Bradley, Dwight J. Papers, 1936-1962.

Collection Information
Title:

Dwight J. Bradley papers, 1936-1962.

Creator(s):

Bradley, Dwight J. (Dwight Jaques), 1889-1957.

Bradley, Elizabeth Ganse

Dates:

1936-1962, bulk 1940-1942

Extent:

2 document cases (0.8 cubic feet)

Collection ID #:

MS5163

Conditions Governing Access:

Access to this collection is unrestricted and open to the public.

Physical Access:

The newspaper clippings are in poor condition. Handle with great care.

Copyright:

Items in this collection are subject to U.S. Copyright Law. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine the copyright status of collection items and to secure any permissions necessary for their reproduction and publication.

Requests for permission to publish material must be discussed with the archivist or librarian.

Preferred Citation:

[Identification of item], in the Dwight J. Bradley papers, MS5163. The Congregational Library & Archives, Boston, MA.

Language:

English

Processing information:

Processed and described by Brooklyn College Library Archive & Special Collections, 2012, using DACS.

Revision History:

Re-described by Jessica Steytler, February 2014, using DACS, Second Edition.

Abstract:

Dwight J. Bradley was a clergyman, author, and social commentator who served as a pastor for several Congregational churches and as executive director for the Council for Social Action. This collection consists of daily journals, several published books, three unpublished works and correspondence.

Acquisition Information:

Gift of Brooklyn College Library Archive & Special Collections in February 2014.

Accruals:

No accruals expected.

Description

Historical Note

Dwight J. Bradley (1889-1957), clergyman, author, and social commentator, was born in Yankton, South Dakota, December 16, 1889. He was ordained in the Congregational Church in 1915. Bradley had Doctor of Divinity degrees from the Pacific School of Religion as well as from Colby and Oberlin Colleges. Throughout his career as an ordained minister, he held various positions, such as the executive director of the Council for Social Action of the Congregational and Christian Churches of the United States. He was also the general director of religious activities for the Army and Navy, and a professor at Andover-Newton Theological Seminary.

Rev. Dwight J. Bradley served in the following churches:

Highland Church Cleveland, Ohio 1915-1917
First Church El Paso, Texas 1917-1920
First Church Webster Grove, Missouri 1920-1929
First Church Newton, Massachusetts 1930-1934
Union Church Boston, Massachusetts 1934-1938
Edgehill Church New York, New York 1953-1957

 

Scope of Collection

This collection consists of materials pertaining to the life of Dwight J. Bradley from 1938-1942. There are daily journals, several published books, three unpublished works, in addition to miscellaneous correspondences. His journals contain personal opinions on major world events, such as World War II, as well as personal issues like the passing of Bradley's father. The journals also include the dates and locations when Bradley traveled across the United States. The books and unpublished works reflect Bradley's beliefs in his faith, the ideal marriage, and how to treat our fellow man. The miscellaneous materials shed light on issues and events described in the journals, such as newspaper clippings of Bradley's writings.

 

Further Searches

Subject Headings

Bradley, Dwight J. (Dwight Jaques), 1889-1957.

Bradley, Elizabeth Ganse

Psychology, Applied.

Literature - Collections.

Death.

Immortality.

Religion.

Religions and Science.

Christian civilization.

Christianity and politics.

Democracy.

Leadership.

General Council of the Congregational and Christian Churches of the United States. Council for Social Action.

 

Related Materials:

General Council of the Congregational and Christian Churches of the United States. Council for Social Action records, 1934-1956. Collection ID Number RG 0057.

Newton, Mass. First Congregational Church records, 1773-1972. Collection ID Number RG 0132.

Boston, Mass. Union Congregational Church records, 1822-1948. Collection ID Number RG 0031

 

Arrangement

Series I: Dwight J. Bradley Journals, 1938-1942.

Series II: Miscellaneous, 1940-1962.

Series III: Books, 1936-1938.

Series IV: Unpublished Works, undated.

 

Contents

Series I: Dwight J. Bradley Journals
Date: 1938-1942
Extent: 4 folders
Scope of Series: This series contains the personal journal of Dwight J. Bradley from 1938-1942. The journal lists the dates and locations of Bradley as he traveled across the United States. The journal also chronicles the events, professional conferences, and religious services Bradley attended or participated in including his personal opinions about major world events, such as World War II. There is also mention made of notable individuals like Franz Schoenberer.
    Date Box/Folder
Journal 1938-1939 B1/F1
Journal 1939-1940 B1/F2
Journal 1941-1942 B1/F3
Journal 1942 B1/F4
 

Series II: Miscellaneous
Date: 1940-1962
Extent: 9 folders
Scope of Series: This series contains letters addressed to Mr. Bradley. There are programs from a 1958 memorial service, church letters with news articles, as well as personal correspondence by Mrs. Elizabeth Bradley regarding the donation of her late husband's papers.
  Date Box/Folder
Letters addressed to Rev. Bradley 1941-1942 B1/F5
Memorial service program and address 1958 May 5 B1/F6
News articles and church newsletter 1941 B1/F7
Souvenir programs 1941-1942 B1/F8
Western Union telegrams undated B1/F9
Church meeting schedules 1940-1941 B1/F10
Elizabeth Bradley correspondence 1961-1962 B1/F11
Photographs circa 1940 B1/F12
Miscellaneous undated B1/F13
 

Series III: Books
Date: 1936-1938
Extent: 2 folders
Scope of Series: Included here are two published works by Dwight J. Bradley: Highway of the Spirit (1936) and By Faith: A Book of Modern Devotion (1938). Highway talks about leading a better religious life through Bible study, personal meditation as well as religious growth through social action. By Faith talks about people seeking devotion in God as well as hope and evidence of good things still unseen to the reader.
  Date Box/Folder
Highway of the Spirit 1936 B1/F14
By Faith: A Book of Modern Devotion 1938 B1/F15
 

Series IV: Unpublished Works
Date: undated
Extent: 1 document case
Scope of Series: This series contains unpublished manuscripts by Dwight J. Bradley. The first one is titled Hope is Our Heritage, which is about how our own compassion, faith, hope, and love have been applied to our own culture and heritage. The second manuscript is called Three Squares and a Rose, a first-person narrative on the ideal meaning of marriage. The third manuscript, The Malady of Man, explains how the issue of intolerance has clearly changed the course of human civilization. In particular, how it could impact many of the general social problems ordinary people face.
  Date Box/Folder
Three Square Meals and a Rose Chapters 1-3 undated B2/F1
Three Square Meals and a Rose Chapters 4-6 undated B2/F2
Three Square Meals and a Rose Chapters 7-9 undated B2/F3
The Malady of Man, criticism on manuscript, pages 1-47 undated B2/F4
The Malady of Man, pages 48-95 undated B2/F5
The Malady of Man, pages 96-148 undated B2/F6
Hope Is Our Heritage forward, pages 1-70 undated B2/F7
Hope Is Our Heritage pages 71-135 undated B2/F8
Hope Is Our Heritage pages 136-195 undated B2/F9
Hope Is Our Heritage pages 196-238 undated B2/F10
Hope Is Our Heritage pages 238-277 and end pages undated B2/F11