Guide to the Philip S. Landes Papers

The Philip S. Landes Papers, 1855-1978, bulk 1910s-1960s, document Landes' work as a Presbyterian in the U.S.A. (PCUSA) missionary in Brazil during the mid-twentieth century. The collection is comprised primarily of Landes' diaries, sermons and other writings; correspondence; administrative materials from the Central and South Brazil Missions; and an assortment of printed material, including a few examples of Landes' published work. Researchers should note that approximately one half of this collection is written in Portuguese.

The collection is divided into four series: "Writings, 1905-1960s;" "General correspondence, 1920s-1960s;" "Subject files, 1891-1971;" and "Printed materials and publications, 1855-1978, bulk 1910s-1960s."

The bulk of the first series, "Writings, 1905-1960s," consists of Landes' diaries and notes and outlines for his sermons and/or speeches. There are diaries for many but not all years from 1905 to the late 1960s. Diary entries range in terms of depth of description and quantity and quality of information. The sermons and speeches are mostly written in Portuguese. The series also houses a variety of notebooks, many dating from Landes' education, as well as a few other miscellaneous items.

In the second series "General correspondence, 1920s-1960s," researchers will find copies of Landes' incoming and outgoing correspondence (the majority of the letters are carbon copies of his outgoing correspondence). The letters concern mission related projects; however, due to the closely intertwined personal and professional relationships Landes maintained with many of his colleagues, the letters also offer tidbits about his and his family's daily lives. The correspondence is arranged first by language, English or Portuguese, and then it is arranged in chronological order by decade. About half of the correspondence is in Portuguese.

The third series, "Subject files, 1891-1971," documents a variety of subjects related to mission work, especially Landes' work in Brazil. Of particular interest are the meeting minutes and other administrative records of the Central and South Brazil Missions, dating from the 1920s to the 1940s, as well as that of the Junta de Misseoes Nacionais. While the mission records available here do not offer a complete history of the missions, they do provide snapshots of their programs during Landes' most active years. Taken together with his correspondence and diaries, the mission records will help researchers develop an understanding of the work and politics of the mission, and Landes' involvement therein. Additionally, the series includes a small amount of material created by and/or documenting other Landes family members.

The fourth series "Printed materials and publications, 1855-1978, bulk 1910s-1960s," houses a variety of items related to religion and Brazil, printed in English and Portuguese. There is also a handful of published versions of Landes' writings. The series is arranged first into two groups based on the language of the publication, English or Portuguese, then chronologically by decade.