Guide to the George Edgar Sweazey Moderator's Papers
Open for research.
George Edgar Sweazey was born in Salt Lake City. He attended Princeton Theological Seminary and Princeton University, finishing his studies in 1931 with a year of doctoral work at the University of Berlin.
Dr Sweazey served churches in New Jersey, Kentucky, Missouri and New York before accepting a call to the Webster Groves Presbyterian Church, Webster Groves, MO in 1959.
From 1945-53, Dr Sweazey held the post of Executive for Evangelism in the Board of National Missions. He was elected moderator of the General Assembly in 1969. He presided over it during a turbulent period; James Forman and the demands of his Black Manifesto occupied a position on the docket of the Assembly that year. Sweazey received hundreds of letters protesting the UPCUSA's position on the Manifesto. At the conclusion of his term as moderator, he returned to his pulpit in Webster Groves.
This collection includes correspondence which came pouring in to the moderator from all over the country. It deals almost exclusively with the issue of the Black Manifesto. Sweazey replied to every letter; about half the letters in this collection include his replies. The collection also contains telegrams sent to the new moderator during the 1969 Assembly, several addresses and statements made by him, and a letter written in 1974 in which he reminisces about his year as moderator.
Related collections include RG 301.9, Records of the Commission on Religion and Race/Council on Church and Race of the Board of National Missions.
Collection processed and finding aid prepared: December 1992
Stephanie Muntone, Processing Archivist
| Box | Folder | Description | |
| 1 | 1 | Finding Aid to Record Group 344 | |
| 1 | 2-5 | Letters with Replies, 1969-70 | |
| 1 | 6-7 | Letters without Replies, 1969-70 | |
| 1 | 8 | Schedule/Itinerary, 1969-70 | |
| 1 | 9 | Speeches, Addresses, 1969-70 | |
| 1 | 10 | Telegrams, 1969 | |
| 1 | 11 | Letter Reminiscing on Moderatorial Year, 1974 | |
| 1 | 12 | Photograph |