Division of Town and Country. Roanridge Training and Conference Center. Records

Identity elements

Reference number

EA-00-R0310-02

Level of description

Fonds

Title

Division of Town and Country. Roanridge Training and Conference Center. Records

Date(s)

  • 1931-1971 (Creation)

Extent

2 cu. ft. (7 boxes partial)

Abstract

Growing concern with the rural church in the1920s led to the creation of the Division of Rural Work in 1924 as a subsection of the Department of Christian Social Service. In 1942, three years after the Department of Christian Social Service had been renamed the Department of Christian Social Relations, the Division of Rural work was moved to a position under the Division of Domestic Missions. Then in 1949 it was placed under the Home Department and renamed the Division of Town and Country Work.

Content and structure elements

Scope and content

From 1945 to 1977 Roanridge Training and Conference Center in Missouri was the primary center of operation for the Division of Town and Country within the Home Department, although the two entities were structurally distinct. The Division’s records contain administrative and program files, conference materials, reports generated by the Division (often in consultation with Roanridge or with persons affiliated with the National Council’s Unit of Research and Field Study), and resource materials formerly housed in the Roanridge Library. Of particular interest in the latter series is a scrapbook collected by Edna Eastwood on the Church’s early ministry to the “isolated,” and a set of surveys generated by the Unit of Research and Field Study. Also present are subject files and correspondence documenting field visits and consultations to rural areas throughout the country.

Arrangement

This fonds is described as file series 5 in the finding aid for the Records of Roanridge Training and Conference Center.

Conditions of access and use elements

Access conditions

Access to Episcopal Church records is governed by the Archives Public Access Policy. Research requests must be submitted in writing.

Technical access

Rights and permissions

The Archives is able to respond to limited requests for reproductions subject to copyright restrictions, internal policy, and the condition of the source documents.

Languages of the material

  • English

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Related materials elements

Related records and archives

Other records held by The Archives of the Episcopal Church with substantial Town and Country Division records include:

  1. Records of the Division of Town and Country Work, 1943-1970
  2. Records of the Division of Town and Country Work, 1923-1963

Materials held by other institutions:
The Roanridge Foundation donated Wilbur Cochel’s papers, including much information about Roanridge, to the Kansas City Historical Museum.

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