Call Number:

MC.1171

Repository:

Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections

Extent:

6.75 linear ft. (11 document boxes and 6 volumes, addition 3 boxes)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Edwin B. Bronner papers (HC.MC.1171), Quaker & Special Collections, Haverford College, Haverford, PA.

Date:

1952-1978 (inclusive)

Creator:

Bronner, Edwin B., 1920-

Form:

Correspondence, letters (correspondence), and Business records

Abstract:

Papers from the Fourth World Conference of Friends (Quakers) which was held at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1967. Edwin Bronner was chair of the Executive Committee of the American Section, but there was worldwide representation by Friends and guests. A well known speaker at the conference was U.N. Secretary General U Thant.

The World Conference of Friends was held approximately every 15 years (1: 1920; 2: 1937; 3: 1952; 4: 1967) the 5th, scheduled for 1982, took place in 1991, allowing each new generation of Friends to participate in and understand contributions, opportunities, and problems facing the Society. The purpose of the conference has been defined as: "deepening of fellowship in the Spirit, in inspiration and mutual support, in growing awareness of worldwide membership of the Society."

The 1967 conference took place from July 25 to August 2, 1967, at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina. The conference theme was "Seek, Find, Share: the Time is this Present". There were 900 representatives appointed by their Yearly Meetings worldwide, including 550 from 26 American Yearly Meetings.

Edwin Bronner served as chair of Friends World Committee, American Section from 1967 to 1971; he was chair of Friends World Committee for Consultation from 1974 to 79; he was the former Librarian of Haverford College and former Curator of the Haverford Quaker Collection, as well as a professor of history. Douglas Steere was chair of Friends World Committee for Consultation at that time.

The Friends World Conference Committee (WCC4), Planning Committee of the Friends World Committee, American Section (FWCA), and Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) organized the 4th World Conference of Friends (hereafter WCF; thus the 4th Conference in 1967 = WCF4). WCF2 (1937) had established the Friends World Committee for Consultation in 1937, among other things, to "act in a consultative capacity to promote better understanding among Friends the world over …" and to disseminate information concerning Quaker contributions in world affairs, in which capacities it continues to function today. All members of Yearly Meetings or other groups of the Religious Society of Friends which choose to affiliate are members of FWCC.

(Information from internal evidence, the Dictionary of Quaker Biography, obituary notices, and GV VIII)

Papers from the Fourth World Conference of Friends (Quakers), which was held at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1967. Edwin Bronner was chair of the Executive Committee of the American Section, but there was worldwide representation by Friends and guests. A well known speaker at the conference was U.N. Secretary General U Thant.

Boxes 1-8 relate to the 1967 Fourth World Conference of Friends. Boxes 9 -11 contain materials on the business of Friends World Committee, American Section, Friends World Committee for Consultation and World Council of Churches, 1963-1978 (bulk: 1967-1978; only the World Council of Churches folder is 1963). The business includes the 1967 Fourth World Conference of Friends. In small part, Edwin Bronner served as an observer at the central committee of the World Council of Churches (1963) and as Chair of the Friends World Committee for Consultation (1974-1979). The collection contains correspondence and other documents pertaining to the business of Friends World Committee, American Section; Friends World Committee for Consultation; and World Council of Churches. Correspondents include: Herbert Hadley, William Barton, Tayeko Yamanouchi, Robert Rumsey, Barrett Hollister, Filemona Indire, Thomas Lung'aho, Lewis Waddilove, and Margaret Gibbins.

Folders are arranged chronologically with arrangement within years, except in cases where, for research purposes, material was kept together across years, as e.g. "minutes of the planning committees, 1964-1967;" occasionally, the logical progression of events across years mandates placing folders chronologically in sequence rather than alphabetically (e.g. the study books in box 1). Material within folders is also arranged chronologically.