Guide to the John M. Swomley Papers

Transcription

1 Published for Drew University Methodist Archives By General Commission on Archives and History of the United Methodist Church P.O. Box 127, Madison, NJ /2/2011

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3 John M. Swomley Papers cubic feet dumc.ms.4331 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. Biographical Note John M. Swomley ( ), United Methodist minister in the Kansas East Conference, a pacifist Christian, and a nonviolent activist, was a native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He holds degrees from Dickinson College and the Boston University School of Theology, an M.A. from Boston University, and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Colorado. Swomley worked as a Professor of Christian Ethics at the St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri from 1960 to 1984 and served in the capacity of visiting professor at multiple universities during this time. He authored numerous writings, pamphlets, and magazine articles. In 1956, he organized the first South-wide strategy meeting of militant black leaders with Martin Luther King, Jr. and Ralph Abernathy, which was the spiritual forerunner of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. From , Swomley served on the Methodist Church#s General Conference Commission to Study the Relation of Nuclear War to the Christian Faith. He helped organize the National Council to Repeal the Draft in Swomley served in various prestigious positions including the Chairperson of the Church-State Committee, President of the Methodist Peace Fellowship, Executive Secretary of the Fellowship of Reconciliation ( ), President of the Board of Directors of the American Society of Christian Ethics ( ), and President of Americans for Religious Liberty. He died in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 16, Scope Note The primary bulk of this collection involves ethical arguments presented by Swomley throughout his theological career. Most of these are in the forms of newspaper or journal articles. At the beginning of this section of the collection, there is a list of the articles that Swomley wrote from June 1940 to February The collection also contains some letters of correspondence, book reviews, memorials, and some biographical information. Arrangement Material has been arranged in the following manner. Arrangement is by subject topic. Related Material Swathmore College Peace Collection Access Restrictions Copyright still owned by Drew University. Permission to publish must be directed to Drew University Methodist Library. Page 1

4 Restrictions on Use 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. Preferred Citation When citing material from this collection please use the following format: Direct reference to the item or its file folder, John M. Swomley Papers, Methodist Collection - Drew University,. Do not make use of the item's call number as that is not a stable descriptor. Subject Terms Subject Names - Corporate Methodist Church (U.S.) United Methodist Church (U.S.) Subject Topics Abortion AIDS (Disease) Authority Religious Aspects Birth control Church and social problems Church and state Church schools Civil disobedience Civil rights Communism Conscientious objectors Draft Draft resisters Ecumenical movement Fundamentalism Homosexuality Korea-Social life and customs Liberation theology Nonviolence Nuclear disarmament Peace Politics Prayer Racism Schools Segregation-Religious aspects Social action Social ethics War Women Women's rights and spiritualism. Subject Geographic United States Vietnam. Page 2

5 Genre Articles Bibliography Correspondence Journals Memorials Pamphlets. Occupations Minister Social Activist. Page 3

6 Container List Call Number Folder Title Date(s) :1 List of Articles - Bypassing the Constitution :2 Catholics and the Religious Right - The Culture of Death :3 Dangerous Military Aid Programme - Funding for the Culture War :4 Gregg, Richard's Memorial - Korean Dilemma? :5 The Lessons of Solidarity - Nuclear Weapons in Korea? :6 On Creationism and Evolution - Progressive Catholics Working for Change :7 Reagan Revisionism - Roman Catholic Rightists :8 Sanctions - Surrounded by Heavy Weapons :9 Taking Back My Male Role - The Virgin Mary and Magic :10 The War in Vietnam - Women in Power? :11 Miscellaneous Correspondence Page 4