Materials Relating to Harry F. Ward, 1923-1992

Extent:

1.2 cubic ft.

Scope and content:

This is one of the most voluminous and significant series in the Link Papers. Harry F. Ward (1873-1966) was an ordained minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church; professor of Christian ethics at Union Theological Seminary from 1918-41 (and emeritus after 1941 until his death in 1966); a founder of the Methodist Federation of Social Service in 1907; and chair of the American Civil Liberties Union from 1920-40. Deeply influenced by the Social Gospel of Washington Gladden and Walter Rauschenbusch, Ward, in turn, impressed the credo of social justice upon hundreds of his student ministers at Union Theological Seminary. Link was one of these students. After serving as Ward's graduate student assistant in the early 1930s, Link followed his theological mentor in the direction of extreme social activism. The large series of Ward materials acquired by Link throughout most of his adult life is testimony to the substantial impact that Ward had upon a more youthful Link.

The bulk of this series is concerned with Link's book, Labor-Religion Prophet: The Times and Life of Harry F. Ward (Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press, 1984). A book that took many years for Link to write, it is both the chronicle of a little understood, although much admired man, and the tribute of an adoring student for his venerable mentor. Extremely heavy on research materials, the series contains Link's notes, correspondence with Ward, efforts (unsuccessful and successful) to get his book published, and various reviews of the finished work.

Several folders of materials are concerned with the ninetieth birthday celebration organized for Ward by his admirers in New York City in 1963. Included are correspondence, financial accounts, and two reel-to-reel sound tapes that include the reminiscences of Ruth Crawford Francis, Stephen Fitchman, D.N. Pritt, and other colleagues of Ward.

Three works of Ward are preserved in this series in manuscript form: The Need For Free Exercise of Religion (1961); "Does This Nation Want the Bill of Rights or the Police State?" (transcript of a speech given by Ward in 1963); and Marx and Jesus (undated, a work that so thoroughly contrasted Marx with Jesus that Ward was unable to find a publisher for it). Of some interest to researchers might be the copy of the FBI file on Ward obtained by the Methodist Federation of Social Action in the 1970s.

Two folders of Ward materials deal with the family of Harry Ward. In the course of his research, Link became good friends with Ward's wife, Daisy, and three children, Gordon, Lynd, and Muriel. One folder contains this extensive correspondence between Link and the Ward family. The other folder relates specifically to the artwork and woodcarvings of Lynd Ward. A renowned artisan whose subjects often dealt with heroic, labor themes, Lynd Ward gave several woodcarvings to the Link family which were eventually exhibited and donated to the Rockwell Kent Gallery in Plattsburgh in 1986.

Arrangement:

Arranged alphabetically.

Contents