Inventory of
the Friends of Duke Chapel Records,
1973 -
1999
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Descriptive Summary
Title
Friends
of Duke Chapel Records,
1973 - 1999.
Creator
Friends of Duke
Chapel.
Extent
1.5 Linear Feet,
1000
Items
Repository
University Archives, Duke
University
Abstract
The
Friends of Duke Chapel was founded in 1974 to provide the
means for interested persons to organize into an ongoing,
supportive, participatory group to support the ministry and
program of Duke Chapel. The records consist of
correspondence, official letters to members, advisory board
and committee minutes and reports, newsletters, and other
organization publications. Materials are present from 1973
to 1999.
Language
English.
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Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
Patrons must sign the Acknowledgement of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.
No restrictions.
Use Restrictions
Copyright for Official University records is
held by Duke University; all other copyright is retained by
the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants,
as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Friends of Duke Chapel
Records, University Archives, Duke University.
Provenance
The Friends of Duke Chapel Records were received
by the University Archives as a transfer in 1979-1994.
Processing Information
Processed by Sarah G. Carr in March 2000.
Reduced from 2 document boxes (1.4 linear feet) to 1
document box (.7 linear feet). Discarded duplicate copies
of correspondence, newsletters, and minutes. Removed
documents from metal clasp binders and refoldered all
documents into acid-free folders. Photocopied news
clippings and material on highly acidic paper onto
acid-free bond paper.
Encoded by Jill Katte, September 2003
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
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Historical Note
The Friends of Duke Chapel was founded in 1974 to
provide the means for interested persons to organize into
an ongoing, supportive, participatory group to support the
ministry and program of Duke Chapel. The Friends open
membership to anyone interested in the Chapel and its
program. It grew out of a predecessor group called the Full
Membership Chapel Group, organized under and continuing the
name of Duke University Church (Interdenominational). Full
Members supported the Chapel program but membership was
limited to persons affiliated with the University either as
faculty or staff. As part of its mission, the Friends of
Duke Chapel provide funds to aid numerous aspects of the
Chapel program such as the chapel choir, organ, vestments,
renovation needs, and provision of televised services.
Membership benefits included weekly mailing of the Sunday
bulletin, announcements and invitations to services,
concerts, and music programs, as well as a Friends of Duke
Chapel newsletter.
The Friends have continuously helped fund and
contribute to numerous initiatives and renovations of the
Chapel, including the construction of a handicapped ramp
access to the Chapel, installation of the Flentrop organ,
and providing televised access to the Sunday services for
patients at Duke Medical Center. They also contributed to
enriching the preaching and theologian-in-residence
programs.
An Advisory Board governs the group. Originally a
nine-person board, it was enlarged to a thirteen person
board in 1981, always including the Dean of the Chapel.
Past board members include William Stokes, Helen Crotwell,
Jack Blackburn, Arthur Kale, William King, Ella Jean Shore,
Carolyn Penny, and Mary Parkerson, who became the first
Friends Director in 1980.
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Collection Overview
These records were produced by the Friends of Duke
Chapel in the course of their activities as a support
organization for the program of Duke Chapel. Materials are
present from 1973 to 1999. The bulk of the records consists
of correspondence, official letters to members, advisory
board and committee minutes and reports, newsletters, and
other organization publications. There is some material not
directly produced by the Friends of Duke Chapel but
mentions the organization in its publications, or deals
with the history of Duke Chapel.
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Subject Headings
These and related materials may be accessed under
the following subject headings in the Duke University
Libraries online catalog.
-
Chapels--North
Carolina--Durham.
-
Church fund
raising.
-
Duke University--Buildings.
-
Duke University.
Chapel.
-
Duke University--Religious activities.
-
Friends of Duke
Chapel.
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Duke University Church
records.
University Archives, Duke University.
Duke Memorial records.
University Archives, Duke University.
Chapel Sermons [Sound
Recordings].
University Archives, Duke University.
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Detailed Description of the Collection
Minutes and Reports,
1975-1991
This series chronicles the interests and
activities of the Friends of Duke Chapel from 1975 to 1991.
It includes minutes and agendas from advisory board
meetings, annual meeting minutes, as well as reports from
the finance and nominating committees. The advisory board
minutes changed name from "Executive Committee Minutes" to
"Advisory Board Minutes" in 1981. Some topics covered in
the minutes include construction of a handicapped ramp,
meetings with guest preachers, brochure on Memorial Chapel,
creation of a directorship for Friends of Duke Chapel,
air-conditioning of the Chapel, annual Messiah luncheon,
photographing of Chapel windows, Advent and Lenten prayer
booklets, Chapel window bookmark project, and establishment
of a Friends of the Chapel endowment fund.
Box 1
Executive Committee Minutes,
1976-1981
Advisory Board Minutes and Agendas,
1981-1991
Annual Meeting Minutes,
1978-1990
Finance Committee Reports and
Budgets,
1977-1988
Nominating Committee Reports,
1975-1978
Correspondence,
1973-1999
This series contains correspondence relating
to the activities and administration of the Friends of Duke
Chapel. It includes general correspondence from members of
the advisory board to other board members and members at
large. These letters include those from Dean of the Chapel
Robert T. Young regarding the proposal and implementation
of the Friends group in 1973. There is also a folder
containing official letters from the Director to the
membership at large regarding upcoming events such as
Messiah performances, membership renewals, and annual
meetings.
Correspondence,
1973-1976
Correspondence,
1977-1987
Correspondence, Letters to Members,
1974-1999
Subject Files,
1973-1989
This series includes material relating to the
function of the Friends of Duke Chapel. It is arranged
alphabetically. Material includes by-laws and resolutions,
a description and background statement regarding the
mission of the Friends group, membership lists, and news
clippings relating to the history of Duke Chapel. In
addition, there are records from the organizing committee
relating to the founding of the group and the definition of
its mission. Of particular interest in this series are the
oral history transcriptions of interviews conducted by
Arthur Kale of Barney L. Jones, James T. Cleland, Howard
Wilkinson, and Robert DuBose. The transcriptions are a rich
source of historical information on the staff and history
of the Chapel and its program. The interviews provide
personal reminiscences of chapel history and staff,
including Foster Barnes, Mildred Hendrix, Frank Hickman,
Ben Smith, and the carillonneurs. They discuss their
relationships with numerous campus organizations,
athletics, the inter-racial council, and the role of the
administrative committee. The men remember visits and
sermons by guest preachers such as Ralph Sockman, Martin
Niemoller, Henry Crane, and Paul Tillich. They also recall
chapel events throughout the calendar year including
Religious Emphasis week, the Christmas pageant, and Easter
services.
Other significant materials are several
speeches, by Bishop W. Kenneth Goodson, Mary D. B. T.
Semans, and Marjorie C. Jones respectively, given during
the Friends annual dinner meeting. Bishop Goodson, former
Bishop-in-Residence of the Divinity School and trustee
emeritus of the Duke Endowment, fondly remembers his
relationship to Duke Chapel. Mary D. B. T. Semans speech
recalls her mother Sarah P. Duke's feelings for the Chapel,
and includes her memories of numerous Chapel ministers and
music staff. Marjorie Jones gives insight into the role of
chapel hostesses and the life of the chapel during the
week. [See also: Barney L. Jones Papers for "Chapel
Reminiscences: The First Two Decades," a speech given to
the Friends of Duke Chapel Annual Dinner, 1983.]
Advisory Board,
1984-1991
Annual Meeting, Speech by Bishop W.
Kenneth Goodson,
1981
Annual Meeting, Speech by Mary D. B.
T. Semans,
1982
Annual Meeting, Speech by Marjorie
C. Jones,
1983
By-Laws and Resolutions,
1975-1981
Description and Background
Statement,
1974
Development Committee,
1981
Full Membership Chapel Group,
1973-1975
Membership Lists,
1973-1976
Newspaper Clippings,
1975-1989
Nominating Committee,
1975
Oral history transcriptions of
interviews with Barney Jones, James T. Cleland, Howard
Wilkinson, and Robert DuBose,
1978-1979
Organizing Committee,
1973-1974
Publications,
1975-1999
This series includes publications of the
Friends of Duke Chapel, as well as brochures and pamphlets
relating to the Chapel and work of the Friends group. The
Friends of Duke Chapel
Newsletter changed
its name to
Chapel Voices in
1992, and again to
View From the
Chapel in 1998. The series is missing newsletters
from 1994 to 1996, and several from 1997-1998. The
newsletters include material on Chapel staff and guest
preachers, membership and funding information, as well as
Chapel schedules. Brochures include the Friends
informational and membership brochures, and a bookmark
featuring the Adam Window-South Aisle of the Chapel.
Newsletters,
1975-1991
Chapel Voices,
1992-1997
View from the
Chapel,
1998-1999
Brochures and other Publications,
1978-1997
