Religious Research Association Archives at Marquette University

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 Religious Research Association (RRA) Archives, 1951-30 boxes, 10.1 cubic feet

The beginnings of the Religious Research Association date from 1944 with the establishment of the Augmented Technical Staff of the Committee for Cooperative Field Research of the Home Missions Council and the Federal Council of Churches. The motivating force behind this venture was Harlan Paul Douglass, Staff director and renowned social and religious researcher. Under Douglass, the inter-denominational Staff attracted participants from many religious institutions and a bond developed between the members which was personal as well as professional. Consequently, when the newly-formed National Council of Churches was re-organizing the Committee for Cooperative Field Research into the Central Department of Research and Survey, members of the Augmented Technical Staff decided to disconnect themselves officially from denominational participation in the National Council and instead chose to develop on an interfaith level. On June 21, 1951, the Religious Research Fellowship was formed as an autonomous group at a meeting held in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. A growing decline in the number of research personnel in ecclesiastical organizations and a corresponding increase in academic interest in religious research led to constitutional changes which resulted in the re-formation of the Fellowship into the Religious Research Association on June 1, 1959.

In its efforts to advance "the total life of the church," the RRA applies "the methods and knowledge of the sciences" in order "to increase the understanding of the function of religion in individuals and society;" "to promote the development of religious researchers and of users of research findings;" and to make these findings available to all. Primary to achieving these objectives are the publication of the Review of Religious Research and the annual meeting, both of which generate research papers in the tradition of H. Paul Douglass. The organization opens membership to anyone with a serious interest in these goals.

The RRA is incorporated under the laws of the State of New York, and has in its membership a wide variety of people with a professional interest in religious research, located throughout the U.S. and from Western Europe to India.

Elected officers include a President, Vice-President (President-Elect), Secretary, and Treasurer. These, together with the chairpersons of the standing committees, comprise the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee plus the elected directors-at-large constitute the Board of Directors.

Annual meetings, originally held in June, are now convened in late October, usually in conjunction with the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR) and sometimes including other groups such as the Association for the Sociology of Religion (ASR). Formerly, regional meetings were held at various locations and times throughout the year.

The RRA Archives include correspondence, memoranda, minutes, reports, statements, programs, lists, research papers, abstracts, questionnaires, budget statements and financial records, tax records, incorporation documents, journals, newsletters and other publications, membership lists, and related documents concerning general administration, annual and board meetings, scholarly and practical research, publications and editorial policy, financial planning, business affairs, fund-raising efforts and grant proposals, membership development and studies, and committee activities.

The bulk of the records was acquired in 1977 from Dr. David O. Moberg of Marquette University and Mr. Constant H. Jacquet, Jr. of the National Council of Churches of Christ in accordance with the contract of May 1, 1977 signed between Marquette University and the RRA.

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Religious Research Association (RRA) Archives, 1951-Scope and Content Note

Series 1, General Correspondence and Administrative Subject File, 1951-, contains material relating to the administration of the organization, including correspondence between officers and members regarding meetings, membership, and the Review of Religious Research. The most complete correspondence file is that of the Secretary (1951-1977). The series includes correspondence, reports, memoranda, printed literature, and related documents concerning publicity (1961, 1966-67, 1970-72), as well as the internal development of the organization, including changes in the constitution, by-laws, status, and name, and a brief social history of the Association. The series also documents cooperation between the RRA and related organizations such as the Bureau of Research of the National Council of Churches (1966-76), the American Catholic Sociological Society (later the ASR; 1960, 1968-70), and the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (1970-72). Gaps in the records are the result of the decentralized character of the Association's administration and the consequent origin and development of files in diverse locations. The material is arranged by officer and by type (general correspondence and subject file) and chronologically thereunder.

Series 2, Meetings File, 1952-, contains almost complete records of annual meetings (1952-80); missing 1955, 1978) and Executive Committee/Board of Directors meetings (1958-1976), as well as records for some regional and business meetings. The series includes minutes, programs, and reports (annual, financial status and of various committees); research and scholarly papers delivered at annual meetings, especially materials in two folders concerning the H. Paul Douglass Lectureship (1957-1974); and correspondence relating to program planning and local arrangements. The series is arranged chronologically and by type of record thereunder. Duplicate sets of minutes of annual meetings (1959-73, 1979) and Board meetings (1959-74) are located at the end of the series.

Series 3, Financial Records, 1953-, contains the Treasurer's file, consisting of correspondence, budget reports and planning statements, general financial records, a general journal of receipts and expenditures, and a cash book of receipts and disbursements. Also included are bank statements, canceled checks, deposit slips, paid bills, auditor's records, tax records and correspondence with the Internal Revenue Service, grant applications, and incorporation documents. The records are arranged by type and, in general, are chronological thereunder.

Series 4, Membership Records, 1956-, includes correspondence, membership/development committee records and reports (1957-71), and related documents regarding RRA members and RRR subscribers, including lists, surveys, profiles, questionnaires, statistical reports, working papers, and membership and subscriber directories, print-outs and cards. This series is arranged by type of record and chronologically thereunder. Membership mailing lists (1971-81) are contained in oversize boxes.

Series 5, Review of Religious Research (RRR) Editorial Files, 1958-, contains correspondence concerning both editorial and production aspects of the RRR, involving the editor, managing editor, and business manager; proceedings of the Publications Committee, including reports, minutes, reprint permission requests, editorial policy statements, and publication of the H. Paul Douglass Lecture; and the files of the editor, Dr. David O. Moberg, which consist of manuscripts, working papers (revised, rejected, or received for publication), evaluation forms, and correspondence pertaining to the production of the journal (1968-72). The records are arranged by type and chronologically thereunder.

Series 6, Committee Records, 1956-, includes the correspondence and reports of RRA Committees. Files in the Archives Committee (1976-81) document the establishment of the RRA Archives and continuing interaction between the RRA and the Marquette Department of Special Collections. Other major committees include Development, Finance, Program, and Publications. Records are arranged alphabetically by committee and chronologically thereunder.

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Series 7, General Publications, 1960-, contains three issues of the joint RRA/NCC Newsletter (1970), two issues of the RRA News and Notices (1971), and leaflets describing the goals and structure of the RRA (ca. 1960-76). The series is arranged by type of document and chronologically thereunder.

Oversize Records, 1971-, consist of computer-printout membership mailing lists (1971-81), arranged alphabetically by name and also by zip code.

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Religious Research Association (RRA) Archives, 1951-

Content Listing

 Box 1

"A Brief Social History of the RRA," by Jeffrey K. Hadden, presented to joint SSSR/RRA meeting October 16,1973

RRF Constitution and IRS Incorporation Tax-Exempt Status, 1955-56, 1961

Proposed Constitution, Institute for Religious Research and Revisions forming RRA, 1958-69

Mailing and Ballot to Membership regarding possible name change and Incorporation of Institute for Religious Research, 1958-59

Constitutions and By-Laws, 1961-62, 1966-67, 1969, 1971, 1975

Job Descriptions of RRA Officers and Office Personnel, 1962-69, 1980, n.d.

Religious Research Fellowship, General Subject File, 1953-57; General Correspondence, 1953-58

General Correspondence, 1959-73

Box 2

General Correspondence, largely with the Board of Directors, 1961-68

Treasurer, 1966-67

President, 1958-1964; 1964-65; 1976-78; 1978-79

Secretary's File, Religious Research Fellowship, 1951-55 (includes information on formation of RRF from National Council Committee for Co-operative Field Research, June 1951)

Secretary's File, Religious Research Fellowship, 1956; 1957; 1958; 1959-60

Box 3

General Correspondence, Secretary, 1961-1970; 1971-74; 1975-77

Publicity, 1961, 1966-67

Publicity (Laile Bartlett), 1970-72

RRA/Bureau of Research/National Council of Churches Proposal for Joint Publication, 1970

General Correspondence, National Council of Churches, Director of Research, 1966, 1968-1971, 1972-76

American Catholic Sociological Society (ACSS) Annual Convention, New York, August 31, September 1-2, 1960

RRA/ACSS Meeting Proposal, 1969-70

RRA/ACSS Relations, 1968-70

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Series 1, Box 3, continued

RRA/ACSS Correspondence: Inter-Organizational Cooperation, 1970-72

RRA and Organizational Subsidy: Study Paper, ca. 1968

Study Paper on RRA Goals, 1968

Clerical Assistance, Correspondence and Memos, 1968

Box 1

H. Paul Douglass Lectureship, 1957-1961; 1962-1974

Religious Research Fellowship Meeting, June 14-15, 1952

RRF Annual Meeting, June 20-33, 1953

RRF Meeting, June 19-21, 1954

RRF Annual Meeting, June 15-17, 1956

RRF Mid-Winter Meeting, January 19-20, 1957

RRF Annual Meeting, June 14-16, 1957

RRF Mid-Winter Meeting, New York, February 14, 1958

RRF Annual Meeting, Chicago, June 13-15, 1958

RRF Executive Committee Meeting, November 10, 1958; January 19, 1959

RRF Eastern Meeting, February 13, 1959

RRF Executive Committee Meeting, April 16, 1959; June 19, 1959 (New Constitution/Name Change, June 1,

1959)

RRA Annual Meeting, Chicago, June 20-21, 1959

RRA Board of Directors Meeting, July 9, 1959; September 17, 1959; December 7, 1959

West Coast Regionals, 1960-64

Eastern Regionals, 1960-67

Southeastern, Southern Regionals, 1960-67

Midwestern Regionals, 1960-68

Regional Meetings, General Correspondence, 1960-63

RRA Meetings, Correspondence, 1959-61

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Series 2, Box 1 - continued

RRA Board Meeting, February 11, 1960; March 14, 1960; June 16, 1960

Annual Meeting, June 17-18, 1960, Memos and Correspondence, 1959-60

Annual Business Meeting, Detroit, June 17, 1960

Board Meeting, March 7, 1961; June 15, 1961

Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, June 16-17, 1960

Finance Committee Meeting, September 5, 1961

Board Meeting, October 5, 1961

Box 2

Board Meeting, January 11, 1962

Midwestern Meeting, Augsburg College, March 2, 1962

Board Meeting, March 23, 1962

Annual Meeting, June 15-16, 1962

Board Meeting, June 14-16, 1962

Annual Report, Publications Committee, June 1962

Conference on the sociology of Religion, September 8-10, 1962 and Correspondence regarding same, 1961-62

Board Meeting, October 10, 1962; January 30, 1963

Annual Meeting, Chicago, June 1963

Board Meeting, June 13, 1963; January 30, 1964

Annual Meeting, Cleveland, June 18-20, 1964

Board Meeting, June 18-19, 1964; New York, January 29, 1965

Finance Committee Meeting, May 14, 1965

Board Meeting, Chicago, June 17, 1965

Annual Meeting, Chicago, June 17-19, 1965

Papers Presented at Meetings, June 16-18, 1966; February 3-4, 1967

Box 3

Board Meeting, Pittsburgh, January 28, 1966

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Series 2, Box 3 continued

First Joint Upper Midwest Regional, March 24, 1966

Annual Meeting, St. Louis, June 16-18, 1966

Board Meeting, Chicago, November 22, 1966; Cleveland, February 2, 1967

Second Joint Upper Midwest Regional, April 8, 1967 and Correspondence from May 19, 1966 through May 4, 1967, relating to same

Board Meeting, Chicago, June 22, 1967

Annual Meeting, Chicago, June 22-24, 1967: P. Massie File

Board Meeting, New York, October 30, 1967

Board Meeting, January 17, 1968

Third Joint Upper Midwest Regional, Correspondence relating to April 6, 1968; April 18, 1967-

September 16, 1968

Board Meeting, New York, April 30, 1968

Box 4

Board Meeting, Columbus, June 19-22, 1968

Annual Meeting, Columbus, June 19-22, 1968: P. Massie File

Annual Meeting, Columbus, June 20-22, 1968

Publications Committee Meeting, August 26, 1968

Board Meeting, Cleveland, September 26, 1968; New York, October 30, 1968; Indianapolis, June 19, 1969

Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, June 19-21, 1969

Board Meeting, Cleveland, September 12, 1969

RRA/ACSS Conference, New York, November 10, 1969

Northeastern Regional, New York, February 23, 1970 and Correspondence from May 23, 1969 through September\ 4, 1969, relating to same

Annual Meeting, June 18-20, 1970

Board Meeting, June 18, 1970; August 31, 1970

RRA/ACSS Joint Meeting, Washington, D.C., August 31, 1970

Board Meeting, December 4, 1970; April 13, 1971

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Series 2, Box 5 - continued

Board Meeting, August 27-28, 1971

RRA/ACSS Joint Meeting, August 28-30, 1971, Correspondence and Program

Annual Meeting, Denver, August 29, 1971

Board Meeting, Chicago, October 25, 1971

Board Meeting on Travel Expense Policy, October 29, 1971

RRA/SSSR Joint Meeting, Boston, 1972, and correspondence relating to same

Board of Directors Meeting, October 25-26, 1972

Board Meeting, October 27, 1972

Annual Meeting, Boston, October 28, 1972

Board Meeting, New York, March 9, 1973

Annual Meeting, San Francisco, October 27, 1973

Board Meeting, San Francisco, October 24-25, 1973

RRA/SSSR Joint Annual Meeting, October 1974, Correspondence and Program

Board Meeting, Washington, D.C., October 23-24, 1974

25th Anniversary Convention of SSSR, RRA/SSSR/American Academy of Religion (AAR)/Society of Biblical Literature (SBL), October 24-27, 1974, Program Booklet, Abstracts Booklet and RRA Minutes

Box 6

Board Meeting, March 21, 1975; October 24, 1975

Annual Meeting, October 24-26, 1975

Joint Meeting, RRA/SSSR, October 24-26, 1975, Conference Program, Abstracts, Booklet and Flyer

Board Meeting, October 28-29, 1976

Annual Meeting, RRA/SSSR/Association of Professors and Researchers on Religious Education (APRRE), October 29-31, 1976, Program Booklets and Financial Report, RRA Minutes

Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, October 28-30, 1977; San Antonio, October 26-28, 1979, Program; Cincinnati, October 30-November 2, 1980, Program (2 copies), Photos of George Webber (H. Paul Douglass Lecturer), Abstracts Booklet

RRA Annual Meetings, Minutes, 1959-1973; 1979

RRA Board Meetings, Minutes, 1959-1964; 1965-69; 1970-74

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Box 1

Treasurer's File and Certifications of unincorporated Status, 1956-59

Treasurer's Reports and Reports to the Treasurer, 1956-1962

Treasurer's File and General Financial Records:

1957-1962
1960-1964
1966-1968
1967-1970

Treasurer's Annual Report, 1969

Treasurer's File and General Financial Records, 1969-1970

Business Manager, Correspondence, 1967-68

General Journal, Receipts and Expenditures, Religious Research Fellowship, 1953-1960

Cash Book, Receipts and Disbursements, 1963-1975

Box 2

Auditor's Reports by Certified Public Accountant Firm, 1960, 1962-1971

Records of Checks Drawn, Expenditures, 1959-1975

Savings Account Passbook, 1957-1959

Bank Statements and Related Records:

1960-1962
1962-1963
1963-1964
1964-1965

Box 3

Bank Statements and Related Records:

1965-1966
1966-1967
1967-1968
1968-1969
1969-1970
1970-1971

Receipts and Reports of Money Received, 1962

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Series 3, Box 3 - continued

Receipt Reports, Bank Deposit Slips:

1964-1965

1965-1966

1966-1968

Receipt Reports, 1968-1969

Box 4

Receipts, 1970

Bills Paid, Requests for Payment:

1964-1965

1965-1966

1966-1968

Certificates of Copyright Registration, Review of Religious Research, 1959-1960

Certificate of Incorporation of RRA in New York State, 1961

Social Welfare Law, New York State, Correspondence regarding exemption of RRA, 1962-1963

Registration of RRA as Charitable Corporation (1968) with New York State Attorney General, and related documents, 1964-1969

Volunteer Service, Correspondence, Hours Listing, 1962

Correspondence with IRS involving Tax Exempt Status and Federal Tax Returns (Form 990A), 1961-1970

IRS Employer Identification Number, Receipt and Correspondence, 1963

Bank Account Resolutions and Related documents, 1961-1964, 1967

Analysis of Value of Volunteer Services contributed by Officers and Business Staff, 1962

Microfilming Agreement with University Microfilms (1965) and Royalty Income, 1965-1970

Fidelity Bond, 1972

Grant Requests to Private Foundations, including Lilly and Danforth, 1961-1964

Box 1

General File, Membership Committee Reports, 1961-1967; 1969-1970

Correspondence, membership Committee, 1960-1966

Correspondence to prospective organizational members, 1961-1966

Correspondence and Reports of Eleanor Reynolds (Record Secretary), regarding membership, 1968-1970

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Series 4, Box 1 - continued

Development Committee, Correspondence and Reports regarding Membership, 1957-58, 1961-1971

Development Committee, Correspondence and Reports, Organizational Supporting Memberships, 1968

Lists of Members and Subscribers, RRR, RRF, RRA, 1956-1971; 1981-1982

Box 2

Profile of RRF Members, Statistical Report, 1956

Comment (in report form) on RRA by members, 1967

Profile of RRA Members, Statistical Report, 1967-1968

Membership Survey and Statistical Profile of RRA Members, Final Report, October 11, 1973

Membership Survey, Working papers, 1973-1974

Membership Survey, Critiques and Revisions of Final Report, 1973

Membership Survey, Questionnaire Responses, Statistical Summaries, Correspondence, 1972-1973

Membership Survey, Computer Printout Lists and Directory of Members, 1973

Reports on Membership Survey and character of RRA, Jeffrey K. Hadden, David O. Moberg, 1973

Box 3

Member and Subscriber Cards, ca. 1959-1971

Box 4

Member and subscriber Cards, ca. 1963-1970

Box 5

Member and Subscriber Cards, ca. 1970-1971; Cards for Memberships cancelled or dropped, ca. 1963-1970

(Oversize Boxes 1 and 2 contain additional membership records)

Box 1

RRR, 1/1, Summer, 1959

General Correspondence of Publications Committee and managing Editor regarding establishment and production of RRR, 1958-1963

Statement of Editorial Policy and Staff Organization, 1964-1965

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Series 5, Box 1 - continued

General Correspondence of Editor and Managing Editor regarding production, content, and appointment of editorial personnel, 1965-1968; 1969; 1970, 1971, 1972-1973

Box 2

Correspondence, Reports, Expenses, Minutes of RRR Publications Committee, Editorial Staff, Board of Directors, 1959; 1961-62; 1964; 1968-1974

Correspondence of Editor concerning Book Reviews and Book Review Policy, 1968-1973

Mennonite Press and Presbyterian Central Services, Addressograph and Mailing List Cost Estimates, 1966-68;

1971-73

Correspondence regarding Microfiche and Microfilm Reproduction, Sociological Abstracts and University Microfilms, 1965, 1968-1971

Correspondence and Request Forms for Permission to Reprint RRR Articles, 1968-1973

Correspondence of Business Manager regarding RRR Subscriptions, Distribution, Advertising Rates, 1968-1972; 1976

Correspondence and Illustrations, New RRR Cover, 1969

Correspondence of Editor regarding RRR Section on Abstracts of Church Planning Studies and Research Reports, 1968-1972; 1974

Inclusion of RRR by Abstracting and Indexing Services and Publications, Correspondence, 1970-73

Index of Articles Published in Volumes I-VIII (1959-1967), 1967

Correspondence and Subject File, Editorial Search and Policy Committee, Dr. Barbara Hargrove, Chair, 1976-77

Box 3 - Editorial File: Correspondence, Manuscripts, Editorial Evaluation Forms

RRR

Spring, 1969. 10/3, 1968-69

Fall, 1969. 11/1, 1968-70

Winter, 1970. 11/2, 1968-70

Fall, 1969 and Winter, 1970. II/1&2, Milton Rokeach, Articles No. 1 and Critiques No. 2, 1969-70, 1972

Spring, 1970. 11/3, 1969-1970

Spring, 1970. 11/3, (Bernard Spilka's Review Article), 1969-1970

Box 4

RRR

Fall, 1970. 12/1, 1969-1970

Winter, 1971. 12/2, 1969-1970

Spring, 1971. 12/3, 1970-1971

Fall, 1971. 13/1, 1970-1971 (two folders)

Winter, 1972. 13/2, 1970-1972

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Series 5 - continued

Box 5

RRR

Spring, 1972. 13/3, 1970-1972 (2 folders)

Fall, 1972. 14/1, 1971-1972

Winter, 1973. 14/2, 1971-1972

Box 6 - Manuscripts rejected for publication, including several returned to authors for revision

Rejected Manuscripts:

1960-1964

1968

1969

1970

1971

1972

Manuscripts returned fro revision, including editorial evaluations, final follow-up by editor in August, 1970-72

Chronological listing of manuscripts received for evaluation by RRR, including name of author, title, names of reviewers, and disposition (accepted, rejected, or returned for revision), 1968-1972

Box 7 - Correspondence and Editorial Evaluation regarding Rejected Manuscripts

Alphabetically by Author, 1968-1972

A-C, 1968-1972

D-E, 1968-1972

F-H, 1968-1972

I-L, 1968-1972

M-Q, 1968-1972

R-S, 1968-1972

T-Z, 1968-1972

Box 1

Archives Committee, 1976-1981

Development Committee, 1960-1966, 1972-74

Finance Committee, 1959-1969

Finance Committee, 1970-1978

Future Directions, Committee on, Correspondence, ca. 1970-73

Interorganizational Relationships, Committees on, October 1971

Nominating Committee, 1960, 1963-1972, 1974

Office Operations, Ad hoc Committee on, 1978, including RRA Office and Forms Manual

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Series 6 - continued

Box 2

Program Committee, 1960-1966, 1974-1976; Correspondence, 1963, 1969, 1971-1975

Publications Committee, 1961-1965, 1967-1970; File of publications and Periodicals on the History of Religion, 1959, 1968-1972

Regional Chapters Committee, Correspondence, 1962-1963, 1972

Systems Analysis Committee, 1968

Subcommittee on Typology of churches of RRF, 1956-1957

Box 1

Descriptive Leaflets to Promote Membership, ca. 1960-1976

Joint RRA and NCC Newsletter, 1/1-3

News and Notices (2 issues), 1971

Newsletter Development, Production and Layout, Correspondence, 1969-1971

Box 1

Membership Mailing Lists: separate computer printout listings arranged alphabetically by name of member and by zip code number of member's address, 1971-1981

Box 2

Membership Mailing Lists: arranged alphabetically and by zip code, 1974-76; 1979-1980