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COLLECTION Identifier: bMS 663

Davies, A. Powell (Arthur Powell). Papers,

Overview

Papers of Unitarian minister Arthur Powell Davies, including addresses, writings, sermons, historical and office files, and personal papers. The papers span 1931-1959.

Dates

  • Creation: 1931-1959.

Access

There are no restrictions on access to this collection.

Extent

4 boxes

This collection is divided into eight series. Series I contains addresses, arranged alphabetically by title. Series II consists of material related to the American Unitarian Association, including the Unitarian Service Committee. Series III relates to estate matters such as eulogies, obituaries, and tributes. Series IV is comprised of Davies' historical and office files. Series V are Davies' personal papers, including awards. Series VI contains sermons, arranged chronologically. Series VII is comprised of social and political concerns, arranged alphabetically by subject. Series VIII contains Davies' writings, arranged alphabetically by title.

Biographical / Historical

The Rev. Arthur Powell Davies (1902-1957) was born in Birkenhead, England. In 1925, he received his academic and theological degrees from London University, along with the Theology Prize. He also received an honorary doctor of divinity from Meadville Theological School in 1947 and an honorary doctor of humane letters from Howard University in 1955. Davies originally served as a Methodist minister in London, England, and in Portland, Maine. He was ordained as a Unitarian minister in 1933 and began his ministry in Summit, New Jersey, from 1933 to 1944, and continued at All Souls Church in Washington, D.C., from 1944 to 1957. While at All Soul's, he was very critical of Joseph McCarthy and his tactics, although he himself was staunchly opposed to Communism. This led to some controversy when Davies called for the dismissal of AUA magazine editor, Stephen Fritchman, whom he saw as a Communist sympathizer. Davies was also the founder of Americans for Democratic Action, served as the chairperson of the Emergency Conference on Civilian Control of Atomic Energy, and was the president of Food for Freedom. He is the author of numerous books, including American Destiny, Man's Vast Future: A Definition of Democracy, and The Faith of an Unrepentant Liberal, as well as the author of many articles.

Arrangement

Organized into the following series:

  1. Series I. Addresses
  2. Series II. American Unitarian Association
  3. Series III. Estate matters
  4. Series IV. Historical and office files
  5. Series V. Personal papers
  6. Series VI. Sermons
  7. Series VII. Social and political concerns
  8. Series VIII. Writings

Related Materials

For related collection, please see bMS 378.

General note

The number after the slash in each entry in the following list indicates the box number, and the number in parentheses is the folder number.

Title
Davies, A. Powell (Arthur Powell). Papers, 1931-1959: A Finding Aid.
Author
Andover-Harvard Theological Library
Language of description
und
EAD ID
div00663

Repository Details

Part of the Harvard Divinity School Library, Harvard University Repository

Special Collections at Harvard Divinity School Library preserves and makes accessible primary source materials documenting the history of religion and theology, with particular historical emphasis on American liberal religious traditions. Though the historical strengths of the collections have been in the field of Christianity, other religious traditions are increasingly reflected, in step with Harvard Divinity School's evolving focus on global religious studies. Known as Andover-Harvard Theological Library since 1911, it was renamed the Harvard Divinity School Library in 2021.

Contact:
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