Berlin Fellowship Collection, 1952-2015

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Summary

Title:
Berlin Fellowship Collection
Dates:
1952-2015
Creators:
Berlin Fellowship
Abstract:
Extent:
10 Boxes, 3.88 linear feet
Language:
Preferred citation:

Berlin Fellowship Collection. Fuller Theological Seminary-David Allan Hubbard Library Archives

Background

Scope and content:

The Berlin Fellowship Collection, 1952-2015 consists of physical and digital materials received from the Berlin Fellowship U.S.A. and Berlin Fellowship, Germany. The records document the activities of an informal group of Presbyterian laypeople and pastors who maintained an ecumenical visitation ministry with Christians in the German Democratic Republic, 1961-1996. Formats include subject files, correspondence, photographs, reports, minutes, financial records, clippings, scrapbooks, publications, audio cassettes, and digital files. Materials were created from 1952-1996.

Biographical / historical:

The “Berlin Fellowship” program ran from as early as 1961 until 1996 within the German Democratic Republic (GDR). The program had its roots in an American Christian ministry of reconciliation in the years immediately after the Second World War (World Deputation, 1st Presbyterian Church of Hollywood). The ministry initially focused on work in German youth and reconstruction camps. During the early years of the Cold War and in the 50’s, during the so-called “Kirchenkampf” (church-state struggle in the GDR), contact between American and German Christians continued. Reciprocal visits ensued and retreats for church workers, including those from the GDR, were held in West Berlin.

Acquisition information:
Gift, c. May 15, 2015, from Mrs. Ursula Unterumsberger from Berlin, Germany. Frau Bärbel Eccardt, from whom these files originated, was a church worker at the Zinzendorf Parish, the West Berlin home of Berlin Fellowship. Hard drive of digital files. Transfer, 2014, from the Presbyterian Historical Society (originally deposited by Bradley Baur and Reverend Jane Holslag). Papers including the California-based Berlin Fellowship meeting minutes and team reports from the 1970s-1996.

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid created by Fuller Theological Seminary-David Allan Hubbard Library Archives staff.
Date Prepared:
1952-2015
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using Record Express for OAC5 on July 14, 2025, 2:54 p.m.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Supervised use only.

Terms of access:

Scholarly use of United States documents within parameters of United States copyright law. Digital copies of German archive are subject to Federal Republic of Germany ‘protection of information’ regulations.

Preferred citation:

Berlin Fellowship Collection. Fuller Theological Seminary-David Allan Hubbard Library Archives

Location of this collection:
135 North Oakland Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91182, US
Contact:
(626) 584-5311
archives@fuller.edu
Website