Special Collections
part of the
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Special Collectionspart of the
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Prepared by
Reagan Grimsley
Revised and expanded by
Jennifer Gunter
Digital Libraries and Archives
University Libraries
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
2001
Title: Bishop William H. Marmion Papers Span Dates: 1932-1981 (bulk 1960-1975) Creator: Marmion, Bishop William H. Size: 49 containers; 20.6 Linear Feet Repository: Digital Library and Archives, University Libraries,Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University Abstract: Epicscopalian Bishop of Southwestern Virginia and a humanitarian participating in issues such as civil rights, ending the conflict in Viet Nam, South African apartheid, and racial segregation. Pamphlets, clippings, articles, and correspondence.
Provenance: The papers of William H. Marmion, Bishop of Southwestern Virginia, were given by Marmion to the Special Collections Library at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University in 1986.
Processing History: The papers of William H. Marmion were processed, arranged, and described in 2000. The collection description was revised in 2001.
Transfers: The Little Choir Book by Thomas Curry was transferred from the collection to the Digital Library and Archive's Rare Book Collection in 2000.
Preferred Citation: Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Bishop William H. Marmion Papers, Ms 1986-013, Digital Library and Archives, University Libraries, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Note: The major portion of the papers is original correspondence either to or from the Bishop. Although a conscious effort has been made to adhere to the original order, the choice was made to arrange the papers topically by subject to provide quicker, more succinct access to the papers. Researchers should note, however, that the original titles of the folders were maintained, and that many folders can contain a variety of information beyond the scope of the title. Related collections held by Virginia Tech include the Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia (Ms 1985-004) and the Appalachian Peoples Service Organization Records (Ms 1988-095).
Born in Houston, Texas on October 8, 1907, William H. Marmion was one of three children of Charles Gresham Marmion and Katherine Rankin Marmion. William Marmion grew up in Houston, and attended Christ Church in Houston. Graduating from Rice University in 1929, young Marmion entered the Virginia Theological Seminary, where he earned a bachelor's of divinity degree in 1932. Soon afterward, he was ordered deacon in the Episcopal Church, and on April 5, 1933 ascended to the priesthood. Starting his career in the ministry, the newly ordained priest returned to his native state, and served as Priest-in-Charge of two different churches: Taylor's St. James Church and Georgetown's Grace Church, from 1932-1935. The year 1935 was significant for another reason: William Marmion's marriage to Mabel "Blossom" Dougherty Nall on December 28, 1935.
After a brief tenure as Associate Minister of St. Mark's Church in San Antonio, Marmion received the appointment of Rector at Saint Mary's on the Highlands in Birmingham, Alabama, and occupied this position from 1938 until 1950. While in Birmingham, the Marimon's were blessed with two children, William Marmion, Jr., born on May 26, 1942, and Roger Mills Nall Marmion, born on January 19, 1944. In 1950, St. Andrew's Church in Wilmington, Delaware became his new parish, and the Rector remained until 1954. In this year William H. Marmion received a D.D. Divinity from the Virginia Theological Seminary, and later the same year was consecrated Bishop of the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, a position he occupied until he retired in 1979.
Service to church and community punctuated the Bishop's life. Early in his career, Marmion became active in civic affairs serving in Youth Work in both Texas and Alabama. While in Birmingham, he also participated in the Department of Christian Social Relations of the Executive Council of the Diocese of Alabama, and for four years chaired the Alabama Committee on Interracial Cooperation. While at St. Andrew's, the Rector chaired the Department of Christian Education. These activities represented more than temporary assignments, for civil rights, education, and social relations among all Episcopalians remained life-longs interests.
After being consecrated Bishop in 1954, Marmion continued to focus on social issues. Opposed to unequal treatment of church members because of race and the War in Vietnam, the 1960's marked a troubled time in his career. In particular the five -year controversy (1957-1962) over the use of Hemlock Haven, a Diocesan retreat near Marion, Virginia, for biracial youth conferences proved to be a test of the Bishop's belief in equal treatment for all members of his diocese. Although at first the youth conferences were canceled due to the inability of the Diocese to come to an agreement on the terms of use, in 1963 Bishop's position prevailed, and the retreat finally hosted integrated youth conferences for young Episcopalian. The Bishop served on a number of committees that dealt with the topic of race and religion, including the Department of Christian Social Relations. Marmion also opposed American Involvement in the Vietnam Conflict, and his efforts to encourage an end to the conflict drew both support and sharp criticism from the members of his Diocese.
Before retiring from his post as Bishop of Southwestern Virginia in 1979, Marmion participated in a number of church committees, including the Committee on World Relief and Interchurch Aid and the American Church Institute. He also chaired several committees, including the Church and Race Fund Committee and Long Range Planning Committee. Marmion also served on the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church from 1963-1969, and was active in establishing the Appalachian People's Service Organization, now Episcopal Appalachian Ministries, which was based in Blacksburg, Virginia before moving to Knoxville, Tennessee. After retiring as acting Bishop of the diocese, the Bishop and his wife continued to reside in Roanoke, Virginia.
Source: Brown, Katharine. Hills of the Lord: Background of the Episcopal Church in Southwestern Virginia, 1738-1938. Roanoke, VA: The Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, 1979.
The Papers of Bishop William Marmion (1908-present), span the years 1932-1981 with the bulk of material dating from 1960-1975. The papers include booklets, church bulletins, correspondence, newspaper and magazine clippings, photographs, and reports.
The Personal Papers series is comprised of materials about the personal life of Marmion. Included in the biographical information are photographs of the Bishop and newspaper clippings. Of note are materials about social issues and events; including religion related performances such as Jesus Christ Superstar and Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat. This series also includes brochures and maps on the sundry locales Marmion visited as a result of his travel to church related events.
The Early Career series spans the years 1932 to 1950. During this time Marmion served as a priest and rector in several churches in Alabama and Texas as: Priest in Charge at St. James Church in Taylor and Grace Church in Georgetown (1932-1935), Associate Minister of St. Mark's Church in San Antonio (1935-1938) and Rector of St. Mary's on the Highlands (1938-1950.) The majority these materials document Marmion's work with the church and the youth.
Series three is comprised of materials documenting the Bishop's tenure as Rector of St. Andrew's, Wilmington, Delaware, from 1950 through May 1954.
Series four, comprising the bulk of the collection, documents Marmion's Bishopry of Southwestern Virginia (1954-1979.) This series contains four sub-series: Administrative, Civil Rights, International Affairs, and the Vietnam War.
The Administrative files relate to the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia and Marmion's duties in the Episcopal Church covering a broad range of topics. Materials include committee reports, diocesan reports, church and diocese projects and programs, and correspondence documenting the day-to-day operation of the diocese.
The Civil Rights subseries contains brochures, correspondence, magazine articles, and newspaper articles, collected or produced by Marmion (1950's through the 1960's.) Of interest are materials dealing with the controversy over biracial conferences at Hemlock Haven (a retreat near Marion, Virginia purchased by the diocese in 1957.) Marmion maintained the view that the youth conferences should be open to members of both races while many lay members of the diocese opposed mixed race conferences for young people. After five years of debate the facility's camps were attended jointly by whites and African-Americans. The Bishop's yearly files on race relations from 1954-1965 also offer firsthand insight on the civil rights movement in the United States.
The International Affairs subseries includes correspondence and related documents detailing the Bishop's activities in overseas affairs. The bulk of which detail companion diocese relationships with churches in Great Britain and Ecuador. Under the umbrella of this liaison Marmion made visits to both countries. Also included are documents outlining Marmion's opposition to apartheid in South Africa. Believing economic sanctions were key to forcing the South African government to end the racial discrimination of the apartheid system, in 1969 the Bishop chaired a committee to prevent the Episcopal Church from using banks which supported that country's government. Marmion's argument was persuasive, and the church agreed not to utilize banking firms who financed South Africa.
The Vietnam War subseries contains brochures, correspondence, magazine articles, and newspaper clippings on the war in Vietnam, between 1964 and 1975. The Bishop controversially advocated ending the conflict in Southeast Asia, and his participation in a public anti-war demonstration in Roanoke. Marmion sought to influence the United States government to seek an end to military involvement in Vietnam.
Container No.s Series 1-6 Personal Papers, 1950-1979 Arranged alphabetically by topic, this series consists of brochures, maps, papers, phamplets, and photographs related to the Bishop's personal interest in social issues, his travel, personal photographs, and information about his family.7-9 Early Career, 1932-1950 Arranged alphabetically by topics including the Bishop's early career as a priest and Rector in both Texas, and at St. Mary's on the Highlands, in Birmingham, Alabama. Topics also include youth work, race relations, and church calls.10-11 Rector of St. Andrews, Wilmington, Delaware, 1950-1954 Documents, booklets, letters, and newspaper clippings related to Marmion's tenure as Rector of Saint Andrews Episcopal Church in Wilmington, Delaware.12-48 Bishop of Southwestern Virginia, 1954-1979 Marmion's administrative record as Bishop of the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia. Four subseries documenting several topics of special interest inlcude: Administration, Civil Rights, International Affairs, and the Vietnam War.
PERSONAL PAPERS, 1950-1979
Container No.s Folder Series 1 Austin, Texas Black Lung Bi-Centennial of American Independence Books Boston, Cape Cod, and Vicinity Boy Scouts Burrell Memorial Hospital Canada Career Evaluation Catacomb Cassette Club, The Cassettes Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions' Report to the President Chaplain, U.S. Senate 2 Charismatic Movement Choir Christian Friends: The Anti-Defamation League Bulletin Christmas Cards Church Issues Civil War (U.S.) Clergy-Laity Schism Comfortable Pew, The Communication Communicating the Gospel Confession of 1967 (Presbyterian) Consultant to Bill Folwell Central Florida Cybernetics, Automation, and the Church Denominationalism Depression, The Deputy, The El Paso, Texas Energy Crisis, The Grounds for Encouragement Hurricane Camille General Thanksgiving, The 3 Ivan Illich Jesus Christ Superstar Jesus Movement, The Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Holy Cross Magazine Law Law and Order Los Angeles, California Maine Marmion Photographs Mandatory Sentences Minnis Case- The Bishop Mobile, Alabama Miscellaneous 4 National Cathedral Association National Defense Necrology New Hampshire New York City New York State Occult Revival, The Operation Fuel Pari-Mutuel Gambling Patterson, Juan A. Personal Correspondence Personal Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Population Explosion Prison Reform Registrations Religion in the News Richmond Roanoke Historical Society Space Age, The 5 Strip Mining Third World, The Tillich, Paul Trust Relationship, A Twentieth Century Theology and Theologians Urban Life United Campus Chapel Vermont Watergate Who's Who In America Wilmington, Delaware Witness, The W.S.G.N.-Morning Devotion 1970's, The EARLY CAREER, 1932-1950
Container No.s Folder Series 7 Anti-Defamation League Bulletin Material Brotherhood of St. Andrew Bush, Hollis Call to Corpus Christi Calls to Washington Church Fire Insurance Corporation Church School Church Society for College Work Church World Service Churchways CIO Organizing Committee 8 Cleric's Scrapbook Miscellaneous Clippings Committee for Alabama Committee for a Democratic Far Eastern Policy Community Chest Curate Division of Religious Education Episcopal Pacifist Fellowship Episcopal League for Social Action (2 folders) Every Member Canvass Fair Employment Practices Committee International Fellowship for Reconciliation Fellowship of Southern Churchmen Forward in Service (3 folders) 9 Forward in Service Forward Today Hold Interparochial Institute Juvenile Delinquency Kanuga Lake Conference Center Letters to Congressmen Out of Town Bulletins St. Mary's Girl Club St. Mary's-School Teachers and Officers Women in Foreign Mission Fields Young Churchmen's Convention RECTOR OF SAINT ANDREWS, WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, 1950-1954
Container No.s Folder Series 10 Bishops Election-Diocese of Delaware Builders for Christ Building Committee Call to St. Andrews Call to St. James-Houston Camp Tockwogh Children's Work Committee Clericus of Delaware Completion of Bethlehem, The Department of Christian Education Ehart, Edward Ethics and Economics Life Diocese of Delaware-General Diocesan Dates Every Member Canvass (4 folders) 11 Examining Chaplains Family and Religion Feelers Bryan Green Mission Hood Conference Interfaith Committee Lent-1954 Letters-Birmingham St. Andrews Alter Guild St. Andrews Church School WDEL Radio Broadcasts Youths of St Andrews BISHOP OF SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA, 1954-1979
Container No.s Folder Series 12 Administrative Files Academy of Parish Clergy Advance Fund-Memorials Aging Aging-Home for the Elderly Appalachia Division (2 folders) Architecture and Construction Committee Bishops Advisory Council on Applicants for the Ministry (3 folders) Bishop's Invitational Conference Bishop Marmion's Consecration 13 Bishop's Nominating Committee Bishop's Orientation Conference Black Ministries Commission Boundary Commission (4 folders) Boy's Home 14 Cabinet Campbell, Wilburn Cathedral (Diocese) Central House for Deaconesses Certified Workers Chancellor Charismatic Movement Child Care Centers Choirmaster Christian Education-Auto-Visual Christian Education-Youth Reports Christian Education Conference Christian Social Relations (2 folders) Christian Housing Program Church Life Insurance Corporation Church Music Church Periodical Club Church Property Committee 15 1 Church and Society Church Society for College Work Clergy Compensation and Performance Evaluation Clergy-Continuing Education Clergy Development Committee Clergy Prospects (2 folders) Clergy-Social Security College of Preachers College Work Commission on Ministry Commission on Ministry-Minutes Commission on Housing and Service for Aging and Elderly Committee Community Action Community of the Way of the Cross, The Conference for New Ministries (CONEWMIN) 16 Congressional Development Office Congressional Development-Applicants Consent Constitution and Canons (2 folders) Consultation on Church Unions (2 folders) Consultant to Vacancies-Parishes Continuing Education Diocese 17 Convocations-General Corbin Fund Council of the Southern Mountains Council (5 folders) Counseling-Clergy Families Craighill Memorial Crisis in American Life Program Criteria for Selecting Priorities Crop 18 Cuttington College Deaf Work Death With Dignity Dees, James Parker Deferred Gifts Division Delta Ministry-Greenville, Mississippi Department Heads Dialogue Dickenson county Food Cooperative Diocesan Information Diocesan Library Diocesan Personnel File Diocesan Programs Funded Diocesan Strategy Committee Dissent Ecumenical Commission Ecumenical Relations Episcopal Book Store Episcopal Church Center Episcopal Church Foundation Episcopal Church Women Episcopal Church Women-Triennial Episcopal Church Women 19 Episcopal Colleges Episcopal Day School Episcopal Radio-TV Foundation Episcopal School Foundation Episcopal Society for Ministering to the Aging, INC Episcopal Society for Ministry in Higher Education Episcopalian, The Equal Opportunity Employment Task Force Evan's House Evangelical Education Society Evangelism and Renewal Every Member Canvass Executive Board Executive Board-Visitations Executive Board-Brochures Executive Board 20 Executive Council (8 folders) Faith Alive Finance Financial Appeals-Response Fish 21 Fund for an Open Society Future of the Diocese, The General Convention General Convention-Additional Representative General Convention-Agenda Committee General Convention Conference-Pre-Conference Gifts and Bequests Bryan Green Preaching Mission 22 Bishop William J. Gordon H.C. for Children Help Inc.-Bethany Hall, Half-way House for Women Captain Robert Hicks Historical Society of Episcopal Church Histographer-Council Histographer-Dr. Marshall Fishwick (2 folders) Hollins Hood Conference-Province of Washington House of Bishops (3 folders) 23 House of Bishops (4 folders) House of Bishops-New Orleans, Louisiana House of Bishops Meeting-Pocono Manov, Pennsylvania Housing-Low Income Indian Work-National Committee Indian Work 24 Institutional Chaplaincy (2 folders) Institutional Chaplaincy-Advisory Board Institutional Chaplaincy-Study Committee Institutional Chaplaincy-Staunton Area Institutional Chaplaincy Institution for Advanced Pastoral Studies, INC. Insurance Plan of the Diocese Jesus in the Church Today 25 Joint Committee on Christian Citizenship Joint Urban Advisory Committee Jones, Martha DeBrey Lay Administration of the Chalice Lay Ministries Division Lay Reader's Information Lay Readers-Training Levels of Authority in the Church Life in the Spirit Commission Liturgical Commission of the Diocese (3 folders) Liturgical Commission of the Episcopal Church 26 Liturgical Commission of the Diocese New Liturgy, The Long Range Planning Commission Long Range Planning and Strategy for Mission Martin Fund Marriage-Advisory Committee to the Bishop Marriage-Canon 18 Study Marriage Services Marriages Massey, Denton Maxwell, John Map of the Diocese Men of the Diocese Mid-Atlantic Career Center 27 Mid-Atlantic Parish Training Program Mid-Winters Mingea Fund Ministry-Commission Lay Ministries Ministry Commission Ministry-Resort Areas Ministry-New Forms Miscellaneous-General Convention Missions 28 Missions Department Missions-Diocese (2 folders) Missions-Outreach Missions-Statistical Information Missions-Task Force on Local Missions Mutual Responsibility Presentation at Lexington Mutual Responsibility and Interdependence Correspondence Regarding Mutual Responsibility and Interdependence in the Body of Christ-M.R.I. Reports Regarding Mutual Responsibility and Interdependence in the Body Of Christ Mothers Club of Roanoke-King and Kennedy Parents, INC. 29 Mutual Responsibility and Interdependence-MRI Division Mutual Responsibility and Interdependence-Courses for Laymen Mutual Responsibility and Interdependence-Receiving National Association of Episcopal Schools National Committee on Tithing and Investment National Council on the Churches of Christ in the united States of America National Council of Churches-Capsule Report Newman, Samuel M.D. Non-Stipendiary Ministry Northeast Career Center, The Organ Donor Program Parish Administration Parish Vacancies Pastoral Development 30 Parish Day Schools Pastoral Development (2 folders) Pathway Schools, INC. Pension Plan-Lay Employees Pheobe Needles Pheobe Needles Memorial Conference Center Planning Division Planning Organization Workshops-Atlanta, Georgia Planning Process Prayer Commission Preaching Mission Remarks Presiding Bishop Allen 31 Promotion Department-Diocese Projects for Partnership Provincial Council Province III Synod (2 folders) Province III-Nominating Committee Province III-Bishops Province III Provincial Synod, St. Paul's Church, Richmond, VA Province of Washington 32 Radford College (6 folders) Roanoke Area-Denominational Executives Resource Development Registrar Religious Situation, The Reorganization of Evans House Staff Research and Field Study Resolutions Restricted Pledges Retarded Children's Home Revolving Loans-Guidelines Right to Work Laws Thomas A. Scott Memorial Schismatic Movement Sexuality-Task Force Social Service Special Fund Grants 33 Standing Committee (2 folders) Stewardship and Promotion (2 folders) Southwestern Episcopal Homes Committee on State of the Church Stuart Hall Board of Trustees Stuart Hall Anniversary Survey and Strategy Committee Teaching and Education Total action Against Poverty (TAAP) Town and Country Work 34 United Thank Offering (2 folders) United Thank Applications Virginia Education Fund Vacancy Consultation-Diocese Venture in Mission Venture in Mission-Reports 35 Virginia Coalition on Nutrition-Veterans' Administration Virginia Committee for Public Schools Virginia Episcopal School Voluntary Plan of Christian Stewardship Warden's Conference Women Workers Women of the Diocese Worship of the Church (2 folders) Year of Achievement Civil Rights 36 Advisory Committee on Intergroup Relations Birmingham Bombing Black Manifesto (2 folders) Church and Race (2 folders) Civil Disorders Civil Rights Civil Rights Act Civil Rights Bill 37 Civil Rights Bill Commission on Inter-racial Problems and Dating Committee on Church and Race Council (2 folders) Daniels, Jonathan Department of Christian Education Freedom Riders General Convention II 38 General Convention II (5 folders) General Convention II-Bishop Marmion's Letter "Letter from Birmingham City Jail"-by Dr. Martin Luther King Gray Plan 39 Hemlock Haven-Board of Governors Hemlock Haven Hemlock Haven-Board of Managers Hemlock Haven-Clergy Conference Dedication Hemlock Haven-Committee of Twenty-Four Hemlock Haven Contributors-Operating Budget for 1961 Hemlock Haven Director Hemlock Haven Enrollment Policy (3 folders) 40 Hemlock Haven-General (2 folders) Hemlock Haven--Labor Day Weekend Hemlock Haven--Clergy Conference on Matters of Race--North Carolina Diocese Hemlock Haven--Policy, By Laws, Charter Hemlock Haven--Policies Hemlock Haven--Promotion Hemlock Haven--Special Study Committee Hemlock Haven Standing Committee--Diocese of Southwestern Virginia Hemlock Haven--Statement by Cary White Hemlock Haven--Task Force (2 folders) 41 Hemlock Haven--Tennis Weekend Hemlock Haven--Youth Conference Lit-in Demonstrators March on Washington, The National Conference on Religion and Race (2 folders) National Church, 281 4th Avenue, New York, New York--General Pastoral Letter 1956--Answers 42 Project Equality Race Race Relations (10 folders) Race Relations--General 43 Race Relations--General Race Relations Committee Race Relations Planning Conference Race Relations--The Southwester Episcopalian Race Relations--Washington, D.C. Roanoke Conference on Interracial Cooperation Selma, Alabama Crisis The Southern Episcopalian Pastoral Letter, from Bishop Marmion on School Issues Southern Frontier Stouffer Foundation Teeter, John H. West, Francis International Affairs 44 Bayne, Stephen F. (Bishop) Bradford--Companion Diocese Bradford Clergy Conference Bradford--Companion Diocese Bradford Tour (3 folders) Church School Missionary Offering Drummy, Richard Ecuador (2 folders) 45 Ecuador Ecuador Accident Ecuador--Bishop Caceres Ecuador--Bishop Request Ecuador Ecuador Committee Ecuador Ecuador--Layman's Tour Ecuador--Lift Up Thine eyes Ecuador--Youth Exchange Guatemala--Expulsion of Bishop Frey Lambeth (3 folders) 46 Lambeth Conference (2 folders) Lambeth 1978--Reports and Resolutions Middle East Missionaries Ovamboland Rhodesia Social Responsibility in Investments South Africa--Episcopal Churchmen South Africa (2 folders) 47 South Africa White House Conference on International Cooperation World Council of Churches World Hunger--Diocesan Committee World Relief and Interchurch Aid (2 folders) Vietnam War 48 Clemency/Earned Re-entry Draft Counseling Services Episcopal Peace Fellowship International peace Advisory Committee Prisoners of War Vietnam Vietnam War and the United States
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URL: http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/mss/ms1986-013index.html
Last modified on: Friday, 14-Oct-2005 12:07:57 EDT
