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Full listing > Accession MC2006/13: Schwalm's Confidential Files - Folders 105 - 143
Accession #MC2006/13: Schwalm's Confidential Files - Folders 105 - 143
TopicSchwalm, Vernon: Correspondence Folders 105 - 143,
TitleVernon Schwalm: Correspondence Folders 105 - 143
LocationSchwalm, Vernon: Correspondence Folders - Large Box area 176
CitationVernon Schwalm: Correspondence Folders 105 - 143, MC2006/13: Schwalm's Confidential Files - Folders 105 - 143, Archives and Brethren Historical Collection, Funderburg Library, Manchester University, North Manchester, Indiana.
AccessSome files are CONFIDENTIAL and are marked accordingly - Researchers are responsible for determining copyright status of archived materials where this is relevant to their intended use of the materials.
ProvenanceCollection of the Archives, from the President's Attic, see original accession page from 2006 [MC2006/13]
Scope and Content

Folder 105 – Materials related to the Schwalm’s trip to Nigeria including correspondence and schedules, places and people visited. Included are letters and newsletters from or about missionaries that include but that are not limited to: Wilhelm Scheytt, the Petrys, Lucille Heckman, Hillcrest School, Lucile Strayer (Lucile Long Strayer), Harold Royer, Red Royer.  Thank you letter to the Board of Trustees at Manchester College for making it possible for the Schwalms to take the “vacation trip” to Europe and Africa and for designating Schwalm as, “President Emeritus.” Invitation from Paul Robinson to make a report to the Foreign Missions Commission at Elgin. Correspondence from J. Henry Long, Foreign Mission Commission about the political situation in Nigeria (1965, 1966). 1966 reports from missionaries in Nigeria.  Schwalm’s thoughts on mission work, 17 January 1966.

Folder 106 – Correspondence: Stover Kulp,  Mary Ann Moyer Kulp.

Folder 107 – Abert Helser, 1922.

Folder 108  John Grimley and Mildred Grimley.

Folder 109 – John Hamer and Esther Hamer, including Schwalm’s recommendation for medical school.

Folder 110a – CONFIDENTIAL – Correspondence with the Foreign Mission Commission of the General Brotherhood Board circa the 1950’s – Leland Brubaker, Executive Secretary.  Gospel Messenger Article by L. S. Brubaker describing Mission meeting in Garkida, Nigeria with report of projects and Hillcrest School. Other letters dealing with the work of the mission program of the Church of the Brethren.

Folder 110bHarriett and Calvin Bright – Missionaries to China – “My First Christmas in China,” by Harriett Brig, 1947. “Calvin’s Christmas Letter,” Calvin Bright, 1947. Letter to friends, 1948, by Calvin and Harriett Bright.  D. L. Forney writing from Jalapur, India, 1925 with mention of Kathryn, Lois, Virgil and Grace, Ruth, Harlan and Brother Moomaw.  Kathryn apparently had died in Chicago.

Folder Number 111Mexico Home – Letters dealing with a number of issues regarding Mexico Home, including the 1949 application of Nettie Sanger (missionary), 1960 letter to Schwalm from Galen Lehman, Executive Secretary, Church of the Brethren Central Region, projecting how a move might be made toward the establishment of a new facility.  1966 welcoming letter from Orvill Sherman, Church of the Brethren Home, Inc., Mexico, Indiana.  Schwalm’s letter to Sherman regarding Mr. Leech.  Glen Bowman? (administrator ) letters to Schwalm – start of construction!

Folder Number 112aTimbercrest - Schwalm titled this folder,  Materials Used in Presenting “Home” Plans to Districts.  Other pieces of related material were added by the Archivist. Objects in the folder include but are not limited to: Pricelist for purchasing furnishings and equipment for rooms and facilities at Timbercrest, two presentations to district meetings in support of building a Church of the Brethren home, Orville Sherman’s letter announcing start of construction at Timbercrest. Much correspondence regarding aspects of home location, fundraising, contributions, promotion, quotations, approval from the General Brotherhood Board.  This folder needs organization.

Folder Number 112b – Memorial service for Eva Shull and Russell Shull – residents at Timbercrest.  The folder is placed here because it makes statements about the new residence.

 

 

 

Folder Number 113

“The Historical Development of the Denominational Colleges of the old Northwest to 1870, by Vernon Franklin Schwalm, Reprinted from The University of Chicago Abstracts of Theses, Humanistic Series, Volume V, 1926-27.

 

Wedding Ceremony 1933, Schwalm.

Outline – “The Role of Religion in Modern Life, to be given at Lawrence, Kansas, 10 June 1938, Schwalm.

Draft – Chapel 10 February 1939 – “Peace,” Schwalm.

Worship – 9 January 1970, Schwalm.

 

“Study of Sources of Seminary Income, 1949-1949,” Department of Theological Education, Board of Education and Publication, American Baptist Convention, 26 June 1950. – Questionnaire- Answers to Some Questions Pertaining To The Purposes and the Program of the Colleges Operated by the Church of the Brethren. “Report of the Commission of Fifteen to the Wenatchee Annual Conference 1946. Proposal to merge the General Education Board and the Board of Christian Education to create the “Board of Education,” by Jacob Baugher, Educational Specialist, Government Division, War Production Board, 3 March 1944. “Questions Considered by the General Education Board (1916-1943).

 

5 December 1958 – Chapel talk – “Secularism, what it is what it does to us,” Schwalm.

First page of President Schwalm’s Opening Address – Chapel, September 7.

 

Notes on Dwight Moody, Schwalm.

 

Folder Number 114 – Opening Address Fall 1923 – History related to Manchester College and the Academy – We are standing on the threshold of a great day in the History of Manchester College.  Everywhere one turns he finds a note of enthusiastic optimism as to the future. The air seems charged with a sense of expectancy and one feels as if he were standing on the brink of some great achievement…..This is to be the first year that we have no Academy in our midst. Schwalm tells how Winger literally pulled Schwalm, and men like Schwalm, out of the classroom to develop a faculty at Manchester College.

Folder Number 115 – “Random Thoughts, Spring 1935. An educational address. Schwalm.

Folder Number 116  “The Needs of Youth,” pre-World War II and prior to 1940, circa 1935, Schwalm.

Folder Number 117  “Report on Baltimore Conference,” given in Chapel, 13 January 1942, Schwalm.

Folder Number 118 – “What of 1944?” – Chapel, 3 January 1944, by Schwalm.

Folder Number 119 –“First Things at College,” by Schwalm, probably delivered during World War II.

Folder Number 120 – “For Faculty Meeting – September 2, 1944, by Schwalm.

Folder Number 121 – “Peacemakers and the Merciful,” Chapel, Monday, 9 October 1944, by Schwalm.

Folder Number 122 – “Where Church and College Meet,” An Educational Address for the Elgin Church, April 24, 1949, by Schwalm.

Folder Number 123 – Chapel notes,  May 11, 1949, by Schwalm.

Folder Number 124 – “The Task of Man Making,” by Schwalm for Chapel, 5 October 1953.

Folder Number 125 – “Paper for Faculty Meeting,” Wednesday, January 6, 1954, by Schwalm.

Folder Number 126 – “The Life of a College President!” by Schwalm, delivered to the Women’s Club, Manchester, 17 September 1955.

Folder Number 127 – Commencement Address by Schwalm, 28 May 1956 – Schwalm’s final commencement address as Manchester College president.

Folder Number 128a – “Observations and Reflections,” “The Refugee Problem,” by Schwalm, 6 May 1957.

Folder Number 128b – Marion – Rededication – 29 September 1957 – “The Message of the Church for Our Day,” by Schwalm – outline.

Folder Number 129 – “The Mind of Christ Revealed,” by Schwalm, 29 December 1957.

Folder Number 130a – “National Christian College Day,” 20 April 1958, first page, Schwalm.

Folder Number 130b“McPherson Dedication Address,” 23 October 1960 – a personal and touching reflection. …We labored arduously through the depression, recession, hard times and dust storms

Folder Number 131 – Notes on the book, “How to Make the Last Years of Life the Best,” by Henry Legler. …How to become a nobody when you’ve been somebody?”

Folder Number 132 – Notes on developing a Christian personality and there by experiencing self -realization and giving service to humankind.

Folder Number 133 – “The Role of Religion in Modern Life,” Schwalm.

Folder Number 134 – “Conscience,” by Schwalm

Folder Number 135 – “Some Remarks About Suffering,” by Schwalm –No problem in Christian history is more perplexing than the Problem of Human Suffering…. Why do good people suffer? Note: Due to the large letters and black ink used for these handwritten notes, it would appear that some materials were written during Schwalm’s older years when he was practically blind. “The Problem of Suffering” –draft and final copy.

Folder Number 136 – “Founder’s Day Address” at Bridgewater College, by Schwalm – upon the retirement of President Dr. Paul Bowman.

Folder Number 137 – “Where Do We Go From Here?” by Schwalm.  Schwalm discusses issues such as war and peace, temperance and prohibition.  Probably written prior to U.S. involvement in World War II.

Folder Number 138 – “Progressive Achievement toward Receding Goals,” by Schwalm to be sent to the Gospel Messenger. “Teaching Values Thru the Schools,” by Schwalm – talk delivered to teachers.

Folder Number 139 – “To Make Our Lives Count,” outline by Schwalm. “Oak Leaves” article, 1953 – “From the President’s Pen,” What Use Religion?

Folder Number 140

Higher Education and The Church College, The Present Situation,” by Schwalm.

Pages 5 – 11 of what appears to be a talk on Bethany Seminary.  Institutions usually are the lengthened shadows of great men…Their personalities are incarnated in the institutions. This has been true at Bethany….Schwalm then talks about the attributes of Brother Wieand.

Reasons for Renouncing War,” an outline by Schwalm.

Talk to the “Brethren of the General Educational Board,” by Schwalm. Schwalm calls the Educational Board to go on record as favoring a reorganization of the Church of the Brethren’s higher educational system and gives five recommendations for success.   There are in these three colleges (McPherson, Mt. Morris and Manchester) about 525 young people members of the Church of the Brethren.  Brethren, it seems to me absurd that we should attempt to standardize three senior colleges for so few students.  I am inclined to believe we ought not ask the church to do it.  I am ready to join our education secretary in saying that it is unethical to ask them to do it.  And what is more significant to me, I do not believe that it is possible to do it.  It would mean that we will have to raise as much or more endowment in the next two or three years as has been raised during the past 40 or more years. To fail to face these facts seems suicidal.  Shall we go on pouring money into our institutions and then have nothing to show for them but non-standard colleges, whose members are increasingly recruited from non-Brethren sources, and whose enthusiasm is kept up by winning athletic teams, and whose very life is periodically threatened by the legitimate demands of decent educational standards.  Had we begun six years ago to readjust our educational institutions to our education needs and our ability to finance, we would not now face the crisis which is upon us…we can act now, and begin to build now for the future, so that we may have a few adequately financed and adequately endowed institutions, to which we can look with pride and assurance and to which we may direct our children without apology

Jesus Christ, the Hope of the World,” outline by Schwalm.

Remnants and fragments of sermons and talks – that have wonderful stories and ideas.  One page (pg. #124) is written about Otho Winger….regarding Winger …he often seems more like a general to keep the troops organized and marching forward together than a creative statesman  Another set of pages seems to talk about students and success –pg.2 …(when) one is discontented with himself and with his work there is positively no hope for self-improvement  “Supremacy of the Spiritual” – several pages. Outline for “The Meaning of Jesus.”  Schwalm’s draft of a paper, “Building with Christ.”

“Consecration Service, 21 June 1953 – Annual Conference – by Schwalm – and dedication prayer.

Several pages of a talk delivered during the Christmas season.

“Repentance Toward God and Faith Toward Our Lord Jesus Christ,” Acts 20:23, by Schwalm.

Notebook notes – probably Schwalm’s.  “Why We need God,” notes – outline – part of a sermon – maybe not the same sermon?  Notes and partial outline, “Are Missions Outmoded?” – “Reformation and Counter-Reformation – other remnants.

 

Folder Number 141 – Drafts – Background Material and Finished Versions of Talks Written by Schwalm

“Principles for Our New Economic Order.”

Schwalm’s review of the book, “How to Win the Peace,” by C. J. Hambro.

“Random Thoughts About Winning the Peace.”

“Rome’s Problems Our Own – A Chapel Talk,” by Schwalm.

“Religion and Student Life.”

“Education for Times Like This.”

“The Growing of Men.”

“Great and Growing Teachers.”

“Why Teachers Fail.”

“Why College Teachers Fail.”

 

Folder Number 141 - Schwalm speaks on “Kansas.” Interesting background note – Schwalm’s mother’s letter advising Vernon not to move so far away to the “wild west” is located in family correspondence section of collection.  In this speech he also talks about the politicians, Henry Allen and Alf Landon. The punctuation at the close of the speech (an exclamation mark!) causes the Archivist to wonder if  Schwalm is actually introducing Allen and Landon to the crowd?

 

Folder Number 142 – “What May I Rightfully Expect From College,” by Schwalm (closing is missing)..

 

Folder Number 143Addresses presented by outside speakers on the Manchester College campus:

“Plumblines for Living,” by Carl Byerly, presented 23 April 1964 at the M. C. Senior-Alumni Dinner.

“A Time for Greatness,” by Carl Byerly, Manchester College Chapel Address, 24 April 1964.

“Farewell, America!” – Written for the Heimhehr Echo of 1952 by Holger Knudsen, Editor.

“The Necessity of Being a Dissenter,” by Richard N. Goodwin, Former White House Aide, Washington Post, 7 May 1967.

“The Liberal Arts College and the Promise of American Life,” by Wilson Compton, presented at the Annual Meeting of Association of American Colleges, 14 January 1954.

“The Role of the Christian College,” author? – introduction for Dr. Ralph Sockkman.

Date of Accession19 September 2013
Archivist Note

It appears as if Schwalm had designated these files as confidential - however, the archivist has removed this classification for most of the folders. Those that remain CONFIDENTIAL are noted in the description.

Schwalm's folders came to the Archives in 2006 when President Jo Young Switzer was moving into her office and what was to be known as "the President's Attic" was discovered. Multiple boxes of materials came to the Archives from the "attic." 2006 was my first year as Archivist and much needed to be done. Describing the contents of the boxes in detail had to be put on hold until the summer of 2013. As he got older, Schwalm's eyesight deteriorated, until he was practically blind. It is my opinon that he tried to organize these files (large lettered notes) - and that he might have tried to work with an assistant (filing cabinet organizational chart) - but that the job never go done. Kay Batdorf, administrative assistant for President Helman, remembers that they came to Helman's office, and that Helman never let anyone look at them. More work needs to be done in describing this correspondence. There is a wealth of information included here, some not previously seen, including the controversy over the merger of Mount Morris College with Manchester (while Schwalm was President of McPherson), Winger's turbulant last years as President, as well as decades of letters between Schwalm and Cordier that include behind-the-scenes accounts of the United Nations during the Congo uprising and Kennedy's plan to end the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Description prepared 19 September 2013 by Jeanine M. Wine.

 


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