Guide to the Edward L. R. Elson Papers

Descriptive Summary

Title

Edward L. R. Elson Papers

Inclusive Dates

1920-1988

Bulk Dates

1924-1988

Call Number

RG 253

Creator(s)

Elson, Edward L. R. (Edward Lee Roy), 1906-1993

Quantity

10.00 cubic feet (14 boxes)

Restrictions on Access

Collection open for research

Digital Content

To browse this collection's digital content visit Pearl.

Materials marked "Digital" in the Collection Inventory may not be available on Pearl or in their entirety.

Repository

Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147-1516 USA

Biographical Note / Administrative History

Biographical Note

Edward L.R. Elson was born on December 23, 1906, in Monongahela, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Asbury College (Wilmore, Kentucky) in 1928. After studying one year at Asbury Theological Seminary, he pursued post-graduate study for nearly four years in the Graduate Schools of Religion, Philosophy, and Education at the University of Southern California, receiving the degree of Master of Theology in 1931. In 1929 he married Frances Sandys, who died in 1933. Elson was remarried in 1937 to Helen Chittick.

Edward Elson was ordained by the Presbytery of Los Angeles at Santa Monica, California on April 27, 1930. He served as assistant minister in the First Presbyterian Church of Santa Monica from 1929 until 1931. In September of 1931 he was called to be minister of the First Presbyterian Church of La Jolla, California and served there for ten years.

In 1930 Elson was appointed Chaplain in the U.S. Army Reserve, and prior to the outbreak of World War II entered extended active duty. He completed nearly five years of continuous service and rose to the rank of Colonel. At the end of the war, Elson was General Eisenhower's emissary to the German Protestant Church Consistory and consulted on the reconstruction of the German Protestant Church. He was present at the capture of Landsberg and Dachau Concentration Camps, conducted investigations of the imprisoned clergy at Dachau, and witnessed the execution of Private Eddie Slovik in 1945.

In 1946, Elson was called to the Pastorate of the Covenant-First Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. He served as Pastor ad Interim until 1947. When he became pastor, Elson succeeded in establishing the National Presbyterian Church on the foundation of the Covenant-First Presbyterian Church in October of 1947.

As pastor of the National Presbyterian Church, Elson served presidents and heads of state, including Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower (he baptized and confirmed President Eisenhower in 1953). Elson was also instrumental in the campaign for a new building for the National Presbyterian Church. The campaign began in 1960, and resulted in the completion of the new church in 1969. Edward Elson was pastor at the National Presbyterian Church until 1973, when he was named Minister Emeritus.

Elson served as moderator of the Presbytery of Los Angeles in 1938, moderator of Washington City Presbytery in 1966, and commissioner to the General Assembly six times. He served as president of the Council of Churches of Greater Washington from 1952-54, and headed the Military Chaplains Association from 1957-59. Edward Elson became Chaplain of the United States Senate in 1969 and served in this capacity until he retired in 1981.

In the late 1950's, Elson made regular visits to the Middle East and was chairman of the National Council of the American Friends of the Middle East. President Eisenhower consulted Elson on Middle East issues, and had him carry a message to the King of Saudi Arabia in 1957. In 1967, Elson was appointed by President Johnson to a special team to observe the elections in Vietnam.
Edward Elson is also the author of numerous articles and five books, including: Wide was His Parish, One Moment with God, America's Spiritual Recovery, And Still He Speaks, The Inevitable Encounter.

Collection Overview

The Edward Elson papers consist of correspondence, printed and original public speaking transcripts (sermons, lectures, addresses, funeral tributes, prayers, and invocations) diaries, notebooks, photographs, and miscellaneous items (news clippings, oral history transcript, biographical data, and ephemera), spanning the years 1920-1988.

The most comprehensive series is the correspondence, which reveals the nature of his relationship with various national figures. It also includes letters from family friends, including John and Barbara Hayes. John Hayes' letters to Elson are narrative accounts of his experiences in Shanghai, China as a missionary. Other noteworthy correspondents include Harry Truman, Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower, J. Edgar Hoover, and Billy Graham. The general correspondence file (arranged chronologically) includes the complete "call" file for Elson from Covenant-First Presbyterian Church and a file of letters from members of the People's Church (led by Jim Jones), commending Elson on his stance on the Middle East.

The collection contains a large number of public speaking transcripts, primarily sermons. Some of these transcripts give insight into Elson's views on current events of the day. Access to the sermons can be obtained through a title index and a chronological list of sermons given.

The photograph subgroup largely contains posed professional shots of Elson with Presbyterians, politicians and other national and international figures. There are also photographs from Elson's trips to Vietnam and the Middle East. A series of John Hayes' photographs depicting the Presbyterian mission work at Shanghai, China are also including in this subgroup.

Elson's diaries only cover a span of two years (1952-1954). The travel notebooks contain sketchy information about his trips and are not in diary format.

Organization and Arrangement

SUBGROUP I: CORRESPONDENCE, 1931-1988

SERIES I: Presidential, 1947-1980

SERIES II: National Figures, 1947-1986

SERIES III: General, 1931-1988

SUBGROUP II: MANUSCRIPTS, 1920-1986

SERIES I: Printed Sermons and Articles, 1927-1981

SERIES II: Scholarly Papers, 1924-1946

SERIES III: Public Speaking Transcripts, 1930-1986
SUBSERIES I: Sermons, 1930-c. 1981
SUBSERIES II: Lectures/Addresses, 1930-c. 1981
SUBSERIES III: Funeral Tributes, 1934-1986
SUBSERIES IV: Invocations and Prayers, c. 1950-c. 1980

SERIES IV: Diaries, 1952-1954

SERIES V: Notebooks, 1920-1984
SUBSERIES I: Travel Notes, 1920-1968
SUBSERIES II: Ceremonies Preformed, 1930-1984

SUBGROUP III: PHOTOGRAPHS, 1927-1982

SERIES I: Presidential, 1950-1974

SERIES II: National Figures, 1953-1975

SERIES III: John D. Hayes--Shanghai, China, 1949

SERIES IV: Middle East, c. 1957-c. 1970

SERIES V: Vietnam, 1967

SERIES VI: Military and Political Service, 1942-1960

SERIES VII: Group Photographs, 1930-1982

SERIES VIII: Portraits, 1927-c. 1980

SERIES IX: National Presbyterian Church, 1940-1971

SUBGROUP IV: MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, 1928-1983

SERIES I: Biographical Information, c .1930-c. 1980

SERIES II: Oral History Transcript, 1970

SERIES III: Clippings, 1940-1981

SERIES IV: Certificates and Ephemera, 1928-1983

Alternative Formats

To browse this collection's digitized content visit Pearl.

Materials marked "Digital" in the Collection Inventory may not have been digitized in their entirety.

Administrative Information

Processing Information

The correspondence subgroup is arranged chronologically and includes both incoming and outgoing letters. The majority of Presidential letters are copies of the originals. Elson still maintains the original letters in his own personal collection.

Edward Elson's oral history was completed in 1970 by Columbia University's Oral History Research Office as part of the Office's "Eisenhower Project." The transcript in this collection is a copy sent to the Office of History by Columbia University at the request of Edward Elson.

The sermons have been kept in their original arrangement. Elson filed his sermons by the biblical text he emphasized in the sermon. After the Old and New Testament boxes are the miscellaneous invocations, addresses, etc. There is no subject access to Elson's sermons. The indices that exist (title and chronological listing) were compiled by Edward Elson.

Researchers should also check the card catalog for additional published material by and about Edward Elson.

Collection processed and finding aid prepared: 1989
Susan W. Miller, Processing Archivist

Preferred Citation

Edward L. R. Elson Papers, RG 253, Presbyterian Historical Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Catalog Headings

The following headings have been used to index the description of this collection in the society’s electronic catalog.

Corporate Subject

United States. Army Reserve Chaplains.

National Presbyterian Church (Washington, D.C.)

Covenant-First Presbyterian Church (Washington, D.C.)

First Presbyterian Church (Santa Monica, Calif.)

First Presbyterian Church (Los Angleles, Calif.)

Topical Subject

Presbyterian Church Clergy California.

Presbyterian Church Clergy Washington (D.C.)

Chaplains, Military United States.

Church work with military personnel United States.

Presidents United States Religion.

Presidents United States Correspondence.

Presbyterian Church Missions China Shanghai.

Genre-form

Correspondence. aat

Diaries. aat

Oral histories (literary genre) aat

Sermons. aat

Transcripts. aat

Photographs. aat

Clippings (information artifacts) aat

Personal Added Name

Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969.

Hayes, John David, 1888-1957.

Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972.

Eisenhower, Mamie Doud, 1896-

Graham, Billy, 1918-

Hoover, J. Edgar (John Edgar), 1895-1972.

Collection Inventory

Box	Folder	Description	Alternative Formats

1	1	Finding Aid to Record Group

		SUBGROUP I: CORRESPONDENCE, 1931-1988

		SERIES I: PRESIDENTIAL, 1947-1980

1	2	Harry S. Truman, 1947-1972
1	3	Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1952-1957
1	3a	Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1957-1969
1	4	Lyndon B. Johnson, 1967-1969
1	5	Richard M. Nixon, 1948-1980
1	6	Gerald Ford, 1973-1977

		SERIES II: NATIONAL FIGURES, 1947-1986

1	7	Mamie Doud Eisenhower, 1952-1978
1	8	Billy Graham, 1953-1986
1	9	John and Barbara Hayes, 1947-1957
1	10	J. Edgar Hoover, 1949-1972

		SERIES III: GENERAL, 1931-1988

1	11	Feb 1931-Jul 1939
1	12	Jun 1940-Dec 1944
1	13	Jan 1945-Dec 1946
1	14	Complete File of the Pulpit Committee Concerning the call of Edward Elson to Covenant-First Presbyterian Church, Washington, DC, Jun 1946-Sep 1946
1	15	Jan 1947-Apr 1950
1	16	Jul 1951-Jan 1953
1	17	Jan 1954-Jul 1955
1	18	Oct 1955-Mar 1957
1	19	Mar 1957-Jan 1958
1	20	Feb 1958-Dec 1959
1	21	Mar 1960-Dec 1964
1	22	Jan 1965-May 1967
1	23	Jun 1967-Jul 1968
1	24	Jul 1968-Apr 1969
1	25	Apr 1969-Dec 1969
1	26	People's Temple Church Members; Oct 1969-Nov 1969
1	27	Feb 1970-Mar 1972
1	28	Apr 1972-Apr 1973
1	29	May 1973-May 1977
1	30	Jun 1977-Dec 1979
1	31	Jan 1980-Dec 1981
1	32	Jan 1982-Sep 1988
1	33	n.d.

		SUBGROUP II: MANUSCRIPTS, 1920-1986

		SERIES I: PRINTED SERMONS AND ARTICLES, 1929-1981

		Sermons:
2	1	1929-1952
2	2	1953-1954
2	3	1955-1956
2	4	1957-1961, 1963
2	5	1966-1976, n.d.

		Articles:
2	6	1927-1953
2	7	1954-1981

		SERIES II: SCHOLARLY PAPERS, 1924-1946

2	8	1924-1930
2	9	1930-1946
2	10	n.d.

		SERIES III: PUBLIC SPEAKING TRANSCRIPTS, 1930-1986

		SUBSERIES I: SERMONS, 1930-c. 1981

3	1	Early Sermons, 1930-1934
3	2	Early Sermons, 1935-1942, 1945, 1955
3	3	Early Sermons, c. 1930-c. 1950

		OLD TESTAMENT FILES:
3		Genesis-Malachi

4		Apocrypha

		NEW TESTAMENT FILES:
4		Matthew
4		Mark
4		Luke

5		Luke (cont.)
5		John
5		The Acts
5		Romans
5		Corinthians I

6		Corinthians I, (cont.)
6		Corinthians II - Revelation

7		Christmas
7		Easter
7		Lenten Series
7		Thanksgiving
7		Communion Meditation
7		Charge to the Minister and the Congregation

		Sermon Indices:
7		Chronological, 1947-1978
7		Title, c. 1950-c. 1980

8		A-M

9		N-Z

		SUBSERIES II: LECTURES/ADDRESSES, 1930-c. 1981

10		Addresses--Patriotism
10		Addresses--Asbury College
10		Special Addresses
10	1	Addresses, 1936-1980
10	2	Lectures--Europe and Russia, 1936-1937

		SUBSERIES III: FUNERAL TRIBUTES, 1934-1986

10	3	Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1969
10	4	J. Edgar Hoover, 1972
10	5	Hubert Humphrey, 1978
10	6	Mamie Doud Eisenhower, 1979
10	7	1934-1974
10	8	1975-1986

		SUBSERIES IV: INVOCATIONS AND PRAYERS, c. 1950-c. 1980

		Invocations:
10	9	c. 1950-c. 1980
10	10	Federal Bureau of Investigation Graduations, 1959-1979

		Prayers:
10	11	Special Occasions, 1957-1980

		SERIES IV: DIARIES, 1952-1954

10	12	1952-1953
10	13	1953-1954

		SERIES V: NOTEBOOKS, 1920-1984

		SUBSERIES I: TRAVEL NOTES, 1920-1968

10	14	Itineraries, 1920-1968

11	1	c. 1945-1967
11	2	England/Germany, 1935
11	3	"Kiev to New York," 1935
11	4	Paris/Geneva, 1936
11	5	Geneva/Vienna, 1936
11	6	Russia, 1936
11	7	Berlin, 1936
11	8	London I, 1936
11	9	London II/Canterbury, 1936
11	10	Jerusalem, 1952

		SUBSERIES II: CEREMONIES PREFORMED, 1930-1984

12	1	Baptisms, 1930-1978
12	2	Marriages and Baptisms, 1931-1971
12	3	Funerals, 1929-1942
12	4	Funerals, 1947-1984

		SUBGROUP III: PHOTOGRAPHS, 1930-1980

		SERIES I: PRESIDENTIAL, c. 1950-1974

13	1	Harry Truman, c. 1950

		Dwight D. Eisenhower:
13	2	Steps of National Presbyterian Church, c. 1960
13	3	Dwight Eisenhower with Elson, c. 1952-c. 1962
13	4	Mamie Eisenhower with Elson, 1954-c. 1970
13	5	Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower with Elson, c. 1952-1960
13	6	Elson and Eisenhowers greeting people at National Presbyterian Church, 1955-1962
13	7	Eisenhower Family, 1957-1960	Digital
13	8	Eisenhowers, Queen Elizabeth, and Elson, 1957
13	9	Washington Events, c. 1950-c. 1968
13	10	Eisenhower funeral, 1969
13	11	John F. Kennedy, 1961
13	12	Lyndon B. Johnson, 1966
13	13	Richard Nixon, 1959-1971
14	14	Gerald Ford, 1969-1974

		SERIES II: NATIONAL FIGURES, 1953-1975

13	15	J. Edgar Hoover, 1953-1965
13	16	Hubert Humphrey, c. 1965-1967
13	17	Billy Graham, c. 1950-1975
13	18	Moderators, c. 1940-1975

		SERIES III: JOHN D. HAYES SHANGHAI, CHINA, 1949

13	19	1949

		SERIES IV: MIDDLE EAST, c. 1957-c. 1970

13	20	c. 1957-c. 1960	Digital
13	21	1960-c. 1970

		SERIES V: VIETNAM, 1967

13	22	1967	Digital
13	23	1967
13	24	1967
13	25	1967

		SERIES VI: MILITARY SERVICE, 1942-c. 1960

13	26	1942-c. 1960	Digital

		SERIES VII: GROUP PHOTOGRAPHS, 1930-1982

13	27	1930-1954
13	28	1954-1957
13	29	1957-1958
13	30	1959-1963
13	31	1963-1969
13	32	1969-1971
13	33	1970-1982
13	34	c. 1940?
13	35	c. 1950?
13	36	c. 1960?
13	37	c. 1970?
13	38	Unidentified, c. 1940-c. 1980

		Autographed:
13	39	1966-1969
13	40	1972-1980
13	41	c. 1940?
13	42	c. 1950?

		SERIES VIII: PORTRAITS, 1927-c. 1980

13	43	1931-c. 1945	Digital
13	44	c. 1945-1948
13	45	1948-c. 1960
13	46	c. 1967-c. 1980	Digital

		Family:
13	47	1927-c. 1980

		SERIES IX: NATIONAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 1940-1971

13	48	Elson at NPC functions, c. 1950-1971	Digital
13	49	Old Building, c. 1940-1957
13	50	New Building, c. 1970

		SUBGROUP IV: MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, 1928-1983

		SERIES I: BIOGRAPHICAL DATA, c. 1930-c. 1980

14	1	c .1930-c. 1980

		SERIES II: ORAL HISTORY, 1970

14	2	p. 1-130, 1970
14	3	p. 131-236, 1970
14	4	p. 237-295, 1970

		SERIES III: CLIPPINGS, c. 1940-1981

14	5	About Elson, c. 1940-1981
14	6	About Elson's relationship with Eisenhower, c. 1950-1969
14	7	About Elson's work in the Middle East, c. 1950

		SERIES IV: CERTIFICATES AND EPHEMERA, 1928-1983

14	8	Ephemera, 1928-1953
14	9	Certificates, 1930-1957	Digital
14	10	Certificates, 1958-1983