Guide to the Records of the University Christian Foundation
1906-1980

New York University Archives
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012

Phone: (212) 998-2646
Fax: (212) 995-4070
Email: university.archives@library.nyu.edu

© 2004 New York University Archives. All rights reserved.
New York University Libraries, Publisher
Processed by Marilyn H. Pettit
Machine-readable finding aid derived from paper finding aid,2004. Machine-readable finding aid created by Catherine O'Sullivan. Description is in English.
2004 Electronic finding aid revised according to local applications, by Catherine O'Sullivan.

Descriptive Summary

Creator: University Christian Foundation
Title: Records of the University Christian Foundation
Dates: 1906-1980
Abstract: The University Christian Foundation was a Protestant outreach organization that operated on the Washington Square Campus from 1906 to 1977. Oficially founded on October 24, 1906 as the Students' Club of the Young Men's Christian Association, the organization was later renamed the University Christian Association in 1927 before finally becoming the University Christian Foundation in 1961. The bulk of records date from 1954 to 1972 and reflect the organization's activities under its various guises.
Quantity: 11 linear feet (27 manuscript boxes)
Call Phrase: R.G. 39.3
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Historical Note

The University Christian Foundation began as a Protestant outreach organization in the early years of the twentieth century. Officially founded on October 24, 1906 as the Student's Club of the Young Men's Christian Association, the organization's stated purpose was "to promote and maintain the highest standard of religious, moral, social and intellectual life" on New York University's Washington Square campus. It offered weekly Bible study classes, organized informal dinners to which guest speakers were invited, and rented out the gymnasium at Judson Memorial Church on Washington Square South for its members' use.

In the autumn of 1927, the Students' Club was renamed to the University Christian Association and reorganized to include women. The organization continued to offer Bible study classes, hold meetings and organize socials for its members. A freshman camp was also instituted at this time to help incoming student "bridge the gap between highschool and college". The Association was housed on two floors at 26 Washington Place for some time, but eventually moved to Judson Memorial Church on Washington Square South. In 1939, the Association moved once more to the newly renovated offices at 2 Washington Square North, which it shared with the Roman Catholic Newman Club and the Jewish Society, precursor of the Jewish Cultural Foundation. The new headquarters consisted of three offices, a shared lounge and a large common kitchen. Custodial care was provided by NYU.

Reevaluation of the organization by the National Council of Churches in the late 1950s resulted in the creation of the University Christian Foundation in 1961. Although the original mission of the religoius organization remained largely unchanged, a greater focus was placed on secular considerations. Advancement of the civil rights movement in the United States and escalatiion of the war in Vietnam had a great affect on the organization and its activities. Three full-tine chaplains were hired to counsel UCF members not only in matters of faith, but also on the draft, involvement in anti-war protests, civil rights on campus, and reproductive rights of women. The UCF also established at this time the first dormitory on Washington Square campus to admit asian and black students.

During this decade, national support of local campus ministries began to wane and staffing was cut drastically. By 1972, the UCF had no full time chaplain with services being administered by volunteers and part-time seminary students. In 1975, Pamela Bolen was appointed lay executive director of the organization. Under Bolen's direction, the organization became more involved in global issues and campaigns, including those led by the World Hunger Coalition, the United Farm Workers Association and black South Africans (struggling to end apartheid). In August of 1976, the UCF and its Women's Center were moved by the University to 21 Washington Place, Room 802. The Board of Directors voted to suspend operations of the UCF on November 30, 1977 due to a lack of funding and drop in student participation. The corporation was kept alive for future student needs, but the Board held its last annual meeting in the Spring of 1977.

The Interfaith Council was a faculty-staff body maintaining correspondence among the campus ministries of Catholics, Jews, and Protestants. Its predecessor, the Interfaith Committee, oversaw the ministries' shared quarters at 2 Washington Square North in the 1940s and '50s. In 1967 the Council of the University proposed the establishment of a Committee on Faith and Life at NYU under the Office of Student Affairs, and relieved the Interfaith Committee of its responsibility as a standing committee of the University. Reference is made to the Interfaith Committee and Interfaith Council throughout the UCF collection. The Ecumenical Foundation, another organization refered to in this collection, was organized in the late 1960s by several national church organizations to support campus ministries with staff, programs and funding. Its connection with the UCF lasted only a few years with the UCF severing ties in 1974. OASIS, Overseas & American Students' International Society, succeeded the YMCA and UCF in providing outreach to NYU's foreign students. Material concerning OASIS can also be found among the UCF collection.

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Scope and Content Note

The collection consists of minutes, correspondence, religious census reports, annual reports, memorandas, agendas, announcements, proposals, financial statements, pamphlets, brochures, calendars, working papers, surveys, speeches, constitutions, bylaws, and ephemera.

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Arrangement

The records are organized into six series: I. Christian Association; II. University Christian Foundation; III. Ecumenical Foundation; IV. James B. Harrison, Chaplain; V. Interfail Council; VI. Programs.
Series II, University Christian Foundation, is further divided into two subseries: 1. Financial Records and 2. New York City Churches.
Series and subseries are arranged chronologically.
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Related Material at the New York University Archives

Records of the Interfaith Council of Washington Square College, 1948-1947.

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Separated Material

Unidentified photographs, slides and negatives of various dates have been separated to the Photograph Collection.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Open to researchers.

Use Restrictions

There may be some restrictions on the use of the collection. For more information, contact:
New York University Archives
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012

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Access Points

Subject Names:
Bolen, Pamela.
Brewster, Kingman, 1882-1957.
Dondore, Constance.
Dunbar, Rosalie.
Hanson, John.
Harrison, James B.
Leslie, Charles.
Maggin, Jane.
McCloskey, Jeannie.
Rogge, Dave.
Subject Organizations:
Ecumenical Foundation of New York University.
New York University -- History -- 20th century.
New York University.
New York University. Medical Center.
YMCA.
YWCA.
Subject Topics:
Birth control -- United States.
Civil rights movement -- United States.
Protest movements -- United States.
Women's rights -- American History -- 20th century.
Document Types:
Agendas.
Announcements.
Bulletins.
Bylaws.
Correspondence.
Ephemera.
Financial statements.
Memoranda.
Minutes.
Pamphlets.
Reports.
Surveys.
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Administrative Information

Provenance

The records of the UCF were transfered to the University Archives on October 11, 1978 and November 18, 1982, by the UCF's Executive Director, Pamela Bolen.

Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:

Identification of item, date (if known); Records of the University Christian Foundation; collection number; box number; folder number; New York University Archives
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012, New York University Libraries.

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Container List

 

SERIES I: CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, 1906-1961, 0.75 INCHES

Box Folder Title Date
1 1 Christian Association History 1906-1933
   

3 1142 04225019 4

 
1 2 YMCA University Heights 1927-1928
   

3 1142 04225019 4

 
1 3 C.A. History 1932-1958
   

3 1142 04225019 4

 
1 4 Surverys 1940-1950
   

3 1142 04225019 4

 
1 5 Advisory Board Personnel Committee 1942-1943
   

3 1142 04225019 4

 
1 6 Advisory Board 1945-1946
   

3 1142 04225019 4

 
1 7 Advisory Board Minutes 1945-1946
   

3 1142 04225019 4

 
1 8 Annual Report of the Director 1946-1947
   

3 1142 04225019 4

 
1 9 Committee on the Evaluation of C. A. Work 1946-1947
   

3 1142 04225019 4

 
1 10 Executive Committee 1946-1947
   

3 1142 04225019 4

 
1 11 C.A. General 1946-1947
   

3 1142 04225019 4

 
1 12 C.A. General 1906-1933
   

3 1142 04225019 4

 
1 13 C.A. Survey at Washington Square 1927-1928
   

3 1142 04225019 4

 
Box Folder Title Date
2 1 Lutheran Proposal for Coordination with C.A. 1932-1958
   

3 1142 04225020 2

 
2 2 Vernon Bodein, Director 1940-1950
   

3 1142 04225020 2

 
2 3 Advisory Board 1942-1943
   

3 1142 04225020 2

 
2 4 Freshman Camp 1945-1946
   

3 1142 04225020 2

 
2 5 C.A. Self-Survey 1945-1946
   

3 1142 04225020 2

 
2 6 Self-Survey 1946-1947
   

3 1142 04225020 2

 
2 7 Misc. Historical Documents 1946-1947
   

3 1142 04225020 2

 
2 8 Survey by Natl. Council of Churches 1946-1947
   

3 1142 04225020 2

 
2 9 Study, Proposed Protestant Ministry 1958
   

3 1142 04225020 2

 
2 10 Information 1957-1961
   

3 1142 04225020 2

 
2 11 Information 1957-1961
   

3 1142 04225020 2

 

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SERIES II, UNIVERSITY CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION, 1961-1978, 4.5 feet

 

General

Box Folder Title Date
3 1 U.C.F. Constitution, brochures Correspondence, Craig S. Barlette, 1961
   

3 1142 04225021 0

 
3 2 U.C.F. funding 1961
   

3 1142 04225021 0

 
3 3 Secretary's Annual Report 1961
   

3 1142 04225021 0

 
3 4 UCF Constitution, by-laws ca.1961
   

3 1142 04225021 0

 
3 5 Perkins and Will, architect's report 1961
   

3 1142 04225021 0

 
3 6 U.C.F. Publicity ca.1965
   

3 1142 04225021 0

 
3 7 C.A. and U.C.F. at NYU 1961-1962
   

3 1142 04225021 0

 
Box Folder Title Date
4 1 Staff reports 1962-1963
   

3 1142 04225022 8

 
4 2 Signatories, minutes, corr. 1962-1964
   

3 1142 04225022 8

 
4 3 Description of U.C.F. 1963
   

3 1142 04225022 8

 
4 4 Budget 1963
   

3 1142 04225022 8

 
4 5 Board/staff meetings 1963
   

3 1142 04225022 8

 
4 6 Signatory, proxy letters 1963
   

3 1142 04225022 8

 
4 7 Programming 1963
   

3 1142 04225022 8

 
4 8 Staff report 1963-1964
   

3 1142 04225022 8

 
4 9 Minutes, executive meetings 1963-1964
   

3 1142 04225022 8

 
4 10 National Council of Churches 1964
   

3 1142 04225022 8

 
4 11 Minutes, reports 1963-1965
   

3 1142 04225022 8

 
4 12 Minutes, reports 1963-1965
   

3 1142 04225022 8

 
4 13 Minutes, reports 1963-1965
   

3 1142 04225022 8

 
Box Folder Title Date
5 1 Staff reports 1963-1969
   

3 1142 04225023 6

 
5 2 Correspondence, Board 1964-1969
   

3 1142 04225023 6

 
5 3 Development Committee minutes 1964
   

3 1142 04225023 6

 
5 4 U.C.F. at NYU 1964
   

3 1142 04225023 6

 
5 5 Development Committee minutes 1965
   

3 1142 04225023 6

 
5 6 U.C.F. Board Minutes 1965
   

3 1142 04225023 6

 
5 7 U.C.F. at NYU, notebook 1965-1967
   

3 1142 04225023 6

 
5 8 U.C.F at NYU, notebook 1965-1967
   

3 1142 04225023 6

 
5 9 Committee on Review 1965
   

3 1142 04225023 6

 
Box Folder Title Date
6 1 Board minutes, corr., reports 1965-1966
   

3 1142 04225024 4

 
6 2 Staff meetings 1965-1967
   

3 1142 04225024 4

 
6 3 Publicity 1965-1972
   

3 1142 04225024 4

 
6 4 Board meetings 1966
   

3 1142 04225024 4

 
6 5 Hanson, John 1966-1969
   

3 1142 04225024 4

 
6 6 Hanson, John 1966-1969
   

3 1142 04225024 4

 
6 7 Hanson, John 1966-1969
   

3 1142 04225024 4

 
6 8 Hanson, John 1966-1969
   

3 1142 04225024 4

 
Box Folder Title Date
7 1 LOC Minutes (Local Operating Council for the Ministry) 1965-1966
   

3 1142 04225025 1

 
7 2 LOC Minutes 1965-1967
   

3 1142 04225025 1

 
7 3 U.C.F. at NYU, office copy 1965-1967
   

3 1142 04225025 1

 
7 4 U.C.F. at NYU 1965-1967
   

3 1142 04225025 1

 
7 5 U.C.F. at NYU 1965-1967
   

3 1142 04225025 1

 
7 6 Annual Board Meeting Apr 3, 1967
   

3 1142 04225025 1

 
7 7 NYU Survey, National Council of Churches 1967
   

3 1142 04225025 1

 
7 8 [Activities] 1967-1968
   

3 1142 04225025 1

 
7 9 [Activities] 1967-1968
   

3 1142 04225025 1

 
Box Folder Title Date
8 1 Minutes and Reports 1968-1969
   

3 1142 04225026 9

 
8 2 Advisory Board Minutes 1969-1971
   

3 1142 04225026 9

 
8 3 Advisory Board Minutes 1969-1971
   

3 1142 04225026 9

 
8 4 Correspondence, Board 1969-1972
   

3 1142 04225026 9

 
8 5 Minutes, Board 1972
   

3 1142 04225026 9

 
8 6 Minutes, Board 1969-1972
   

3 1142 04225026 9

 
8 7 Minutes and Reports 1970-1971
   

3 1142 04225026 9

 
8 8 Staff Reports 1970-1971
   

3 1142 04225026 9

 
Box Folder Title Date
9 1 Minutes and reports, Board and staff 1970-1971
   

3 1142 04225027 7

 
9 2 Minutes and reports, Board and staff 1971
   

3 1142 04225027 7

 
9 3 Minutes and reports, Board and staff 1971
   

3 1142 04225027 7

 
9 4 Minutes, Board 1971
   

3 1142 04225027 7

 
9 5 Minutes and correspondence, Board 1971-1972
   

3 1142 04225027 7

 
9 6 Minutes, reports, correspondence 1971-1974
   

3 1142 04225027 7

 
9 7 U.C.F, 71-75 1971-1975
   

3 1142 04225027 7

 
9 8 Minutes, Board 1972
   

3 1142 04225027 7

 
9 9 College Ministries 1973
   

3 1142 04225027 7

 
9 10 Kosher kitchen 1972-1979
   

3 1142 04225027 7

 
Box Folder Title Date
10 1 Minutes, Board 1973-1974
   

3 1142 04225028 5

 
10 2 Minutes, Board 1973-1974
   

3 1142 04225028 5

 
10 3 Minutes, Board 1973-1974
   

3 1142 04225028 5

 
10 4 Minutes, Board 1973-1974
   

3 1142 04225028 5

 
10 5 Minutes, reports, correspondence 1973-1974
   

3 1142 04225028 5

 
10 6 Minutes, reports, correspondence 1973-1974
   

3 1142 04225028 5

 
10 7 Minutes, reports, correspondence 1973-1974
   

3 1142 04225028 5

 
10 8 Funding requests 1973-1974
   

3 1142 04225028 5

 
10 9 Publicity 1973-1974
   

3 1142 04225028 5

 
Box Folder Title Date
11 1 Minutes, reports, correspondence 1974-1975
   

3 1142 04225029 3

 
11 2 Minutes, reports, correspondence 1974-1975
   

3 1142 04225029 3

 
11 3 Minutes, reports, correspondence 1974-1975
   

3 1142 04225029 3

 
11 4 Minutes, reports, correspondence 1974-1975
   

3 1142 04225029 3

 
11 5 Minutes, reports, correspondence 1974-1975
   

3 1142 04225029 3

 
11 6 Minutes, reports, correspondence 1974-1975
   

3 1142 04225029 3

 
11 7 Minutes, reports, correspondence 1974-1975
   

3 1142 04225029 3

 
11 8 Minutes, reports, correspondence 1974-1975
   

3 1142 04225029 3

 
11 9 Minutes, Board 1974-1975
   

3 1142 04225029 3

 
11 10 Newsletter 1974-1975
   

3 1142 04225029 3

 
Box Folder Title Date
12 1 Reports, Treasurer's 1974-1975
   

3 1142 04225030 1

 
12 2 Executive Committee Notes 1975
   

3 1142 04225030 1

 
12 3 Retreat 1975
   

3 1142 04225030 1

 
12 4 Minutes, reports, correspondence 1975-1976
   

3 1142 04225030 1

 
12 5 U.C.F. Activities 1975-1976
   

3 1142 04225030 1

 
12 6 Bolen, Pamela, personal file 1975-1976
   

3 1142 04225030 1

 
12 7 Minutes, reports, correspondence 1975-1976
   

3 1142 04225030 1

 
12 8 Minutes, reports, correspondence 1975-1976
   

3 1142 04225030 1

 
12 9 Minutes, reports, correspondence 1975-1976
   

3 1142 04225030 1

 
12 10 Minutes, Board of Directors 1975-1976
   

3 1142 04225030 1

 
12 11 Minutes, reports, correspondence 1976-1977
   

3 1142 04225030 1

 
12 12 Minutes, reports, correspondence 1976-1977
   

3 1142 04225030 1

 
12 13 Minutes, reports, correspondence 1976-1977
   

3 1142 04225030 1

 
Box Folder Title Date
13 1 UCF Activities 1976-1977
   

3 1142 04225031 9

 
13 2 Suspension of activities 1977-1978
   

3 1142 04225031 9

 
13 3 U.C.F. Board, 1978 1978
   

3 1142 04225031 9

 
13 4 UCF Board, 1979-80 1979-1980
   

3 1142 04225031 9

 
13 5 UCF Archives undated
   

3 1142 04225031 9

 
13 6 UCF brochures undated
   

3 1142 04225031 9

 
13 7 UCF letterhead undated
   

3 1142 04225031 9

 
 

SUBSERIES 1. FACULTY FINANCE DRIVE AND FINANCIAL RECORDS, 1 foot

Box Folder Title Date
14 1 Faculty finance drive 1952-1956
   

3 1142 04225032 7

 
14 2 Faculty finance drive 1955-1961
   

3 1142 04225032 7

 
14 3 Faculty finance drive 1959-1961
   

3 1142 04225032 7

 
14 4 Faculty finance drive, Friends 1961-1966
   

3 1142 04225032 7

 
14 5 Faculty finance drive 1965-1966
   

3 1142 04225032 7

 
14 6 Faculty finance drive 1965-1966
   

3 1142 04225032 7

 
14 7 Faculty finance drive, sample letters 1966-1969
   

3 1142 04225032 7

 
Box Folder Title Date
15 1 Parent contributions 1955-1956
   

3 1142 04225033 5

 
15 2 Parent contributions 1956-1957
   

3 1142 04225033 5

 
15 3 Parent contributions 1960
   

3 1142 04225033 5

 
15 4 Contributions 1976-1977
   

3 1142 04225033 5

 
15 5 Sample finance letters 1959-1970
   

3 1142 04225033 5

 
15 6 Ledger sheets 1962-1963
   

3 1142 04225033 5

 
15 7 Budget 1963-1964
   

3 1142 04225033 5

 
15 8 Income tax 1964-1972
   

3 1142 04225033 5

 
Box Folder Title Date
16 1 Financial reports 1965-1966
   

3 1142 04225034 3

 
16 2 Financial statements 1969-1970
   

3 1142 04225034 3