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Hist. Mss. 1-895
Albert J. Meyer
Papers, 1941-1997 (Bulk, 1953-1997)
23 Boxes (Prontos)

 

Biographical Sketch


1950 Albert J. Meyer received his B.A. from Goshen College.

1952 Meyer reveived his M.A. from Princeton University, and was a Ph.D. candidate in the Graduate College at Princeton University at Princeton, New Jersey, starting in 1952.

1954 Meyer began service with Mennonite Central Committee.

1958 Meyer returned to North America.

Administrative Information

These papers were transferred to the Archives by Albert J. Meyer, Goshen, Indiana, in 1975 and in 1998.

Inventory of Series 1, MCC Service in France, 1954-1957, completed by Tom V. Glick, History Practicum, Goshen College, March 31, 1998. Updated by Dennis Stoesz, May 19, 1998.

Series Listing

1. Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Service Page 1 Box 1 (Pronto) in France and Switzerland, 1954-1957

2. General Records, 1941-1975 Page 5 Boxes 2-18 (Pronto)

3. Assembly Mennonite Church, 1974- ,Goshen, Indiana, Records, 1973-1997 Page 8 Boxes 19-23 (Pronto)

 

Inventory Listing

1. Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Service in France and Switzerland, 1954-1957. Records, 1952-1958.

These files contain A.J. Meyer’s correspondence during the years he worked for MCC in Europe. They also contain information about his work in projects, conferences and other functions of MCC.

One set of conferences in which he was affiliated was the American Mennonite Students in Europe conferences. The first of these conferences was organized in 1952 at Amsterdam at the initiative of two students, who had been former MCC workers, Paul Peachey and Irvin Horst. Second conference was at Zurich (1953) and third at Domburg (1954). Meyer was involved in the fourth through sixth conferences, 1955-57. Sometimes this group has been referred to as the Concern Group.

In these files, there is also a broad range of correspondence to theolgians in Europe about issues of the day. John Howard Yoder and Reinhold Niebuhr respond to Karl Barth’s essay, "The Problem of War". They do this through correspondence with Meyer among others. Correspondence with uniquely Mennonite theologians is also in the files. Included is an extensive dialogue with John Howard Yoder on the war in Algeria. There is also information on the organization of the PSEC workshop through letters with Clarence Bauman. There is also information about the Puidoux, Iserlohn and Askov Theological Conferences in which Meyer was the Secretariat.

Meyer and Paul Abrecht who was the Executive Secretary of The World Council of Churches correspond as well. They talk about everything from budget problems in the Council to the importance of pacifism in Europe. Also contained in the files is information relating to the IFOR conference in Vaumarcus, Switzerland in August of 1956. Notes on lectures at the conference can be found as well. There is also correspondence to friends and family as well as job applications and housing searches.

Information pertaining uniquely to MCC is found through the Leaders Conference in 1954 and the Workers Conference in 1956. There is also a detailed description of Meyer’s assignment in Valdoie, France. Special MCC projects are also highlighted including the earthquake relief fund in Algeria.

A.J. Meyer was a council member in the National Council on Religion in Higher Education. The organization of work weeks in 1952 and 1953 is found in these files as is other council duties performed by Meyer. There is also correspondence with the director of the Board, Richard C. Gilman.

In Meyer’s personal files there are notes on physics seminars among other letters to theologians and friends. There are also other miscellaneous files about life in Europe and with MCC.

Box 1 (Pronto)

1/1 Albert J. Meyer
    Background to work, by Meyer, 1998

American Mennonite Students in Europe
1/2 Conference, 1954, Domburg (3rd)
1/3 Conference, 1955, Versailles (4th)
1/4 Conference, 1956, Friedeshiem (5th)
1/5 Correspondence, 1956-1957
1/6 Correspondence, 1957, Bad Duerkhiem (6th)
1/7 Basel Souvenirs, 1955-1957

Business
1/8 Dejur AMSCO Corporation, Gundig Electric and Steronettes, 1957
1/9 Printed Ads, Household Appliances, 1955

Contact
1/10 Abrecht, Paul R., 1955, WCC
1/11 Barth, Karl, The Problem of War, Notes, 1956
1/12 Macgregor, Pre-Puidoux Theological Discussion of war, 1957
1/13 Niebuhr, Reinhold, Response to Barth on Hungary, 1957

1/14 Theologians, Peace is the Will of God, 1954-56
1/15 Vaumarcus IFOR Conference, Publicity and Letters, 1955
1/16 Geneva Library, Bibliography of Pacifist Literature, 1955

Correspondence
1/17 Toureille, Teaching Position at Goshen, 1955
1/18 Letters to Family, Parents and other Family, 1955-1956
1/19 Letters to Family, Letters to Mary Ellen & Al, 1955-56
1/20 Various Letters, 1955-56

1/21 Job, Teaching Offers at Goshen and Elsewhere, 1955
1/22 W.S. Krabill, Equipment for MCC, 1956
1/23 Family, Letters to Mary Ellen, Al, 1956-57
1/24 Americans, Various Letters, 1956-57

1/25 Meyer, Letters to Family, 1956-1957
1/26 J.W. Meyer, Return From Europe Plans, 1957
1/27 Margaret Meyer, Info on Housing in the U.S., 1957

Europe
1/28 Algeria, Earthquake Relief, 1956
1/29 Peace Section European Committee, Continuation Committee Meeting, 1958
1/30 Germany: Mennonite Students, Dialogue on Peace, 1955
1/31 Domburg Seminar, Notes on Seminar & Analysis, 1954
1/32 Literature, Karl Barth, Responses to Barth’s Pacifism Literature, 1956

Mennonite Central Committee
1/33 Leaders Conference, Notes and Program, 1954
1/34 Workers Conference, Reports and Notes from Conference, 1956
1/35 Consultation Eastbourne, list of participants, 1956
1/36 A.J. Meyer, Description of Assignment in France, 1954
1/37 Greece, Progress on Missions, 1957

Mennonite
1/38 Clarence Bauman, Organization of PSEC Workshop
1/39 John Howard Yoder, War in Algeria, 1954-1957

Miscellaneous
1/40 John Howard Yoder, JHY on Doctrinal Evolution, 1954-1956
1/41 Newspaper Clippings, Articles on Foyer in Valdoie, 1956
1/42 Baby, Congratulatory cards on Birth, 1957
1/43 Auto, Information on Volkswagen, 1957

1/44 Science, Seminar by Owen Gingerich on Theory of Relativity
1/45 National Council on Higher Education, Kent Fellows Elected, 1953
1/46 Correspondence, Lore Rittmayer, 1957
1/47 Purchases, Household Items and Appliances, 1957

National Council on Religion in Higher Education
1/48 Work weeks, 1952-1953
1/49 Kent Fellowship Scholarship, 1952-1954
1/50 Work weeks, 1954-1955
1/51 Kent Fellowship Applicants, 1955

1/52 Correspondence with Director, 1956
1/53 Kent Fellowship Applicants, 1956
1/54 Kent Fellowship Candidates, 1957

Personal
1/55 John Howard Yoder, Various Letters, 1954-1957
1/56 Parents, Correspondence with Parents, 1955-1956
1/57 Correspondence, Mission Progress, 1955-1957
1/58 Organization, Calender, 1956-1957
1/59 Basel Physics, Seminar Notes, 1956

1/60 Richard C. Gilman, Fellows Budget Report, 1957
1/61 Foreign Language, Correspondence & Study Material, 1957
1/62 Physics Correspondence, Equipment Requests, 1957
1/63 Peace Section Assignment in Europe, Meetings and Letters, 1954-1957

Theological Conferences

1/64a Peace is the Will of God, 1953

Three booklets: English, German and French languages. A Testimony to The World Council of Churches, prepared by the Robert Ziegler, Church of the Brethren; Eric S. Tucker, Society of Friends; Hendrik Bremer, Doopsgezinde Vredesgroep; Irvin Horst, Mennonite Central Committee; and Percy W. Bartlett, International Fellowship of Reconciliation.

1/64b Puidoux Theological Conference, Photo and working papers, 1955

Puidoux, Switzerland, August 15-19, 1955. Theme: The Lordship of Christ over Church and State. Includes photograph of group. Includes letter from Harold S. Bender that he can come. Includes papers by John W. Miller, Oscar Cullmann, G. Ernest Wright, Jean Michel Hornus, Herbert Butterfield, Jean Lasserre, Hannes de Graaf, John H. Yoder, Walter Dignath, Goetz Harbsmeier, Paul Peachey

1/65 Iserlohn Theological Conference, Working papers, 1956

Iserlohn, Germany, July 28-Aug. 1, 1957. Theme: The Lordship of Christ over Church and State

1/66 Askov Theological Conference, Working papers, 1957

See also the records of these and other conferences, 1955-64, in the Mennonite Central Committee, Europe and North Africa, Peace Section files (IX-19-10), Box 1.

University
1/67 Acceptance letter to the University of Basel, 1953
1/68 Karl Barth, Word of God, Reports and Notes, 1956-1957

2. General Records, 1941-75
    Includes a variety of involvements of Meyer during this time period.

Box 2 (Pronto) [10-80]

Student Services Committee, 1960-70
Student Surveys, Meetings
Administration (including talks given)
Mennonite Graduate Fellowship, 1958-69
Meetings

Box 3 (Pronto)

Bethel College File, 1961-66
Oren Glick Study, 1962-68
Academic Calendar, 1964
CCI Study, 1962 (College Characteristics Index)
Co-op Programs, 1966
Philosophy of Education, 1962-66

Box 4 (Pronto)

Personal Papers, to sort and file. Examples of file titles:

Minutes and papers from the "Planning Task Force for the Churchwide Thrust on Education," February 21, 1974, Rosemont, Illinois

Notes from Mrs. J. C. Meyer's Journal, 1944-47

Goshen College Faculty Committee Minutes, September 30, 1965
Etc.

Box 5 (Pronto)

North Central Association (N.C.A.) Committee on Liberal Arts Education. Files dating from 1965-72. Includes, for example, Albert J. Meyer's paper on "The Future of Liberal Arts Colleges," August 14, 1969 (Reel-to-reel recording)

Box 6 (Pronto)

North Central Association (N.C.A.) (Continued)

Files date from 1961 conference

Essays Written by Others, filed A-Z. Examples of file titles:

Albrecht, Paul A., "Creative Industrial Relations for Small Business,"26 pages, no date.
Bauman, Harold E., "Mennonite College and Federal Aid, May 1965," 51 pages.
Bender, Harold S., "An Exegesis of I Corinthians 11: 1-16," 19 pages.
Etc.

Papers not yet Organized. Examples of file titles:

Women in Higher Education, 1975
Data File, Elementary and Secondary Education, A-Z
Etc.

Box 7 (Pronto) Personal Talks, Reports, 1967-69. Examples of file titles:
Campus Church, "Who are we?", Nov. 12, 1967
CMBC Commencement, May 7, 1967
Denomination Files (unorganized). Examples of file titles:
American Baptist Convention, correspondence, 1966
American Lutheran Church, correspondence, 1966
Anglican Church of Canada, correspondence, 1966
Etc.


Report of Albert J. Meyer, Mennonite Student Services Committee, Mennonite Board of Education, on "Study of Academic Sub-Communities or other church-related academic resources on university campuses," April 1969

Finances, Mennonite Board of Education, ca. 1975

Files from John Hostetter


Box 8 (Pronto) [50]

Society for Religion in Higher Education (S.R.H.E.)
Correspondence, reports, newsletters, 1958-69
War Tax Papers and Basic Documents, 1972-74

Box 9 (Pronto)

Study Conferences, 1951-68. Examples of file titles:

Christian Community Relations, Laurelville, July 24-27, 1951
Christian Education Seminar, Goshen, Indiana, June 14-16, 1965
Christian Education Seminary Papers, Bethel College, N. Newton, Kansas, July 22-26, 1963

Sunday School Classes, Administration, Small Groups and Wednesday Evening Groups, reports & notes, 1958-69
Mennonite Board of Education, Questionaire on trends in education in district conferences, 1969

Mennonite Churches in Goshen Area, 1972
Test your K.O.M.S. (Knowledge of Mennonite Schools)
Thermoflax Masters on talks and papers
Mennonite World Conference, published proceedings
Books, a few assorted ones, for example, A Tribute to Menno Simons(1961)


Box 11 (Pronto) [20, 60-80]

Christian Vocation, 1961-64, 1980. Includes articles written by Albert J. Meyer, correspondence, and written by others.

Goshen College, 1958-72

Faculty Meetings, 1959-60
Religious Life Committee, 1958-63
Etc.

Bethel College, 1964-65

N.C.A., 1961
Mennonite Board of Education meetings, 1961
Mennonite World Conference, Amsterdam, 1967


Box 12 (Pronto) [10-60]

Congregation, 1959
Concern, 1959
Correspondence, 1958
Organizations, 1959

MCC, 1958-65
Europe, 1961
Peace, 1966-68
Report, "Study of Academic... Resources...," (S.A.R.) 1969 (including S.A.R. report offset masters)


Box 13 (Pronto)

Peace and Church and College, Misc., including Old Peace meetings, Europe, etc. Examples of file titles:
Bluffton Peace Club, 1965
Bluffton Intercollegiate Peace Fellowship, 1960
Etc.
Church-State Study Conference, 1965
Etc.
Peace Problems Committee Theses, 1959-60

Box 14 (Pronto)
Peace Papers, back of file. Marriage, Divorce, Remarriage.
Box empty.

Box 15 (Pronto)

Papers. Examples of file titles:

Universite Libre du Congo, 1970
Consultation on Conscience and Conscription, 1969
Etc.

[Box only 1/4 full]

Box 16 (Pronto)
Education, 1958, 1964 workshops, Cultural Conferences, and Christian Education Conference. Examples of file titles:

Christian Education Seminar papers, July 22-26, 1963
Etc.

1958 Workshop, Meyer Seminar paper

Box 17 (Pronto)

Old Peace meetings, Europe, CPSC, MCCPS, etc. Examples of file titles:

East-West Theological Peace Conference, January 10-13, 1959
Washington Seminar, 1961
Etc.

Committee on Peace and Social Concerns (CPSC), 1967

Box 18 (Pronto)

Peace. Examples of file titles:

College Mennonite Church Peace Sunday, July 5, 1970
Committee on Peace and Social Concerns, April 16-17, 1971, 2.
Etc.

Washington Visit and Bombing, December 1972 - January 1973


3. Assembly Mennonite Church, 1974- , Goshen, Indiana

Records, 1973-1997

Box 19 (Pronto)

Beginnings of Assembly Mennonite, by Meyer (1998)
The Assembly Campus Cluster, October 5, 1997, by Al Meyer
Handbook for Elders, circa 1990
Chronological Records, 1973-85
(individual file folders have not been listed)

Box 20 (Pronto)

Chronological Records, 1984-88
Topical Records, 1973-88

Box 21 (Pronto)
Topical Records, 1973-88 (Continued)

Box 22 (Pronto)
Topical Records, 1973-88 (Continued)
Records, 1988-96

Box 23 (Large)
Records, 1988-96 (Continued)

 

Name and Subject Tracing

Assembly Mennonite Church, 1974- , Goshen, Ind.
Christian Education
International Relief - Algeria
International Relief - France

Mennonite Board of Educatio
Mennonite Board of Missions, Student Services Committee
Mennonite Central Committee
Mennonite Central Committee, Peace Section

Mennonite Graduate Fellowship
Mennonites - Education
Mennonites - France

Meyer, Albert J.
Meyer, Mary Ellen Yoder

Peace
Puidoux Theological Conferences
Yoder, John H.



February 9, 2004 / Posted on Web by Kathryn Yoder
October 28, 2003 / Updated by Helen Hostetler
File: "HM1-895.doc
"

Mennonite Church USA Archives-Goshen, 1700 S Main St., Goshen, Indiana 46526

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