The Frederic Lawrence and Kenaston Twitchell Oxford Group Manuscript Collection

The Oxford Group Manuscript Collection consists of clippings, reprints, pamphlets, leaflets, newsletters, invitations, magazines, letters, some handwritten notes, drafts, and books. The collection comprises 2.5 linear feet (6 boxes) with records dating from 1924-1983 (bulk: 1928-1938). The records document the early years of the Oxford Group. They were collected by Frederic C. Lawrence and by Kenaston Twitchell. There are three series in this collection.

Series I was given to the Princeton Theological Seminary Library, Special Collections, in 1982 by Bishop Frederic C. Lawrence (1899-1989). Lawrence's papers consist mainly of clippings and documents published between 1920 and 1936. He pre-sorted the pamphlets, articles, and books into folders. The original order of his papers was retained.

Series II was donated to the seminary library by long-time Princeton resident and friend of the seminary Kenaston Twitchell in the early 1980s. His donation consists mainly of clippings, pamphlets, programs, magazines, some notes, and three books about the Oxford Group.

Series III consists of three books pertaining to the Oxford Group. They were collected by Kenaston Twitchell.

The collection documents the beginnings of the Oxford Group, which goes back to Frank Buchman. Buchman worked at Penn State College and later at Hartford Theological Seminary, when he became active in forming Christian groups at Princeton, Harvard, and Oxford University. He had travelled to China, England, Europe, South Africa, and USA. The collection includes records pertaining to Buchman as well as records that refer to the nature and principles of the group, such as the publications Soul Surgery by Howard Walter, Realizing Religion by Samuel Shoemaker and various articles.