American Encyclopaedia of Christianity records, 1920 -- 1927
Collection context
- Creator:
- Rockwell, William Walker and American Institute of Christianity
- Abstract:
- The American Institute for Christianity was incorporated in 1923 to enable the planning and production of a proposed 12 volume American Encyclopaedia of Christianity. Denominational councilors, writers, editors and supporters were contacted across the USA. The Institute was unable to attract adequate funding to produce the Encyclopaedia. The bulk of the records consist of planning documents and correspondence.
- Extent:
- 4.75 linear feet (4.75 linear feet; 8 boxes including 1 OS box)
- Language:
- English
- Scope and content:
-
This collection contains the first of the three packets of papers recovered by W. W. Rockwell from different scattered sources. The first packet contains the small group of records of the American Institute of Christianity (AIC), formerly known as the Institute for the Advancement of Christian Knowledge until fall in 1923. This includes records of the 1923 meeting, a "Minute book of the Corporation which tried to publish the American Encyclopaedia of Christianity, 1923-26" including financial reports from the Institute, a sequence of Executive minutes, and a group of Historical Church Papers form a survey of denominations across America. This collection also contains correspondence, editorial minutes, plans and drafts, and promotional items, as well as the second and third groups of papers received by Rockwell concerning the work towards production of the Encyclopaedia recovered from other members of the committees, and Rockwell's own files as secretary to the Editorial Board.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Preliminary discussions in 1920 led to the establishment of an Editorial Board in 1922, to plan an American Encyclopaedia of Christianity, as a more recent balance to the existing and widely used Catholic Encyclopaedia of 1910, which had not been updated other than a single supplementary volume in 1918. The Encyclopaedia was planned to contain 12 volumes, "each volume containing a million words." William Walter Rockwell, Union Theological Faculty member and Librarian, acted as secretary to the Board. The other initial Editorial board members were: Joseph C. Ayer, Benjamin W. Bacon, Rev. Arthur W. Brooks and William H. P. Hatch. In late 1923 editors were asked to seek and secure Denominational Counsellors, all representing protestant denominations, and much of the working structure for developing and promoting the Encyclopaedia was planned. The first meeting of the initially named "Institute for the Advancement of Christian Knowledge" took place in March 1924 and later the organization was renamed as the American Institute of Christianity (AIC). The following individuals acted as incorporators with Dr. John A. Marquis in the chair: Rev. F. H. Knubel, John A. Marquis, Theodore H. Lamprecht, Rae D. Henkle, David G. Garabrant. An initial contract between the Institute and Robert Appleton to enable the management of the financial campaign for the Encyclopaedia planned to raise $1 million for a cost of $2500 through the John Price Jones Corporation, but after it became gradually clear that the money raised was not sufficient, in December 1926, the Executive Committee of the AIC resolved to offer a settlement to Robert Appleton and to dissolve the contract. Despite correspondence of the AIC from as early as 1920 showing the consensus of a need for an Encyclopaedia of Protestant Christianity to compete in a scholarly approach with other religious encyclopaedias at that time, the project came to an end and the new Encyclopaedia was never completed on account of the increasing financial problems. William W. Rockwell held the position of secretary to the Editorial committee of this project.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
This collection is open for research.
Onsite storage.
- Terms of access:
-
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- Location of this collection:
- Before you visit:
- Researchers must book an appointment at least 5 business days in advance to view special collections material in the reading room. To make the most of your visit, be sure to request your desired materials before booking your appointment, as researchers are limited to one item per hour of appointment time.
- Contact:
- burke@library.columbia.edu