Finding Aid for the All Nations Church and Foundation records
Table of Contents
Finding aid prepared by Jane Adler, Clay Stalls, 28 March 2000
Summary Information
- Repository
- USC Libraries Special Collections
- Creator
- All Nations Foundation (Los Angeles, Calif.).
- Creator
- Church of All Nations (Los Angeles, Calif.).
- Title
- All Nations Church and Foundation records
- Collection no.
- 0403
- Date
- 1925-1978 (bulk 1930s)
- Extent
- 3.13 linear ft., 8 boxes
- Language
- English
- Abstract
- The records contain correspondence; program plans and proposals; medical records and statistics; budgets and other financial records; staff rosters; miscellaneous religious publications; newspaper clippings; brochures, and other publications describing the work of All Nations; annual reports; committee reports, agendas, and minutes; and staff reports on activities. This collection encompasses the years 1925-1978, with the bulk of the material dating frmo the decade of the 1930s.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder# or item name], All Nations Church and Foundation records, Collection no. 0403, California Social Welfare Archives, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Historical note
All Nations, in its heyday the largest and most effective social welfare organization in Los Angeles, was begun in 1918 in an east-central section of the city known as "Eastside." Immigration from Europe, Latin America, and Asia into Eastside, coupled with the incursion of wholesale businesses there, led to the departure of the middle class residents of this formerly comfortable community. Local churches, deprived of their original congregations, were dismayed at the prospect of serving this new, needy immigrant population, but the City Missionary Society of the Methodist Church had been looking for just such a settlement opportunity. It sent in a young pastor, Bromley Oxnam, fired with the church's social gospel doctrine to establish a church settlement house in an abandoned church. The collection records the practical energy of Oxnam--later a Methodist bishop--as he gathered donations, organized volunteers, bought land and buildings, equipped gymnasiums, playgrounds, libraries, and clinics for a community where three-fourths of the families were on public assistance. His crowning work in developing the physical facilities of All Nations was the acquisition of a complex of buildings at 810-816-824 E. Sixth Street, in 1927, just before his resignation from All Nations on 1 July 1927 (Oxnam preached his farewell sermon at All Nations on 19 June 1927). Oxnam's successor was the Reverend Robert A. McKibben, whose superior gifts as administrator, social worker, fund raiser, and collaborator with other social welfare agencies, including the Federal and Los Angeles Relief Administrations, and the National Youth Administration, ensured the continued success of All Nations.
Character building activities for the children, a vacation bible school, the library, and medical programs were critical services in the work of All Nations. The last program consisted of a cadre of approximately fifty volunteer doctors, optometrists, and dentists who served the destitute clients of All Nations. Especially noteworthy was All Nations' extraordinarily successful Boys Club. In 1927, when acquiring its new facilities, the department working with boys became a Boys Club of America, with some 950 members from thirty nationalities and fifteen religions. The Eastside had had the highest delinquency rate in the city, but within the next three years this would drop by 65%. Deeply impressed by this aspect of All Nation's service to the Eastside, an unknown donor funded a children's medical clinic at All Nations, even though the Depression battered the United States. (This donor's name in his or her contacts with All Nations was "A. Donor"; see for example box 5, folder 4.) All Nations also operated two other community centers: the Sunset Community Center at 1001-1005 Sunset Boulevard, and the Hollenbeck Heights Social Center at 200 North St. Louis Street. These branches of All Nations concentrated on work with youths.
Reverend McKibben left All Nations in 1952, and was succeeded by James Mixon. The character of the Eastside had begun to change, and by the 1960s new industrial development in the area and slum clearance had reduced the area's population. Such changes led to questions about the usefulness of traditional settlement programs in this area; at the same time All Nations' principal support began to come from the United Way and not the Methodist Church. All Nations, a monument to successful social work, no longer exists.
All information in this history comes from material in the collection or from Robert McKibben, With The Master into the Heart of the City: First Forty Years of All Nations Foundations ([S.l.] [s.n.], 1977?); the founding date of 1918 is provided by Mark H. Wild in Street Meeting: Multiethnic Neighborhoods in Early Twentieth-Century Los Angeles (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2005).
Scope and Content
The All Nations collection consists of two parts; the textual holdings described in this finding aid, and the photographic collection described in a separate finding aid. Both parts of the collection are rich. The All Nations Church and Foundation records consists of correspondence, including that of Robert A. McKibben; program plans and proposals; medical records and statistics; budgets and other financial records; staff rosters; miscellaneous religious publications; newspaper clippings; brochures and other publications describing the work of All Nations; annual reports; committee reports, agendas, and minutes; and staff reports on activities. This collection encompasses the years 1925-1978, with the bulk of the material dating from the decade of the 1930s; much less material exists for the following three decades, and nothing for All Nations' immediate history before its demise.
Organization
This collection has been divided into four series, some with subseries: Programs; Administrative/Organizational Papers; Correspondence; and Outside Agencies. The series are subject-based and generally have not been physically grouped together in the same container; thus, the physical size of each series has not been identified, only the number of folders.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
USC Libraries Special Collections
28 March 2000
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California, 90089-0189
213-740-5900
specol@usc.edu
Revision Description
Finding aid revised, edited and updated by Sue Luftschein, 2011 June
Conditions Governing Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.
Conditions Governing Use
The use of archival materials for on-site research does not constitute permission from the California Social Welfare Archives to publish them. Copyright has not been assigned to the California Social Welfare Archives, and the researcher is instructed to obtain permission to quote from or publish manuscripts in the CSWA's collections from the copyright holder.
Acquisition
Gift of James Blaine, former Director, All Nations Boys Club.
Related Materials
Related Archival Materials
Robert A. McKibben Papers (McKibben's papers not related to All Nations); All Nations Church and Foundation photographs
Controlled Access Headings
Corporate Name(s)
- All Nations Foundation (Los Angeles, Calif.). -- Archives
- Church of All Nations (Los Angeles, Calif.). -- Archives
- Methodist Episcopal Church. -- Archives
Genre(s)
- Brochures
- Clippings
- Correspondence
- Financial records
- Minutes
- Printed ephemera
Geographic Name(s)
- Los Angeles (Calif.)--History--Archival resources
- Los Angeles (Calif.)--Social conditions--Archival resources
Personal Name(s)
- McKibben, Robert A., (Robert Anderson), 1895-1984 -- Archives
Subject(s)
- Clinics--California--Los Angeles--Archival resources
- Social history--Societies and clubs--Social aspects--Archival resources
- Social service--California--Los Angeles--Archival resources
Collection Inventory
Series 1: Administrative/Organizational Records 1925-1978Scope and Contents note10 folders. This collection comprises the miscellaneous papers and publications generated by All Nations; this includes All Nations publications such as informational booklets and publicity brochures; staff applications; miscellaneous religious publications, newspaper clippings, etc. |
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| Box | Folder | |||
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Records 1925-1965 Scope and Contents noteBrochure, staff applications, clipping re death of Methodist bishop, supplies list, twentieth anniversary dinner in honor of Bishop G. Bromley Oxnam, pledge sheet; Methodist Missionary and Church Extension Society budget. |
1 | 11 | ||
|
Records 1932-1967 Scope and Contents notePublications, publicity brochures, program reports, staff applications, correspondence, employment guidelines, Central LA Area Budget Committee statement on finances re All Nations. |
2 | 6 | ||
|
Records 1932, 1935 Scope and Contents notePublications re church work and social work, eg, "The Filipino Youth"; clipping re work of All Nations; "Special Surveys and Studies Progress Reports #3, 4, and 5", for State Relief Administration. |
2 | 7 | ||
|
Records 1935 Scope and Contents noteTypewritten manuscripts of history of All Nations; agency description |
2 | 9 | ||
|
Records 1945-1946 Scope and Contents noteRadio scripts for public service program "One Way Street," with Robert McKibben commenting on social problems. |
3 | 8 | ||
|
Records 1964 Scope and Contents noteBooklet on All Nations Church and its work; All Nations Foundation program projection study. |
3 | 13 | ||
|
Records 1933 Scope and Contents noteCorr., reports on giving publicity plan campaign re publicity efforts for All Nations by the firm Tamblyn and Brown. See All Nations Church and Foundation photographs, Centers and Community series, Box 1, Folder 5. |
4 | 7 | ||
|
Records 1930-1978 Scope and Contents noteCamp announcements publicity brochures; staff roster; Look Magazine offprint re All Nations Boys Club; certificate of appreciation; vacation bible school children's newsletter; stationary certificate of appreciation |
6 | 2 | ||
|
Film scripts 1955 |
8 | 2 | ||
|
Clippings 1938-1955 Scope and Contents noteNewspaper clippings re work of All Nations |
6 | 3 | ||
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Historical material 1927-1978 Scope and ContentMiscellaneous historical material for 60th anniversary. |
8 | 4-5 | ||
| Box | ||||
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Robert A. McKibben, "With the Master into the Heart of the City: First Forty Years of All Nations Foundation" circa 1977 Scope and ContentMcKibben's memoirs. |
8 | |||
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Series 2: Correspondence 1929-1960Scope and Contents note8 folders. This series was created for outgoing and incoming correspondence not related to specific All Nations activities or services, eg, the medical programs. Reverend Robert McKibben authored much of this correspondence, especially the letters of thanks to donors, and the bulk of both his hand and the other correspondence is copies made for the record files of All Nations. |
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| Box | Folder | |||
|
Correspondence 1929-1948 Scope and Contents noteCorrespondence, mostly copies of outgoing letters from Robert McKibben acknowledging donors' gifts. |
1 | 2 | ||
|
Correspondence 1928-1958 Scope and Contents noteCorrespondence re All Nations business, eg, subsidy from Methodist Board of Home Missions and Church Extension. |
1 | 10 | ||
|
Correspondence 1929-1941 Scope and Contents noteIncoming and outgoing correspondence, with accompanying material, re Dr. Robert McKibben and All Nations business; various studies on social problems bear handwritten last name of McKibben, indicating his ownership. |
2 | 2 | ||
|
Correspondence 1930-1941 Scope and Contents noteReports for Dr. McKibben; outgoing and incoming correspondence re Dr. Robert McKibben (includes letters on Japanese immigration quota bill); papers re All Nations and related matters, eg, Council of Social Agencies. |
2 | 3 | ||
|
Correspondence 1932-1960 Scope and Contents noteCorrespondence re thank you letters to donors; letter from children at camps to their donors; All Nations certificates of appreciation. |
3 | 1 | ||
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Correspondence 1936-1940 Scope and Contents noteCorrespondence between Robert McKibben and Bishop G. Bromley Oxnam, and between R. McKibben and Ruth Oxnam (the Bishop's wife); copies of 1916 letters from Edwin Ryland to Oxnam, with article in "Methodist Mission Witness" re All Nations. |
3 | 2 | ||
|
Correspondence 1929-1942 Scope and Contents noteIncoming correspondence to Robert McKibben re All Nation matters, eg, property taxes; and re social causes, eg, child labor law. |
3 | 3 | ||
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Correspondence undated Scope and Contents noteIncoming correspondence to Robert McKibbben, especially re speaking engagements. |
3 | 6 | ||
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Correspondence 1933-1976 Scope and ContentCorrespondence between Bromley Oxnam and Robert McKibben regarding Founders' Dinner; general correspondence; programs for Alpha Phi Delta banquet; clipping; Civitan Club of Los Angeles mailings; typescript photocopied histories of Methodist Hospital and Goodwill Industries. |
8 | 1 | ||
|
|
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Series 3: Outside Agencies 1929-1964Scope and Contents note14 folders. Subseries: Religious, Public, Private. All Nations' material from its extensive contacts with social welfare agencies, public and private, secular and religious, is identified in the series "Outside Agencies", with the subseries "Religious", "Public", and "Private" indicating the nature of these agencies. The subseries "Religious" includes the Los Angeles Missionary and Church Extension Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Methodist agency responsible for funding All Nations. Material regarding All Nations' contacts with government agencies is found under the subseries "Public". Of special interest is how this subseries documents the development of the Welfare State in the Depression, through such materials as correspondence and federal forms from the National Youth Administration. the subseries "Private" identifies material concerning secular, non-governmental social agencies, such as the Los Angeles Welfare Council. |
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| Box | Folder | |||
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Records 1929-1936 Scope and Contents noteCorrespondence, reports, forms, minutes, agendas re committees: Study Committee of Methodist Agencies at All Nations; Committee on Correlation [of Methodist Church]; Docket Committee... of Southern California Council of Religious Education. |
3 | 7 | ||
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Records 1937-1939 Scope and Contents noteCorrespondence, testimonials of past members, report re Civitan Club (boys' club) |
4 | 4 | ||
Private 1932-1964 |
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| Box | Folder | |||
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Private agencies records 1945-1950 Scope and Contents noteCorrespondence, bulletins, memoranda from Los Angeles Welfare Council; All Nations statistical sheets re program budgets and attendance; All Nations staff roster; All Nations budget analysis re financial requests to Welfare Council (some materials mimeographed) |
2 | 5 | ||
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Private agencies records 1960, 1964 |
2 | 8 | ||
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Private agencies records 1932-1939 Scope and Contents noteCorrespondence, brochures and booklets, dinner seating list, list of donor contributions re Boys Club of America; All Nations Boys Club sale proposal, dinner program, correspondence; other boys clubs materials. |
4 | 12 | ||
Public 1935-1945 |
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| Box | Folder | |||
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Public agencies records 1935-1938 Scope and Contents noteCorrespondence, lists of dental appointments and needs for children, health reports and surveys re All Nations and work with LA County Relief. |
2 | 1 | ||
|
Public agencies records 1936-1940 Scope and Contents noteReports, correspondence, rosters of National Youth Administration workers, NYA forms and guidelines, personnel evaluation re work and activities of NYA personnel with All Nations; NYA brochure and Q&A sheet; LA County NYA work project application |
2 | 4 | ||
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Public agencies records 1945 Scope and Contents noteWelfare Council of Metropolitan Los Angeles memoranda re All Nations |
4 | 1 | ||
| Box | ||||
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Margret Hirschfeld, "Neighborhood Centers: A Self-Study by 13 Community Chest Supported Settlement Houses in the Los Angeles Area" (Program Division, Welfare Federation of Los Angeles Area) 1961 December |
8 | |||
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"Los Angeles Communtiy Welfare Federation: Job Classification and Pay Plan" 1946 November 26 |
8 | |||
Religious 1929-1953 |
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| Box | Folder | |||
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Religious agencies records 1929-1940 Scope and Contents noteLos Angeles Missionary and Church Extension Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church correspondence and papers, mostly re finances and budget of All Nations |
3 | 4 | ||
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Religious agencies records 1946-1953 Scope and Contents noteCorrespondence, bulletin, planning committee minutes, proceedings re "Church Conference of Social Work"; Church Social Work questionnaire; photocopies of articles in "The Methodist" re All Nations |
3 | 5 | ||
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Religious agencies records 1938-1953 Scope and Contents noteCorrespondence, newsletter, conference schedules and information, constitution and by-laws, flyers, annual report re Association of Church Social Workers. |
3 | 9 | ||
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Religious agencies records 1952-1953 Scope and Contents noteMeeting minutes, correspondence, information sheet, statistical profile of case work, budget, flyer re Church Welfare Bureau |
3 | 10 | ||
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Religious agencies records 1952 Scope and Contents noteReports, papers, minutes of meetings re Department of Welfare, National Council of Churches. |
3 | 11 | ||
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Religious agencies records 1953 Scope and Contents noteFlyer, program invitation (mimeographed) and invitation letter re Religious Education Association, Southern California Chapter. |
3 | 12 | ||
|
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Series 4: Programs 1925-1961Scope and Contents note31 folders. Subseries: Neighborhood Centers, Clinics, Boys' Camp. The records of a number of All Nations programs for its clientele of Los Angeles' Eastside are preserved in this collection. Hence, this series made up of program proposals, budgets and financial statements, newspaper clippings, staff rosters, correspondence, committee reports, agendas, and minutes. The All Nations Sunset and Hollenbeck youth centers play prominent roles in this series, and are accounted for in the subseries "Neighborhood Center". The run of material on all Nations' dental, medical, and apotometrical clinics is identified by the subseries "Clinics". |
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| Box | Folder | |||
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Programs 1925-1931 Scope and Contents noteAll Nations Library: book lists' lists of book fines and receipts for book fines, and list of books missing; list of books borrowed and received by Library; correspondence with Los Angeles Public Library re payment of book fines. |
1 | 1 | ||
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Programs 1925-1926 Scope and Contents noteReports and strategic guidelines by Charles Thompson, Director of Boys Work re Boys Work program; paper for university class by Charles Thompson. |
1 | 4 | ||
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Programs 1927-1931 Scope and Contents noteLesson plans, evaluation of students, itenary of trips, list of names and addresses, approaches to teaching for vacation bible school (in notebook); loose instructional materials. Condition: pages brittle |
1 | 7 | ||
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Programs 1927-1928 Scope and ContentBrochure, pamphlet on Boys' Club building. |
8 | 3 | ||
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Programs 1928, 1932 Scope and Contents noteAnnouncements and registration, letter of support, financial report, general report re All Nations Vacation Bible School |
1 | 9 | ||
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Programs 1927-1959 Scope and Contents noteClipping and Rotary Club newsletter article, promotional booklets, correspondence, ephemera, list of cost of benefactions, Christmas program re All Nations Boys Club; All Nations Boys Club 25th Anniversary speeches; other boys clubs materials. |
4 | 11 | ||
|
Programs 1927 Scope and Contents noteLedger with schedules and All Nations leaders of activities for boys and girl clubs, gym, nursery, game room, etc.; includes medical clinics' schedules, supervising doctors, and illnesses treated |
6 | 1 | ||
Clinics 1931-1960 |
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| Box | Folder | |||
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Clinics 1932-1933, 1939 Scope and Contents noteCorrespondence, roster of optometrics, reports from LA County Association of Optometrics on establishment and closure re All Nations Optometry Department |
4 | 2 | ||
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Clinics 1940 Scope and Contents noteReview of gynecology department of All Nations Clinic |
4 | 3 | ||
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Clinics 1937-1939 Scope and Contents noteStatistical reports on dental case and patients; Los Angeles Record article on All Nations. |
4 | 5 | ||
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Clinics 1934-1942 Scope and Contents noteRosters of staff, department heads, committees, patient statistics re All Nations Clinics |
4 | 6 | ||
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Clinics 1948-1957 Scope and Contents noteCorrespondence, agendas and accompanying annual reports re All Nations Clinic staff meetings; report on Adult Clinic by Welfare Council of Los Angeles |
4 | 8 | ||
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Clinics 1934 Scope and Contents noteRequisitions with reports and correspondence, audits, financial reports re Clinic funding; employee salaries report for LA Community Welfare Federation; student application for work and Clinic |
5 | 4 | ||
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Clinics 1934-1936 Scope and Contents noteRequisitions with reports and correspondence re Clinic funding; correspondence acknowledging receipt of requisition money; correspondence re Clinic matters |
5 | 5 | ||
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Clinics 1932-1936 Scope and Contents noteBudgets, requisitions with reports and correspondence re Clinic funding; correspondence and annual reports re work of Child Welfare Clinic; correspondence with American Youth Commission re sponsorship; minutes of Child Clinic Board |
5 | 6 | ||
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Clinics 1931-1932 Scope and Contents noteDisbursements account, monthly financial report, requisitions with budget and correspondence re Child Clinic; correspondence, proposal re Falk Foundation funding; outgoing and incoming correspondence, report re Clinic; salary of student workers; minutes of Child Clinic Board |
5 | 7 | ||
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Clinics 1941-1944 Scope and Contents noteCertificates of appreciation awarded by Board of Trustees of All Nation Foundation to doctors and medical staff to Clinics; dates of awards not contemporaneous with times of service |
6 | 4 | ||
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Clinics 1934-1960 Scope and Contents noteStaff applications, staff roster, bulleting, newspaper clippings, annual reports re All Nations Clinic; survey of Clinic by W.B. Brandt & Co. |
4 | 9 | ||
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Clinics 1938-1942 Scope and Contents noteMinutes, agenda re All Nations Clinic staff and executive staff meetings Clinic staff and executive staff rosters; correspondence, annual reports, patient information |
4 | 10 | ||
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Clinics 1933-1939 Scope and Contents noteBooklets, budget, report, informational sheet re Clinic; report on Clinic: "A Case History of the Child Welfare Clinic" (3 copies). Dissertation examination program re Clinic (dissertation by E. Du Vall, Clinic director) |
5 | 1 | ||
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Clinics 1931-1932 Scope and Contents noteMemoranda & proposal on Child Welfare Clinic; reports on progress of Child Welfare Clinic; roster of students working at Clinic; clipping re Clinic donation; announcement re contest for social service project (won by All Nations) |
5 | 2 | ||
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Clinics 1931-1952 Scope and Contents noteSocial Service Prize contest report (from which funding received for Child Welfare Clinic); report on Clinic's guidance service; Clinic Board minutes & statement of purpose; J. Blaine thesis on Clinic; various reports re Clinic |
5 | 3 | ||
Boys' Camp 1935-1941, undated |
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| Box | Folder | |||
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Boys' Camp 1935-1939 Scope and Contents noteConstruction. Financial Estimates. Bids and changing estimates for the cost of constructing the camp, with donor information |
7 | 1 | ||
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Boys' Camp 1938-1940 Scope and Contents noteConstruction. Invoices. Bills for goods and services rendered in the creation of Boys' Camp. |
7 | 2 | ||
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Boys' Camp 1935-1940 Scope and Contents noteCorrespondence. Collection of letters with persons and public agencies concerning construction of the Big Pines camp. |
7 | 3 | ||
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Boys' Camp 1941- Scope and Contents noteOperations. A selection of reports on camp activities. |
7 | 4 | ||
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Boys' Camp 1938-1939 Scope and Contents notePool & Tank Construction. Design, funding, and construction documents concerning the pool at Boys' Camp. |
7 | 5 | ||
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Boys' Camp undated Scope and Contents noteSwimming Pool. WPA Equipment. Documenting the loans of WPA equipment for the building of structures at Big pines camp. |
7 | 6 | ||
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Boys' Camp 1940- Scope and Contents noteNewspaper clipping. Concerning activities at Boys' Camp. |
7 | 7 | ||
Neighborhood Centers 1932-1961 |
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| Box | Folder | |||
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Neighborhood Centers 1933 Scope and Contents noteReport, correspondence (outgoing and incoming), schedules, staffing requirements, organizational chart and prgrams and equipment needs (2 copies), report of initial meeting re opening and open house of Sunset Center |
1 | 5 | ||
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Neighborhood Centers 1934, 1936 Scope and Contents noteInventory, correspondence, information sheet, organization chart, newspaper clipping re Sunset Center; minutes of executive board of Sunset Center; correspondence re opening of directorship (given to Fred Dobric). |
1 | 6 | ||
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Neighborhood Centers 1932-1959 Scope and Contents noteMinutes, committee report, report by USC sociology professor for Council of Social Agencies, budget, re Hollenbeck Heights Social Center; promotional letters re summer camps. See All Nations Church and Foundation photographs, Centers and Community--Neighborhood Centers and Organizations, Box 1, Folder 3, and Box 3, Section 3 for images featuring the Hollenbeck Heights Social Center. |
1 | 8 | ||
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Neighborhood Centers 1958-1961 Scope and Contents noteBrochure, promotional letter, summary reports and handwritten suggestions for All Nations by Mike Schutz; letter of recommendation for Mike Schutz by Jean Green, Eastside Center |
1 | 3 | ||
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