Guide to the Manuscript Collections of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.

An introduction to the documentary heritage and tradition of the third largest group of prostestants in the southern United States. A companion to Harold Prince’s A Presbyterian Bibliography , it locates and describes the unpublished papers of PCUS ministers. It also documents the larger southern tradition by including selected materials from the antebellum period and from other Presbyterian denominations. The result is a listing of resources for the study of the PCUS as well as southern Presbyterianism. Its purpose: to promote and encourage research in Presbyterian history; to make files, diaries, sermons, minutes, letters, etc more intelligible; and finally, to emphasize the continuing relevance of these materials in contemporary church life. Robert Benedetto’s introduction includes a survey of nine subject areas: theology, education, church and society, international missions, national missions, women, racial ethnic ministries, ecumenical relations, and worship and music. Each area highlights major research and provides a concise orientation to the life and mission of the denomination. Each survey is followed by a brief listing of manuscript materials. The guide itself includes manuscript collections from the Department of History (Montreat) and other repositories.