I have finished processing my very first ever archival collection, the American Bilateral Conversations Records in the William Adams Brown Ecumenical Archives Group. When I started I didn’t have much of an idea of what most of that meant. I had no idea what a bilateral conversation entailed and I was only faintly familiar with […]
The Beginning of a Beautiful Career: Interning at the Burke Library Archives
Scouring boxes of papers for an indication of original order, picking out rusty staples, developing an appreciation for acid-free paper, trying not to walk into film crews, eating lunch in a pristine courtyard, and translating the disturbing reports of prisoners of war: these were just a few of the things I did as an intern […]
“Such scenes are very afflicting to a European beholder…”: The Papers of Samuel Leigh
In his first letter to the Committee of the Methodist Missionary Society in London, the Reverend Samuel Leigh, a Wesleyan Missionary, wrote: While the above quote puts more emphasis on the differences of missionary work at home and abroad, it also applies to acclimating to an entirely new world and culture. Having been born and […]
Henry R. Luce Makes an Appearance
Credit to: MRL5: United Board for Christian Colleges in China Records, box 1, folder 2, The Burke Library Archives (Columbia University Libraries) at Union Theological Seminary, New York. If you recall from an earlier post detailing the relationship between the Burke Library and the Henry Luce Foundation, the press release which announced the funding included […]
World Council of Churches Records Available!
We are excited to announce that the World Council of Churches Records, 1893-1975 is officially open for researchers! Thanks to Amy Meverden for her hard work on this during her CUL Primary Sources internship. The World Council of Churches (WCC) Records comprise materials documenting the inception and institutional proceedings of the organization. Established to create […]
One Collection Down…
Credit to WAB: City Council of Churches Records, Box 4, Folder 10, The Burke Library Archives (Columbia University Libraries) at Union Theological Seminary, New York. I started on August 28th, and ended on September 25th – in a little less than a month, I finished processing my first collection from start to finish. It’s incredible […]
The Gripsholm Exchange and Repatriation Voyages
The Shanghai Evening Post American Edition, Dec. 3, 1943, page 1. Credit to MRL 12: Foreign Missions Conference of North America Records, Series 2B, Box 33, Folder 9, The Burke Library Archives (Columbia University Libraries) at Union Theological Seminary, New York. The Committee on East Asia comprises a large part of the Area Committees […]
Foreign Missions Conference of North America (FMCNA) Records – Now Available
Little Boxes in the Archives – Completed FMCNA The records for the Foreign Missions Conference of North America (FMCNA), covering the years 1894-1968, are now available! This large MRL12 collection totaling 68 boxes (30.50 linear feet) comprise materials documenting inception and institutional proceedings of the organization. Established to create dialogue between missions-based action committees confronting […]
“These Are Bloody Times in Which We Live…”: The Journal of Mary Lewis Shedd
June 17, 1918 One of the first collections I processed at Burke was MRL2: Mary Lewis [Mrs. W. A.] Shedd Papers, 1918. This journal made an impact on me not just because of the first-hand account it provides, but also because this copy appears to be completely unique. The collection is comprised of a 42-page […]
Union in Dialogue
We will be cross-posting some of our entries to Union Theological Seminary's Union in Dialogue blog. Union in Dialogue is an ongoing discussion of what students at UTS find important: social analysis, interreligious dialogue, embodiment, poverty, and a number of other pressing topics. Our entries will be posted under the category "Unearthing Eloquence." Hope you take […]