Guide to the New Era Movement Records

Descriptive Summary

Title

New Era Movement Records

Inclusive Dates

1918-1933

Call Number

RG 105

Creator(s)

New Era Movement.

Quantity

1.25 cubic feet

Restrictions on Access

Open for research. Medical, educational, and psychological records of living people are closed.

Repository

Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147-1516 USA

Biographical Note / Administrative History

Administrative History

In response to the World War, the 130th General Assembly (PCUSA) (1918) created the New Era Expansion Program. Its purpose was to foster cooperation among and unity of Presbyterian boards and agencies, synods and presbyteries, and local churches. The New Era Movement was to achieve these goals over five years. The work of the first year was judges preparatory, and the five-year plan was extended to end in 1924. The New Era Movement was supervised by a committee of twenty-five, half PCUSA staff representing boards and agencies and half ministers and laymen representing the church at large.

By 1920 the Movement had reorganized and redefined its purpose as "the enlistment of the whole membership of the Church in a larger Christian life and service" and the promotion of "missionary education, Christian stewardship and Every Member responsibility for the life and work of the Church." The Movement included two divisions, one of Coordination (overseeing stewardship and missionary education) and one of Promotion (overseeing Every Member mobilization and fund-raising.)

The New Era Movement also oversaw the Committee to Administer the Fund for Returning Soldiers and Sailors, and was closely related to the Interchurch World Movement.

Collection Overview

Record Group 105 includes committee minutes, reports, correspondence and a publications file of the New Era Movement. It also includes correspondence of the Soldiers and Sailors's Fund Committee and the Interchurch World Movement.

Organization and Arrangement

SERIES 1: ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS, 1918-1921
SERIES 2: COMMITTEES, 1919-1921
SERIES 3: PUBLICATIONS, 1914-1933

Administrative Information

Processing Information

Record Group 105 originally included records of the Woman's Board of Home Missions. These were, for the most part, the files of M. Katharine Bennett. Bennett served as President of the Woman's Board of Home Missions, as Vice-President of the Board of National Missions, and as a member of the New Era Movement Committee. Her files included records of all three. They have been separated by official organization and processed accordingly.

Collection processed and finding aid prepared: December 1993
Stephanie Muntone, Processing Archivist

Catalog Headings

The following headings have been used to index the description of this collection in the society’s electronic catalog.

Corporate Subject

New Era Movement Archives.

Topical Subject

Christian stewardship..

Personal Added Name

Bennett, M. Katharine (Mary Katharine), b. 1864

Corporate Added Name

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. General Assembly. New Era Committee.

Interchurch World Movement.

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Soldier and Sailor's Fund Committee.

Collection Inventory

Box	Folder	Description

1	1	Finding Aid to Record Group 105

		Series 1: Administrative Records, 1918-1923

1	2	Reports; Structures and Function, Goals, 1918-21
	3	Conference Prospectus and Program–New Era, Summer 1919
	4	Correspondence, 1918
	5	Correspondence, 1919
	5a	Correspondence, 1920-23
	6	Indebtedness, New Era and Interchurch Movements--General Assembly Action, 1921
	7	Indebtedness–Liquidation of Debt, Correspondence, 1921-27
	8	Interchurch World Movement, 1919-20
	9	Presbyterial Schools, 1920
	10	Proposed Program and Field Activities, 1923
	11	Promotion Departments of Boards and Agencies--Conference Minutes, 1921
	12	“Raise-the-Budget” Plan, 1920
	12a	Budget Materials, 1920-21
	13	Schools and Colleges, 1920
	14	Staff Meetings–Minutes, 1920-21
	15	World Survey Conference, 1920

		Series 2: Committees, 1919-1921

1	16	Apportionment Committee (Synodical Chairmen)--Minutes, 1920-21
	17	Executive Commission on Liquidation of Interchurch Debt--Report, 1921
	18	Executive Committee Minutes, 1920
	19-21	Fund for Returning Soldiers and Sailors Committee– Correspondence, 1919-20
	22	Minutes and Reports, 1919-20
	23	General Committee Minutes, 1920
	24	New Era Committee Minutes, 1920-21
	25	Publicity and New Era Magazine Committee--Minutes, 1920
	26	Readjustment of Field and Forces Committee--Minutes, 1921
	27	Subcommittee Meeting--Minutes, 1920
	27a	Division of Coordination Report, 1920

		Series 3: Publications, 1914-1933

1	28-34	Scrapbooks of Publications, 1914-33
	35	Loose Publications, 1919-24
	36	Interchurch World Movement

2	1	Poster--Organizational Chart of New Era Movement

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Guide to the New Era Movement Records

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