MS 293 San Diego County Christian Endeavor Collection

Summary Information

Repository
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Creator
San Diego Christian Endeavor Society.
Creator
San Diego County Christian Endeavor Union.
Title
San Diego County Christian Endeavor Collection
ID
MS 293
Date [inclusive]
1890-1967
Extent
4.5 Linear feet (8 boxes)
Language
English
Abstract
This collection contains administrative materials, convention documents, and publications by Christian Endeavor organizations in San Diego County from the late-1800s to mid-1900s.

Preferred Citation

San Diego County Christian Endeavor Society Collection, MS 293, San Diego History Center Document Archives, San Diego, CA.

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Biographical / Historical Notes

The Christian Endeavor Society was an international Protestant youth organization. It was formed in 1881 in Portland, Maine, when a local minister, Francis E. Clark, decided to form a group for the young people of his congregation. The object of this group was to “promote an earnest Christian life among its members, to increase their mutual acquaintance, and to make them more useful in the service of God.” As the number of regional societies increased, the United Society was formed in 1885 with headquarters in Boston. Each Christian Endeavor Society was tied to a local church, which determined theology and activities for the group. Individual societies were linked by County Unions, and County and District Unions were in turn linked by State, International, and World Unions. The Christian Endeavor Society was referred to as an “Inter-racial, Inter-denominational and Inter-national fellowship.” There is evidence in these records of the earliest Christian Endeavor group in San Diego in 1891 at the First Congregational Church of San Diego at Fourth and Date Streets.

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Scope and Content

This collection contains administrative materials, convention documents, and publications by Christian Endeavor organizations in San Diego County from the late-1800s to mid-1900s. Administrative materials include minutes, attendance records, and reports, and pertain to both the Christian Endeavor Society based at the First Congregational Church of San Diego and the San Diego County Christian Endeavor Union covering all societies in the county. Convention documents include programs for annual county conventions between 1894 and 1967 as well as planning documents for the California State convention held in San Diego in 1939. Finally, publications include the “Breezes” newsletter, pamphlets, and books.

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Arrangement

This collection is arranged in four series:

Series I: Administration: San Diego Christian Endeavor Society;

Series II: Administration: San Diego County Christian Endeavor Union;

Series III: Conventions and Activities;

Series IV: Publications.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

San Diego History Center Document Collection January 5, 2017

1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA, 92101
619-232-6203

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.

Processing Information

Collection processed by Frank Sweeney in December 2011.

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Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

  • First Congregational Church of San Diego..
  • United Society of Christian Endeavor .

Geographic Name(s)

  • San Diego (Calif.)
  • San Diego County (Calif.)

Subject(s)

  • Christian youth
  • Christianity
  • San Diego (Calif.) — Church history
  • San Diego County (Calif.) — Church history

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Collection Inventory

 Series I: Administration: San Diego Christian Endeavor Society

Box-folder
Secretary Book, 1891-1892

Scope and Content:

Small ledger including meeting minutes, attendance, membership, and constitution.

1:1
Attendance Book, 1892-1898

Scope and Content:

Small ledger including constitution, membership list, attendance records.

1:2
Secretary Book, 1894

Scope and Content:

Small ledger including meeting minutes, membership list, attendance records.

1:3
Attendance Book, 1895-1897 1:4

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 Series II: Administration: San Diego County Christian Endeavor Union

Box-folder
Meeting Minutes, 1896-1897 1:5
Executive Committee Minutes, 1931-1932 1:6
Meeting Minutes, 1932-1933 1:7
Meeting Minutes, 1948-1962

Includes:

Monthly and executive minutes. Attachments include correspondence, meeting notices, constitution and by-laws, in memoriam notices.

1:8
President’s Reports, 1932-1936 1:9
Officer Lists, 1936-1953 1:10
Bills, 1950 1:11
Congregational and Presbyterian Intermediate Societies: Meeting Minutes, 1900-1903 2:1

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 Series III: Conventions and Activities

Box-folder
Annual County Convention: Programs, 1894-1929 2:2
Annual County Convention: Programs, 1925-1943 2:3
Annual County Convention: Programs, 1930-1941 2:4
Annual County Convention: Programs, 1942-1952 2:5
Annual County Convention: Programs, 1953-1967 3:1
Annual County Convention: Committee Report (East San Diego Presbyterian Church), 1938 3:2
Annual County Convention: Poster (48th Annual County Convention), 1941 8:1
California State Christian Endeavor Convention: Committee Records, 1939 3:3
California State Christian Endeavor Convention: Committee Records, 1939 3:4
California State Christian Endeavor Convention: Committee Records, 1939 3:5
California State Christian Endeavor Convention: Committee Records, 1939 4:1
California State Christian Endeavor Convention (wooden binder cover), 1939 4:2
International Convention on Christian Education, 1938 4:3
Scrapbook, 1944-1946

Includes:

Flyers, programs, photographs, clippings, and other documentation of Christian Endeavor activities.

8:2
Christian Endeavor Activities, 1948-1949 4:4
Miscellanea, 1937-1945 and undated

Includes:

57th anniversary program, event calendar, decals, membership/pledge cards, and a report on the Wartime Union Leaders’ Conference.

4:5

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 Series IV: Publications

Box-folder
Pamphlets and Publication List, 1890-1931

Includes:

Informational pamphlets and handbooks to aid in starting a society, running it, and answering common questions.

4:6
Pamphlets, 1894-1957

Includes:

Informational pamphlets, especially focusing on committee work and recommendations for programming.

4:7
Pamphlets, 1899-1951

Includes:

Informational pamphlets on recommendations for meetings and song collections.

4:8
Book 1892

Includes:

“Bible Readings for the Home”

5:1
Books, 1891-1896

Includes:

“Christian Endeavor Edition of Gospel Hymns No. 6” by Ira D. Sankey; “A Decade of Christian Endeavor” by Wayland Hoyt; “Social to Save” by Amos R. Wells; “Christian Endeavor Hymns” by Ira D. Sankey; “Our Unions” by Amos R. Wells.

5:2
Books, 1896-1903

Includes:

“Prayer Meeting Methods” by Amos R. Wells; “The Pledge of Endeavor” by William M. Campbell; “Into All the World” by Amos R. Wells; “The Missionary Manual” by Amos R. Wells.

5:3
Books, 1911-1913

Includes:

“The Officers’ Handbook” by Amos R. Wells; “Expert Endeavor” by Amos R. Wells; “Fuel for Missionary Fires” by Belle M. Brain; “Pledge Promptings” by Fifteen Christian Endeavor Leaders; “Service Songs” by William Shaw and John R. Clements.

6:1
Book, 1924

Includes:

“The Evolution of an Endeavorer, an autobiography by William Shaw”

6:2
Books, 1921-1925

Includes:

“Methods with Beginners” by Frances Weld Danielson; “Bible Autobiographies” by Mrs. Francis E. Clark; “Progressive Endeavor” by Amos R. Wells.

6:3
Books, 1925-1931

Includes:

“Progressive Endeavor” by Amos R. Wells; “Successful C.E. Prayer-Meetings” by James DeForest Murch; “Leadership through Christian Endeavor” by Bert H. Davis.

7:1
“San Diego Christian Endeavor Breezes” Newsletter, 1925-1932 7:2
“San Diego Christian Endeavor Breezes” Newsletter, 1932-1949 7:3
“San Diego Christian Endeavor Breezes” Newsletter, 1949-1952 7:4
“San Diego Christian Endeavor Breezes” Newsletter, 1953-1956 7:5
“San Diego Christian Endeavor Breezes” Newsletter, 1958-1966 7:6

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