Guide to the William Arthur Tieck Papers
Prepared by Justin Causey, Student Assistant and Mark C. Shenise, Associate Archivist
United Methodist Archives and History Center
General
Commission on Archives and History, Madison, New Jersey
(Published for the Drew University Methodist Library)
4/2/2012
Overview of Records
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| Record Creator: |
Tieck, William Arthur |
| Title: |
William Arthur Tieck Papers |
| Dates: |
1896-1997 |
| Abstract: |
William Arthur Tieck (1908-1997) was a New York City area minister and scholar. Born in Denver, Colorado and raised in California,
Tieck attended the University of Redlands and graduated from Drew Theological Seminary in 1942. Tieck received a Master of
Sacred Theology from Union Seminary in 1947, and his Ph.D. from Columbia University in 1953. Tieck served as pastor of St.
Stephen's UMC Church in Marble Hill, New York City from 1946 until his retirement in 1978. Following his retirement, Tieck
became the part-time pastor of the Edgehill Methodist Church in the Bronx, and remained there until 1995 when in his late-80s.
As an author, Tieck wrote a well-known booklet, "God's House and the Old Kingsbridge Road", as well as other works from 1968
to 1992. In 1995, Tieck donated three-hundred thousand dollars to Drew University for the endowment of the Florence Bell
Center for Methodist Studies, in honor of the long-time Sunday School teacher at St. Stephen's UMC Church.
Tieck's papers contain numerous references and materials on various World's Fairs held from the 1930s to the 1970s,
original posters from the World War II era, mainly War Bonds and home front morale posters, a large amount of personal correspondence
and papers from Tieck's longtime companion, Florence E. Bell, along with financial records, personal letters, and family documents
such as Temperance League pledges and school records.
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| Extent: |
76.01 cubic feet |
| Resource ID: |
dumc.ms.2777 |
Biographical Note
William Arthur Tieck
(1908-1997) was a New York City area minister and scholar. Born in Denver, Colorado and raised in
California, Tieck attended the University of Redlands and graduated from Drew Theological Seminary
in 1942. Tieck received a Master of Sacred Theology from Union Seminary in 1947, and his Ph.D. from
Columbia University in 1953. Tieck served as pastor of St. Stephen's UMC Church in Marble Hill,
New York City from 1946 until his retirement in 1978. Tieck also served as a president of the
Riverdale Community Council in the Bronx, the Conference of Religious Leaders of Riverdale-
Kingsbridge-Marble Hill, the Riverdale Mental Health Association, the Riverdale Chapter of the
United Nations Association, and the Riverdale Kiwanis Club. Tieck was also the "Riverdale Man of
the Year" in 1967, received an honorary doctorate of letters from Manhattan College in 1973, and
was appointed as the Official Historian of the Bronx in 1980, and was listed in "Who's Who in the
East". As an author, Tieck wrote a booklet, "God's House and the Old Kingsbridge Road", as well as
the books: "Riverdale, Kingsbridge, Spuyten Duyvil: New York City" (1968), "Schools and School
Days in Riverdale, Kingsbridge, Sputyen Duyvil: New York City" (1970), "America's Debt to John
Peter Tetard" (1987), and a monograph "The Locale of Theodore Dreiser's Kingsbridge Experience"
(1992). In 1995, Tieck donated three-hundred thousand dollars to Drew University for the endowment
of the Florence Bell Center for Methodist Studies, in honor of the long-time Sunday School teacher
at St. Stephen's UMC Church. In 2000, Marble Hill Ave. between West 228th St. and West 230th St. in
New York City was renamed "Reverend Dr. William A. Tieck Way" by Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.
Scope Note
Tieck's papers contain
numerous references and materials on various World's Fairs held from the 1930s to the 1970s. Among
personal effects are a picture of a seven-year old Tieck dated from 1915, a photo album of his
last year in 1978 ministering at St. Stephen's UM Church in Marble Hill, a photograph of Tieck
receiving an honorary doctorate, as well as his honorary doctorate of letters from Manhattan
College and a large presentation mock-check for his three-hundred thousand dollar donation to Drew
University to endow the Bell Center for Methodist studies. A VHS tape (converted into DVD format)
contains footage of an elderly Tieck speaking at the memorial service for Francis Bell. Collection
also includes Methodist pamphlets ranging from 1946 to 1996 on issues of church theology and
events. A 1996 Drew Living Library pamphlet covers events, prizes, and mentions Tieck's endowment
of the Bell Center. Two cassette tapes (converted to 3 CDs) record an oral history interview of
Tieck in May and November, 1978 in New York City, his interviewer was Lottie MacMurran.
The Tieck collection contains numerous original posters from the World War II era, mainly War
Bonds and home front morale posters. Particularly noticeable among them are various "Loose Lips Sink
Ships" and "Careless Words Cost Lives" posters depicting the consequences of careless talk on the
home front. The posters are all preserved in excellent condition.
Tieck's personal papers include a large amount of material on the World's Fairs of the mid-20th
century, including pamphlets, artifacts, magazines, and guidebooks from expositions such as the
1933 Chicago Century of Progress Exposition, the 1932 New York Bicentennial, the 1939 Golden Gate
Exposition in California, and Worlds' Fairs in New York during the 1930s and 1960s including the
1939 "World of Tomorrow" New York World's Fair.
In the collection is a large amount of personal correspondence and papers from Tieck's longtime
companion, Florence E. Bell, including financial records and personal letters along with some Bell
family material such as Temperance League pledges and school records. Also included is a copy of
the last will and testament of Ethelyn H. Wesser, leaving over one-hundred-fifty thousand dollars
in stocks, bonds, and items to Florence Bell in 1983. Among other artifacts pertaining to Florence
Bell are a portrait of Bell hanging in the Bell Scholar's Room, an oil portrait of Bell as a young
girl dating likely from the 1920s, and a series of 1930 newspaper clippings concerning a bizarre
stalking case involving a nineteen year-old Bell being pestered by a fellow Sunday School teacher
to an extent that required his arrest. The oil portrait of a young girl is by the noted New York
area artist Margerey Ryerson (1886-1989). An ink etching of a middle-aged Tieck is in its frame.
There is a framed certificate appointing Tieck the official historian of the Bronx, signed and
presented by Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer in 1988. In room A201are a large breakfront
cabinet and a large china cabinet, both donated by Tieck.
Arrangement
Materials have been arranged in the following manner.
Biographical
Ministry
Artifacts
Preferred Citation
When citing material
from this collection please use the following format: Direct reference to the item or its file
folder, William Arthur Tieck Papers, Methodist Collection - Drew University, Madison, New Jersey.
Do not make use of the item's call number as that is not a stable descriptor.
Access Restrictions
Copyright still
owned by Drew. Permissions to publish must be directed to Drew.
Restrictions on Use
Detailed use
restrictions relating to our collections can be requested from the office of the archivist at the
General Commission on Archives and History. Photocopying is handled by the staff and may be
limited in certain instances. Before using any material for publication from this collection a
formal request for permission to publish is expected and required.
Related Material
Leonard Lief
Library, Lehman College
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Subject Terms
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Additonal Creators - Personal |
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Bell,
Florence Ellen.
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Subject Names - Corporate |
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Methodist Episcopal Church
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United Methodist Church (U.S.)
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Methodist
Church (U.S.)
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Subject Topics |
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Church work with minorities
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Religious education
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Worship.
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World War, 1939-1945
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Subject Geographic |
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California
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Illinois.
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New York (N.Y.)
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Genre |
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Books
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Brochures
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Diplomas.
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Interviews
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Photograph albums
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Photographs
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Posters
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Correspondence |
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Occupations |
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Civic Leader
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Historian.
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Theologian
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Minister |
Series: Biographical
| Call Number |
Folder Title |
Date(s) |
| 2143-1-2:
1
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Bronx Historian appointment and case |
1987 |
| 2143-6-3:
1
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Honorary Doctorate from Manhattan College |
1973 |
| 2143-6-4:
1
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Pamphlet - God's House and the Old Kingsbridge Road |
1948 |
| 2143-6-4:
2
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Expositor and Homiletic Review Journal and Revival Pamphlet
March-July
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1946 |
| 2143-6-4:
3
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Chicago - A Century of Progress International Exposition
Guidebook and postcards
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1933 |
| 2143-6-4:
4
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New York World's Fair 1964-1965 Guidebook and Map |
1964 |
| 2143-6-4:
5
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The New Yorker's Bicentennial Guide, 1732-1932 Pamphlet by
Washington Irving High School
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1932 |
| 2143-6-4:
6
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California-Pacific International Exposition San Diego and
1939 San Francisco Bay Golden Gate International Exposition
Guidebooks
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1935-1939 |
| 2143-6-4:
7
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New York World's Fair Commemorative New York State License
Plate
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1964-1965 |
| 2143-6-4:
8
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Official Guide and Picture book for New York World's Fair
Masterpieces of Art Exhibit
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1939 |
| 2143-6-4:
9
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New York World's Fair Catalog, Guidebooks, and
Pamphlets
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1939 |
| 2143-6-5:
1
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Life Magazine, New York World's Fair Edition - May 1 |
1964 |
| 2143-6-5:
2
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Certificate of Appreciation from the United Methodist Church -
June 9
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1978 |
| 2143-6-5:
3
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Citation for Honorary Doctorate of Letters, Manhattan College -
October 28
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1973 |
| 2143-6-5:
4
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Image- Copy of Profile Portrait of William A. Tieck |
circa 1950-1960 |
| 2143-6-5:
5
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Gift photocopy, signatures, and well-wishes |
circa 1976 |
| 2143-7-1:
1
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Natwest Bank Champions of the Bronx Tieck Portrait and
Plaque
|
1994 |
| 2143-7-2:
2
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Honors and Ceremony Pamphlets |
1973-1996 |
| 2143-7-2:
4
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Image of William Tieck at Manhattan College |
1973 |
| 2143-7-2:
5
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The Chronicle, 1995-1996 Retired Ministers and Spouses
Fellowship Journal, New York Conference
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1996 |
| 2143-7-2:
7
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Reverend William A. Tieck Oral History CD - Part 1 |
1978 |
| 2143-7-2:
8
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Reverend William A. Tieck Oral History CD - Part 2 |
1978 |
| 2143-7-2:
9
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Reverend William A. Tieck Oral History CD - Part 3 |
1978 |
| 2143-7-3:
1
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Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Manhattan College |
1973 |
| 2145-1-1:
1
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Framed Charcoal Portrait of William Tieck |
circa 1950-1960 |
Series: Ministry
| Call Number |
Folder Title |
Date(s) |
| 2143-7-2:
1
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Personal Correspondence of Florence Bell |
1896-1993 |
| 2143-7-2:
3
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Church Reports, Statistics, and News |
1955-1995 |
| 2143-7-2:
6
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Loyal Temperence Legion Pledge |
1898 |
| 2143-7-2:
10
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DVD - Remarks at the Memorial Service of Florence
Bell
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1993 |
| 2145-1-2:
1
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New York City Newspaper Clippings on Florence Bell |
1930 |
Series: Artifacts
| Call Number |
Folder Title |
Date(s) |
| 2089-1-1:
1
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Margery Ryerson Oil Painting of Young Girl |
circa 1920-1960 |
| 2143-6-1:
1
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Commemorative Plate- Bushwhick Ave. Methodist Church -
Brooklyn
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circa 1950-1967 |
| 2143-6-1:
2
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Commemorative Plate- Greenport United Methodist Church - Long
Island
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circa 1968-1997 |
| 2143-6-1:
3
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Commemorative Plate - Calvary United Methodist Church, New
York City
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circa 1968-1997 |
| 2143-6-2:
1
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Tieck Retirement Sermon Photo Album at St. Stephens UMC,
Bronx.
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1978 |
| 5025-7-2:
1
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New York World's Fair U.S Steel Globe Pencil
sharpener
|
1961 |
| 5025-7-2:
2
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New York World's Fair Key Chain |
1939 |
| 5025-7-2:
3
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New York City World's Fair Souvenier Coin - 150th Anniversary
of George Washington's Inauguration
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1939 |
| 5025-7-2:
4
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Chicago Century of Progress Exposition Souvenir
Keychain
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1933 |
| 5025-7-2:
5
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Chicago Century of Progress International Exhibition Souvenir
Coin
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1933 |
| 5025-7-2:
6
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Golden Gate International Exposition California Bible Society
File and Bookmark
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1939 |
| 5025-7-2:
16
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Montreal Expo Comb, Nail-file, and Case |
1967 |
| 5025-7-2:
17
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New York World's Fair Silver Spoon - New York City Exhibit
Building
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1939 |
| 5025-7-2:
18
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New York World's Fair Silver Spoon - Railroad Transportation
Building
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1939 |
| 5025-7-2:
19
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Image of Seven Year Old Tieck in Display Case |
circa 1915 |
| 5531-1-5:
1
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World War II home front posters |
1941-1945 |
| 8888-8-8:
1
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Breakfront Cabinet |
Undated |
| 8888-8-8:
2
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China Cabinet |
Undated |
