Scope and content:

This series includes publications produced by the BCA, including gatha and service books, temple and commemorative publications, and serials publications. There are also publications collected but not published by the BCA and publications by affiliated organizations. Serials included in this series are: Horin (1944-1995), Buddhist Newsletter (1963-1974), The American Buddhist (1957-1973), and Wheel of Dharma (1973-1989). The Wheel of Dharma succeeded the American Buddhist.

Horin, published monthly, specialized in disseminating news and articles on Buddhism to Japanese speaking members and by 1956 was published in English as well. The American Buddhist, replaced by Wheel of Dharma in 1973, carried religious articles and other special features directed at the English speaking members and other interested groups. The Buddhist Newsletter, also known as the BCA Newsletters, was also published monthly and chronicled news and events within the Buddhist Churches of America.

Newsletters and bulletins serve to inform members about religious events and celebrations as well as more secular events (business meetings, basketball tournaments) and sometimes include event calendars. Some contain information about individual dharma schools or educational articles focused on Buddhist principles. Some include financial information about donations and pledges or include treasurer's reports. Other articles highlight the lives and accomplishments of individual members.

There are also commemorative publications produced by various temples. They were solicited by and donated to BCA headquarters for its Centennial History Project.

Temple publications include weekly and monthly newsletters and bulletins generated both by temples and districts in the mainland United States as well as Hawaii. There are also some publications created by non-BCA groups. These materials are in English and Japanese. This series best documents the activities of the member temples at the local level. Publications by non-BCA temples include newsletters from the Buddhist Churches of Canada and from several Hongwanji missions in Hawaii.

Highlights of the newsletters from California include Berkeley Bussei (1939-1960 with gaps), Jikishin of Fresno (1940s-1950s) and Triratna of Fresno (1940s-1950s). Both Jikishin (in Japanese) and Triratna (in English) were published under the direction of Reverend Itsuzo Kyogoku.

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