Microfilm Records of the Wider Ministries of Friends United Meeting

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: MR-157

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The papers filmed here are classified into six main sections. The first and largest includes the correspondence between the mission office at Richmond, Indiana, and individuals who were appointed by the Board of Missions to work in the various areas in the United States and other countries. The correspondence with a few nationals of other countries was placed mistakenly in this section also. In the second section [Series 2] the papers are classified alphabetically by country. These are concerned with the business and projects of that particular area, as well as the correspondence with persons in that area. Here, too, is the general correspondence about the work in the area which could not be classified elsewhere. These countries are China (West), Cuba, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Palestine, and the United States (Oklahoma and Tennessee). Section III [Series 3] is composed of the general correspondence and activities of the Board. The “Board” was first officially called “The American Friends Board of Foreign Missions.” There was also the “Board of Home Missions,” sometimes called the “Home Mission Board.” They were concerned with work in the United States. These two boards combined in 1929 to form “The American Friends Board of Missions.” These “Boards” were part of the Five Years Meeting of Friends. When the Fives Year Meeting was re-structured and came to be known as Friends United Meeting, the mission work came under the Wider Ministries Commission. There are a number of papers concerned with, and correspondence with, ecumenical organizations. These make up the small Section IV [Series 4]. Section V [Series 5] has in it only the annual reports sent to the central office and duplicated for and used by the members of the Board at the annual meetings. These were otherwise unpublished in that form. The annual reports which were published for wider distribution are in Section VI [Series 6]. Here, too, are the more general publications. In succession they were “Foreign Bulletin,” “News Bulletin,” “Friendly Flashes,” and “Quaker Action.”

Dates

1869-1977

Conditions Governing Use

Some materials may be protected by copyright. Permission to reproduce and to publish for commercial purposes must be requested from the Archivist.

Extent

62.00 Reels

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Other Descriptive Information

Preparation of the Films The project of microfilming these papers has taken a considerably longer period of time than originally expected. The records were stored in filing cabinets and boxes in the attic at Friends Central Offices, Richmond, Indiana, and folders for some individuals were stored in three different places with little or no chronological order, and every folder of any one person covered the same period of time as the others. Replies were often pasted, pinned, stapled, clipped, or otherwise fastened to the letter to which it was a reply. Sometimes several letters and replies were fastened together, and these packets of letters were often written during a span of time of a year of more. All had to be separated and coordinated in a more nearly exact chronological order. Most of the papers are dated between 1908-1974. There are only a few before 1908 and not many after 1973. About half way through this preparation we discovered that many of the letters were barely legible and definitely too dim to be read on film. Consequently, several months were required for the copying of many of the letters. In spite of our efforts, a few papers are still illegible. Some carbon copies were typed on both sides of thin yellow paper. The carbon paper had apparently been over-used, and the paper has darkened. Also the copy has faded, making the letter very difficult to read. At first glance at these letters on film one may think they are completely illegible. But on a closer look, one may see that most of the page is a reflection of the other side and the few last lines of the letter at the top of the page may be read with some difficulty. Marks on the letters were marks of editing in preparation for publication. They should be disregarded in reading.