The Eugene Carson Blake Manuscript Collection

Collection

Identifier: SCM 030

Staff Only

Scope and Content

This collection contains sermons by Dr. Blake, photographs of him, and newspaper clippings and biographical information about him from miscellaneous sources.

Dates

1946-1985

Language of Materials

English

Access:

There are no restrictions on access to this collection. The papers are available for review according to the normal rules of the Seminary Archives and Special Collections.

Preferred Citation

The following is the acceptable citation for publication: The Eugene Carson Blake Manuscript Collection. Special Collections, Princeton Theological Seminary Library.

Chronology

1906 November 7
: Born, St. Louis, Missouri
1928
: Graduated, Princeton University
1928-1929
: Teacher, Forman Christian College, Lahore, India
1929-1930
: Student, University of Edinburgh
1930-1932
: Student, Bachelor of Theology, Princeton Theological Seminary
1932 April 19
: Ordained, West Jersey Presbytery
1932-1935
: Assistant pastor, Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas, New York City
1935-1940
: Pastor, First Church, Albany
1937-1939
: Lecturer, Religion, Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts
1940-1951
: Pastor, Presbyterian Church, Pasadena, California
1941
: Granted Doctor of Divinity, Occidental College
1951-1966
: Stated clerk, General Assembly, United Presbyterian Church of the United States of America
1954-1982
: Trustee, Princeton Theological Seminary
1954-1957
: President, National Council of Churches
1966-1972
: General secratary, World Council of Churches, Geneva, Switzerland
1982-1985
: Trustee emeritus, Princeton Theological Seminary
1985 July 31
: Died

Biographical Information

Eugene Carson Blake (1906-1985) was a powerful Protestant leader in the 1950s and 1960s. He graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1932 with a Bachelor of Theology. He taught at a Christian missionary school in Lahore, India (now Pakistan), held pastorates at churches in New York City and Albany, and served as the pastor of the Pasadena Church in Pasadena, California for eleven years. In 1951 he was elected stated clerk of the General Assembly of the UPCUSA, a post he held until 1966. Blake demonstrated against segregation and was in the vanguard of the ecumenical movement. He served as the president of the National Council of Churches USA from 1954-1957 and the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches from 1966-1974. Blake became a trustee of Princeton Seminary in 1954.

Extent

0.3 Linear Feet (1 Box)

Additional Description

Processing Information:

The provenance of these materials is unknown. It is most likely a constructed collection, though there are no records of who originally collected these materials. The finding aid was written in February of 2008 by Kristen Nivling.