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Guide to the San Diego County Christian Endeavor Collection
MS 293
MS 293
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Title: San Diego County Christian Endeavor Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MS 293
Contributing Institution:
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
4.5 Linear feet
(8 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1890-1967
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.
creator:
San Diego Christian Endeavor Society.
creator:
San Diego County Christian Endeavor Union.
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.
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.
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.
San Diego County Christian Endeavor Society Collection, MS 293, San Diego History Center Document Archives, San Diego, CA.
This collection is open for research.
The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.
Collection processed by Frank Sweeney in December 2011.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
First Congregational Church of San Diego..
United Society of Christian Endeavor .
Christian youth
Christianity
San Diego (Calif.)
San Diego (Calif.) -- Church history
San Diego County (Calif.)
San Diego County (Calif.) -- Church history