Records of the Methodist Episcopal Church Centernary Celebration

Identity elements

Reference code

US NjMdUMCG 5734

Name and location of repository

Level of description

Collection

Title

Records of the Methodist Episcopal Church Centernary Celebration

Date(s)

  • 1918-1919 (Creation)

Extent

1.05 cubic feet

Name of creator

(1918-1919)

Administrative history

The Centenary Celebration of American Methodist Missions was held in June and July of 1919. The twenty-four day missionary world’s fair attracted over one million visitors to the Ohio State Fairgrounds complex in Columbus. The exposition was a joint effort of the Methodist Episcopal Church and Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Other Methodist-related denominations invited to participate included the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Colored Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Church of Canada. The purpose of the fair was to bring attention to the history and progress of Methodist missions in the United States and around the world. As a result, Methodist missionaries functioned as cultural and religious experts and converted Christians from overseas were brought to the fairgrounds. The missionaries and those missionized spoke of their experiences while participating in a series of exhibits meant to recreate the conditions in their home lands.

Content and structure elements

Scope and content

The records contain the transcripts of public addresses given by Methodist bishops, ministers and missionaries as well as U.S. public officials from the armed forces and the office of the President. Additional voices included representatives from the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, the National Woman’s Party and the Young Women’s Christian Association. Prominent speakers include I. Garland Penn, James Cannon, William Oldham, Charles A. Tindley, Anna Gordon, Clarence True Wilson, Robert E. Jones, Lena L. Fisher, and John R. Mott. Additional voices included William Howard Taft, Alice Paul, William Jennings Bryan, William B. McAdoo, Alvin York and Josephus Daniels.

The Official Reports and Records bound volume traces the history of the Centenary Exposition from its conception, planning and implementation. Here we see not only reports but also the various schedules for each day with its focused emphasis. Images document the many programs, grounds maps, specific representative groups and theatrical productions such as the Wayfarer pageant. Each descriptive entry is authored by different individuals.

The Centenary Surveys was published by the Joint Centenary Committee through the Board of Home Missions and Church Extension of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1918. There is extensive statistical information related to the various work by the board. Topics include mission work to various ethnicity groups and geographic areas along with associated maps, financial data and various other important numeric tabulations.

System of arrangement

The collection is arranged by folder title.

Conditions of access and use elements

Conditions governing access

There are no restrictions on this collection.

Physical access

Technical access

Conditions governing reproduction

Detailed use restrictions relating to our collections can be requested from the office of the archivist at the General Commission on Archives and History. Photocopying is handled by the staff and may be limited in certain instances. Before using any material for publication from this collection a formal request for permission to publish is expected and required.

Languages of the material

  • English

Scripts of the material

    Language and script notes

    Material is predominantly in.

    Finding aids

    Acquisition and appraisal elements

    Custodial history

    Immediate source of acquisition

    2004-063

    2016-016 Joseph L. Beardsley 265 Tripp Lake Rd., Poland, ME 04274 May 26, 2016

    Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information

    Accruals

    Related materials elements

    Existence and location of originals

    Existence and location of copies

    Related archival materials

    Elmer T. Clark Papers

    Badley Family Collection

    Eben Samuel Johnson Collection

    Administrative Files Series of the Board of Missions of the Methodist Church

    Records of the Mission Education and Cultivation Program Department of the General Board of Global Ministries

    Administrative files series of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church

    James Harrison Olmstead Papers

    Edmund Pepperell Easterbrook Papers

    Related descriptions

    Notes element

    General note

    The purpose of this finding aid is to help you understand the nature of this collection and to assist you in the retrieval of material from this collection. The following pages contain a brief biographical history of the person, or persons, who created or collected these papers, followed by a general description of the collection in the scope and content note. If more detailed information is warranted then series descriptions also appear. The container listing appears last and is the listing of material in each box, or container, of this collection. To request material you need to turn to the container listing section. It is essentially a listing of file folders, or artifact items, in the collection. Each folder, or item, has a call number associated with it. Each folder also lists the inclusive dates of the material in the folder. On the material request form list both the call number and the folder, or item, title. Use a different line for each folder, or item, requested. When your request sheet is complete, or full, bring it to the archivist and the material will be retrieved.

    General note

    When citing material from this collection please use the following format: Direct reference to the item or its file folder, Records of the 1919 Centenary Celebration, United Methodist Church Archives - GCAH, Madison, New Jersey. Do not make use of the item's call number as that is not a stable descriptor.

    Specialized notes

    Alternative identifier(s)

    Description control element

    Rules or conventions

    Sources used

    Archivist's note

    Prepared by Mark C. Shenise, Associate Archivist

    Access points

    Subject access points

    Place access points

    Genre access points

    Accession area