Note on definition of "evangelical":
The purpose of the conference described in this booklet was to work out ways to better preserve and use the records of the institutions of the evangelical movement in America. Because "evangelical" is given a variety of meanings by pastors, journalists, theologians, laypersons, and just about everyone else, it should be explained that here the word is used in its broadest sense. That is, it refers to conservative Protestants committed to the need for personal salvation through Jesus Christ, the authority of the Bible, and preaching the Christian gospel. Thus, for the purposes of this conference, "evangelical" included but was not limited to overlapping groups such as fundamentalists, pentecostals, the Holiness movement, Black evangelicals, pietists, Campbellites, Baptists, Calvinists, etc.
HOW TO USE THIS BOOKLET
This booklet is intended to assist those involved in some way with evangelical archives, whether as a curator, a researcher, someone interested in starting an archival program for his/her institution, or someone considering a grant proposal from an archives. For those thinking about beginning an archives, it gives helpful guidelines on decisions that need to be made as well as standards for personnel, facilities, supplies, etc. Archivists new and old should find interesting the suggestions on obstacles to cooperation between archives, the suggestions as to possible collecting policies covering subject areas of evangelicalism that are not currently being documented, and the description of ways of building support for the archives in the general community. For the executives of agencies considering starting an archives or placing their records in an existing institution, this booklet can serve as an introduction to the ins and outs of archives. For the scholar, it can give a better idea of both the needs of documenting evangelicalism and the part he or she must play in the process. To the officer of a foundation or other fund-granting agency, this booklet can be a resource for evaluating the worth of grant proposals involving evangelical information resource centers. For anyone concerned about preserving the evangelical past for use in the present, the information on the Evangelical Documentation Projects Committee offers a means of participating in the work.