Bishop James DeWolf Perry Papers (Mss. Gr. 29)

Series 1. General Correspondence
Box 1-8, Folder 1-345
The General Correspondence series comprises chiefly originals or carbon copies of personal and business letters to and from Bishop Perry, ranging in date from 1904 to 1947 but concentrated in the years 1919 to 1941. It also includes a small number of letters to Edith Weir Perry, and a few letters between other parties. Though what is here seems usually to be complete, in the sense that most inquiries have their answers and most protracted exchanges of correspondence are represented fully, yet the collection appears to contain only a small part of the Bishop's total correspondence (for example, in the file of the Rev. Arthur Wood, there is a comprehensive collection of letters dating from Wood's student days, 1921-1926, and one letter from 1946, while it is clear that Wood and the Bishop had been in just as close touch during the intervening twenty years). The correspondence is arranged alphabetically by the surname of the Bishop's correspondent, whether writer or addressee, and chronologically within the surname. Important persons and those represented by more than six or seven letters are in individual folders, in order following the alphabetical sequence of each initial letter; all bishops of the Church of England or the Protestant Episcopal Church of America are likewise organized. Form and circular letters and unidentified correspondents are grouped separately at the end of the series.

The General Correspondence series covers a large number of kinds of material. There is a fair lot of merely social business--compliments of the season, thanks for inspiration, and the paying of respects among friends. There is also a good deal of the routine transaction of church affairs: arrangements for meetings and conventions; requests for ordination from young men and from the clergy of other denominations; fundraising for both particular and general causes; attention to the details of staffing and finances of missions and church headquarters on the national level and of Rhode Island parishes and buildings on the level of the diocese. One particular form of material which will prove difficult to utilize in the absence of a name index for the series is the very many letters of recommendation and character reference for proposed rectors, which had to be filed under the names of the correspondents rather than the subjects of the letters. There is also a great deal of material concerning the Bishop's oversight of his clergy within the diocese. Some of it has merely to do with routine business, like calls to new rectors, appointments for confirmations, or the building up of shaky missions into self-supporting parishes. Much of it, however, also deals with the rectors' conflicts, over faith, morals, or practice, with their vestrymen and congregations, as for example in the cases of Rev. Gilbertson and of Rev. Hamlin vs. H. F. Webster. Some of it has to do with the Bishop's attempts to straighten out personal scandals in the clergymen's lives, as in the cases of Byron, Evans, and Scovil. There are also extensive remains of the Bishop's care of his protégés among the students aiming for the ministry, as for example Wood, Meader, Pfaffko, Carson, and Byron.

All of the material in the Correspondence series should be used in close conjunction with the Subject File, because there is a great deal of overlapping information on many matters, and because the Subject File also contains a considerable amount of correspondence which supplements or even supplies gaps in the exchanges here. Among the subjects upon which this series contains materials dispersed throughout the correspondence are the churchmanship controversies between the Romish and Evangelical factions, the causes of Anglo-Catholicism vs. the pan-Protestant movement, and the role of Presiding Bishop as head of the church. There is a good deal of information about St. George's School in Middletown and St. Andrew's Industrial School in West Barrington, as well as much material about the state of the mission churches in the Philippines (see especially letters of Bishop Mosher and Cheswick Todd), the conditions in China (see Lee), and the joint Anglican-American mission to the Assyrians. There is much material (especially under Admiral Baird and Bishop Rhinelander) concerning Bishop Perry's part in the successful defense of Chaplain Samuel Neal Kent of Newport against charges of homosexual solicitation and the church's subsequent Naval Court of Inquiry attacks upon Secretaries Josephus Daniels and Franklin Roosevelt and the U.S. Navy's corrupt methods of investigation (1919-1920), upon which head also there is much fuller information in the Subject series and Clippings series. The Correspondence series also contains many rather full presentations of Bishop Perry's views on matters of dogma and opinion, as for example on evolution (see the letter to S. C. G. Watkins), the sacrament (to Mrs. Hamilton Webster), and the repeal of the Volstead Law during Prohibition (to George Zabriskie), among many others. Also noteworthy is a folder of correspondence with Daniel Berkeley Updike, owner of the Merrymount Press.

Series 2. Family Correspondence
Box 1-4, Folder 1-101
This series consists of correspondence between members of James Perry's and Edith Weir's families and between James and Edith themselves. Folders 1-11 contains Edith Weir Perry's Correspondence, folders 12-101 contain the correspondence of James DeWolf Perry. The majority of the correspondence consists of letters from James to Edith while he was in Europe during World War I and on the many trips he made while Bishop of Rhode Island and Presiding Bishop.

Also included is correspondence between James and his sisters, nephews, cousins, etc. There is also correspondence between Edith and various family members.

Series 3. Condolence Correspondence
Box 1, Folder 1-9
This series contains letters and telegrams sent to Mrs. Perry and others on the occasion of the Bishop's death on 20 March 1947. They are arranged alphabetically by surname of writer.

Series 4. Sermons and Addresses
Box 1-7, Folder 1-311
This series is divided into two sub-series, Sermons (4 boxes) and Addresses (3 boxes).

Sermons (4 boxes) includes typewritten originals, carbon copies, holographs, and printed materials written between 1893 and 1946 inclusively, and is arranged alphabetically by sermon title or passage of text. Also included are drafts and notes, and relevant memorabilia such as printed programs and clippings from newspapers and magazines. Items with no discernible title are grouped into folders by arbitrary uniform titles: Good Friday; Meditations; Quiet Days; Advent; Noonday addresses; Holy Week. These uniform titles are interfiled within the title alphabet. Dates are provided whenever possible. At the end of this alphabet is one folder containing fragments and unidentified notes from Perry's sermons. Following this are four folders in alphabetical title order containing sermons by others.

Addresses (3 boxes) includes material in the form of holographic draft notes, lectern notes, typed originals and carbon copies of final drafts, and in some cases printed copies, either in broadside form or clipped from other publications. Not only formal personal and radio addresses on various religious and commemorative occasions are included, but also reports to various bodies (especially the Rhode Island Diocese, the National Council, and the General Convention), circular letters to the bishops or to the laity, press releases, manuscripts of brief messages for publication, and testimonial messages for worthy men, mostly deceased. There are also a small number of news clippings concerning the Bishop's addresses, more of which are contained in the Clippings series. The dates covered in this sub-series are 1904-1946, with the bulk of writings coming from 1930-1940. The materials are arranged alphabetically by title if present, then by subject if there is no title, and finally by occasion or forum, if there is no clear subject except the occasion itself. Some conventional materials of a repetitive character are filed together, such as annual addresses or formal Christmas or Easter messages over several years. At the end of the sub-series are writings of other persons, arranged by author's name.

Of greatest interest in this sub-series are the materials dealing with the positions of the church regarding World War II, relations with Japan in the 1930s, religious education, heterodoxical opinions, the Oriental missions, George Washington, the close ties between the Episcopal Church of America and the Anglican Church (especially at the times of George VI's coronation and of Archbishop Temple's visit to America), and the Indians of South Dakota.

Sermons
Box 1-4, Folder 1-164
Sermons (4 boxes) includes typewritten originals, carbon copies, holographs, and printed materials written between 1893 and 1946 inclusively, and is arranged alphabetically by sermon title or passage of text. Also included are drafts and notes, and relevant memorabilia such as printed programs and clippings from newspapers and magazines. Items with no discernible title are grouped into folders by arbitrary uniform titles: Good Friday; Meditations; Quiet Days; Advent; Noonday addresses; Holy Week. These uniform titles are interfiled within the title alphabet. Dates are provided whenever possible. At the end of this alphabet is one folder containing fragments and unidentified notes from Perry's sermons. Following this are four folders in alphabetical title order containing sermons by others.

Addresses
Box 5-7, Folder 165-311
Addresses (3 boxes) includes material in the form of holographic draft notes, lectern notes, typed originals and carbon copies of final drafts, and in some cases printed copies, either in broadside form or clipped from other publications. Not only formal personal and radio addresses on various religious and commemorative occasions are included, but also reports to various bodies (especially the Rhode Island Diocese, the National Council, and the General Convention), circular letters to the bishops or to the laity, press releases, manuscripts of brief messages for publication, and testimonial messages for worthy men, mostly deceased. There are also a small number of news clippings concerning the Bishop's addresses, more of which are contained in the Clippings series. The dates covered in this sub-series are 1904-1946, with the bulk of writings coming from 1930-1940. The materials are arranged alphabetically by title if present, then by subject if there is no title, and finally by occasion or forum, if there is no clear subject except the occasion itself. Some conventional materials of a repetitive character are filed together, such as annual addresses or formal Christmas or Easter messages over several years. At the end of the sub-series are writings of other persons, arranged by author's name.

Of greatest interest in this sub-series are the materials dealing with the positions of the church regarding World War II, relations with Japan in the 1930s, religious education, heterodoxical opinions, the Oriental missions, George Washington, the close ties between the Episcopal Church of America and the Anglican Church (especially at the times of George VI's coronation and of Archbishop Temple's visit to America), and the Indians of South Dakota.

Series 5. Diaries
Box 1-4, Folder 1-25
This series consists of diaries kept by James DeWolf Perry from 1888 to 1947 (complete from 1910 to 1947). These diaries contain appointments, the weather conditions of the day, and the various thoughts and activities of James Perry. Of special interest are the diaries of his service in Europe in World War I (1918-1919). Also of interest are diaries/journals of his trips to Europe in 1894, to the Orient in 1933 (see Oriental Journey Series), to England in 1942, and to the western United States (no date).

These diaries are arranged chronologically, those with no date located at the end.

Series 6. Journals
Box 1-7, Folder 1-10
This series contains the Rhode Island Diocesan Journal, 1835-(1911-1946), and the Journal of the Episcopal General Convention, 1919-(1928-1940). These are published annual reports which contain the Bishop's annual addresses, his administrative diaries, clergy lists, and financial reports for the church at large; in the General Convention journals are also found updated editions of the church canons, and the debates and resolutions of the convention committees. Also in this series, located at the end, are several miscellaneous journals containing scholarly essays by the Bishop's friends.

Series 7. Subject Series
Box 1-21, Folder 1-696
This series consists of material relating to James Perry's involvement in various organizations and activities while 7th Bishop of Rhode Island (1911-1946) and while Presiding Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in America (1930-1937). A large portion of the material consists of correspondence and congratulatory letters pertaining to: his consecration as Episcopal Bishop in 1911; his election as Presiding Bishop in 1930; the anniversaries of his consecration; his retirement as Bishop of Rhode Island (1946); and his resignation as Presiding Bishop (1937), including a bound volume of letters (1930) and a testimonial volume presented by the Churchmen's Club of the Diocese of Rhode Island (1930). In addition, there is considerable correspondence concerning requests to serve in various churches which Perry received before being ordained as Bishop.

Also significant are the materials relating to the writing of James Perry's biography by Allan Evans, including anecdotes, as well as correspondence with contributors, the author, and the publisher. Included in this series are diplomas for Bishop Perry's earned and honorary degrees; certificates for honorary awards and memberships in various societies; material relating to his term on the Board of Overseers of Harvard University; correspondence concerning American visits by the Bishop of London (1926) and by the Archbishop of York (1935-1936); correspondence and printed material relating to Perry's encyclical sermon (1932) in response to the pope's plea for the return of Protestants (see also the Clippings series); and material concerning the cases of George Chalmers Richmond, Bishop John Torok, and Samuel Neal Kent.

This series also contains material relating to various churches within the Diocese of Rhode Island; ordination recommendations for persons to the diaconate, holy orders and priesthood; Perry's certificates of ordination to the diaconate and the priesthood; Perry's certificate of consecration as bishop; and material concerning candidates and seminary students of particular interest to Bishop Perry.

Of historical interest is the great amount of correspondence and printed material relating to Bishop Perry's involvement in World War I as a Red Cross Chaplain.

Subjects are arranged alphabetically. Most correspondence within the subject folders is arranged alphabetically initially and then chronologically, except in those instances where chronological arrangement lends greater significance or order to the particular subject. For more detailed information on the material contained in this series, see folder title list. Many of the matters treated under these subject headings find much supplemental material elsewhere, especially in the General Correspondence and the Clippings series.