Henry Pelham Burn letters on the Moral Re-Armament movement, 1957 -- 1962

Collection context

Creator:
Burn, Henry Pelham
Abstract:
This collection contains letters written by Henry Pelham Burn to his family in England, while he was in the US South and in Michigan working for the Moral Re-Armament movement for 4.5 years, beginning at age 18. The letters describe his involvement in the movement as well as his travels and personal activities. Formats include handwritten letters and postcards, and some photographs.
Extent:
0.25 linear feet 0.25 linear feet; 1 box
Language:
English .
Scope and content:

This collection contains letters written by Henry Pelham Burn to his family in England, while he was in the US South and in Michigan working for the Moral Re-Armament movement for 4.5 years, beginning at age 18. The letters describe "what it was like to be a grunt at the low end of the totem pole caught up in a self-proclaimed world-wide ideological movement, at [a] pivotal time in this country," as well as his travels and personal activities. Formats include handwritten letters and postcards, and some photographs.

Biographical / historical:

Henry Pelham Burn was born in England circa 1939 to Major Ian Maitland Pelham Burn and Helen Pamela Rowlatt, and great-grandson to Henry Pelham Burn of Kolkata, West Bengal, India. He flew to the United States in September 1957 to return a Mughal-era sword-- acquired by his great grandfather in 1857 at the Siege of Delhi-- to the Indian representation at the Moral Re-Armament movement hub on Mackinac Island, Michigan. He became involved with the movement, working in Michigan and the US South, for nearly five years before returning to England.

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Onsite storage.

Terms of access:

Some material in this collection may be protected by copyright and other rights. Information concerning copyright, fair use, and reproduction requests can be consulted at Columbia's Copyright Advisory Office.

Preferred citation:

Item description, Henry Pelham Burn letters on the Moral Re-Armament movement, 1957-1962, box #, folder #, The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University in the City of New York.

Location of this collection:
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Contact:
burke@library.columbia.edu