SMITH, JOHN OWEN, 1902-1978.
John Owen Smith papers, 1921-1996.
MANUSCRIPT NUMBER 242
(Formerly MSS562, Special
Collections, Robert W. Woodruff Library, Emory University)
ACCESS: Unrestricted. [Stored off site. Forty-eight hours advance notice required to access collection.]
REPRODUCTION: All requests subject to limitations noted in departmental policies on reproduction.
COPYRIGHT: Information on copyright (literary rights) available from repository.
CITATION: John Owen Smith Papers, MSS 242, Archives and Manuscripts Dept., Pitts Theology Library, Emory University.
John Owen Smith, Methodist clergyman, bishop, and educator, was born 21 September 1902, in Johnston, South Carolina, and died 3 December 1978, in Atlanta, Georgia. He earned his divinity degree from Yale Divinity School, served in parishes in South Carolina (1954-1960), and was appointed to the Atlanta Area of the United Methodist Church in 1960. During his tenure in Atlanta (1960-1972), racial integration of the North and South Georgia Conferences of the Methodist Church was accomplished. After his retirement in 1972, he taught part-time (1972-1976) in Emory University's Candler School of Theology.
John Owen Smith was married to Mildred Brown. They had two daughters.
The papers of John Owen Smith document his years as a B.D. student at Yale Divinity School, his pastoral appointments in South Carolina, and his time as Bishop of the Atlanta area of the Methodist Church (later the United Methodist Church). The collection includes correspondence, subject files, sermons, and notebooks from all phases of Smith's career.
Smith presided over the Atlanta area during one of the most tumultuous phases of his church's history. In 1968 the Methodist Church merged with the Evangelical United Brethren Church. The terms of the merger required that the Central Jurisdiction (which consisted entirely of black churches) be abolished, and that all annual conferences be integrated. Smith's files, particularly his correspondence, illustrate the strong leadership he provided during the merger of the black Georgia Conference with the historically white North and South Georgia Conferences.
Series 1: Ministry in South Carolina, 1929-1960, undated. Arranged alphabetically.
Subject files related to Smith's pastoral appointments in South Carolina. Topics include race relations, women in the church, youth and young people's assemblies, and church school.
Series 2: Ministry in Georgia, 1957-1978, 1985, undated. Arranged alphabetically and chronologically.
This series consists of two subseries.
Subseries 1 contains correspondence, most of which concerns church appointments and other routine congregational business. Some materials relate to race relations, communism, prayer in public schools, the Vietnam War, the "God is Dead" theology, and other 1960s controversies. The 1968 merger of the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church is also noted. Of particular interest is correspondence related to the 1972 General Conference in Atlanta. Rev. Cecil Williams of San Francisco had been invited to address the conference at an afternoon service held at First United Methodist Church. The minister of First United attempted to withdraw the church's invitation for use of their facility by the General Conference in response to controversy regarding Williams' ministry to the gay and lesbian community, drug users, and prostitutes. Bishop Smith insisted that, under the United Methodist connectional system, a minister did not have the right to refuse the use of church facilities to the General Conference. Smith's incoming correspondence documents the sharp criticism he received from many Georgia Methodists, and his responses to his critics illustrate his conviction that he had made the right decision.
Subseries 2 consists of subject files from Smith's years as bishop in the Atlanta Area. Many files concern administrative bodies of the North and South Georgia Conferences, including the Board of Education, the Board of Evangelism, and the Board of Missions. Other files concern the church's Southeastern Jurisdiction and national administrative units such as the General Board of Education. There are several folders of programs from church services and other events at which Smith spoke. Also included are a few files which document his post-retirement activities, such as the courses he taught at Candler School of Theology.
Series 3: Writings, 1921-1976, undated. Arranged alphabetically.
The bulk of this series is comprised of sermons, many of which are undated. About half of the sermons are filed by topic. There are also drafts of Smith's two books: Give the Whole Gospel a Chance, published in 1974, and Letters in Turbulent Times, an unpublished manuscript on which he was working at the time of his death. Also included are notes and papers from Smith's time at Yale University Divinity School, where he earned a B.D. in 1925; manuscripts of columns written for the Wesleyan Christian Advocate; and notebooks kept by Smith throughout his career.
Series 4: Family Papers, 1946-1996, undated. Arranged alphabetically and by format.
Papers and other materials related to John Owen Smith's personal and family life. Included are two scrapbooks assembled by his wife, Mildred Brown Smith. One contains name tags given to ministers' and bishops' wives at numerous church functions. The other contains cartoons and jokes about religion from a variety of popular periodical sources, most of which are not identified in the scrapbook. There are also several folders of ephemera collected by Mrs. Smith during the couple's trips abroad; memorials written about John Owen Smith; news clippings and correspondence on honors and awards received by John Owen Smith; and a copy of a memorial of Mrs. Smith presented by Bishop Bevel Jones at a 1996 meeting of the Council of Bishops.
Box Folder Description/Dates Series 1: Ministry in South Carolina, 1929-1960, undated 18 1 Bulletins from South Carolina Churches, 1942-1952 18 2-3 The Church, Clippings and Miscellaneous, 1931-1943, undated 18 4 Church School Material, 1934-1942 18 5 Conclusion of Term as District Superintendent, 1960 18 6 Faith, 1930-1958, undated 18 7 Funeral Materials, 1933-1946, undated 18 8 Intermediate Work Seminar, 1934, undated 18 9 Leadership Training Materials, 1932-1935 18 10 Letters and Resolutions Recommending J.O. Smith, 1934-1960 18 11-12 Miscellaneous, 1941, undated 18 13 Missions, 1938-1954, undated 18 14 Pastoral Leadership, undated 18 15 Poems, Quotations, etc., undated 18 16-17 Prayer, 1929-1941, undated 18 18 Prayer Meeting Notes, 1934-1935, undated 18 19 Race, 1939-1942, undated 18 20 South Carolina, 1940-1943 18 21 Student Worker Seminar, 1934-1936, undated 18 22-23 Upper South Carolina Conference, 1936-1944 18 24 Washington Street Methodist Church, Columbia, SC, 1938-1945 18 25 Washington Street Methodist Church, Columbia, SC, Correspondence, 1940-1945 18 26 Women and the Church, undated 18 27 World Council of Churches, 1954 18 28 Worship, 1937, undated 18 29-30 Young People's Assemblies, Upper South Carolina Conference, 1932- 1934 18 31 Youth, 1937, undated Series 2: Ministry in Georgia, 1957-1978, 1985, undated Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1960-1978, 1985 1 Correspondence, 1960-1961 May 2 Correspondence, 1961 June-1962 Jan 3 Correspondence, 1962 Feb-Dec 4 Correspondence, 1963 Jan-Oct 5 Correspondence, 1963 Nov-1964 June 6 Correspondence, 1964 July-1965 April 7 Correspondence, 1965 May-Dec 8 Correspondence, 1966 Jan-Aug 9 Correspondence, 1966 Sep-1967 May 10 Correspondence, 1967 June-1968 June 11 Correspondence, 1968 July-1969 July 12 Correspondence, 1969 Aug-1970 May 13 Correspondence, 1970 June-1971 Feb 14 Correspondence, 1971 Mar-Nov 15 Correspondence, 1971 Dec-1972 June 18 32 Correspondence, 1961-1977 18 33-34 Correspondence, 1968 18 35 Correspondence, 1968-1972 18 36 Correspondence, 1970-1971 16 1-2 Correspondence, Alphabetical, 1960-1963 18 37-39 Correspondence, Cecil Williams, 1972 19 1-3 Correspondence, Cecil Williams, 1972 19 4-8 Correspondence, Congratulatory Letters, 1960 19 9 Correspondence, Invitations to Preach, 1975-1978 19 10 Correspondence, Ministerial Candidates, 1963-1972 19 11 Correspondence, Personal, 1972-1978, 1985 19 12-13 Correspondence, Responses to Advocate Article by Mildred Brown Smith, 1969-1970 19 14 Correspondence, Thanks re: General Conference, 1972 Subseries 2: Subject Files, 1957-1977, undated 16 3 Amendment [12], 1961 16 4 American Bible Society, 1957-1960 16 5 Area Planning Conference, 1961-1965 16 6 Bishops, 1960-1964 19 15 Bishop's Report, 1972 16 7 Board of Education, 1960-1961 16 8 Board of Evangelism, 1960-1961 16 9 Board of Missions, 1961 16 10 Camp Activities Fund, 1955-1962 16 11 Camp Activities Fund, 1955-1962 16 12 Chaplains, 1960-1963 16 13 Council of Bishops, 1960-1964 16 14 Council on World Service and Finance, 1960 16 15 Dallas Uniting Conference, 1968 16 16 Emory University, 1960-1962 19 16 Emory University, Courses Taught by J.O. Smith, 1972-1974 16 17 Foreign Countries, undated 16 18 Fund Raising, 1960 19 17 General Board of Education, 1966-1967 19 18 Georgia Conference, 1970-1972 16 19 Goodwill Industries, 1961 16 20 Inter-jurisdictional Relations, 1961 16 21 Joint Radio Committee, 1961 19 19 J.O. Smith Preaching Award, 1975-1977 16 22 LaGrange College, 1961 16 23 Lake Junaluska,1960-1961 16 24 M.C.O.R. [Methodist Committee for Overseas Relief], 1960-1961 19 20 Merger, 1969-1970 16 25 Message at Lake Junaluska, 1961 16 26-28 Miscellaneous, 1960-1963 19 21 Miscellaneous, 1964-1968, undated 16 29 Miscellaneous, 1967 19 22-23 Miscellaneous, 1970-1975, undated 16 30 Miscellaneous, undated 16 31 North Georgia Conference, 1963-1965 16 32 North Georgia Conference, General, 1961-1962 16 33 Other Colleges, 1960-1962 16 34 Paine College, 1960-1962 19 24-27 Programs, Conferences, 1960-1972 19 28-31 Programs from Speaking Engagements, 1960-1972 20 1-11 Programs from Speaking Engagements, 1960-1972 16 35 Race Relations, 1963 16 36 Reinhardt College, 1960-1961 20 12 Social Questions, 1961, undated 20 13 South Georgia Conference, 1962-1963 16 37 Southeastern Jurisdiction, 1955 20 14 Southeastern Jurisdiction, 1957-1972 16 38 Southeastern Jurisdictional Council Executive Meeting, 1961 17 1 Statements, Articles, and Speeches, circa 1960-1967 17 2 Student Appointments, 1961 17 3 Student Appointments, 1967 17 4 Student Appointments, 1968 17 5 Supplement [to Together], 1960-1961 17 6 Transfers, 1964 17 7 Transfers, North Georgia Conference, 1967 17 8 Treasurer's Report, 1961 17 9 Treasurer's Report, 1962 17 10 Wesleyan College, 1960-1961 20 15 Writings by Others, 1973, undated 17 11 Young Harris College, 1960-1961 Series 3: Writings, 1921-1976, undated 20 16-19 Advocate Columns, 1963-1972, undated 20 20 Banquet Talks, 1950-1956, undated 20 21 B.D. Thesis, 1925 20 22 Early Writings, undated 20 23 Give the Whole Gospel a Chance, Manuscript and Correspondence, 1972- 1975 20 24 Letters in Turbulent Times, Unpublished Manuscript, undated 20 25-26 Notebooks, 1924-1927 20 27-30 Notebooks, 1962-1976 20 31-35 Notebooks, undated 20 36 Notebooks, A Course for Cokesbury Training Schools, etc., undated 21 1-13 Notes and Papers from Yale B.D. Program, 1924-1925 21 14 Notes Taken on Lectures, undated 21 15 Outline for the Course of Study for Christian Workers in Senior Young People's Department Program, undated 21 16 Radio Devotionals, 1948, undated 21 17-34 Sermons, 1924-1975, undated 22 1-11 Sermons, 1924-1975, undated 22 12 Sermons, The Beatitudes, undated 22 13 Sermons, The Bible, 1926-1952 22 14 Sermons, Character, undated 22 15-16 Sermons, Christmas, 1925-1953, undated 22 17-18 Sermons, Church Finance, 1927, undated 22 19 Sermons, The Church/Our Mission Today, 1933-1955, undated 22 20 Sermons, Communion, 1938, undated 22 21 Sermons, George Washington, undated 22 22 Sermons, God, 1933-1938, undated 22 23 Sermons, Home, 1951, undated 22 24 Sermons, Lent, Holy Week, and Easter, 19501954, undated 22 25 Sermons, The Lord's Prayer, undated 22 26-27 Sermons, Mother's Day, 1938-1953, undated 22 28 Sermons, Nature Topics, undated 22 29 Sermons, New Year's, 1930-1950 22 30 Sermons, Parables, undated 22 31 Sermons, Personal Religion, undated 22 32-33 Sermons, Prohibition, undated 22 34 Sermons, Religion, 1929-1943, undated 22 35 Sermons, Religious Education, undated 22 36 Sermons, Sabbath Observance, undated 22 37 Sermons, Special Series, 1924-1938, undated 22 38 Sermons, Thanksgiving, undated 22 39-40 Sermons, War, 1935-1937, undated 22 41-42 Sermons and Clippings, Lent and Easter, 1929-1939, undated 22 43-44 Sermons and Talks Given at Colleges and Universities, 1929-1964, undated 23 1 Sermons and Writings, 1950, undated 23 2 Speeches and Clippings, 1935-1975, undated Series 4: Family Papers, 1946-1996, undated 19 32 Photographs from a Trip to the Congo, 1969 23 3-4 Ephemera and Correspondence Collected by Mildred Brown Smith re: Trips to Africa, 1967-1971, undated 23 5 Ephemera from Overseas Trips Collected by Mildred Brown Smith, Australia, 1967, undated 23 6-7 Ephemera from Overseas Trips Collected by Mildred Brown Smith, China, Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, 1959-1968, undated 23 8 Ephemera from Overseas Trips Collected by Mildred Brown Smith, Holy Lands and Europe, 1966, undated 23 9 Ephemera from Overseas Trips Collected by Mildred Brown Smith, Korea, undated 23 10 Ephemera from Overseas Trips Collected by Mildred Brown Smith, Kuala Lumpur and Borneo, 1962, 1966, undated 23 11 Ephemera from Overseas Trips Collected by Mildred Brown Smith, The Philippines, 1964-1967, undated 23 12 Ephemera from Trips to Alaska and Hawaii Collected by Mildred Brown Smith, 1962-1967, undated 23 13 Materials Related to Trips Abroad and Missionary Work Collected by Mildred Brown Smith, 1946-1975, undated 23 14 Memorial of Mildred Brown Smith, 1996 23 15 Memorials and Honors, John Owen Smith, 1960-1996 23 16 News Clippings re: John Owen Smith, 1945-1976, undated Scrapbook of Nametags Assembled by Mildred Brown Smith, undated Scrapbook of Jokes and Cartoons Assembled by Mildred Brown Smith, undated