Overview
Papers of Unitarian minister Raymond Bragg (1902-1979) primarily containing correspondence relating to Bragg's pastoral and administrative work in the American Unitarian Association.
Dates
- Creation: 1920-1979.
Extent
2 boxesCollection consists primarily of correspondence relating to Bragg's pastoral and administrative work in the American Unitarian Association. These folders are arranged alphabetically by correspondent. Included in the correspondence is one subject file, a folder containing materials about a Unitarian Universalist Association resolution regarding the work of the United Nations. The collection also includes miscellaneous biographical materials: ordination certificates, notices of church appointments, etc. Among these biographical materials is one photograph of Bragg in a classroom setting, published by the Kansas City Art Institute
Biographical / Historical
Raymond Bragg (1902-1979) was born in Massachusetts and attended Bates College and Brown University. In 1927, he earned a B.A. in philosophy from the University of Chicago and a B.D. from Meadville Theological School and was ordained at the Unitarian Church of All Souls in Evanston, Illinois where he was pastor until 1930. From 1930-1935 he served as the Secretary of the Western Unitarian Conference. During these years he was also the editor of The New Humanist, and was one of the signers of the Humanist Manifesto, which helped give rise to a new humanist movement within Unitarianism. He served as pastor of the First Unitarian Society in Minneapolis, Minnesota from 1935-1947. He was the Executive Director of the Unitarian Service Committee from 1947-1952, and then became the pastor of All Souls Unitarian Church, Kansas City, Missouri, where he remained until his retirement in 1973. During this time, he chaired the Kansas City's Civil Liberties Union, worked on the local and state levels to improve mental health services, and was an assistant professor of philosophy at the Kansas City Art Institute. Upon his retirement, he was elected Minister Emeritus by the Kansas City congregation.
Acquisition Information
Papers donated by Kate B. Benz in 1981.
General note
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.
Processed by:
Jonathan Hauze and Fran O'Donnell, 2002.
- Title
- Bragg, Raymond Bennett, 1902-1979. Papers: A Finding Aid.
- Author
- Andover-Harvard Theological Library
- Language of description
- und
- EAD ID
- div00671
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.
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