The Papers of John Torok consist primarily of correspondence with some legal or ecclesiastical documents. Torok’s correspondence centers largely on his own efforts to serve as an ordained person in the U.S. Episcopal Church. The material has value to understanding the complexity in ecumenical relationships in the inter-war period. The various legal, diplomatic, medical, and academic documents, including depositions, transcripts of an interrogation that Torok received at the hands of the Economic Warfare division in 1942, and the confession of William Emhardt of the National Council regarding his attempt to undermine Torok in 1924.

Torok’s writings in this collection are primarily ecclesiastical and relate to Count Michael Karolyi, who was briefly the leader of the First Hungarian People’s Republic, 1918-1919. Torok had served under him in the State Department.

This extensive collection documents J. Robert Wright’s prolific career as a theologian, professor, and ecumenical pioneer. His dedication to the Ecumenical Movement, especially with the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Churches, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ECLA) is evident throughout the collection in his published writings, his General Theological Seminary course materials, and his work with the Anglican Communion.