Charles E. Van Voorhis, Associate Chairman and David M. Eddy, Publications Director.

In 1971 the Division of Mission Program Information (BNM-COEMAR) was formed as a subdivision of the Department of Program Services. Through DMPI the BNM and COEMAR cooperated on interpretive programs.

In the reorganization of 1972 the functions of the Division of Program Information were assigned to the Department of Mission Interpretation of the Division of Communications-Interpretation in the Support Agency.