Holt, Ivan Lee (1886-1967), Papers, 1835-1966 (C2553)

8 linear feet, 6 audio cassettes, 8 records

RESTRICTED

INTRODUCTION

The papers of Ivan Lee Holt, Methodist bishop and a leader of the ecumenical movement, contain correspondence, speeches and sermons, church records, newspaper clippings, publications, photographs, and audio recordings of addresses by Holt. Also included are the papers of Eugene Russell Hendrix, a Methodist bishop from Missouri.

DONOR INFORMATION

The Ivan Lee Holt Papers were donated to the University of Missouri by Ivan Lee Holt, Jr. on 20 February 1967 (Accession No. 3700).

RESTRICTIONS

Researchers must obtain written permission to use and copy from the collection. Contact the reference staff for the address and for more information about the restriction.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Ivan Lee Holt was born in DeWitt, Arkansas, on 9 January 1886, to Mr. and Mrs. Robert P. Holt. He attended schools in DeWitt and Fordyce, Arkansas, before enrolling at Vanderbilt University where he became active in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He graduated from Vanderbilt in 1904 and spent the next three years teaching Greek and Latin at Stuttgart Training School in Stuttgart, Arkansas. In 1907 he entered the University of Chicago and received his Ph.D. in Semitic Languages in 1909. He was ordained a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, that same year.

Holt served as pastor of University Church, St. Louis, from 1909 to1911 where he quickly became known as a great public speaker and leader. Despite protests from members of University Church, he was transferred to Centenary Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, in 1911. In 1915 he accepted a position teaching Old Testament Literature at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, where he remained until 1918 when he returned to St. Louis.

Holt spent the next twenty years serving as pastor of St. John's Methodist Church in St. Louis. In 1938 he was elected bishop and sent to the North Texas Conference. He also served the Central Texas, North Central Texas, and New Mexico conferences as bishop and was put in charge of all Methodist mission work in Latin America. In 1944 he transferred back to the Missouri Conference where he remained until his retirement in 1956. He was brought out of retirement briefly to serve as bishop of the Nebraska Conference in 1960.

Throughout his career Holt was active in promoting Christian unity and interfaith cooperation. He served as a delegate to the Uniting Conference of British Methodism and the World Conferences on Life and Work and Faith and Order, which laid the groundwork for the World Council of Churches. He attended the first assembly of the World Council of Churches and the World Methodist Conference. In addition he encouraged cooperation between Christians and Jews, and later, between Protestants and Catholics.

Holt held office as president of the Federal Council of Churches in America (1935-1936), the World Methodist Council (1947-1956), and the Board of Pensions of the Methodist Church (1948-1956). He served as vice chairman of the American Section of the World Council of Churches and the Council of Bishops of the Methodist Church. He also served as a trustee of Southern Methodist University, Central Methodist College in Fayette, Missouri, and the Carnegie Church Peace Union.

Holt traveled extensively for the Methodist Church and the other organizations he served. His travels took him to five continents where he preached and promoted peace and cooperation. He wrote several books about the history of the Methodist Church and its leaders as well as the Book of Worship, which was the standard in liturgics for a generation of Methodists.

Holt married Leland Burks in 1905 and had a son, Ivan Lee Holt, Jr. in 1913. His wife died in 1948 and he married Starr Blasingame Carithers in 1950. She died eight years later. He married Modena McPherson Rudisill in April 1966. Holt died on 12 January 1967.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Ivan Lee Holt Papers consist of correspondence, speeches and sermons, church records, newspaper clippings, publications, photographs, and audio recordings. The papers of Bishop Eugene Russell Hendrix are also included. The papers are arranged into ten series:

The E.R. Hendrix Papers series consists of the personal and professional correspondence of Eugene Russell Hendrix, a Methodist bishop from Missouri. Newspaper clippings and other background material Holt collected in order to write Hendrix's biography, Eugene Russell Hendrix: Servant of the Kingdom are also included in this series.

The professional correspondence deals mostly with what became known as the Vanderbilt Controversy in which Methodist bishops had their roles on the Vanderbilt Board of Trustees terminated. Much of this correspondence is written between J.H. Kirkland, Chancellor of Vanderbilt, and Bishops Hendrix and E.E. Hoss. This material is arranged chronologically.

The Correspondence series is divided into two subseries:

Each subseries is arranged chronologically. The Personal Correspondence subseries contains chain letters written by several members of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at Vanderbilt University during their summer break in 1903, letters written between Holt and his first wife during their courtship, and letters to Holt's mother and brother. This subseries also contains replies to Holt's inquiries about his genealogy.

The Professional Correspondence subseries makes up the bulk of the collection. These letters span Holt's entire professional career from his teaching days in Arkansas to just before his death. The correspondence from the 1910s consists mostly of letters of appreciation to Holt and copies of flattering letters written about his skills as a minister and orator.

Correspondence from the 1920s deals with fund raising efforts at St. John's Methodist Church, the search for a president at Southern Methodist University and endowments to improve the university after World War I. Other letters concern Methodist union, legislation to outlaw the teaching of evolution in public schools, and Holt's proposal to write Bishop Hendrix's biography.

Holt's correspondence from the 1930s documents the Federal Council of Churches stance on the Sino-Japanese War, religious freedom in Germany, the Italo-Ethiopian War, race relations in the United States, the increasing threat of war in Europe, and accusations of communism within the organization. During his presidency, the Federal Council was also involved with a National Preaching Mission, censorship of motion pictures, and legislation to help tenant farmers. Other correspondence from the 1930s deals with the impending union of the three branches of the Methodist Church, greater Christian unity, Holt's trip to Asia and Australia, his eventual election to bishop, and early work as bishop in the North Texas Conference.

Correspondence from the 1940s concerns the Federal Council of Churches' position on conscientious objectors, concentration camps, atomic power, the United Nations, and includes pleas from the government to help recruit more chaplains for the armed forces. Other correspondence during these years concerns Holt's work as bishop of Texas and New Mexico, mission work in Latin America, and the conflict with Catholics in that region. Letters from the late 1940s deal with the creation of the World Council of Churches, meetings of the Methodist Ecumenical Council, post war reconstruction in Europe and China, the boards of education and pensions of the Methodist Church, and the incorporation of the Missouri Conference.

Correspondence from the 1950s concerns the Methodist Ecumenical Conference, World Methodist Conference, the threat of communism in America and Asia, missions in Latin America and the Caribbean, the plan of Christian union, and tensions in the Middle East. Other correspondence deals with church business in Missouri: the comings and goings of pastors, the relationship of Goodwill Industries of St. Louis to the church, and social work such as funding the Kingdom House in St. Louis.

Correspondence from the 1960s deals mainly with the World Methodist Council, Holt's brief appointment as bishop in Nebraska, and the construction of the Holt Memorial Chapel in Branson, Missouri, in honor of Holt's second wife, Starr.

The Speeches, Sermons, and Notes series contains Holt's speeches, sermons, and writings from his career as a teacher and minister. This series is arranged chronologically. Included are articles based on his travel experiences, which were published in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat. Of special interest are writings from his trip to China and Japan in 1935 in which he describes the atmosphere in each nation as they approached war. Also of note is an essay he wrote on board a ship returning to America from England just after Germany invaded Poland in 1939. In addition the series contains drafts of biographies for Methodist bishops E.R. Hendrix, William McMurray, Enoch Marvin, and William Quayle.

Speech and sermon topics include the peace movement between world wars, encouragement for the British in the early days of World War II, threat of communism in America and abroad, and Methodist and Christian unity. Several eulogies he gave for friends and other bishops are also included in this series.

The Organizations Records series includes correspondence, position papers, and other records relating to the programs operated by the various organizations with which Holt was involved. The records are arranged topically and then chronologically within each topic. These organizations include the World Council of Churches, World Methodist Council, Methodist Ecumenical Council, Federal Council of Churches, the National Methodist Church, and the Missouri and Texas Conferences of the Methodist Church.

The records of the international and national organizations contain statements these groups made about the rise of Nazism, World War II, communism, race relations, tensions in the Middle East, American-Soviet relations, and other major world events. They also describe the efforts of these groups to assist in the rebuilding of Europe and Asia after World War II, and the quest for Christian unity. Reports on foreign missions and their funding, church attendance and donations, and Methodist union are included in the records of the National Methodist Church.

Records from the Methodist Church in Missouri and Texas include correspondence and reports relating to the search for a new president of Central Methodist College and wage records for ministers in the North Texas Conference from 1927 to1938. Many records on the activities of the church in St. Louis are also included here, particularly those dealing with St. John's and the Kingdom House.

The Publications series is arranged topically and includes publications of the World Council of Churches, Federal Council of Churches, and National Methodist Church as well as booklets on the histories of individual churches in Missouri. This series also contains publications on the peace movement prior to and during World War II, Christian unity, post-war reconstruction, religious education, and foreign missions. Other miscellaneous items refer to racism, communism, and Nazism.

The Publicity series is arranged chronologically and includes newspaper and magazine clippings describing Holt's ministry and his participation in various conferences on Methodist union and Christian unity. Articles he wrote for the St. Louis Globe-Democrat on his travels around the world are also included.

The Photographs series contains photographs of Holt and his family as well as photographs documenting his career as a leader in the Methodist Church and the ecumenical movement. This series is arranged chronologically.

The Personal series contains Holt's autobiography, biography, tributes to two of his wives, and letters and speeches honoring him upon his retirement in 1956. This series is arranged alphabetically by topic.

The Scrapbooks series consists of several volumes of newspaper clippings, correspondence, and publicity documenting Holt's activities throughout his career as well as congratulatory letters upon his fiftieth anniversary in the church. The scrapbooks are divided into two sets, one dating from 1907 to 1960, and the other, consisting of ten volumes, which date from 1932 to 1949.

The first set of scrapbooks were taken apart at some point, photocopied, and placed into folders. Their original order is not known. The second set of scrapbooks were taken apart, photocopied for preservation purposes, and placed into folders but remain listed as volumes. Materials in volumes 5 and 6 have been divided between two folders each.

The Audio Materials series consists of records and cassette tapes of several of Holt's addresses and an interview he gave in 1950. These materials are arranged chronologically and by format.

FOLDER LIST

E.R. Hendrix Papers Series

f. 1Correspondence, 1835-1865
f. 2Correspondence, 1876-1887
f. 3Correspondence, 1891-1899
f. 4Correspondence, 1901-1905
f. 5Correspondence, 1906-1909
f. 6Correspondence, 1910
f. 7-8Correspondence, 1911
f. 9Correspondence, 1912-1913
f. 10Correspondence, 1914
f. 11Correspondence, 1915-1918
f. 12Correspondence, n.d.
f. 13Vanderbilt Controversy
f. 14Bishop's Address, 1910
f. 15Publicity, 1911
f. 16Publicity, 1913
f. 17Publicity, 1914
f. 18Holt Correspondence, 1929-1932
f. 19Diary, Background Information
f. 20Background Information

Correspondence Series

Personal Correspondence

f. 211886-1903 July
f. 221903 August-December
f. 231904
f. 241905
f. 251906
f. 261907
f. 271910-1911
f. 281916-1918
f. 291919
f. 301920-1922
f. 311923
f. 321924-1926
f. 331927-1929; 1920s
f. 341930-1933
f. 351934-1935
f. 361936
f. 371937-1939
f. 381930s
f. 391940
f. 401941-1942
f. 41-421943
f. 43-441944
f. 451945-1947
f. 46-471948
f. 481949-1953
f. 491954-1955
f. 50-531956
f. 541957
f. 55-581958
f. 59-611959
f. 62-651960
f. 66-671961
f. 681962
f. 691963
f. 70-721964
f. 731965-1966

Professional Correspondence

f. 741898-1911
f. 751916-1918
f. 761919
f. 771920
f. 781922
f. 79-801923
f. 811924
f. 82-831925
f. 841926-1927
f. 851929
f. 86-881930
f. 891931
f. 901932
f. 91-921933
f. 931934 January-May
f. 941934 June
f. 951934 August-October
f. 961934 November
f. 971934 December 3-7
f. 981934 December 8-11
f. 991934 December 12-17
f. 1001934 December 18-28
f. 1011935 January-March
f. 102-1031935 April
f. 1041935 May-August
f. 105-1061935 September
f. 1071935 October
f. 1081935 November
f. 1091935 December
f. 1101936 January-February
f. 1111936 March-May
f. 1121936 June-August
f. 1131936 October
f. 1141936 November
f. 115-1161936 December
f. 1171937 January
f. 1181937 February
f. 1191937 March-August
f. 1201937 September
f. 1211937 October 1-8
f. 1221937 October 11-December
f. 1231938 February-April
f. 124-1251938 May
f. 126-1291938 June
f. 1301938 July
f. 1311938 September-December
f. 1321939 January-March
f. 1331939 May-August
f. 1341939 September
f. 135-1361939 October
f. 1371939 November 1-7
f. 1381939 November 8-December
f. 1391930s
f. 1401940 January-March
f. 1411940 April
f. 1421940 May-June
f. 1431940 July
f. 1441940 August-September
f. 145-1461940 October
f. 1471940 December
f. 1481941 January-February
f. 1491941 March
f. 1501941 April
f. 1511941 May-June
f. 1521941 July
f. 1531941 August
f. 154-1551941 September
f. 156-1581941 October
f. 1591941 November
f. 1601941 December
f. 161-1621942 January-February
f. 163-1641942 March
f. 1651942 April
f. 1661942 May
f. 1671942 June
f. 168-1691942 July
f. 170-1711942 August
f. 1721942 September
f. 1731942 October
f. 1741942 November
f. 1751942 December
f. 1761943 January-March
f. 1771943 April-May
f. 1781943 June-July
f. 1791943 August
f. 1801943 October
f. 1811943 November-December
f. 1821944 January-February
f. 1831944 March
f. 1841944 April-May
f. 1851944 June
f. 1861944 July-September
f. 1871944 October-December
f. 1881945 January-June
f. 1891945 August-October
f. 1901945 November-December
f. 191-1921946 January-March
f. 1931946 April-June
f. 1941946 July-September
f. 1951946 October-December
f. 1961947 January-March
f. 1971947 April-May
f. 1981947 June-July
f. 1991947 August
f. 2001947 September
f. 2011947 October-December
f. 202-2031948
f. 204-2051949; 1940s
f. 206-2071950
f. 208-2091951
f. 211-2131952
f. 214-2151953
f. 217-2201954
f. 2211955 January-March
f. 2221955 April-May 11
f. 2231955 May 12-June
f. 2241955 July
f. 2251955 August
f. 226-2271955
f. 2281955 October-December
f. 2291956 January-February
f. 2301956 March
f. 2311956 April-July
f. 2321956 August-November
f. 2331957
f. 2341958
f. 2351959
f. 2361960
f. 2371961
f. 2381962-1965

Speeches, Sermons, and Notes Series

f. 2391903-1909
f. 2401909-1911
f. 2411909-1911
f. 2421909-1911
f. 2431911-1919
f. 244-2451910s
f. 246-2471920-1923
f. 2481924-1926
f. 2491927-1928
f. 2501929
f. 2511920s
f. 252-2561930 The Road Ahead
f. 2571930-1931
f. 2581931-1932
f. 2591933
f. 2601934
f. 261-2651935
f. 2661936
f. 267-2681937
f. 269-2711938
f. 2721939
f. 273-2801930s
f. 281-2821940
f. 2831941
f. 2841942-1944
f. 2851946-1947
f. 286-2871948
f. 288-2921940s
f. 2931950-1951
f. 2941952
f. 295-2961953
f. 2971954
f. 2981955
f. 299-3001956
f. 3011957
f. 3021958-1959
f. 303-3061950s
f. 3071960
f. 3081961
f. 309 1962-1963
f. 3101964-1966
f. 311-3131960s
f. 314-324n.d.

Organizations Records Series

f. 325Methodist Ecumenical Council, 1950-1951
f. 326World Council of Churches, 1942-1945
f. 327World Council of Churches, 1946-1947
f. 328World Council of Churches, 1948
f. 329World Council of Churches, 1948
f. 330World Council of Churches, 1949
f. 331-334World Council of Churches, 1950
f. 335World Council of Churches, 1951-1961
f. 336World Methodist Council, 1947
f. 337World Methodist Council, 1952-1955
f. 338World Methodist Council, 1956
f. 339World Methodist Council, 1957
f. 340-341World Methodist Council, 1965
f. 342Methodist Historical Societies, 1952
f. 343Church Union, 1951-1952
f. 344Church Union, 1953-1957
f. 345National Council of Churches, 1951
f. 346Commission on Worship, 1944
f. 347Commission on Worship, Questionnaires
f. 348Federal Council of Churches, 1935-1936
f. 349Federal Council of Churches, 1937-1946
f. 350Federal Council of Churches, 1949
f. 351Methodist Unification, 1934-1938
f. 352National Methodist Church, 1941-1948
f. 353National Methodist Church, 1952-1954
f. 354National Methodist Church, 1956-1961
f. 355National, Southern Methodist University, 1952-1954
f. 356World Missions- China, 1954
f. 357World Missions- Japan, 1954
f. 358World Missions- Korea, 1954-1955
f. 359-360World Missions- Reports, 1948-1955
f. 361-362World Missions- Reports, 1948-1956
f. 363World Missions- Reports, 1954
f. 364World Missions- Reports, 1955
f. 365-366World Missions- Reports, n.d.
f. 367South Central Jurisdiction, 1939-1940
f. 368-369South Central Jurisdiction, 1951
f. 370-372South Central Jurisdictional Council Report, 1956
f. 373-378District Reports, 1952-1955
f. 379Missouri Annual Conference, 1922-1949
f. 380-381Missouri Conference, 1952
f. 382Missouri Conference, 1953-1955
f. 383Missouri Conference, n.d.
f. 384Southwest Missouri Conference, 1947
f. 385Southwest Missouri Conference, 1948
f. 386Southwest Missouri Conference, 1959-1952
f. 387Southwest Missouri Conference, 1953-1956
f. 388St. Louis Conference, 1930-1951
f. 389St. Louis Conference, 1952
f. 390St. Louis Conference, 1955-1964
f. 391State-Wide Commission, 1940
f. 392State-Wide Commission, 1941-1945
f. 393State-Wide Commission, 1946-1949
f. 394Central Methodist College, 1937
f. 395Central Methodist College, 1943
f. 396Central Methodist College, 1945
f. 397Central Methodist College, 1954-1960
f. 398Delmo Housing Corporation, 1951-1952
f. 399Kingdom House, 1936-1949
f. 400Kingdom House, 1953-1954
f. 401St. John's Church, 1896-1918
f. 402St. John's Church, 1929-1965
f. 403St. John's Church, n.d.
f. 404Texas Jurisdiction, 1939-1944
f. 405-412North Texas Conference, 1927-1938

Publications Series

f. 413Adult Study Courses, 1943-1946
f. 414Christianity and Crisis, 1941
f. 415Christianity and Crisis, 1943-1946
f. 416Church Peace Union, 1940s
f. 417Federal Council of Churches, 1932-1937
f. 418Federal Council of Churches, 1940-1943
f. 419Federal Council of Churches, 1944-1950; n.d.
f. 420International Conciliation, 1908, 1939
f. 421National Conference of Christians and Jews, 1940s
f. 422Southern Methodist Layman, 1937-1944
f. 423Spiritual Issues of the War, 1940-1942
f. 424Spiritual Issues of the War, 1943
f. 425Spiritual Issues of the War, 1944
f. 426Stuttgart Training School Bulletins, 1904-1908
f. 427World Alliance for International Friendship Through the Churches, 1935
f. 428World Council of Churches, 1936-1941
f. 429World Council of Churches, 1948-1950
f. 430World Council of Churches, 1951-1953
f. 431World Council of Churches, n.d.
f. 432Methodist Church, Board of Education, 1951
f. 433Methodist Church, Board of Education, 1955
f. 434Methodist Church, Board of Education, 1956
f. 435Methodist Church, Board of Missions, 1941-1955
f. 436Methodist Church, Board of Pensions, 1950
f. 437Methodist Church, Council of Bishops, 1940-1943
f. 438Methodist Church, Council of Bishops-Crusade for a New World Order, 1943-1944
f. 439Methodist Church, Council of Bishops, 1949-1953
f. 440-441Methodist Church, Demobilization Bulletins, 1945
f. 442Methodist Church, International 1946-1953
f. 443Methodist Church, Missouri, 1937-1951
f. 444Methodist Church, Missouri, 1951
f. 445Methodist Church, Missouri, 1952-1953
f. 446Methodist Church, Missouri, 1954
f. 447Methodist Church, Missouri, 1955-1956
f. 448Methodist Church, Missouri, 1960-1963
f. 449Methodist Church, Missouri, 1965; n.d.
f. 450Methodist Church, National, 1942-1944
f. 451Methodist Church, National, 1949-1960
f. 452Methodist Church, South Central Jurisdiction, 1943-1948
f. 453Miscellaneous, 1921-1939
f. 454Miscellaneous, 1940
f. 455Miscellaneous, 1941
f. 456Miscellaneous, 1942
f. 457Miscellaneous, 1943-1944
f. 458Miscellaneous, 1947
f. 459Miscellaneous, 1948
f. 460Miscellaneous, 1951-1958
f. 461Miscellaneous, n.d.

Publicity Series

f. 4621920s
f. 4631931-1936
f. 4641937
f. 4651941-1946
f. 4661947
f. 4671948-1949
f. 4681950-1951
f. 4691952-1953
f. 4701954
f. 4711955
f. 4721956
f. 4731957-1959
f. 4741960-1961
f. 4751962-1966

Photographs Series

f. 4761880s-1890s
f. 4771900s
f. 4781910s-1920s
f. 4791930s
f. 4801940s
f. 4811950s
f. 4821950s
f. 4831960s
f. 484n.d.

Personal Series

f. 485Autobiography
f. 486Biographical Information
f. 487Biography
f. 488Lela Burks Holt
f. 489Starr Blasingame Carithers Holt
f. 490Miscellaneous
f. 491Retirement, 1956
f. 492Retirement, 1956-1960

Scrapbooks Series

f. 4931907-1913
f. 4941914-1922
f. 4951931-1934
f. 4961935
f. 4971936 January-June
f. 4981936 July-December
f. 4991953
f. 50050th Anniversary, 1959 April 8-July 2
f. 50150th Anniversary, 1959 July 3-24
f. 50250th Anniversary, 1959 July 25-October
f. 50350th Anniversary, 1960 January 1-6
f. 50450th Anniversary, 1960 January 7-9
f. 50550th Anniversary, 1960 January 10-18
f. 50650th Anniversary, 1960 January 19-30
f. 50750th Anniversary, 1960 February 1-9
f. 50850th Anniversary, 1960 February 10-18
f. 50950th Anniversary, 1960 February 20-March 17
f. 51050th Anniversary, 1960 March 18-May
f. 5111963
v. 11932-1934
v. 21935
v. 31935-1938
v. 4-6National Preaching Mission, 1936
v. 71937
v. 81938
v. 9Uniting Conference, 1939
v. 101946-1949

Audio Materials Series

a.c. 1Interview, 1950
a.c. 2Stewardship Convocation, 1955
a.c. 3Bishops' Conference, 1957
a.c. 4Sermon, 1960
a.c. 5University Methodist Church, 1960
a.c. 6"A Message to Methodism," n.d.
rec. 1Interview, Part III, 1950
rec. 2South Central Jurisdiction Meeting- "Introduction and Transitional Statements," 1952
rec. 3South Central Jurisdiction Meeting- "The Conference in Progress," 1952
rec. 4South Central Jurisdiction Meeting- "The Conference in Retrospect," 1952
rec. 5Whitsunday Broadcast, Part I, 1952
rec. 6Whitsunday Broadcast, Part II, 1952
rec. 7"A Message to Methodism," n.d. [side A- Arthur J. Moore, side B- Ivan Lee Holt]
rec. 8Methodist Campaign, n.d.

INDEX TERMS