The Charles and Margery Haines Collection

Collection

Identifier: SCM 236

Staff Only

Scope and Content

The collection is made up primarily of letters, photographs, and article excerpts focused on the Philadelphia, Chestnut Hill, and Germantown, PA, areas. Some letters cover Princeton, Connecticut, Michigan, California, Washington DC, Australia, South Africa, and China. The correspondence ranges from letters between friends to letters from President Ronald Reagan and Madame Chiang Kai-Shek.

Dates

1890-1980

Language of Materials

English

Access:

There are no special restrictions to access of this collection. It may be examined by library patrons under the normal rules and conditions of Special Collections.

Chronology

1899?
: Birth of Charles Huston Haines
1921
: Graduated from Princeton University
1921
: Began work at Missionary School in China
1923
: Began work at Bethlehem Steel Co.
1925
: Began work at Lukens Steel Co.
1932
: Acquired Haines Gauge Co. with brother, Robert
1933
: Married Margery Speakman
1941
: Sold the company and began life as missionaries for Moral Re-armament
1946
: Helped Moral Re-armament found the Caux, Switzerland Conference Center intended to help European Reconciliation after World War II
1996
: Margery Haines died
1996
: Charles Haines died at age 97

Biographical Information

Charles Haines attended Princeton University and graduated in 1921. During his time there, he was on the varsity crew and a member of Cap and Gown and the Christian Association. After graduation, he taught two years at missionary school in China. Afterwards, he worked for various steel companies in the greater Philadelphia Area: Bethlehem Steel Co., Lukens Steel Co. (founded by one of his ancestors), and finally Haines Gauge Co., which he and his brother, Robert, took over from their father in 1932. It specialized in gauges from steel rolling mills. In November 1933, Charles Haines and Margery Speakman married. They sold the company in 1941 and Charles and Margery devoted the next 50 years of their lives to the Moral Rearmament, a world organization that promotes spiritual and ethical change among individuals and governments. They also helped found the Caux, Switzerland Conference Center, which hosts conferences for world leaders and government officials. Margery died in February 1996. Charles died in March 1996 from the effects of a stroke at the age of 97.

Extent

1.25 Linear Feet (3 Box)

Additional Description

Processing Information:

The collection was organized by Kihyun Kwon in Summer 2014. Kihyun Kwon also wrote the Content portion of the Finding Aid. In Fall 2014, Daniel Geary (Rutgers MLIS ’14) completed the EAD coding and other areas of the Finding Aid including Biographical Information, Scope and Content, and Chronology.