San Diego County Christian Endeavor Collection, 1890-1967

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Summary

Title:
San Diego County Christian Endeavor Collection
Dates:
1890-1967
Creators:
San Diego Christian Endeavor Society. and San Diego County Christian Endeavor Union.
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.
Extent:
4.5 Linear feet (8 boxes)
Language:
Preferred citation:

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

Background

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.

Biographical / historical:

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.

Processing information:

Collection processed by Frank Sweeney in December 2011.

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.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Samantha Mills
Date Prepared:
January 5, 2017
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2017-01-05T13:21-0800

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials.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

Preferred citation:

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

Location of this collection:
1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA 92101, US
Contact:
(619) 232-6203
Website