Finding aid for the Robert A. McKibben papers
0489
Finding aid prepared by Lisa Ebiner Gavit
USC Libraries Special Collections
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California, 90089-0189
213-740-5900
specol@usc.edu
2013 September
Title: Robert A. McKibben papers
Collection number: 0489
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.84 Linear feet
2 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1927-1968
Abstract: Rev. Dr. Robert A. McKibben was Executive Director of the All Nations Foundation and Pastor of the Church of All Nations in
Los Angeles from 1927 until 1952, when he resigned to accept appointment by the Methodist Episcopal Church to its National
Board of Missions. McKibben's correspondence relating to the All Nations Foundation, including his fund raising letters and
his papers on church social work programs, are to be found with the records of that agency. Papers in this collection reflect
his wide interests, his acquaintance with leading social welfare administrators throughout the West, and his national and
international connections with social work associations, particularly those concerned with the developing specialty of group
work, and with issues from the provision of services to youth, to narcotics education, and international student exchange
programs. An influential figure in Los Angeles, McKibben was president of the Los Angeles County Coordinating Council's Executive
Board, and a Vice-President of the Council of Social Agencies, on whose Executive Committee he served for many years.
creator:
McKibben, Robert A., (Robert Anderson), 1895-1984
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder# or item name], Robert A. McKibben papers, Collection no. 0489, California Social Welfare Archives, Special Collections,
USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Conditions Governing Use
The use of archival materials for on-site research does not constitute permission from the California Social Welfare Archives
to publish them. Copyright has not been assigned to the California Social Welfare Archives, and the researcher is instructed
to obtain permission to quote from or publish manuscripts in the CSWA's collections from the copyright holder.
Conditions Governing Access
Advance notice required for access.
Biographical note
The Reverend Robert A. McKibben directed the All Nations Foundation from 1927-1952 and was dedicated to improving the Los
Angeles community in which the Foundation worked. All Nations Foundation was considered the largest and most effective social
welfare organization at the time in Los Angeles. McKibben collaborated with other welfare foundations both locally and nationally
in order to improve the success of All Nations Foundation programs. Most of his projects focused on the healthy development
of children, and the many programs of All Nations Foundation had the goal of ensuring that the participating children were
physically, psychologically, and socially healthy. In 1952, Robert McKibben resigned from All Nations Foundation in order
to accept a position as a member of the National Board of Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In addition to serving
as director of All Nations Foundation, McKibben was also president of the Los Angeles County Coordinating Council's Executive
Board, and a Vice President of the Council of Social Agencies. Because of his influential and untiring work, the delinquency
rate on the east side of Los Angeles dropped 65% within his first three years of directing All Nations Foundation.
Scope and Content
The Robert A. McKibben papers consists of correspondence and documents relating to All Nations Foundation while it was under
McKibben's direction. All Nations Foundation was an organization affiliated with the Church of All Nations, providing important
welfare services to the community in Los Angeles. The collection includes such items as reports on the status of children
and teens in the Los Angeles area who were at risk for delinquency; progress reports on community improvement and delinquency
rates; and information from conferences and employee trainings, many of which had a specific focus on group work. Also included
is much correspondence between All Nations Foundation and other local or national welfare agencies regarding funding, grants,
and progress made in the community.
Related Archival Materials
All Nations Church and Foundation records, Collection no. 0403, California Social Welfare Archives, Special Collections, USC
Libraries, University of Southern California
All Nations Church and Foundation photographs, Collection no. 0421, California Social Welfare Archives, Special Collections,
USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Los Angeles County Coordinating Councils Records, Collection no. 0406, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern
California
Council of Social Agencies of Los Angeles records, Collection no. 0480, California Social Welfare Archives, Special Collections,
USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Community Chest and Welfare Federation of Los Angeles Area records, Collection no. 0461, California Social Welfare Archives,
Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Subjects and Indexing Terms
All Nations Foundation (Los Angeles, Calif.). -- Archives
McKibben, Robert A., (Robert Anderson), 1895-1984 -- Archives
National Conference of Social Work (U.S.) . -- Archives
National Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers. -- Archives
Neighborhood Adult Participation Project (Los Angeles, Calif.). -- Archives
Welfare Council of Metropolitan Los Angeles. -- Archives
Welfare Federation of Los Angeles Area. -- Archives
Correspondence
Los Angeles (Calif.)--Social conditions--Archival resources
Reports
Social group work--California--Los Angeles--Archival resources
Social work with juvenile delinquents--California--Los Angeles--Archival resources
Social work with youth--California--Los Angeles--Archival resources
Box 1, Folder 1
Los Angeles Bulletin Vol. 27, No. 36
1945 May 18
Scope and Content
Los Angeles Bulletin: Official Publication, Lions Club of Los Angeles; Vol. 27, No. 36. This publication mentions on the front
page an upcoming speech Robert A. McKibben would be giving titled, "Youth Services--1945".
Box 1, Folder 2
All Nations Foundation misc. papers and letters
1928-1962
Scope and Content
This folder includes historical descriptions of, and letters regarding, various humanitarian or charitable organizations including
Goodwill Industries and Methodist Hospital of Los Angeles. This folder also contains many letters received by All Nations
Foundation from various community leaders or Los Angeles city officials praising the organization for the charitable work
they do and for their success in decreasing juvenile delinquency. Additionally, there are invitations to dinners put on by
All Nations Foundation, appeals for donations, and other miscellaneous correspondence between All Nations Foundation and community
leaders. There are several photographs included in the folder as well.
Box 1, Folder 3
The "Old City" of Los Angeles 1936 Map
1936
Scope and Content
This map encompasses a 25 square mile area of Los Angeles, and is labeled with statistics about the area such as the number
of elementary schools, rent and tax rates as compared to other areas of the city, etc.
Box 1, Folder 4
Miscellaneous Correspondence
1938-1953
Scope and Content
This folder contains many miscellaneous letters to and from All Nations Foundation, including correspondence regarding: building
repairs; donations and services for All Nations Foundation; adoption information; various conferences and training courses;
numerous letters from the Welfare Federation of Los Angeles Area and other community-improving organizations; a report on
the juvenile delinquincy problem in San Diego; and other miscellaneous correspondence.
Box 1, Folder 5
Robert McKibben letters and papers--general
1938-1960
Scope and Content
Miscellaneous papers of Robert A. McKibben including letters regarding the administration of summer camps for children, a
lengthy "notebook" from a conference put on by National Federation of Settlements in 1941, and other correspondence from the
National Federation of Settlements, drafts of policy statements and reports, etc. Also worth noting is a reference written
by Robert McKibben for a girl trying to leave Manzanar internment camp.
Box 1, Folder 6
Reports and Papers--National Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers
1941-1960
Scope and Content
This folder contains many reports and meeting minutes from the National Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers.
This includes documents regarding budgets, regulations, tax-exempt status, and action items, or which detail the living situation
of poor families and the housing shortage. There are also some analyses of bills in the U.S. legislature which would have
social consequences for immigrants, or which deal with the housing shortage, etc. Additionally, this folder contains a report
from the Music Division of the National Federation of Settlements which talks about the benefits of teaching music to children
and which highlights various music programs for children around the United States.
Box 1, Folder 7
Welfare Federation of L.A., miscellaneous social welfare agencies: papers and correspondence
1949-1960
Scope and Content
This folder contains a large amount of correspondence regarding administrative matters of All Nations Foundation, much of
which relates to budget items and donations, or repairs and renovations of All Nations Foundation buildings.
Box 1, Folder 8
Welfare Council of Metro L.A. Youth Services Dlivision; Civic Center Study Committee
1949-1951
Scope and Content
Between 1949 and 1951, the Civic Center Study Committee studied "the needs and services to youth in the Civic Center area.
The specific purpose of the study was to assist the three Community Chest agancies... in deciding whether the services that
they had been giving were still needed or should be redirected." The folder contains surveys, reports, and other notes relating
to findings and recommendations of the committee.
Box 1, Folder 9
National Conference of Social Work
1953
Scope and Content
This folder consists of the 1953 official ballot of the National Conference of Social Work along with "The Conference Bulletin",
published by the National Conference of Social Work, Summer 1953: Vol. 56, No. 4
Box 1, Folder 10
Narcotics Control Conference
1953
Scope and Content
This folder consists of a brochure put out by the Council on Alcoholism, a brochure from The Narcotic Educational Foundation
of America, a list of recent publications on narcotics, and materials from the Narcotics Control Conference held in 1953.
Box 1, Folder 11
NASW LA Chapter (Proposed) By-Laws
1955 August
Scope and Content
National Association of Social Workers Los Angeles Area Chapter proposed by-laws; August 1955
Box 1, Folder 12
National Social Welfare Assembly--International Exchange Project
1955
Scope and Content
This folder contains correspondence between All Nations Foundation and International Exchange Project as well as other documents
pertaining to foreign exchange participants from Iran, Korea, and Indonesia.
Box 2, Folder 1
Booklets/ information guides on group work
1927-1938
Scope and Content
This folder contains several booklets which explore the objectives and methods of doing group work; also in the folder are
the first and second Annual Reports from the National Association for the Study of Group Work.
Box 2, Folder 2
California Council on Group Work
1936-1940
Scope and Content
This folder contains many documents from the California Council on Group Work. This includes recommendations and reports regarding
group work, and statements on the objectives of group work: "to contribute to individual development, integration and socialization".
Box 2, Folder 3
American Association for the Study of Group Work
1937-1942
Scope and Content
This folder contains many documents and much correspondence to/from All Nations Foundation relating to group work. Also included
is a draft of the American Association for the Study of Group Work 1939 by-laws, a booklet titled "Record Keeping in Group
Work", and various newsletters.
Box 2, Folder 4
U.S.C. School of Social Work Subcommittee on Group Work; Harleigh B. Trecker
1941-1942
Scope and Content
Agendas and minutes from meetings held by the Committee on Group Work at the USC School of Social Work.
Box 2, Folder 5
California Community Foundation
1935-1940
Scope and Content
Correspondence between the California Commmunity Foundation and All Nations Foundation regarding funding and bills for projects
and improvements to the houses owned by All Nations Foundation.
Box 2, Folder 6
California Youth Act; proposed 1937
1937
Scope and Content
This folder contains the full text of the California Youth Act as well as correspondence relating to the act.
Box 2, Folder 7
California Conference of Social Work
1937-1953
Scope and Content
This folder contains a program from a conference put on by the California Conference of Social Work, newsletters and minutes
from the California Conference of Social Work, documents on group work, and various other correspondence between All Nations
Foundation and the California Conference of Social Work.
Box 2, Folder 8
California Conference of Social Work
1946-1947
Scope and Content
This folder contains several copies of a report titled "General Needs in Health and Welfare and Types of Legislation which
the State Conference Might Support", along with programs and newsletters from the California Conference of Social Work.
Box 2, Folder 9
Welfare Council of L.A. and Council of Social Agencies
1941-1945
Scope and Content
This folder contains several lists of donors to All Nations Foundation, as well as much correspondence between All Nations
Foundation and the Welfare Council of L.A. regarding budgets, funding, and votes of appreciation.
Box 2, Folder 10
Community Welfare Federation; All Nations repairs
1946-1951
Scope and Content
Correspondence regarding billing, funding, and payment for repairs at locations owned by All Nations Foundation.
Box 2, Folder 11
Community Welfare Federation Job Classification and Pay Plans
1946-1960
Scope and Content
This folder contains correspondence and documents regarding open job positions, job qualifications, changing of job titles
and responsibilities, and pay for All Nations Foundation employees. Also included is an interesting survey on the classification
and pay procedure of employees at All Nations Foundation.
Box 2, Folder 12
National Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers
1952-1965
Scope and Content
This folder contains a compilation of Resolutions adopted by the National Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers;
a brochure of job listings at summer camps for kids in 1965; miscellaneous correspondence regarding hiring new employees (in
particular hiring Peace Corps veterans); correspondence regarding government grants; notes and summaries of training programs;
a report on The Housing Act of 1959; and a 1961-1962 National Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers Directory
of Member Houses.
Box 2, Folder 13
National Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers; Asilomar Conference
1962
Scope and Content
This folder contains information and materials from the Asilomar Conference put on by the National Federation of Settlements
and Neighborhood Centers; it includes a lengthy report by Arthur Hillman on "Experimental Approaches in Deprived Areas", as
well as documents on "Basic Principles of Board Operation", and "Responsibilities and Relationships of Committees, Chairmen,
and Staff".
Box 2, Folder 14
Welfare Information Service and miscellaneous papers
1964
Scope and Content
This folder contains correspondence between All Nations Foundation and Welfare Information Service regarding the role of WIS
in providing referrals for former clients or new applicants to the All Nations Clinic. There are also miscellaneous notes
on improving public relations, memos to employees on the gravity of the postage rate increase and the effects it would have
on the All Nations Foundation budget, as well as tips employees should follow in order to cut postage costs, a brochure from
the Regional Conference of the Progressive Education Association, the script for an untitled 1954 Community Chest Film, the
Jewish Centers Association of Los Angeles Constitution, a 1966-1967 Annual Report of the Wesley Social Service Center, and
a few newspaper clippings relating to the work done by All Nations Foundation.
Box 2, Folder 15
Neighborhood Adult Participation
1968
Scope and Content
This folder contains a few papers relating specifically to the Career Development Division of the Neighborhood Adult Participation
Project.