Restrictions

All materials in this collection are on deposit from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and may not be copied without written permission from the BGEA. Any researcher who wishes to request permission must get the required form from the Archives staff. It is the responsibility of the researcher to fill out the form and send it to the BGEA.

Folder 2-39 is closed during the lifetime of Billy Graham
Folder 2-40 is closed during the lifetime of Billy Graham

Letters from Billy Graham in other folders were removed to be stored separately, making the folders still available.

Historical Background

This collection includes correspondence, memos, telegrams, reports, promotional material, press releases, and counseling letters that document primarily the various responsibilities of the British office of the BGEA. and specifically with the responsibilities of the director of the office. These responsibilities included responding to inquiries from the general public about BGEA activities, arranging for the showing of World Wide Pictures films, issuing publicity releases, making arrangements for visiting BGEA personnel from the United States, arranging for the publication of books and generally overseeing the BGEA's activities in the United Kingdom. The materials are arranged in folders, first alphabetically by title and then chronologically. Material within folders are arranged alphabetically by name of correspondent and then by date. Folder titles were usually supplied by the processing archivist. The container list sets forth all the folder titles in alphabetical order. 

I. General Correspondence
A.  Chronological File
      1.   Letters
      2.   Telexes
B.  Other BGEA Offices
C.  Organizations & Events

II. Administration

III.    Crusade files

IV.   Film Rentals
A.  Administration
B.  International
C.  British
D.  Prisons & Armed Forces
E.  Films

V.     Decision Magazine (not yet added)

VI.   C. Alan Stephens’ files

Some materials have been removed from their original order to be stored separately by format, such as photographs, posters, clippings and new release telexes (relocated into Collection 360, BGEA Clippings File). Other materials relocated include oversized posters. Duplicates were removed, and some materials related to American crusades that were duplicates of materials in other BGEA collections (such as the BGEA Crusade Procedure Books) were also not included in this collection.

Series I: General Correspondence
Arrangement:
         A.  Chronological
               1.   Letters (by time-period subdivisions)
               2.   Telexes
         B.  Other BGEA Offices
         C.  Organizations & Events
Date Range: 1954, 1963-1984
Volume: 14.1 cubic feet
Boxes: 2-4, 14-38
Notes: The files in this series contain correspondence and other communication to and from the London office, mostly about crusades, literature and publications (especially Decision magazine and Christian), Hour of Decision broadcasts, film activities, press releases, tours of visiting choirs and other musical groups, guests, visits and travel by BGEA staff, scheduling meetings, finances, legal matters, and licensing and use of publications, films or other copyrighted material in the United Kingdom. While much of it is routine, the correspondence records the broad range of the operations by the office. The office, most often Rowlandson, responded to questions and requests as representatives in the United Kingdom of the BGEA and Billy Graham.

Subseries I.A. Chronological File
Arrangement: Chronological
Date Range: 1963-1984
Volume: 11.2 cubic feet
Boxes: 2,3,14-32
Geographic coverage: United Kingdom, with some from Europe, United States, Africa, Australia
Type of documents: Correspondence and memos, telegrams, press releases, reports
Correspondents: Along with Maurice Rowlandson and his assistants Rosemary Wheeler and Alan Stephens, BGEA British church and ministry leaders (especially British Evangelicals), BGEA staff, clergy and representatives of the British churches and ministries, and the press (especially Evangelical publications), Christian bookstores and publishers, shipping companies, insurance agents, accountants and solicitors to handle financial and contractual matters, and individuals who may fit into one or more of these categories, including Joel Aarsvold, Jeff Anderson, Ben Armstrong, Don Bailey, Irmhild Barend (of the BGEA’s German office), Cliff Barrows, Dave Barr and Bill Brown (World Wide Pictures), Michael Baughen, Kersten Beckstrom, Clayton Bell, Barry Berryman (director of the BGEA’s Australian office), Jerry Beavan, Richard Bewes, Cyril Black, John Blake, Ken Bliss, Neil Britton, Raymond Brown, David Bubbers, Werner Burlklin, Clive Calver (Evangelical Alliance), Blair Carlson, Michael Cassidy, George Clark (of the BGEA’s French office), James Collier, Frank Colquhoun, Nigel Cooke (International Films), John Corts, Nick Cuthburt, A. Jack Dain, representatives of The Don Summers Evangelistic Association, J.D. Douglas, John Fear, Lois Ferm, Leighton Ford, Dave Foster, Paul Freed (Trans World Radio and also under “T”), Nigel Goodwin, Hugh Gough, Billy Graham, Ruth Graham, Michael Green, DeWayne Herbrandson, Martin Higginbottom, Don Hoke, Henry Holley, Heidi Hubner, A. Goodwin Hudson, Tom Houston, Sterling Huston, Eric Hutchings, Stan Izon, Clarence Jefferies, Crispin Joyson-Hicks, Roy Kennedy, Gilbert Kirby, Siegfried Koithahn, Esther LaDow, Gordon Landreth, Harold Lindsell, T.L. Livermore, David Maclagan, Arthur Matthews, representatives of the National Assembly of Evangelicals, Victor Nelson, Bruce Ogden, Stephen Olford, J. Edwin Orr, Luis Palau, Phil and Louie Palermo, Roger Palms, John Pollock, Eva Prior, Tom Ramsey, Paul Rees, Gavin Reid, David Rennie, Leith Samuel, George Beverly Shea, Ernest Shippam, Walter Smyth, John Stott, Billy Strachan (Capernwray Bible School), Harvey Thomas, Helen Verco, George Verwer, Stephanie Wills, George Wilson, Grady Wilson, Jean Wilson, T.W. Wilson, D.J. Wilson- Haffenden, John Winston (of the French office of the BGEA), Sherwood Wirt, Maurice Wood
Notes: The files in the series contain correspondence to and from the London office, most about crusades, literature and publications (especially Decision magazine and Christian), Hour of Decision broadcasts, film activities, press releases, tours of visiting choirs and other musical groups, guests, visits and travel by BGEA staff, scheduling meetings, finances, legal matters, and licensing and use of publications, films or other copyrighted material in the United Kingdom. While much of it is routine, the correspondence records the broad range of the operations by the office. The office, most often Rowlandson, responded to questions and requests as representatives in the United Kingdom of the BGEA and Billy Graham. Some letters express appreciation or criticism of Billy Graham, the BGEA or British Christians; there are also instances of an organization asking for an endorsement by Billy Graham, such as Phillip Butler for the Neve Trust (folder 27-8). Each subdivision may have a particular event that figures predominantly, such as Spree ‘73 (August 1973) or the British release of The Hiding Place in 1976, and these letters address details of arrangements, speakers, equipment, finances, venues, printing, transportation, accommodations, insurance, security, thanks, etc. Also beginning in 1973 are references to planning for the 1974 International Congress on World Evangelism in Lausanne, Switzerland. In many cases, both the letter to the London office and a copy sent by Rowlandson or another staff person are included in the file. Much of the correspondence was either loosely organized alphabetically or unorganized or not yet filed – thus, the archivist provided the minimal order. Whether compiled by date or alphabetical letter, the contents follow no strict order; especially when letters are gathered under an alphabetical heading, letters from the same author can appear in multiple folders. Multiple letters from individuals above or others may appear in the same folder, across multiple files or in multiple time subdivisions. Some of the letters in the 1975-1976 section had been slightly damaged by water before they came to the Archives. In some cases, letters may be filed under an individual’s name (i.e., Bill Brown) or the organization they represent (World Wide Pictures), or both; in other cases, a letter concerning a World Wide Pictures film or a publication may be filed according to the production title. Some news releases may be found under “C” (for “Crusade Information Service”), “N”, and telexes under “T”. Both BGEA divisions Decision magazine and World Wide Pictures are represented substantially in the correspondence since the London office was involved in the publishing and distribution of both the British edition of the magazine and WWP films.
Exceptional items:

• Folders 3-6 and 3-51 hold correspondence between Rowlandson and Ian St. John Lawson Johnston Luke and Donald James Wilson-Haffendon. The latter two were, respectively, a member of the executive committee and the chairman of the Greater London Crusade of 1966. These folders contain a great deal of information on the detailed planning for that meeting.
• Folder 3-42 contains memos and letters from Harvey Thomas and his preparation work for Eurofest '75.
• Correspondence from 1974 with Coca-Cola in folder 2-17 about the use of that company's logo by the BGEA in its promotion
• The letters to Mrs. Fred Dienert and from Bishop Jack Dain in folder 2-24 are about activities relating to the 1974 Lausanne Congress on Evangelization
• The transcript of an interview between then President Gerald Ford and several Evangelical journalists on a wide variety of subjects, including Ford's faith is in folder 2-30.
• Folders 2-39,40 includes letters to Billy and Ruth Graham about personalities and events in England.
• Folder 3-8 contains a letter from BGEA staff member Arthur Matthews on the problems involved in estimating crowds at crusade meetings.
• Folder 3-49 consists of correspondence with George Wilson, business manager, on administrative matters.
• Also included are many letters from Sherwood Wirt (folder 3-53) and Roger Palms (folder 3-19), editors of Decision magazine, about articles for that publication.
• Folders 14-11,12,13,14,15,16 from 1968 consist of correspondence between Rowlandson, Cliff Barrows and Stuart Hines, author of the American hymn “How Great Thou Art,” disputing the BGEA’s alleged violation of rights and agreements in the use of the piece in a crusade hymnbook.
• Correspondence in folders 14-17,19 discuss the possibility and details of another crusade in England 1971.
• Folder 14-25 includes a letter from Ruth Graham to Rowlandson, making arrangements for the Graham’s son Ned to begin attending boarding school in England in 1972.
• Folder 15-5 includes a memo about several prisoners who would be temporarily released from prison to attend Spree ‘73.
• Folder 19-10 includes copies of annotated manuscripts for John Pollock’s Billy Graham: Evangelist to the World, accompanied by Pollock’s memo to Graham.
• Folder 21-2 includes press releases from Luis Palau’s Jubilee ‘77 in Cardiff, Wales
• News releases from the BGEA, Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization, and Evangelical Alliance are included in the “N” file (folder 23-3)
• Folder 27-3 consists of documents related to the Scandinavian crusades in 1978 in Norway and Sweden, but especially to the unpaid bills for the closed-circuit broadcasting of the crusade in Stockholm
• Folder 29-10 consists of letters written with checks donated to the BGEA for relief in Africa and Asia to be distributed by TearFund, a British relief and development agency

Subseries I.A.2: Telexes
Arrangement: Chronological
Date Range: 1980-1983
Volume: .2 cubic feet (5 folders)
Boxes: 31
Type of documents: Telegrams
Correspondents: Rowlandson, and various BGEA staff in the US and elsewhere, including Walter Smyth, Eva Prior, Mary Becker, Helen Verco
Notes: The telegrams are communication about details of arrangements for events and products that the office was promoting

Subseries I.B. Other BGEA Offices
Arrangement: Alphabetical (mostly by city location)
Date Range: 1955-1976
Volume: 1.8 cubic feet
Boxes: 32-36
Geographical coverage: US offices in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Atlanta, Georgia, and Burbank, California, Australia, Germany
Type of documents: Correspondence memos, transcript of message, press coverage, financial statements, minutes
Correspondents: Rowlandson, BGEA leaders such as Jerry Beavan, Leighton Ford (about this reachout events), Esther Hawley LaDow (George Wilson’s secretary), and George Wilson
Notes: The files in this subseries consist of correspondence between the London office and other BGEA offices and key contacts. Among these are the Minneapolis headquarters (with a separate file for Grason, the distributor of BGEA materials), the Team office in Atlanta and the Montreat office, regional offices in Australia (primarily between Jean Wilson and Barry Berryman), Germany (primarily Entscheidung – the German version of DECISION magazine), and the London office itself. These reflect issues such as orders for publications, welcoming guests, coordinating activities, distribution of DECISION, film showings and distribution, projects, finances, mailing addresses and lists, requests for materials or information, etc. The main issue discussed in the correspondence, primarily from administrative staff and associates in the Minneapolis staff (folders 34-2,3,4) had to do with operations, finances, supplies, equipment, publications, Decision magazine, mailing lists, resources available in one or the other countries, and other arrangements.
Exceptional items:

•       Among these are the transcript of associate evangelists Ralph Bell’s address to an Anglican church in Papua New Guinea in 1972 (folder 32-5) and news coverage of a Cliff Richard tour in Australia (folder 32-5), and covering such events as SPREE ‘73 and the 1974 Lausanne Congress. Folder 33-2 contains several 1962 letters from Jerry Beavan, one of the directors of BGEA Ltd. at that time.

•       The London office file (folder 34-1) contains documents related to the operation of the office, including financial statements, annual meeting agenda and minutes, renting office premises, board of directors, policy matters, an issue with Seventh Day Adventists in the United Kingdom, and the purchase of The Christian magazine; some of the correspondence is addressed to Jerry Beavan. The file dates back to the official launching of the office and includes Jerry Beavan’s response of 12/6/61 to an inquiry from Rev. G.B. Duncan about why a Billy Graham office was being established in the United Kingdom when Graham had indicated it would not be started there.

•       The Montreat office files (folders 34-5,6 and 35-1) consist of the interchange with the office that managed Billy and Ruth’s Graham’s activities and correspondence; the primary persons receiving and writing to the London office were Graham’s secretaries, Martha Warkentin Bridges, Stephanie Wills and Evelyn Freeland. Among the interesting items in the files are “the verbatim notes of Dr. Billy Graham’s press conference in London on 20^th November 1970," various versions of his message British ministers, “Awakening” with assistance from Anglican church leader Frank Colquhoun, another text is his message on “National Integrity” before the Institute of Directors in Albert Hall on November 2, 1971, and a copy of Graham’s “The King is Coming” message for the Lausanne Congress. Also included are a few letters from Ruth Graham (folders 34-6 and 35-1) and several to Ned Graham while he was a student in England.

•       The Team office files (folders 35-2,3) consists of correspondence with Jean Wilson of the London office with various BGEA American staff, including Cliff Barrows, Lane Adams, Russ Busby, Charlie Riggs, the Atlanta Team office, Stephanie Wills, Mildred Dienert, Bill Brown, George Beverly Shea and among many others. Many of these concern making or replying to requests for information or making arrangements of trips, delivery of films or publications, showing the interconnectedness of the BGEA organization around the world.

•       Folders 35-4 through 36-2 consists of the correspondence with George Wilson, who was the BGEA’s chief executive officer and to whom Rowlandson reported. The correspondence relates to managing the operation of the London office, financial matters, mailings, shipping and mailing, facilities, legal issues, orders, staff, etc.

Subseries I.C. Organizations & Events

Arrangement: Alphabetical

Date Range: 1961-1979

Volume: .9 cubic feet

Boxes: 36-38

Type of documents: Correspondence, reports, minutes, transcripts

Correspondents: Rowlandson, Billy Graham, Cliff Barrows, T.W. Wilson, George Wilson, J.D. Douglas, Dave Foster, Joan Winmill and Bill Brown, Alan Stephens

Notes: These files record projects that the London office had a hand in, whether on the acquisition of The Christian or the publication of Billy Graham’s Jesus Generation or planning Graham’s tour of Ireland in 1972.

Exceptional items:

•        Correspondence in folders 36-3,4 relates to the eight-year project that began with acquisition of The Christian newspaper by the BGEA and operated by BGEA Ltd., led to a merger with the British Christianity Today, and dissolution in 1969. Among the aspects of the operation documented are the management, financial aspects, circulation and advertisement, editorial character, the addition of a Sunday School Program in 1963, and especially Billy Graham’s direct role in developments from beginning to end. (See report from a December 1965 discussion that included Graham, Carl Henry (editor of Christianity Today at the time), Cliff Barrows, T.W. Wilson and George Wilson, and J.D. Douglas about the course of action that led to the merger with Christianity Today with J.D. Douglas as editor; discussion of a British insert into the American Christianity Today; and a June 26, 1969 memo to Rowlandson asking a number of questions about various statistics of The Christian’s publication, with handwritten answers.)

•       Folder 36-5 relates to the launching of a British Christianity Today

•       Correspondence with Dave Foster, then director of Euroevangelism (folder 36-6), much related to the publication of the Euro ‘70 book

•       Folder 36-7 documents planning for the 1972 celebration of the 1954 Harringay Crusade, including Ruth Graham relaying greetings from Billy Graham, Joan Winmill Brown, members of the 1954 London Crusade executive committee, showing of Souls in Conflict, a phone call from Billy Graham, and testimonies from other guests

•       Correspondence with publisher Hodder & Stoughton (folder 36-8) about publishing of Billy Graham’s Jesus Generation and Joan Winmill Brown’s No Longer Alone (including a preview chapter manuscript and letters from Brown and her husband Bill Brown), as well as a variety of book orders

•       Letters, meeting minutes, and reports about Billy Graham’s 1972 tour to Belfast and Dublin (folder 37-1), including Rowlandson’s letter to the Apostolic Nuncio or Papal diplomatic representative in Belgium, asking for advice about the situation in Ireland, and transcripts and summaries of Graham’s press conferences in Belfast and London after concluding his trip

•       Documents about the DECISION magazine group tour to Sweden during Billy Graham’s 1977 Gothenburg Crusade (folder 37-2); folders 37-4,5 contain similar information for a 1969 tour during Graham’s New York Crusade and to Minneapolis, Minnesota during Billy Graham’s 1973 Upper Midwest Crusade (including a visit to the BGEA’s headquarters in Minneapolis)

•       Coordinating the 1976 visit of Operation Mobilization’s M.V. Logos to London (folder 37-3), for which Rowlandson was a member of the planning committee

•       Folder 38-1 contains material about the planning for the 1970 Pilgrim Fathers 350^th Anniversary celebration in London (Rowlandson and Alan Stephens were on the planning committee), including minutes from planning meetings, transcripts of Graham’s messages at Royal Albert Hall and a breakfast and lunch, copies of press clippings, and more

Series II: Administrative
Arrangement: Chronological
Date Range: 1974-1976
Volume: .1 cubic feet (1 folder)
Boxes: 3
Type of documents: Press releases
Notes: This series consists of materials related to operation of the London office and promotion of BGEA events and products.

Series III: Crusade files & materials (most materials not yet added to the collection)
Arrangement: Chronological
Date Range: 1954
Volume: .5 cubic feet
Boxes: 4
Type of documents: Scrapbook
Notes: The files in this series, most yet added to the collection, relate to Billy Graham’s evangelistic meetings in the UK, including...

         •    Greater London Crusade, 1954

         •    All-Scotland Crusade, 1955

         •    London Crusade, 1955

         •    North of England Crusade, 1961

         •    Greater London Crusade, 1966

         •    All-Britain Crusade, 1967

         •    Euro ‘70

         •    Spree ‘73

         •    Oxford & Cambridge Mission, 1980

         •    Mission England, 1984-1985

Exceptional items: The scrapbook in folder 4-1 consists of letters and telegrams of encouragement sent to Graham on the occasion of the BGEA's first English crusade, the Greater London Crusade of 1954. Besides receiving messages from churches in Korea and India, Graham also heard from Evangelical leaders in the United States and the United Kingdom such as Youth for Christ president Robert Cook, pastor W.A. Criswell, Horace F. Dean, Wheaton College president V. Raymond Edman, pastor Richard Halverson, mission leader Richard Hillis, pastors J. Palmer Muntz, Stephen Olford, and Alan Redpath.

Series IV: Films and showings
Arrangement:
         A.  Administrative
         B.  International
         C.  British
         D.  Prisons & Armed Forces
         E.  Films
Date Range: 1955-1975
Volume: 9.9 cubic feet
Boxes: 38-57
Notes: This series documents the operations of the London office in the distribution and showing of World Wide Pictures films throughout the UK, Europe and also in Australia and Africa.

Subseries IV.A: Administrative
Arrangement: Alphabetical
Date Range: 1953-1979
Volume: 1.8 cubic feet
Boxes: 48-51
Geographic coverage: United Kingdom
Type of documents: Forms and other documents related to the distribution and rental of World Wide Pictures evangelistic films, film print surveys (1961-1973), lease agreements, correspondence with film production and distribution companies, correspondence with theaters and projectionists, statistics on film showings, statements of unpaid bills by those renting films, statistics of film distribution submitted to the Board of Trade, catalogues of films, printing samples for promotion
Correspondents: Rowlandson, military chaplains, Don Summers, representatives of companies
Notes: This subseries is concerned with the running of the film distribution and promotion in the London office
Exceptional items: Folder 48-6 deals with the contracting of Don Summers to serve as “film representative” for premier showings. Folder 48-7 documents film tours (1957-1967) in West Germany (also referred to in the correspondence in the Prisons & Armed Forces subseries above, especially folder 45-1). Included are film scripts and/or information, such as folder 48-8 (Touch of Brass, a French abbreviated script of Oiltown, Shadow of the Boomerang), in folder 49-1 (Africa on the Bridge, The Heart is a Rebel, Man in the Fifth Dimension) and folder 49-2 (The Hiding Place). Among the film production, distribution and promotion companies the London office worked with were Anglo-Scottish Pictures (folder 49-4), Air Transport (folder 49-5), Christian Herald (folder 49-11), Concordia Films (folder 50-2), Denham Laboratories & Studios (folder 50-7), Evangelical Alliance Film Unit (folder 50-8), Fact and Faith Films (folder 50-10), Kodak Ltd. (folder 50-16), Pathe Laboratories (folder 51-5), Regal Film (folder 51-12), Religious Film Ltd. (folder 51-13), Stoll Theatre (folder 51-16), and Trinity Film Services (folder 51-19). Folder 50-1 includes correspondence about the film projection of 35mm cinemascope-formated The Fire On the Heather.

Subseries IV.B. International
Arrangement: Alphabetically by name of country, region or continent
Date Range: 1955-1975
Volume: 3.2 cubic feet
Boxes: 38-44
Geographic coverage: London, Australia, European, African and Asian countries, United States
Type of documents: Correspondence, film vouchers, statistics, cable messages, invoices
Correspondents: Rev. Goodwin Hudson, Vera Greener, Bruce Ogden, Barry Berryman, Jerry Beavan, George Wilson, Cliff Barrows, Russell Shedd in Portugal, George Verwer in Spain, Bob Evans and George Clark in France, P.H. van Gorkum in Holland, A. Jack Dain and Roy Baker in India, Royal Peck in Italy, George DaCosta, H.H. Saherian in Lebanon, Charles Johnson in New Zealand, William Arlow in Nothern Ireland, Asbjorn Hager in Norway, Samuel Faircloth in Portugal, Anfrew van den Aardweg, and R.A. Sutton in Rhodesia, Charles Ward in South America, Juan Gili in Spain, Bengt Renblad in Sweden, Frank Jacobsen and David Barr with World Wide Pictures in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Brunson Motley and Dick Ross in California, and representatives of mission agencies, national film distribution companies
Notes: Matters discussed in the correspondents include rental of gospel films and lease agreements, transfer of funds and receipts, audience attendance and response to showings, language issues in non-English-speaking countries, and shipment details. In many cases, the contacts were redirected to other sources, such as requests for French films being directed to the BGEA’s Paris office, or African requests to Gospel Crusade Films in Capetown, South Africa., or Challenge Films in Australia. These files sketch out the Christian film distribution network and business, and distribution companies throughout much of the world, primarily to Europe, Africa, Australia, and excluding Central and South America, and Canada, with the London office’s role in providing Billy Graham films to those many outlets. Sometimes the letters appear to be misfiled as received, such as Israel, Jordan and Lebanon being filed in the Africa file (folder 38-4). Some of the folders include a sheet with contact information and films currently held by the distribution office.

Correspondence from many countries of the world (including Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Burundi, Congo, Cyprus, Denmark, East Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Europe, Faroe Islands, Figi Islands, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Gibralter, Greece, Greenland, Holland, Iceland, India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Korea, Lebanon, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Middle East, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Scandinavia, South Africa, South America, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Uganda, United States, Western Samoa, Zambia.

Among the World Wide Pictures films referred to in the correspondence are Mr. Texas, Souls in Conflict, Africa on the Bridge, The Heart is the Rebel, Wiretapper, Eastward to Asia, London Crusade, Oiltown USA, World’s Fair Encounter, The Restless Ones, The Shadow of the Boomerang, Miracle in Manhattan, Battleground Europe, Man in the Fifth Dimension, Time to Run, Two a Penny, and more.

Exceptional items: The Australia files, comprising a large block correspondence, include correspondence with Jerry Beavan (primarily folder 38-8), who was at the Australian Hour of Decision office and crusade office, especially about Souls in Conflict and Billy Graham’s 1959 Australia Crusade, and work on Southern Cross about the 1959 crusades in Australia and New Zealand. and its showings in London. The files also document the selection of Faith and Fact Films of Australia to be the distribution company of BGEA films there under the name Challenge Films. Secretary Bruce Ogden was the key representative of this company (primarily folder 39-1) and Assistant Secretary Barry Berryman of Challenge Films (who became the director the BGEA’s Australia office in 1966) was instrumental in the film distribution during Billy Graham's 1959 Australian crusades in Melbourne and Sydney. Folder 39-1 also records some of the contention about use of Billy Graham films by a Pentecostal group. (Beavan’s correspondence also referred to in his correspondence was his trip to Nigeria to lay plans for Billy Graham’s 1960 tour of Africa.)

Letters from the 1950s and ‘60s from Cyprus (folder 39-3), France (folder 39-11), and Germany (folder 40-1,2), are plentiful with those from military chaplains and officers. Letters from those representing mission agencies are also found through the correspondence, including Africa Inland Mission (folder 39-5), Sudan Interior Mission (or SIM, folder 39-5), Christian Servicemen’s Centers of Greater Europe (folder 40-1), Navigators (folder 40-1,7), Youth for Christ national movements (folders 40-4,11 and 41-8, and 43-2,3,6), Operation Mobilisation in India (folder 40-12), Christian Literature Crusade (folder 41-3). Folder 40-3 also includes correspondence from the office of the German DECISION magazine or Entscheidung.

The correspondence with the US offices of World Wide Pictures in Burbank, California, and Minneapolis, Minnesota (folders 43-9 through 44-5) relates to planning, development of new films for advance planning, distribution rights and other policy, film orders, film rental rates, requests for guidance, and correspondence the London office was copied on.

Folder 44-7, the last in the international correspondence, contains several interesting documents, including a list of dated agreements made by the American World Wide Pictures office with missionaries, and contact sheets for various countries with a list of films in their possession.

Subseries IV.B.: British
Arrangement: Alphabetical by name of individual
Date Range: 1965-1978
Volume: 3.0 cubic feet
Boxes: 52-57
Geographic coverage: United Kingdom
Type of documents: Correspondence
Correspondents: Representatives of the BGEA and individuals, churches and other organizations
Notes: These files of correspondence related to orders for and deliveries of film (to and from the BGEA), booking showings in churches and theaters, reports of damage to film prints, requests for catalogs and other film information. They show the wide use of and support for films by churches and other Christian groups throughout the United Kingdom.
Exceptional items: Folder 56-7 consists of a record of premiere showings of The Restless Ones.

Subseries IV.C.: Prisons & Armed Forces
Arrangement: As received
Date Range: 1955-1964
Volume: .6 cubic feet
Boxes: 44-45
Geographic coverage: United Kingdom, Aden, Bahrain, British Guiana, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Christmas Island, Cyprus, Germany, Holland, Italy, Jamaica, Morocco, Spain, Turkey and Western Samoa.
Type of documents: Correspondence, film orders, reports on showings and attendance
Correspondents: Rowlandson, military and prison chaplains, military officers and prison wardens, missionaries, clergy and lay leaders
Notes: These files consist primarily of correspondence with institutions that fall into these two categories. However, added to these two are schools, church and fellowship groups. For example, folder 45-3 includes several letters about a showing at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester, as well as other schools and institutions in Britain, and folder 45-6 includes correspondence about a film showing by the Hereford Youth for Christ. These files show both the use of evangelistic films among these populations, but also the web of chaplains, ministers and others using this medium for outreach in their communities. The Armed forces correspondence (folders 44-8 and interspersed with Prison correspondence in folders 45-1,2,3,4,5,6) consists of communication (mostly with chaplains) making arrangements for films shipments and showings on military bases in Folder 45-1 includes correspondence about a 1963 visit from the BGEA Film Unit to show films at various bases in West Germany; folder 45-2 also includes an undated report from Rowlandson on a series of film showings at military bases in West Germany. Although part of the Prisons & Armed Forces subseries, folder 45-1 contains only armed forces correspondence, and folder 45-4 contains only prison-related communication. Folder 45-2 includes correspondence about a 1958 tour of prisons in Scotland.

Subseries IV.D: Films
Arrangement: Alphabetical by film title
Date Range: 1965-1980
Volume: 1.2 cubic feet
Boxes: 46-48
Geographic coverage: United Kingdom
Type of documents: Correspondence, account and showing receipts, press releases and other promotion of the film and specific showings, booking forms, financial reports, statements of agreement, clippings, questionnaires
Correspondents: Rowlandson, Harvey Thomas, Bill Brown, Ken Bliss
Notes: The files in this subseries are concerned with the production and showing of individual World Wide Pictures films, including the release and distribution films in the UK, including Euro ‘70 Crusade, The Hiding Place, No Longer Alone, The Restless Ones, Let’s Join Together (Spree film), Time to Run, Two a Penny, Wiretapper. Most of the interaction documented is between the London office and World Wide in the US, as well as the distribution company. The Hiding Place was partially filmed in England, so documents also record that activity.
Exceptional items: Folder 47-1 includes questionnaires and a tally sheet with reactions to No Longer Alone. Folder 47-2 includes the 1966 booklet, Preparation for Film Premieres / Billy Graham Evangelistic Films / Premier Committee Workbook. Folder 48-2 includes a similar volume for Two a Penny in 1969, along with promotion and counseling/follow-up manuals, and an oversize planning & promotion book. The Wiretapper file (folder 48-3) relates only to mid-1970s showings of the 1955 film.

Series V: Decision magazine (materials not yet added to the collection)

Series VI: C. Alan Stephens’ files
Arrangement: Numerically by Stephens’ system that follows a roughly chronological order
Date Range: 1954-1982
Volume: 5.0 cubic feet
Boxes: 1, 5-14
Geographic coverage: United Kingdom, Europe, Africa, North America
Type of documents: Press releases and other publicity materials, form letters from Billy Graham and others, personal calendar of meetings with statistics, crusade programs and other samples, statistics, newsletters, prayer bulletins, copies of the letters to Graham about spiritual issues that need a response or referral to a church, promotional materials, correspondence, forms, publications, BGEA calendars
Correspondents: Stephens, Maurice Rowlandson, crusade leadership, representatives of the BGEA and Evangelical Alliance (a founding member of the World Evangelical Fellowship, and since 2001 World Evangelical Alliance), Cliff Barrows, British pastors and church leaders
Notes: These files appear to have been compiled by Rev. Stephens (of Methodist and later Baptist churches) as a record primarily of BGEA crusades in the United Kingdom, while also including in proportion those in Europe, North America and other continents. Among the events primarily featured in Stephens’ files are:

         •    Greater London Crusade (Harringay), 1954

         •    All-Scotland Crusade (Glasgow), 1955

         •    London Crusade, 1955

         •    North of England Crusade (Manchester), 1961

         •    Greater London Crusade (Earls Court), 1966

         •    All-Britain Crusade (Earls Court), 1967

         •    European Crusade or Euro ‘70 (Dortmund, Germany)

         •    European Congress on Evangelism (Amsterdam), 1971

         •    Spree ‘73 (London)

         •    International Congress on World Evangelization (Lausanne, Switzerland), 1974

         •    Gottenberg Campaign (Sweden), 1977

         •    Mission England, 1984-1985

It appears that he gathered the earliest materials largely as a recipient-pastor of BGEA materials, and later in his capacity as spiritual counselor and then an official representative of the Counselling and Follow-up Department on behalf of the BGEA’s British office. He may have received the earlier materials in his capacity as a pastor of a Methodist congregation, and later working for the office as a spiritual counselor and writing press releases. The files also document the Christian Life and Witness classes and follow-up program for crusades and showings of World Wide Productions films (Jerusalem, The Restless Ones, For Pete’s Sake, Two A Penny, Time to Run, The Hiding Place), production and distribution of the British edition of Decision magazine (including several copies), BGEA films, Hour of Decision, providing counseling materials to churches and individuals, offering counsel to you or rededicated believers, British Schools of Christian Writing, and administrative operations of the British office. Together these not only document the BGEA events and operations in the United Kingdom, but also the concerted efforts of the British Evangelical Christians to promote evangelism and Christian growth. A sizeable portion of the material as received included newspaper and magazine clippings, almost entirely from British newspapers, about BGEA crusades and film showings and evangelism – these were retained but interfiled into BGC Archives Collection 360, BGEA Clippings File. A portion of the series is comprised of materials received from BGEA offices, primarily in the United States. Materials from non-British and European crusades were removed when they duplicated documents already in BGEA collections (most prominently Collection 16, BGEA Crusade Procedure Books, and 17, Records of Crusade Activities); one exception was information about Associate Evangelist events, especially Leighton Ford’s, that were kept in the collection (see especially folder 10-3,5). Duplicates of material were also removed from the collection as noticed. The folder titles – primarily the date span and Stephens’ number – by Stephens’ have been retained. The dates of the contents do not necessarily correspond with the date Stephens’ used as the primary folder title. Rowlandson signs a few letters among the correspondence in Folders 30-11 and 31-1 as “secretary,” the position he held in the Keswick Convention.

Exceptional items:

•       Folder 5-1 contains the full index of the files and their contents that comprise Stephens’ files. While the list is not exhaustive about the contents of each folder, it does identify some of the items.

•       Folder 6-7 includes the contents of Stephens’ “My Personal Bible Study Course: Notes on the Procedure adopted at the London office by Alan Stephens,” including his form letters to recipients of the program and course materials. These are the earliest documents (ca. 1963) in the series documenting Stephens’ role as a “spiritual counselor.”

•       The 1966 Greater London Crusade is the most extensively documented in Stephens’ files (folders 6-9 through 9-8), including instruction and course materials for the Christian Life and Witness classes (folder 7-2 ) and Counseling and Follow-up (folder 9-8), statistics (folder 7-5), minutes and correspondence from the Film Committee (folder 7-6) and Prayer Committee (folder 7-8) and Film Unit bookings (folder 7-9), Counseling and Follow-up Committee (folder 9-2), Music Committee (folder 9-2),

•       Folder 6-7 includes Stephens’ “Britain for Christ: A National Endeavor, in Depth,” in which he outlines the pattern developed by the BGEA to provide counseling resources for British believers and seekers.

•       Folder 8-2 contains Stephens’ “scribbling diary,” spanning late-1964 to early-1966, apparently of his survey of London-area churches and other venues, noting the date and time of this attendance, the seating of the church, available voltage and length of the hall.

•       Folder 8-3 consists of the text of “The Why Generation” presented at the 1966 World Congress of Evangelism in Berlin.

•       Folder 10-2 includes a broadsheet from the University Humanist Federation in London, “Billy’s Back – What We Want to See,” criticizing Graham’s impact and methods

•       Folders 11-4,5 include several drafts of a script for Stephens’ dramatic presentation Freedom and Faith: A Scene-Setting Story of The Pilgrim Fathers – And Today and a grid with stage directions.

•       Folder 12-2 is predominantly from the 1971 European Congress on Evangelism, including message texts by speakers such as Gerhard Bergmann, Henri Blocher, Jose Grau, Billy Graham, Charles Guillot, Gilbert W. Kirby, Paavo Kortekangas, Hendrick Rookmaaker, John Stott, Jan Van Capelleveen, and Carl Wisloff

•       Publications that reflect the emergence of the Jesus People Movement include a German Jesus People newspaper in folder 12-2 and the British magazine Buzz in folder 13-2.

•       The Lausanne Congress folders (folders 13-4,5,6,7) include not only the materials that Stephens received as a participant, but also his signed copy of the Lausanne Covenant in folder 13-6 and the materials he gathered from other ministries and individuals he had contact with there.

•       Two concluding files, folders 14-7,8 do not follow the chronological patter of the preceding files, consisting instead of 1962-vintage Bible study materials and copies (1964-1968) of the BGEA’s Our Decision publication for staff in the US offices and international affiliate offices.

•       The series also includes a chronologically-arranged Compendium of Extracts from Spiritual Counselling Letters Written on Behalf of Billy Graham. The materials in folders 1-1,2,3,4,5 consist of selected replies written by Rev. C. Alan Stephens in answer to letters British citizens to Billy Graham. Stephens was authorized to answer these letters, whose topics ranged from doctrine to personal problems to politics to the organization and rationale of BGEA crusades.

Provenance

The material in this collection was received by the Center from the BGEA in September 1975, May 1977, and February 1987.

Accession 75-11, 77-8, 87-25
March 9, 1976

June 17, 1977

March 10, 1980
Robert Shuster
M. Hilton
S. Kouns
S. Short

March 23, 1993, Revised
M. L. Wohlschlegel

December 24, 2009
Paul Ericksen
K. Hamilton
H. Hunt

*****

[ORIGINAL FOLDER LISTING FOR BOXES 1-4]