PURCELL, CLARE, 1884-1964.
Family Papers, 1903-1967.
MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION NUMBER 319
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: Clare Purcell family papers, MSS 319, Archives and Manuscripts Dept., Pitts Theology Library, Emory University.
Clare Purcell, Methodist clergyman and bishop, was born on November 17, 1884. He was the youngest of six children born to William Henry Purcell and Mary Ellen Callen of Roanoke, Alabama. Bishop Purcell was educated at Roanoke Normal College, where he met his future wife, Ida West. The two were married in Roanoke on December 28, 1910. Clare and Ida Purcell were the parents of three children: John Robert (born 1911), William Wood Rowe (born 1915) and Ida Claire (born 1921).
Bishop Purcell graduated from Roanoke Normal College in 1903 and worked for Georgia Railroad in Roanoke, Birmingham, and Columbus [Georgia]. He enrolled at Emory University in 1906. While at Emory he was a member of Phi Delta Theta. Health problems prevented him from completing his degree at Emory.
Bishop Purcell was granted a local preacher's license in 1906 by the Lafayette District Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. In November of that year he was admitted to the North Alabama Conference on trial, and served a one-year appointment to the Wedowee Circuit. He was appointed to the Rockford Circuit in 1907, but served for only a short time before enrolling in the Bachelor of Theology program at Vanderbilt University. He received the B.D. in 1916, as well as an A.B. from Birmingham College in the same year. Later in life, he received honorary degrees from Birmingham-Southern College (Doctor of Divinity, 1929), University of Alabama (Doctor of Laws, 1940), Athens College (Doctor of Literature, 1954) and Emory University (Doctor of Divinity, 1957).
Bishop Purcell was ordained deacon in 1911 and received elder's orders in 1913. Between 1911 and 1918 he served the Madison Circuit, Owenton Church (later McCoy Memorial) in Birmingham, and Sylacauga First Church. In 1918 he entered service as an army chaplain with the 131st Infantry, spending the winter of 1918 in Luxembourg. After returning from his tour of duty, Purcell was assigned to the First Methodist Church of Hartselle. Subsequent appointments included Talladega (1920-1924) and Tuscaloosa (1924-1927). In 1927, he was assigned to the Jasper District as Presiding Elder. In 1931 he was transferred to the First Methodist Church of Gasden, AL, where he remained until 1938.
On May 3rd, 1938, Purcell was elected Bishop at the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, following a well-received speech in which he argued in favor of union with the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Protestant Church. As Bishop he served in Charlotte from 1938 to 1948, and in Birmingham from 1948 until his retirement in 1956. In 1955, he was elected President of the Council of Bishops of the Methodist Church.
After retiring, Bishop Purcell remained in Birmingham, where he served as President of the Board of Directors of Carraway Methodist Hospital. He died on February 8th, 1964.
Biographical information on Bishop Purcell was taken from "Bishop Clare Purcell" by Allen D. Montgomery [Series 5, Box 7, Folder 8].
The Clare Purcell Family Papers document Purcell's extensive involvement in the Methodist Church and its predecessor organization, the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Included are biographical papers; personal, professional and family correspondence; meeting minutes; notes and drafts of sermons and other writings; pamphlets; clippings; photographs; and artifacts.
This collection is richest in post-1938 materials, which document Purcell's tenure as bishop. The earlier phases of his career are not as well documented. Papers related to his family life are relatively few; the bulk of the family correspondence found in this collection was received by Purcell's widow and children after his death.
The papers are arranged into ten series:
Series 1: Correspondence, 1906-1964. 2 cubic ft. Arranged alphabetically, then chronologically.
This series includes personal and professional correspondence written and received by Clare Purcell. The items in the folders marked "personal" were designated as such by Purcell; however, much personal correspondence is also found in the general correspondence files. Prominent correspondents included several other Methodist bishops: Warren Candler, Hoyt Dobbs, Denny Collins, and Edwin Hughes. Topics of note include the union of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South with the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Protestant Church, litigation related to the union of churches, prohibition and temperance, and race relations within the church. There are also several folders of letters congratulating Purcell on his election as bishop (1938) and president of the Council of Bishops (1955).
Series 2: Meeting Materials, 1938-1964. 2 cubic ft. Arranged alphabetically, then chronologically.
This series is comprised mainly of meeting minutes and agendas for the Council of Bishops. Also included are minutes from a single meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of Lake Junaluska, as well as materials prepared for the 1964 General Conference and the 1960 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference.
Series 3: Sermon Notes, n.d. 2 cubic ft. Arranged in order of Biblical books.
In this series are sermon notes prepared by Bishop Purcell, arranged by Biblical book upon which each sermon was based. In cases where no Bible verse was noted, the notes were placed in folders marked "miscellaneous" at the end of the series. No dates could be determined for any of the items in this series. Drafts of complete sermons were interfiled with Purcell's other writings, and are located in Series 4.
Series 4: Writings and Addresses, 1902-1959, n.d. .33 cubic ft. Arranged chronologically.
This series contains writings and addresses, including sermons, by Bishop Purcell. Many of the items in this series are untitled and undated. The writings span from Bishop Purcell's days as a student at Roanoke Normal School through his tenure as bishop. Some of the earliest writings appear to have written for a debate society. There are a few sermons from the early years of Bishop Purcell's ministry. Titles include "Justification by Faith," "Repentance," and "Witness of the Spirit." Writings from later in Bishop Purcell's career cover issues of broad concern to the church, including the unification of three churches into the single Methodist Church, prohibition and alcoholism, and world peace. This series also includes one folder of notes by Bishop Purcell.
Series 5: Family and Biographical Papers, 1906-1967, n.d. 1.5 cubic ft. Arranged alphabetically, then chronologically.
Condolence letters sent to the Purcell family following the deaths of Clare and Ida Purcell comprise the bulk of this series. Also included are biographical sketches, an address book, an officer's record book, certificates and diplomas awarded to Bishop Purcell, and his local preacher's license from 1906. The final folder in this series contains pages from a scrapbook of religious images. Since the scrapbook itself was deteriorating, the pages were removed for preservation reasons. It is unclear which member of the Purcell family assembled the scrapbook.
Series 6: Printed Materials, 1905-1963, n.d. .5 cubic ft. Arranged alphabetically, then chronologically.
Included in this series are numerous pamphlets on religious topics collected by Bishop Purcell. The series also contains church bulletins, programs from events attended by Purcell, and several printed reports to the Southeastern Jurisdictional Council of the Methodist Church.
Series 7: News Clippings, 1937-1967 .6 cubic ft. Partially processed; not arranged.
This series consists of news clippings, probably kept by Ida Purcell. Many of the clippings concern Clare Purcell's career as bishop. Others concern the Methodist Church generally; there are clippings of stories about annual conferences, the formation of the Methodist Church in 1938, and the issue of race relations within the church. Some of these news clippings were originally found in scrapbooks. Since the scrapbooks were in poor condition, the pages were removed for preservation reasons. In many cases, clippings had been placed in scrapbooks without being glued down to the pages.
Series 8: Artifacts, n.d. .33 cubic ft. Arranged by format.
This series contains four items: an embossing seal used by Bishop Purcell to mark official documents from his office, a smaller embossing seal designed for travel, and two gavels used by the Bishop.
Series 9: Photographs, ca. 1910s-ca.1950s. .33 cubic ft. Arranged by subject.
This series consists of mainly black-and-white photographs dating from the 1910s through the early 1960s. Included are numerous portraits of Bishop Purcell, group photographs taken at annual conferences and other Methodist events, and images of churches. Many of the photographs are undated, and there are many photographs of unidentified individuals. Large oversize photographs are located in series 10.
Series 10: Oversize Items, 1903-1957, n.d. .28 cubic ft. Arranged by format.
This series consists of large format posters, photographs, diplomas, and other documents. The container listing below includes a complete inventory.
BOX FOLDER DESCRIPTION
Series 1: Correspondence, 1906-1964, n.d.
1 1 1906-1919
1 2 1920-1929
1 3 1930-1939
1 4-5 1940-1949
1 6-7 1948 Jul.
1 8-9 1950-1958
1 10-12 1959-1964
1 13 n.d.
1 14 Central Jurisdiction, 1939-1955
1 15-19 Congratulatory Letters, 1938
1 20 Congratulatory Letters, 1954-1956
1 21 Collins, Bishop Denny, 1939-1948
1 22 Dobbs, Bishop Hoyt M., 1932-1948
1 23 Duke University, 1939-1948
1 24 Hospitals and Homes, Board of, 1944-1948
1 25 Hughes, Bishop Edwin H., 1939-1948
2 1 Humorous and Human Interest, 1938-1948
2 2 Layman's Organization for the Preservation of the Southern
Methodist Church, 1939
2 3 Legislative, 1959
2 4 Methodist Litigation, 1945-1950
2 5 Personal, 1924-1939
2 6-7 Personal, 1940-1941
2 8-9 Personal, 1942-1944
2 10 Personal, 1945-1947
2 11-13 Personal, 1948
2 14-15 Personal, 1949
2 16 Personal, 1950
2 17 Personal, 1951-1952
2 18 Personal, 1953-1955
2 19 Personal, 1956
2 20 Personal, 1957-1960, n.d.
2 21-22 S.C. Matters, 1944-1948
Series 2: Meeting Materials, 1938-1964.
2 23 Board of Trustees of Lake Junaluska, Executive Committee, 1960
2 24 College of Bishops, 1938-1963
2 25 Council of Bishops, 1938 Nov-1939 Dec
2 26 Council of Bishops, 1940 Apr-Dec
2 27 Council of Bishops, 1941 Mar-Dec
3 1 Council of Bishops, 1942 May-Dec
3 2 Council of Bishops, 1943 Feb-Dec
3 3 Council of Bishops, 1944 Feb-May
3 4 Council of Bishops, 1944 Jul-1945 Dec
3 5 Council of Bishops, 1946 Feb-Sept
3 6 Council of Bishops, 1946 Dec-1947 May
3 7 Council of Bishops, 1947 Dec
3 8 Council of Bishops, 1948 Oct-Dec
3 9 Council of Bishops, 1948 Jan-May
3 10 Council of Bishops, 1949 Apr
3 11 Council of Bishops, 1949 Nov-Dec
3 12 Council of Bishops, 1950 Apr
3 13 Council of Bishops, 1950 Oct-Dec
3 14 Council of Bishops, 1951 Apr
3 15 Council of Bishops, 1952 Jan
3 16 Council of Bishops, 1952 Apr-Nov
3 17 Council of Bishops, 1953 Apr
3 18 Council of Bishops, 1953 Dec
3 19 Council of Bishops, 1954 Apr
3 20 Council of Bishops, 1954 Nov
3 21 Council of Bishops, 1955 Jan-Apr
3 22 Council of Bishops, 1955 Dec
3 23 Council of Bishops, 1956 Jan-May
4 1-2 Council of Bishops, 1956 Dec
4 3 Council of Bishops, 1957 Apr
4 4-5 Council of Bishops, 1957 Nov
4 6 Council of Bishops, 1958 Jan
4 7 Council of Bishops, 1958 Apr
4 8 Council of Bishops, 1958 Nov
4 9 Council of Bishops, 1959 Apr
4 10 Council of Bishops, 1959 Nov
4 11-12 Council of Bishops, 1960 Apr-May
4 13 Council of Bishops, 1960 Nov
4 14 Council of Bishops, 1961 Apr
4 15 Council of Bishops, 1961 Nov
4 16 Council of Bishops, 1962 Apr
4 17-18 Council of Bishops, 1962 Nov
4 19-20 Council of Bishops, 1963 Apr
4 21-22 Council of Bishops, 1963 Nov
4 23 Delegates and Reserve Delegates, General Conference, 1964
4 24 Episcopal Plan of Visitation, 1964
4 25 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference, 1960
Series 3: Sermon Notes, n.d.
5 1 Genesis, n.d.
5 2 Exodus, n.d.
5 3 Numbers, n.d.
5 4 Deuteronomy, n.d.
5 5 Joshua, n.d.
5 6 Kings, n.d.
5 7 Chronicles, n.d.
5 8 Psalms, n.d.
5 9 Proverbs, n.d.
5 10 Isaiah, n.d.
5 11 Jeremiah, n.d.
5 12 Ezekiel, n.d.
5 13 Daniel, n.d.
5 14 Hosea, n.d.
5 15 Joel, n.d.
5 16 Micah, n.d.
5 17 Habakkuk, n.d.
5 18 Zechariah, n.d.
5 19-21 Matthew, n.d.
5 22-23 Mark, n.d.
5 24-25 Luke, n.d.
5 26-29 John, n.d.
5 30 Acts, n.d.
5 31 Romans, n.d.
6 1 I and II Corinthians, n.d.
6 2 Galatians, n.d.
6 3 Ephesians, n.d.
6 4 Philippians, n.d.
6 5 Colossians, n.d.
6 6 Timothy, n.d.
6 7 Titus, n.d.
6 8 Hebrews, n.d.
6 9 James, n.d.
6 10 I and II Peter, n.d.
6 11 I and II John, n.d.
6 12 Revelations, n.d.
6 13-25 Miscellaneous, n.d.
Series 4: Writings and Addresses, 1902-1959, n.d.
7 1 Notes, n.d.
7 2 Writings and Addresses, 1902-1928
7 3 Writings and Addresses, 1931-1959
7 4-6 Writings and Addresses, n.d.
Series 5: Family and Biographical Papers, 1906-1967, n.d.
7 7 Address Book, n.d
7 8 Biographical Information, Clare Purcell, ca. 1964
7 9 Biographical Information, Ida West Purcell, n.d.
7 10 Certificates and Citations, 1904-1957, n.d.
7 11 Condolence Telegrams, 1964
7 12 Condolence Telegrams, 1967
7 13 Correspondence, Letters to Ida West Purcell, 1962
7 14-29 Correspondence, Letters to Ida West Purcell, 1964
8 1-6 Correspondence, Letters to Ida West Purcell, 1964
8 7-9 Correspondence, Letters to Ida West Purcell, 1965-1966
8 10-11 Correspondence, Letters to Ida West Purcell, 1966-1967, n.d.
8 12 Correspondence, Letters to Ida West Purcell from Her Daughter,
1964
8 13 Correspondence, Letters to John Purcell, 1964-1967
8 14 Correspondence, Sympathy Cards, 1967
8 15-17 Correspondence, Sympathy Letters, 1967
8 18 Diplomas
8 19 Local Preacher's License, 1906
8 20 Memorial Records, 1964
8 21 Memorial Records, 1967
8 22 Notes, n.d.
8 23 Officer's Record Book, 1919
Series 6: Printed Materials, 1905-1963, n.d.
8 24-28 Assorted Pamphlets and Brochures, 1905-1960
9 1-2 Assorted Pamphlets and Brochures, 1905-1960
9 3 Assorted Pamphlets and Brochures - World Methodist Council,
1962, n.d.
9 4 Church Bulletins, 1916-1958
9 5 Programs, 1916-1963, n.d.
9 6 Report of the Commission to Study the Christian Faith and War in
the Nuclear Age, 1962
9 7 Report of D. Trigg James / James W. Sells to the Southeastern
Jurisdictional Council, 1961
9 8 Report of D. Trigg James / James W. Sells to the Southeastern
Jurisdictional Council, 1963
9 9 Southeastern Jurisdictional Council Report, 1960
9 10 Transcript of Declaration of Union, 1939
9 11 Transcripts of Writings by John Wesley, n.d.
Series 7: News Clippings, 1937-1967.
10-11 News Clippings
Series 8: Artifacts, n.d.
12 Gavels used by Purcell
12 Official Bishop's seal
12 Travel-sized Bishop's seal
Series 9: Photographs, ca. 1910s- ca.1950s.
13 1 Church Dedications, 1944 [2 items]
13 2 Churches, ca. 1930s-ca. 1950s [22 items]
13 3 Churches, First Methodist Church, Graceville FL, n.d. [8 items]
13 4 "Cornerstone Laying, Panama City Fla.", 1949 [3 items]
13 5 Group Photographs, 1931-1955, n.d. [51 items]
13 6 Hobbs Airfield Base Chapel, ca. 1940s [12 items]
13 7 Miscellaneous, ca. 1930s-ca. 1950s [14 items]
13 8 Portraits, Clare Purcell, 1941-1957, n.d.[27 items]
13 9 Portraits of Others, ca. 1900s-ca. 1950s [15 items]
13 10 Oversize Photographs, ca. 1930s-ca. 1950s [3 items]
Series 10: Oversize Items, 1903-1957, n.d.
14 Posters depicting John Wesley, Francis Asbury, and Jesus Christ,
n.d. [5 items]
14 Oversize photographs, n.d. [2 items]
14 Print displaying portraits of the Vanderbilt University Biblical Department
Faculty and Senior Class, 1910
14 Print displaying portraits of the Council of Bishops of the Methodist Church,
1952
14 Posters with portraits of the Alabama and North Alabama Conference
Delegates to the General Conference, 1938 [2 items]
14 Poster with group photographs from the General Conference, 1906
14 Certificate of Election to Bishop, 1938
14 Citation from Birmingham-Southern College, 1955
14 Diploma, Roanoke Normal College, A.B., 1903
14 Diploma, Roanoke Normal College, Ida West, B.Ph., 1904
14 Diploma in Theology, Vanderbilt University, 1910
14 Diploma, Birmingham College, A.B., 1916
14 Diploma, Vanderbilt University, B.D., 1916
14 Diploma, Birmingham-Southern College, D.D., 1929
14 Diploma, Emory University, D.D., 1957