Guide to the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations Records

The collection contains administrative records, correspondence, minutes, photographic materials, printed items and publications, reports, research materials, subject files, and other records collected and created by the Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations (COEMAR), its staff, and its predecessor entities as they worked to supervise and execute the UPCUSA's work in ecumenical mission. While a large portion of the materials document the activities and work of COEMAR, some of its predecessor entities are also represented in the collection, chiefly the PCUSA Board of Foreign Missions (BFM).

The Permanent Files series, 1884-1974, is the largest series and contains an alphabetically arranged run of files created and collected by various entities within COEMAR and the BFM. Materials include correspondence, financial records, minutes, photographs, printed items and publications, reports, subject files, surveys, and other records. The files document a variety of subjects/topics, internal and external COEMAR functions and work, and ecumenical partners/external entities. Many foreign educational and medical institutions are represented. External entities and ecumenical partners include: the Committee on Cooperation in the Upper Nile (CCUN); the Interboard Committee for Christian Work in Japan; the International Missionary Council; Mackenzie College (Mackenzie Presbyterian University) in São Paulo, Brazil; Miraj Medical Centre in India; the National Council of the Churches of Christ (NCCC); the Near East Council of Churches; Silliman University in Dumaguete, Philippines; the United Andean Indian Mission; the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia; the World Council of Churches (WCC); and Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea.

The Office of Administrative Services / Recording Office Files series, 1907-1987, chiefly contains COEMAR and BFM administrative records and internal documents. These records include appropriation letters, bylaws, charters, documentation of COEMAR actions, financial records, manuals, and reports.

The Office of Communications / Communications Office Files series, circa 1952-1973, chiefly contains the files of Archibald (Archie) R. Crouch, communications secretary. Materials include correspondence and files pertaining to filmstrips, motion pictures, and other communications media and writings. The series also contains a small set of Mass Communications Overseas files.

The Office of Fine Arts Files series, 1957-1970, chiefly contains a small set of files maintained by Jeanne V. Carruthers, fine arts secretary. Materials include correspondence, minutes, and reports.

The Office of Student World Relations / Office of Student Work Files series, circa 1946-1973, chiefly contains the files of Margaret Flory, director. Flory oversaw several programs for students, including Ecumenical Voluntary Service, Frontier Internship, Junior Year Abroad (JYA), and Working Fellowships for Graduate Study in Europe. Materials include applications, correspondence, and participants files (which often include portrait photographs of participants). Also included are the files of executive secretary Kyōji Buma, chiefly pertaining to the International Christian Youth Exchange (ICYE) and the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF).

The Office for Research / Office of Planning and Research / Myrtle M. Clemmer and W. Stanley Rycroft Files series, circa 1920-1971, chiefly contains Clemmer and Rycroft's research files, which document the creation of "Ecumenical Witness of the United Presbyterian Church" and the "United Presbyterian Historical Directory." There are also statistics and subject files for specific mission fields and countries and Rycroft's subject files on Latin America.

The Associate General Secretaries / Rodney A. Sundberg Files series, 1958-1973, contains a small set of files maintained by Rodney A. Sundberg and COEMAR associate general secretaries Raymond V. Kearns and Margaret Shannon. Materials include correspondence and subject files.

The East Asia Office / L. Newton Thurber Files series, 1964-1970, contains a small set of files maintained by L. Newton Thurber, area secretary for East Asia. Materials include correspondence and subject files.

The Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office Files series, circa 1885-1973, contains BFM and COEMAR files pertaining to the administration of the Latin America and Caribbean mission fields and regional office. BFM era files were previously part of a central filing system and mainly pertain to the Committee on Cooperation in Latin America. Materials include correspondence, minutes, printed items and publications, reports, and subject files. COEMAR era files are chiefly the files of executive secretaries W. Stanley Rycroft (secretary from around 1951 to 1960) and John H. Sinclair (secretary from around 1961 to 1973). Materials include correspondence, historical/resource files on specific countries, minutes, printed items and publications, and subject files.

The Africa Regional / Liaison Office Files series, circa 1873-1973, contains the files of Margaret Shannon (COEMAR associate general secretary), William K. Du Val (regional secretary), and Paul H. Hopkins (regional secretary). Their files reflect and document the administrative operations of the Africa Regional Office. Materials include correspondence, minutes, reports, and subject files.

The Additional Country / Subject Files and Reports series, 1950-1966, contains reports and subject files arranged geographically, chiefly by country.

The Photographic Materials series, circa 1906-1975, contains contact sheets, negatives, and photographic prints created and collected by COEMAR photographers. Materials are arranged geographically (then by subject/topic) and document foreign mission work and projects in specific countries and cities. Most photographs include original description from photographers and were assigned a unique BFM/COEMAR photograph number [additional photographic materials that use this numbering system can be found in RG 223, United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations Photographs].