Overview
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Record Creator: | Swomley, John M. |
Title: | John M. Swomley Papers |
Dates: | 1945-2002 |
Abstract: | John M. Swomley, (1915-2010) was a United Methodist minister in the Kansas East Conference, a pacifist Christian, and a nonviolent activist. This collection contains his theological articles presented in journals and newspapers, a list of the articles he wrote from June1940 to February 2002, some letters of correspondence, book reviews, memorials, and some biographical information. |
Extent: | 0.45 cubic feet |
Resource ID: | dumc.ms.4331 |
John M. Swomley (1915- 2010), United Methodist minister in the Kansas East Conference, a pacifist Christian, and a nonviolent activist, was a native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He holds degrees from Dickinson College and the Boston University School of Theology, an M.A. from Boston University, and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Colorado. Swomley worked as a Professor of Christian Ethics at the St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri from 1960 to 1984 and served in the capacity of visiting professor at multiple universities during this time. He authored numerous writings, pamphlets, and magazine articles. In 1956, he organized the first South-wide strategy meeting of militant black leaders with Martin Luther King, Jr. and Ralph Abernathy, which was the spiritual forerunner of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. From 1960-1964, Swomley served on the Methodist Church�s General Conference Commission to Study the Relation of Nuclear War to the Christian Faith. He helped organize the National Council to Repeal the Draft in 1969. Swomley served in various prestigious positions including the Chairperson of the Church-State Committee, President of the Methodist Peace Fellowship, Executive Secretary of the Fellowship of Reconciliation (1953-1960), President of the Board of Directors of the American Society of Christian Ethics (1964-1970), and President of Americans for Religious Liberty. He died in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 16, 2010.
The primary bulk of this collection involves ethical arguments presented by Swomley throughout his theological career. Most of these are in the forms of newspaper or journal articles. At the beginning of this section of the collection, there is a list of the articles that Swomley wrote from June 1940 to February 2002. The collection also contains some letters of correspondence, book reviews, memorials, and some biographical information.
Materials have been arranged in the following manner.
Arrangement is by subject topic.
When citing material from this collection please use the following format: Direct reference to the item or its file folder, John M. Swomley 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.
Copyright still owned by Drew University. Permission to publish must be directed to Drew University Methodist Library.
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.
Swathmore College Peace Collection
Call Number | Folder Title | Date(s) |
2132-3-8: 1 | List of Articles - Bypassing the Constitution | 1954-1999 |
2132-3-8: 2 | Catholics and the Religious Right - The Culture of Death | 1947-2002 |
2132-3-8: 3 | Dangerous Military Aid Programme - Funding for the Culture War | 1952-2002 |
2132-3-8: 4 | Gregg, Richard's Memorial - Korean Dilemma? | 1954-2001 |
2132-3-8: 5 | The Lessons of Solidarity - Nuclear Weapons in Korea? | 1964-2001 |
2132-3-8: 6 | On Creationism and Evolution - Progressive Catholics Working for Change | 1945-2000 |
2132-3-8: 7 | Reagan Revisionism - Roman Catholic Rightists | 1955-2001 |
2132-3-8: 8 | Sanctions - Surrounded by Heavy Weapons | 1953-2000 |
2132-3-8: 9 | Taking Back My Male Role - The Virgin Mary and Magic | 1954-2001 |
2132-3-8: 10 | The War in Vietnam - Women in Power? | 1964-2000 |
2132-3-8: 11 | Miscellaneous Correspondence | 1972-2001 |