Guide to the Maggie Kuhn Papers

The Maggie Kuhn Papers, 1865 to 1989, consist of correspondence, administrative documents, printed matter, reports, books, photographs and other materials that document Margaret E. (Maggie) Kuhn's personal life and professional work. The collection is particularly rich in materials related to Kuhn's work with the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. (UPCUSA).

The papers were originally processed in 2011 with six series. The first series, "Gray Panthers, 1970-1984," and related photographs were separated from the collection in 2012 and transferred to the Temple University Urban Archives in Philadelphia, the repository for other Gray Panthers records. Kuhn's papers are arranged into five series beginning with Series II: "United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America," followed by Series III: "Other professional affiliations," Series IV: "Publications and printed matter," Series V: "Personal" and Series VI: "Visual materials."

The "United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America" series contains correspondence, reports, printed matter and other materials pertaining to or created during Kuhn's more than twenty years of work with the UPCUSA and its predecessor, the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. (PCUSA). The series dates from 1909 to 1982, with the bulk of the material dating between the 1950s and 1970s. The series is divided into seven subseries: "Administrative records," "Board of Christian Education," "Council on Church and Race/Board of National Missions," "Institutional Review and Development," "Other church affiliations," "Conferences and work with outside organizations" and "Reference files."

Within the "Administrative records" subseries, 1950-1971, are correspondence, telephone logs, daily planners and other materials documenting Kuhn's day-to-day work for the PCUSA/UPCUSA. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by folder title, with miscellaneous materials at the end of the subseries. Folders are titled based on the type of material or the organization/institution originating the records.

Next, the "Board of Christian Education" subseries, 1949-1967, contains correspondence, reports and curricula/teaching materials generated during Kuhn's tenure with this division of the PCUSA/UPCUSA.

The "Council on Church and Race (COCAR)/Board of National Missions" subseries, 1960-1972, bulk 1964-1970, documents Kuhn's work with various organizations housed under the UPCUSA's Board of National Missions umbrella. These organizations include the Council on Church and Race (including its earlier iteration, the Commission on Religion and Race, administered by the Board of Christian Education), the Division of Church and Race and the Renewal and Extension of the Church's Ministry in the World. This subseries contains reports, minutes, agendas, correspondence/memoranda, information packets and other materials related to the work of these groups. It is arranged alphabetically by organization name. Many of the records document the UPCUSA's work on racial justice issues, but some also show that the UPCUSA and Kuhn were active on issues like women's rights and elder rights.

The "Institutional Review and Development" subseries, 1960s-1973, documents the work of a UPCUSA task force created to help schools formerly run by the UPCUSA become autonomous institutions. The subseries contains agendas, minutes, reports, correspondence and other materials generated by the task force. Records are arranged alphabetically by folder title, with the exception of records related to two of the institutions under study, Boggs Academy and Ganado Learning Center. Records on these institutions were substantial enough to warrant separation from the general task force papers, and are arranged at the end of the subseries.

"Other church affiliations," 1956-1982, bulk 1964-1972, contains records related to Kuhn's work with other UPCUSA entities; these records are arranged alphabetically by organization name.

"Conferences and work with outside organizations," 1964-1972, 1979-1980, includes records related to Kuhn's professional development and professional affiliation with non-UPCUSA groups. The subseries is arranged thematically, with conferences first, followed by other affiliations. Folders are titled according to conference or organization name, and then arranged alphabetically by title.

Finally, the "Reference files" subseries, 1909-1979, bulk 1960s-1970s, contains reports, clippings, and printed matter collected by Kuhn and her UPCUSA associates. The subseries is arranged thematically into three categories—reports, subject files and printed matter/publications—with reports arranged alphabetically by title, subject files arranged alphabetically by topic, and printed matter and publications arranged chronologically.

The series "Other professional affiliations" includes correspondence, reports, printed matter and other records pertaining to Kuhn's early work with the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) and the General Alliance of Unitarian and Other Liberal Christian Women. These records span from 1927 to 1952, and are divided into two subseries: "Young Women's Christian Association/United Service Organizations" and "General Alliance of Unitarian and Other Liberal Christian Women."

The "Young Women's Christian Association/United Service Organizations" subseries, 1927-1950, includes correspondence, minutes, agendas, reports, printed matter and other materials documenting Kuhn's work with the YWCA and its United Service Organizations (USO) division, in which Kuhn served as publications editor. The subseries is arranged into two subgroups, YWCA and USO. Folders within the subgroups are titled by subject, and are arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Within the "General Alliance of Unitarian and Other Liberal Christian Women" subseries, 1946-1952, are correspondence, minutes, clippings and other materials pertaining to Kuhn's work with this group. The subseries is small and not particularly rich in documentation.

The "Publications and printed matter" series, 1920s-1980s, contains two subseries, "Publications and writings" and "General printed matter."

The first subseries "Publications and writings," circa 1930s-1980s, includes books, articles, speeches, testimonies and manuscripts prepared and/or delivered by Kuhn. It is arranged alphabetically by folder title. Most (if not all) of the materials reflect Kuhn's thoughts on ageism, elder rights and equality/justice issues, making this subseries of value to researchers seeking to understand Kuhn's approach to these topics. Two of her published books - Get Out There and Do Something about Injustice (1972) and Maggie Kuhn on Aging (1979) - are included in this subseries.

The second subseries, "General printed matter," 1920s-1980s, contains miscellaneous clippings and printed material collected by Kuhn. Included are maps, devotional booklets, editorial cartoons and other pieces. There are also several copies of Social Progress: A Journal of Church and Society, a publication of the UPCUSA.

The "Personal" series, 1865, 1890s-1989, contains family keepsakes, correspondence, financial records and awards. The series is divided into five subseries: "Keepsakes and family papers," "Correspondence," "Western Reserve University," "Financial and household management records" and "Awards, honorary degrees and certificates."

The first subseries, "Keepsakes and family papers," 1865, 1890s-1989, includes materials pertaining to or documenting Kuhn's parents and other relatives, her childhood and aspects of her adult life. Materials are arranged in a loose chronological order, with childhood and family materials first and early adult and later life materials second.

"Correspondence," 1920s-1984, contains several files of general letters to and from Kuhn, arranged chronologically.

The "Western Reserve University" subseries, 1891-1980, bulk 1923-1936, includes yearbooks, course notes, alumni registers and other materials pertaining to Kuhn's college experience. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Within "Financial and household management records," 1930-1972, are insurance, bank, medical and retirement fund records, as well as Kuhn's passports, date books, address books and other materials. Materials in this subseries are arranged alphabetically by folder title.

"Awards, honorary degrees and certificates," 1952, 1974-1984, contains the honors conferred upon Kuhn by city and state governments, colleges, universities, civic organizations and other groups, mostly for her work with the Gray Panthers. These materials are arranged alphabetically within the subseries by type of honor.

The final series, "Visual materials," late 1800s-1980s, bulk 1905-1983, contains two subseries: "Photographs and silhouettes" and "Photographic slides."

The first subseries, "Photographs and silhouettes," contains photographs dating between the late 1800s and 1980s (with the bulk of the material dating between 1905 and 1983), documenting Kuhn's personal and professional lives. Materials in this subseries are arranged alphabetically by person, group or category name, with unidentified photos and negatives at the end of the subseries. Many of the photographs are unidentified.

The second subseries, "Photographic slides," 1950s-1960s, contains 35 millimeter color slides that depict several personal and professional events in Kuhn's life. Materials in this subseries are arranged alphabetically by person, event or location name, with unidentified slides at the end of the subseries. Many of the materials in this subseries are unidentified or contain little contextual information.

Divisions between personal and professional materials in the Maggie Kuhn papers are not always clear. For example, Kuhn discussed personal matters in correspondence that initially appeared professional in nature. Also, she collected large amounts of press clippings, and it is not always clear whether she used them for personal or professional reference.

The Maggie Kuhn Papers provide biographical insight into their creator, Maggie Kuhn, a significant figure in the mid- to late twentieth century civil rights movements. Researchers interested in the civil rights movements of the late twentieth century, the religious roots of social justice activism, and elder rights issues will find this collection a valuable resource.