Manuscripts Department
Library of the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill
SOUTHERN HISTORICAL COLLECTION
#3834
HOWARD ANDERSON KESTER PAPERS
Inventory
Abstract: Howard Anderson Kester was a theologian, educator,
and administrator active in Christian movements
relating to race relations, pacifism, and economic
reform in the South from the 1920s until his retirement
in 1970.
Correspondence of Howard A. Kester and his wife, Alice
Harris Kester, together with reports, leaflets, pamphlets,
newsletters, organization reports, writings, and other
items. Included are materials about Kester's association,
beginning in the 1930s, with such organizations as the
YMCA, the Fellowship of Reconciliation, the Committee on
Economic and Racial Justice, the Fellowship of Southern
Churchmen, the Southern Tenant Farmers' Union, the
Socialist Party, and others active in the movement for
social change. Also included are materials relating to
Kester's work, beginning in the 1940s, with such
institutions as the Penn School, the John C. Campbell Folk
School, and Montreat-Anderson College. There is also
material relating to Kester's later work as an educational
innovator and about Kester himself and his development as
a Christian radical, social reformer, administrator, and
teacher. Kester's correspondents include William
Ruthrauff Amberson, Olive Campbell, Thomas R. Cowan,
Elizabeth Gilman, Frank Porter Graham, Harry Leland
Mitchell, Nelle Morton, Reinhold Niebuhr, Howard
Washington Odum, Arthur Franklin Raper, Celestine Smith,
and Norman Thomas.
Online Catalog Terms:
Afro-Americans--Southern States--Economic conditions--20th
century.
Afro-Americans--Southern States--Social conditions--20th
century.
Agriculture, Cooperative--Southern States--History--20th
century.
Amberson, William Ruthrauff, 1894- .
Black Mountain (N.C.)--History.
Campbell, Olive D. (Olive Dame), 1882-1954.
Church and social problems--Southern States--History--20th
century.
Civil rights--Southern States--History--20th century.
Committee on Economic and Racial Justice.
Cowan, Thomas B.
Education, Higher--North Carolina--History--20th century.
Fellowship of Reconciliation.
Fellowship of Southern Churchmen.
Gilman, Elizabeth.
Graham, Frank Porter, 1886-1972.
John C. Campbell Folk School (Brasstown, N.C.).
Kester, Alice Harris.
Kester, Howard Anderson, 1904-1977.
Mitchell, H. L. (Harry Leland), 1906- .
Montreat-Anderson College (Montreat, N.C.).
Morton, Nelle, 1905- .
Niebuhr, Reinhold, 1892-1971.
Odum, Howard Washington, 1884-1954.
Penn School (St. Helena Island, S.C.).
Political activists--Southern States.
Race relations--Southern States--History--20th century.
Raper, Arthur Franklin, 1899- .
Religion--Social aspects.
Segregation--Southern States--History--20th century.
Sharecroppers--Southern States--History--20th century.
Smith, Celestine.
Social reformers--Southern States.
Socialist Party (U.S.).
Southern Tenant Farmers' Union.
Tenant farmers--Southern States--Economic conditions--20th
century.
Tenant farmers--Southern States--Social conditions--20th
century.
Thomas, Norman, 1884-1968.
Trade-unions--Agricultural laborers--Southern States.
Vocational education--Southern States--History--20th century.
Young Men's Christian Association.
Size: About 1200 items (11.0 linear feet).
Processing Note: The bulk of this collection was microfilmed in
1973 and was described at that time. These
materials are referred to as Part 1.
Approximately one foot of papers was not
described at the time of microfilming. These
materials have now been described and form
Part 2. The descriptions for the second part
correspond to the pattern established when the
first part was described.
Related Collections:
William R. Amberson Papers (#3862);
John Charles and Olive Arnold Campbell Papers (#3800);
Delta and Providence Farms Papers (#3474);
Fellowship of Southern Churchmen Records (#3479);
Penn School Papers (#3615);
Arthur Franklin Raper Papers (#3966);
Southern Oral History Program Collection, Interviews B-7 and
F-27 (#4007);
Southern Tenant Farmers' Union Records (#3472).
Provenance: Received from Howard A. Kester of Black Mountain,
N.C., in 1973.
Access: Series 12, Personal Correspondence, is restricted and
may be used only with written permission from Kester's
daughter, Nancy Kester Neale.
Copyright: Retained by the authors of items in these papers, or
their descendants, as stipulated by United States
copyright law.
PART 1
The following pages (i-vii and 1-277) contain the guide produced
by the Microfilming Corporation of America in 1973 when the bulk
of the Howard A. Kester Papers were microfilmed.
HOWARD A. KESTER
PAPERS
1923 - 1972
Edited by
Edward M. Wayland
Microfilming Corporation of America
Glen Rock, New Jersey
1973
PART 2
The following pages comprise the descriptions of papers not
included in the filming project in 1973. The descriptions for
Part 2 correspond to the pattern established for Part 1.
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Series 1. Correspondence
1931-1978. About 250 items.
Correspondence relating to Kester's activities, especially with
the Southern Tenant Farmers' Union and the Fellowship of Southern
Churchmen. Material, chiefly from the 1930s, documents Kester's
activities with these two organizations, and relates to their
publications, goals, and internal workings. Material circa 1937
relates to tensions among factions within the Southern Tenant
Farmers' Union and among the STFU and other organizations, such
as the United Cannery, Argicultural, Packing and Allied Workers
of America.
Correspondence from late 1940 deals with investigations by the
Southern Tenant Farmers' Union into the management of the Delta
and Providence Cooperative Farms.
A good deal of correspondence circa 1946 relates to efforts
Kester coordinated among the Fellowship of Southern Churchmen and
other groups to transport cattle to Europe following the Second
World War; this chiefly concerns staffing cattle boats with
interracial crews of college-age men.
Kester's activities to promote the Conference of Christian
Faith and Human Relations is documented in correspondence from
early 1957. This interracial conference of southern churchmen
was held in Nashville, Tenn., in April 1957, and attempted to
develop a concensus among southern liberal churchmen on the
subject of desegregation.
Material from the 1960s relates chiefly to Kester's activities
at Montreat-Anderson College, Montreat, N.C.
Prominent correspondents, appearing chiefly in the 1930s,
include H. L. Mitchell, co-founder of the Southern Tenant
Farmers' Union; J. R. Butler, president of STFU; Norman Thomas,
Socialist Party U.S.A. leader; and Nelle Morton, secretary of the
Fellowship of Southern Churchmen.
Other correspondents include Frank Porter Graham, president of
the University of North Carolina; Howard W. Odum; Elizabeth
Gilman, treasurer of the Committee for Economic and Racial
Justice; Reinhold Niebuhr, chairman of CERJ; Thomas B. Cowan,
president of the Fellowship of Southern Churchmen; and Harry
Hopkins, Work Projects Administration administrator.
Request material by date.
Folders 1-25
Series 2. Penn School
1934-1948. About 100 items.
Material relating to Kester's activities as director of Penn
School, and to those of his wife Alice. Part 2, Series 2, and
its subseries correspond to the pattern established for Part 1,
Series 2.
Subseries 2.A. Correspondence
1943-1948. About 30 items.
Folder 26
Subseries 2.B. Reports
1937-1948. 6 items.
Folder 27
Subseries 2.C. Financial Records
1934-1941. About 10 items.
Folder 28
Subseries 2.D Printed Matter
1944. 8 items.
Folder 29
Subseries 2.E. Miscellaneous Files
1938-1947. About 50 items.
Schedules, notes, programs, applications, and other material
relating to the school.
Folders 30-35
Series 3. John C. Campbell Folk School
1948-1957. About 50 items.
Correspondence, executive board minutes, and other material
relating to Kester's assignment as principal of the school.
Folder 36 Correspondence and Notes
37-38 Reports and Minutes
39 Financial Material
Series 4. Writings by Howard Kester
Part 2, Series 4, and its subseries correspond to the pattern
established for Part 1, Series 4.
Subseries A. Articles
Folders 40-42
"As Christian men and women...," untitled, undated,
annotated, 9 pp.
"Austria To-Day," Lynchburg (VA) Critograph, 13 October 1923,
2 pp.
"Christianity has been called a materialistic
religion...," unt., und., 8 pp.
"The conditions which served to drive them from the land...,"
unt., und., 3 pp.
"Dreamers and Doers: Report of a Council Address," Advance, 1
July 1942, p. 314.
Eureka College material: course and administrative notes,
about 10 items.
Fellowship of Southern Churchmen News Release, 26 December
1942, 6 pp.
"Friends of the Soil," und., ann., 5 pp.
Folder 43
"Howard Kester, secretary of the Committee on Economic and
Racial Justice...," unt., und., 3 pp.
"Howard Kester in Letter Describes Economic Plight of
Arkansas," Economic Justice: Bulletin of the National
Religion and Labor Foundation, vol. 3, no. 4 (February 1935),
pp. 1-2.
"Hungary's Soul Unconquered," Lynchburg (VA) Critograph, 3
November 1923, 2 pp.
"I See America," und., 2 pp.
"Imperatives on the Home Front," und., 8 pp.
"Kester: Theological Orientation...," 1960, 3 pp.
"Man's Mad Vision," und., 15 pp.
"Portrait," und., 2 pp.
"The Rural Resettlement Administration," und., fragment, 1 p.
"The situation which confronts us...," unt., und., ann., 9
pp.
"A Stranger Still," und., 4 pp.
Folder 44
"To Whom Shall They Turn," und., ann., frag., 1 p.
"The Weather Vane," und., ann., 4 pp.
"While Men Die," und., 4 pp.
"`Woe unto them that join house to house...,'" unt., und., 7
pp.
Subseries B. Books
Typescript drafts of the prologue to and chapters one through four of
Revolt Among the Sharecroppers.
Folder 45 Prologue
46 Chapter 1
47 Chapter 2
48 Chapter 3
49 Chapter 4
Subseries C. Ceremonies
Folder 50 Ceremony of the Land
Ceremony of the Prophets
51 Ceremony of the Soil
Other ceremonies
Subseries E. Poetry
Folder 52
"An Awful Threat," und., 1 p.
"I see a sharecropper," unt., und., frag., 1 p.
Subseries F. Reports
F.2. Farm Tenancy Reports
Folder 53
"Submitted to the Governor's Commission on Farm Tenancy,"
[1936 ?], 31 pp.
F.3. Other Reports
Folder 54
"Annual Report of Howard Kester, Southern Secretary, Annual
Conference of the Fellowship of Reconciliation," October 1933,
8 pp.
"The Fellowship of Southern Churchmen in 1939-1940," [1941
?], 15 pp.
Fellowship of Southern Churchmen "Secretary's Notes," und.,
ann., 2 pp.
"Notes on Business Sessions of the F. S. Churchmen," October
1940, 3 pp.
Folder 55
"Reflections and Notes on the Big Ridge Retreat of the F. S.
Churchmen, " [1941 ?], 6 pp.
"Report of Committee on Economic and Racial Justice," 1941, 4
pp.
"Report of Howard Kester...," 16 October 1937, 3 pp.
"Report of the Secretary to the Annual Conference: Fellowship
of Southern Churchmen," 15 October 1940, 19 pp.
"Second Annual Convention Southern Tenant Farmers' Union,"
1936, 3 pp.
F.4.H. Sermons
Folder 56 "And there are some preachers...," unt., und., ann.,
2 pp.
57 Sermon notes and fragments, und., about 20 items.
F.4.I. Speeches
Folder 58
"The Human Side of Cotton Tenancy: Address Delivered Before
American Economic Assocation," 29 December 1936, 22 pp.
"Laws Physical and Spiritual," 17 February 1966, 7 pp.
F.4.J. Statements
Folder 59 "Statement of Principles: Fellowship of Southern Churchmen,"
1938, 10 pp.
Series 6. Writings about Howard Kester
1935-1977. About 50 items.
Folder 60 1935-1977 and undated
61 Undated
62-63 Clippings
Series 7. Writings by Others
Much of this material was submitted to Kester as editor of Prophetic
Religion.
This series contains unsigned writings which may have been written by
Kester.
Folder 64
"1940 Crop Survey," 13 December 1939, 1 p.
"Abolition of Communally-owned farms in Mexico...," unt.,
1939, 1 p.
"Acts of Tyranny and Terror Committed Against Innocent
Men...in Northeast Arkansas," April [1935 ?], 6 pp.
"Agrarian Society," und., 2 pp.
"American Federation of Labor Endorses the Southern Tenant
Farmers' Union," 17 October 1935, 1 p.
Andrews, David, "Student Action for World Government...,"
unt., und., ann., 4 pp.
"Are You Sick?: Know Your Onions When You Take Medicines,"
1940, 18 pp.
"As a child it was one of my ambitions to be a preacher...,"
unt., 1941, frag., ann., 2 pp.
Ayers, J., "Meeting of the Committee on Economic and Racial
Justice," April 1939, 2 pp.
Folder 65
Banner, William, "Fundaments (sic) of Christian Social Order,"
1948, 17 pp.
Bell, Dorland, "Springtime Psalms," und., 1 p.
"The Bible in `The Bible Belt'," und., 7 pp.
"A Bill to prohibit child labor and provide minimum wages as a
condition for agricultural benefit payments," 27 April 1941, 3
pp.
"A Bill to provide for the acquisition, public ownership, and
disposition of land and for its operation by the Government,
by farmers or by cooperative associations," 1937, 3 pp.
Binkley, O. T., "Who Will Lead in the Creation of the New
Family?," und., 7 pp.
Blackwood, Glenn, "Economic Neglect and Spiritual Decay in the
Rural Church," und., 4 pp.
Brown, W. O., "The Negro's Future: Organizations and
Realities," und., 2 pp.
Burgess, David, "Conclusions reached at meeting of Board of
Trustees of the Fellowship conference Center," 29 October
1949, 1 p.
-----, "Why Labor Unions?," 1947, 4 pp.
Butler J. R., "Statement from September, 1940," 1 September
1940, 1 p.
Folder 66
"The Carver Elementary School of Black Mountain...," unt.,
und., 1 p.
"Cats, Jitterburgs, and Ickeys, Or Righteousness in Reverse,"
und., 3 pp.
"Century-old forces of the South...," unt., und., 2 pp.
"Chart of the Program of the Fellowship of Southern
Churchmen," und., 2 pp.
"The Christian Church and the Building of Tomorrow's World,"
und., 12 pp.
"The Christian Family is Creative," und., 4 pp.
"The Christian task is to implement love...," unt., und.,
frag., 2 pp.
Christmount "Executive Director," und., 3 pp.
"Christmount in Verse," und., about 40 pp.
"Civil Liberties Leader Here: Roger Baldwin Final L.I.D.
Speaker," und., 1 p.
Folder 67
Clippings, about 20 items.
Folders 68-70
"Come, Let Us Reason Together," und., 4 pp.
"The Committee appointed by the Southern Tenant Farmers' Union
and the Board of Trustees of the Delta and Providence
Farms...," unt., 3 April [1940 ?], 3 pp.
Conference on Christian Faith and Human Relations, Nashville,
TN, April 1957, material.
"Conference of Younger Churchmen of the South: Findings," May
1934, 1 p.
"Constitution and By-Laws Southern Tenant Farmers' Union,"
25-27 February 1938, 5 pp.
Cooper, Esther, "Report on Berea Conference," und., 4 pp.
"The Cotton Choppers' Strike," Information Service, 27 June
1936, 6 pp.
Cowan, Thomas B. ("Scotty"), "Are We Awake and Able?," und., 8
pp.
-----, "History of the Fellowship of Southern Churchmen,"
und., 9 pp.
-----, "Out of the South," und., 5 pp.
-----, "Rejoice, We Conquer," und., 2 pp.
-----, "Working at Democracy in the South," und., 11 pp.
Crowell, Grace Nol, "A Prayer for Peace," und., 1 p.
Curry, Bruce, "From Speaking of Religion," und., 1 p.
Folder 71
"A Day of Non-violent Protest," und., 1 p.
"Dear Heavenly Father," unt., und., 1 p.
DeJarnette, A. L., Poems, und., 6 pp.
"Delegate's Credential," 19 March 1939, 1 p.
Denning, Mary Margaret, "Bridal Day Thoughts," und., 1 p.
-----, "Faith," und., 1 p.
-----, "Priceless Love," und., 1 p.
-----, "The Soul of You," und., 1 p.
-----, "Transition," 1937, 1 p.
Ehrensperger, Harold, "Gandhi," und., 6 pp.
"The Eleventh Commandment," und., 1 p.
"The Episcopal Church in Rural Areas," und., 4 pp.
"The Executive Committee of the Southern Tenant Farmers'
Union," unt., 21 January 1939, 1 p.
Folder 72
Fagley, Richard, "Democracy and Relief," und., 9 pp.
"Family Contribution to Community and World," und., ann., 6
pp.
"Family Life Hymns," 1948, 4 pp.
Faulkner, W. J., "The Road to the Kingdom," und., 6 pp.
Folder 73
"A Fellowship Meditation," und., 1 p.
"The Fellowship of Southern Churchmen," und., 10 pp.
"The Fellowship of Southern Churchmen announces its
sponsorship of Fellowship House, Soddy, Tennessee," 1941, 5
pp.
"The Fellowship of Southern Churchmen at Pleasant Hill," 1939,
3 pp.
Fellowship of Southern Churchmen Budget and Secretary's
Report, 1942, 4 pp.
"The Fellowship of Southern Churchmen Constitution and
By-Laws," 7 December 1938, 2 pp.
"Fellowship of Southern Churchmen (Devotional Service)," und.,
2 pp.
Fellowship of Southern Churchmen "Forward and Statements of
Principles," und., 13 pp.
Fellowship of Southern Churchmen News Release Re: Sixth Annual
Conference, und., 1 p.
Fellowship of Southern Churchmen Work Camp Announcement, und.,
1 p.
"The Fellowship: Our Faith and Our Future," und., 4 pp.
"Fellowship Work Camp at Tyrrell County, NC," 1947, 1 p.
Folder 74
Fey, Harold, "Minutes of Executive Committee Meeting:
Fellowship of Reconciliation," 18 November 1937, 3 pp.
"Fifth Pendle Hill Conference," May 1935, 4 pp.
Folger, D. F., "History of Hightop Colony," 1970, 9 pp.
"The following was part of the spoken word at the funeral of
Mrs. William H. [Nattie Holt] Kester," 10 June 1963, 1 p.
Franklin, Sam H. Jr., "The Delta Cooperative Farm," und., 8
pp.
Franklin, Sam H., Jr., "The Growth of a Cooperative Mustard
Seed," und., 6 pp.
-----, "It is a long way from Tokyo...," unt., und., 6 pp.
Friedlaender, Helen, "We shall not travel...," unt., und., 1
p.
"Friends of the Soil," und., 3 pp.
Folder 75
Gallagher, Buel, "Buel Gallagher's Notes on the Blue Ridge
Conference of Fellowship of Reconciliation," July 1939, 4 pp.
Gulley, W. H., Poems, und., 1 p.
Folder 76
Hamilton, Charles, "If the Bible said `Blessed are the Rich',"
und., 1 p.
Hamilton, George, "I Ran for Legislature," und., 5 pp.
-----, "January Nineteenth," und., 3 pp.
-----, "Speaking of Selfrighteousness," und., 3 pp.
-----, "The World Goes On," und., 2 pp.
"Happy Birthday Mr. Kester," und., 4 pp.
Helm, Bert, "Barbed Wire and Barbed Nerves," und., 3 pp.
Henson, Francis, "The Christian Attitude Towards the Marxist
Strategy," und., 11 pp.
[Hertzburg, Sidney ?], "Southern Slavery - New Style," June
1936, 22 pp.
Hildreth, Horace, "1923 World Friendship Pilgrimage Group,"
July 1962, 4 pp.
"History of S.T.F.U.," 1940, 11 pp.
Hopper, Myron, "Changing Family Life in an Industrialized
South," und., 2 pp.
Huntington, S. R., "One C.O.'s Affirmation," 12 November 1939,
5 pp.
Folder 78
"If Jonah Lived Today," und., 1 p.
"If you wish to be Successful," und., 1 p.
"In Extremis: An Affirmation for a Time of Personal Anxiety,"
und., 1 p.
"In the year 1654," und., 1 p.
"In these troubled times," unt., und., 2 pp.
Ingersoll, Louise, "...she knew for a fact...," 29 June 1941,
frag., 3 pp.
"The International Service Center," und., 1 p.
"It is a far distance...," unt., und., 1 p.
"It is one of the tragic ironies of history that the
South...," unt., und., ann., 9 pp.
Jenkins, Isaiah, "The Corn Out Sticks" and "The Months of
Lonesome Days at Penn," und., 2 pp.
Johnson, Lillian, "Ravenscroft Community House and Health
Clinic," und., 4 pp.
Jones, Alan, "Added Things," und., 3 pp.
Kennedy, S., "`How do I know...'," unt., und., 1 p.
Kester, J. L., "Rediscovery of Jesus," und., 8 pp.
Krier, H. J., "Now & Then," 15 March 1935, 15 pp.
Folder 79
"Labor Sunday Message," 4 September 1938, 4 pp.
Leal, Leslie, "The Church of the Living god," und., 7 pp.
-----, "Prophets and Prayer," und., 3 pp.
-----, "Radical-Conservativism," und., 6 pp.
-----, "A Sinew of the Soul," und., 4 pp.
-----, "The Struggle of the Prophets for Mishpat," und., 6
pp.
-----, "The Tortures of the Twice-Born," und., 2 pp.
-----, "Well Done," und., 5 pp.
-----, "Worship and the Commonweal," und., 4 pp.
Folder 80
"A Letter to Robert Delson," 13 August 1937, 3 pp.
Levering, Samuel, "Building Federal World Government--A
Christian Responsibility," und., 5 pp.
-----, "World Government," und., 4 pp.
Lindsay, Vachel, "Let not your souls...," unt., und., 1 p.
"A Litany of the Holy Earth," 5 October 1959, 4 pp.
Loomis, C. B., "The Significance of the Greenville County
Experiment," und., 4 pp.
Lovett, Thelma, "What Kind of Family Experiences Help Free Our
Children?" 19 September 1948, ann., 11 pp.
"Lynching is more than a crime," unt., und., 1 p.
Folder 81
McCoy, Dave, "The Bornin'," September 1944, 1 p.
-----, "Sprouting from the fertile soil...," February 1945, 1
p.
McCrae, Ian, "I Am the Church," January 1959, 1 p.
McCulloch, Margaret, "Race," und., 1 p.
McKee, W. W., "Background for Blackout," und., 4 pp.
Mack, Henry, "A Modern Paraphrase: Amos 3," und., 1 p.
Mason, Lucy Randolph, "Labor and the Church in the South,"
und., 4 pp.
Matthews, J. B., "Minutes of the Council Meeting of the
Fellowship of Reconciliation," 19 March 1932, 14 pp.
Folder 82
"Minutes and Summary of the meeting of the Executive Committee
of the FSC," June 1947, 5 pp.
"Minutes: National Executive Council Meeting Southern Tenant
Farmers' Union," 31 August 1940, 11 pp.
"Minutes of Convention of Southern Tenant Farmers' Union of
Oklahoma," April 1938, 9 pp.
"Minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee of the
Fellowship of Southern Churchmen...," October 1943, 6 pp.
Folder 83
Mitchell, H. L., "A Minimum Wage Law for Farm Labor," 13 June
[1941 ?], 6 pp.
-----, News Release, 5 July 1938, 3 pp.
-----, "The Southern Tenant Farmers' Union In 1935," 1935, 20
pp.
-----, "The Southern Tenant Farmers' Union In 1938," 1938, 15
pp.
-----, "Statement by H. L. Mitchell, Secretary, Southern
Tenant Farmers' Union," 1938, 1 p.
Mitchell, H. L., "Statement of the Southern Tenant Farmers'
Union," 5 July 1938, 4 pp.
-----, "Supplement to Southern Tenant Farmers' Union Statement
on Farm Tenancy," 10 October 1936, 31 pp.
Folder 84
"More than 2000 years ago....," unt., und., 8 pp.
Morgan, John, "Birth of Joy," 1945, 1 p.
Morgan, William and Mildred, "Patterns of the New Family,"
und., ann., 7 pp.
Folder 85
"National Sharecroppers Week," March 1938, 4 pp.
"National Sharecroppers Week: A Campaign," March 1940, 2 pp.
"National Sharecroppers Week 1940: Cities Where Active
Committees Are Functioning," 1940, 5 pp.
"The Nature of Philosophy of Religion and the Source of
Religious Knowledge," und., 6 pp.
"The Need for Prophets," und., 14 pp.
Nelson, John, "The Duty of Disturbance," 1948, 7 pp.
Newton, Lou, "The Blood of Our Sons," und., 1 pp.
-----, "Move Over Friend," und., 1 p.
"No Moratorium," und., 3 pp.
"Norman Thomas will deliver a Labor Day speech," 4 September
1937, 1 p.
Folder 86
O'Sheel, Shaemas, "He whom a dream hath possessed...," unt.,
und., 1 p.
"Objectives," und., 1 p.
"Old Time Religion--And the New," und., 2 pp.
"An Open Letter to the American Labor Movement and the Friends
of the Southern Tenant Farmers' Union," May 1938, 5 pp.
Oppenheim, James, "Bread and Roses," und., 1 p.
"Organization in Agricultural Areas of the United States,"
[1940 ?], 2 pp.
"Our Guest Speaker: The Reverend T. B. `Scotty' Cowan," und.,
1 p.
Folder 87
"Pacifists at Work (Are You Still a Pacifist?)," und., 4 pp.
Peoples, R. H., "Do the Negro Disciples Want Separation?"
2 January 1946, ann., 4 pp.
"The Planter and the Sharecropper," 1937, 1 p.
"A Prayer for Deliverance from Race Pride and Bigotry," und.,
1 p.
"Preliminary Note on Legal Aspects of Warren County Area,"
1937, 14 pp.
"Proceedings: Sixth Annual Convention," 1940, about 20 pp.
"Program: Annual Fall Conference of the Fellowship of
Southern Churchmen," October 1940, 2 pp.
"Program: Fall Conference of the Fellowship of Southern
Churchmen," 1939, 3 pp.
"Program: Fellowship of Southern Churchmen," 16 November
1937, 1 p.
"Program: Seventh Semi-annual Conference of the Fellowship of
Southern Churchmen," December 1938, 4 pp.
"Program: Southern Industrial Conference," June 1934, 3 pp.
"Program of Conference: The Redemptive Function of the Church
in the South Today," und., 1 p.
"Pronouncements of the FSC," und., 8 pp.
"Proposal for a Southeastern Summer Work Shop in Community
Development," und., 2 pp.
"Proposal" Re: National Labor Relations Board, [1939 ?], 1 p.
Folder 88
Ravenscroft News, November 1931 and summer 1938.
Realf, Richard, "A Sunset - Symbolisms," und., 1 p.
"Reflections and Notes on the Big Ridge Retreat of the F. S.
Churchmen," September 1941, 6 pp.
"Refrains from Pleasant Hill," und., 1 p.
"Remedies - Good and Bad," und., 5 pp.
"Report of the activities of Howard Kester ... August 25,
1941, to February 20, 1942, and a partial schedule for Spring
and Summer 1942," 1942, 2 pp.
"Report of the Committee on Church and Labor," 19 May 1937, 1
p.
"Report of the Committee on Evangelism," und., 1 p.
"Resolved, that the Socialist party...," unt., und., frag, 1
p.
Rombay, Constrance, "Resolved," und., 1 p.
The Rural Worker, vol. 2, no. 7, August 1937, 8 pp.
Russell, George, "Redeeming the Time at Norris," und., 5 pp.
Folder 89
"Shall we allow the K.K.K. to ride again?," unt., 1946, ann.,
2 pp.
"The Sharecropper Story," und., 5 pp.
Sharecroppers Voice, vol. 1, no. 1, April 1935, 4 pp.
Share-Croppers Voice, vol. 1, no. 11, 1 February 1936, 4 pp.
Sikes, Walter, "Christian Faith and Contemporaneous Living,"
und., 6 pp.
-----, "Prophetic Religion at Work in the South," und., 6
pp.
-----, "Prophetic Religion in the South," und., 6 pp.
-----, "The Role of the Church in Social Reconstruction," 11
August 1941, 4 pp.
"Since the organization of the Committee on Economic and
Racial Justice...," unt., und., 2 pp.
"Sing a Song of Fellowship," und., 6 pp.
Folder 90
Smathers, Eugene, A Primer for Friends of the Soil, Fellowship
of Southern Churchmen, und., monograph, 28 pp.
Smith, E., "Southern Socialist Conference," 7-9 April 1939, 4
pp.
Smith, Euris, "A World Without Peace," und., 1 p.
Smith, Hilda, Poems, 1934-1947 and und., about 10 pp.
"The Social Function of the Church," und., 2 pp.
The Social Questions Bulletin, vol. 28, no. 4, April 1938, 4
pp.
The Southern Churchman, vol. 1, no. 2, January 1938.
"Southern Problems: A Tentative Outline," und., 4 pp.
Folder 92
"Southern Tenant Farmers' Union Calendar of Event," October
1936, 6 pp.
"Southern Tenant Farmers' Union Constitution contains
statement in preamble...," unt., 1939, 3 pp.
"Southern Tenant Farmers' Union: Convention Proceedings,"
January 1936, about 20 pp.
The Southern Tenant Farmers' Union News, 6 April 1939, 2 pp.
"Southern Tenant Farmers' Union Program: Fourth Annual
convention," February 1938, 10 pp.
Folder 93
"Southern Tenant Farmers' Union Song Book," 1940, 21 pp.
"Southern Tenant Farmers' Union Special Session" minutes, 2
January 1938, 1 p.
"Southern Tenant Farmers' Union...Statement of Cash Receipts
and Disbursements...," August 1940, 2 pp.
"Southern Tenant Farmers' Union ... Statement of Receipts and
Disbursements," 18 February 1939, 6 pp.
Folder 94
Spring, H. Powell, "Our Friend the Earthworm," und., 7 pp.
"Statement from Velma Hamilton" about the killing of Earley
Bird Hamilton, 25 May 1937, 4 pp.
"Statements of the Labor Commission," und., 5 pp.
Stockton, Kate, "Satan," und., 1 p.
"A Story of the Ravenscroft Project," und., 11 pp.
"Straws in the Wind," und., 3 pp.
"A Study of Southern Religion," und., about 40 pp.
Sutherland, Eugene, "Report of Committee on Resolutions,"
und., 2 pp.
Folder 95
Taylor, Alva, "The Medical Deficit in the Southern Highlands,"
und., 5 pp.
The Tenant Farmer, vol. 1, no. 2, 5 June 1941, 4 pp.
"Tentative Budget for the Southern Tenant Farmers' Union,"
1937, 4 pp.
"Tenure areas and sub-areas in the South," map, und., 3 pp.
"That They May Have Life," und., 4 pp.
"This indicates the inequalities in our State educational
offering," unt., und., frag., 4 pp.
Thomas, Norman, "The Plight of the Share-Cropper," 1934, 40
pp.
-----, "President Roosevelt and the Sharecroppers," 26 March
1936, 3 pp.
Thompson, Charles, "Threats of Revolution in Costa Rica," 15
February 1932, 16 pp.
Folder 96
To Establish Justice: Sharecroppers Under Planters Law, 8
February 1940, 20 pp.
"To Socialist Party, U.S.A.," und., 1 p.
Torrey, Reuben, "Heimweh," und., ann., 6 pp.
"Tremendous Trifles," und., 4 pp.
Tyler, Gus, "Systematic Falsification -- The Trotskyite
contribution to Revolutionary Socialism," und., 6 pp.
Folder 97
"United Christian Council for Democracy: Statement of
Principles," 18 November 1936, 1 p.
Various, "Vignettes," 1938, 6 pp.
Voss, Carl, "The Church and the Labor Movement," und., 4 pp.
-----, "A Fateful Choice," und., 3 pp.
-----, "The Menace of a New Paganism," und., 4 pp.
Folder 98
"Walk As Children of Light," und., 3 pp.
Watson, Melvin, "Enlarging Heart and Mind Through Conference,"
und., 2 pp.
Watters, Florence Gray, "A Story of Christmount," 20 November
1955, 7 pp.
"Weather Vane," und., 2 pp.
Weisiger, Kendall, "Are Americans Well Fed?," und., 8 pp.
-----, "Personal Preparedness," und., 2 pp.
-----, "Preparation for Our Trial by Fire," June 1942, 6 pp.
-----, "The Re-evaluation of Personality," und., 13 pp.
-----, "Speaking Well, A Fine Art," und., 6 pp.
Folder 99
"`What is the law of nature?,'" unt., und., 1 p.
"What is Religion," und., 5 pp.
Wilharison, M., "Sweet mamma...," unt., und., 1 p.
Williams, Rowland, "A Prayer for Patience," und., 1 p.
Williamson, Myrtle, "O Carpenter who worked," unt., und., 1
p.
"Winning the World With Democracy," und., 3 pp.
"Witnessing in a Strange world," und., 2 pp.
"Woe is me!...," unt., und., 1 p.
Wood, Richard, "The Morning," und., 1 p.
"The Works Program: Works Progress Administration," 27
September 1937, 11 pp.
"World Federation for Peace," und., 6 pp.
Folder 100
"You are Called to Fellowship," August 1948, 1 p.
Young, Frances, "A Sociofiscal Approach to Church History,"
und., 4 pp.
Young, Harriet, "Southern Tenant Farmers' Union Minutes of
Executive Council Meeting," 20 November 1937, 8 pp.
Young, Lorena, "At Paine College we have a yearly interracial
student conference...," unt., 1948, 5 pp.
"Youth is Spent," und., 1 p.
Series 9. Lists of Names
1939-1959. About 25 items.
Lists of names of people in organizations with which Kester was
involved.
Folders 101-102
Series 10. Pictures
1938. 6 items.
Photographs of teaching students and others at the Penn School.
P-3834/68-73
Series 11. Printed Matter
(* means that there is only one item for this organization or event.)
Folder 103
*Black Mountain
*Blue Ridge Assembly
Christmount Christian Assembly
*Citizens' Scottsboro Aid Committee
*Commission on Interracial Co-operation
*Commissions for the National Convocation on the Church in Town and
Country
Committee on Economic and Racial Justice
Conference of Christian Faith and Human Relations
Committee on Economic and Racial Justice
*Conference on the Church and World Order
Folder 104
Congregational Christian Service Committee
*Co-operation - Oxford Pamphlets on Indian Affairs
Fellowship of Reconciliation
Folder 105
Fellowship of Southern Churchmen
*Howard University: All-University Religious Service
Folder 106
*League for Industrial Democracy
*Lynchburg College Homecoming Festival
*May Day Mass Meeting
*National Advisory Commission on Social Education and Social
Action, Disciples of Christ
*Southern Tenant Farmers' Union
United Christian Council for Democracy
*Unemployment Meeting
*United Church (Raleigh, NC)
*Young Woman's Auxiliary
*YWCA
Series 12. Personal Correspondence
RESTRICTED. This series is available for research use only with
written permission from Nancy Kester Neale.
Series 13. Prophetic Religion
1946-1949. About 75 items.
Material related to Kester's editorial role with Prophetic Religion, a
publication of the Fellowship of Southern Churchmen. Writings submitted
to Kester for publication in Prophetic Religion are included in Series
7.
Folders 152-158 Correspondence
159 Notes
INDEX WITH REFERENCES TO PARTS 1 AND 2
The index to Part 1 appears on pages 51-277. "Index" below refers to
that index. Series references below refer to materials in Part 2.
Afro-Americans Entire collection
Amberson, William R. Index
Black Mountain (N.C.)
Butler, J. R. Index; Series 1
and 7
Campbell, Olive Index
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Index (as Christmount
Assembly)
Christmount Assembly (Black Mountain, N.C.) Index
Civil rights
Committee on Economic and Racial Justice Index
Cowan, Thomas B. Index; Series 1
and 7
Education, Higher--Illinois Index (as Eureka
College)
Education, Higher--North Carolina Index (as
Montreat-Anderson
College); Series 1
Eureka College (Il.) Index
Fellowship of Reconciliation Index; Series 1
Fellowship of Southern Churchmen Index; Part 2
Gilman, Elizabeth Index; Series 1
Graham, Frank Porter Index; Series 1
John C. Campbell Folk School (Brasstown, N.C.) Index; Series 3
Kester, Alice Harris Index;
Kester, Howard Anderson Index; Part 2
Mitchell, Harry Leland Index; Series 1
and 7
Montreat-Anderson College (Montreat, N.C.) Index; Series 1
Morton, Nelle Index; Series 1
Niebuhr, Reinhold Index; Series 1
Odum, Howard Washington Index; Series 1
Penn School (St. Helena Island, S.C.) Index; Series 2
Presbyterian Church Index (under
Montreat-Anderson)
Race relations Entire collection
Raper, Arthur Franklin Index
Religion Entire collection
Schools Entire collection
(as Eureka, Penn,
John C. Campbell,
and Montreat-
Anderson)
Segregation Entire collection
Share-cropping Entire collection
Smith, Celestine Index
Socialist Party (U.S.) Index; Series 1
and 7
Southern Tenant Farmers' Union Index; Second
Group
Thomas, Norman Index; Series 1
and 7
Trade unions--Agricultural laborers Entire collection
Trade unions--Organizing Entire collection
Vocational education Series 2 and 3
(Both parts)
Young Men's Christian Association Index; Series 11
SHELF LIST
Part 1
Box 1. Series 1. 1923-March 1937 Folders 1-27
Box 2. Series 1. April 1937-October 1938 28-62
Box 3. Series 1. November 1938-April 1941 63-96
Box 4. Series 1. May 1941-December 1957 97-147
Box 5. Series 1. 1958-1972
Series 2A-C. 148-195
Box 6. Series 2D.
Series 3. 196-220
Box 7. Series 4-9. 221-241
Box 8. Series 11. 242-260
Part 2.
Box 9. Series 1-6.
Series 7. A-Ly 261-340
Box 10. Series 7. Mc-Y
Series 8-9. 341-366
Series 11.
Series 13. 469-476
Box 11. Series 12. RESTRICTED 367-417
Box 12. Series 12. RESTRICTED 418-468
Items separated:
Series 13. Pictures Folders P-1 - P-21