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BISHOP WILLIAM H. MARMION

A GUIDE TO HIS PAPERS
MS 1986-013

Prepared by
Reagan Grimsley

Revised and expanded by
Jennifer Gunter

Digital Libraries and Archives
University Libraries
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
2001


Collection Summary

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.

Administrative Information

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).


Biographical Note

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.


Scope and Content Note

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.


DESCRIPTION OF SERIES

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.

Container List

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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