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Collection 111 Papers of Charles H. Troutman, Jr.

 Collection
Identifier: CN 111

Scope and Contents

Correspondence, minutes, reports, manuals, and other records documenting Charles Troutman's career in Christian ministry among university students, first with Inter-Varsity in the United States and Australia and then with Latin America Mission. This collection also contains a great deal of information on evangelical Christianity in the United States, Australia and Latin America; Troutman's letters from his service in the Pacific in World War II; and reports and other information relative to the United States' foreign policy toward Latin America in the 1970s and 1980s.

Dates

  • Created: 1924-1992

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on the use of this collection.

Biographical Information

Full Name: Charles Henry Troutman, Jr.

Birth: April 3, 1914, Butler, Pennsylvania

Death: November 18, 1990, Tucson, Arizona

Family:

Parents: Charles Henry and Lena (Dunn) Troutman

Siblings: Two sisters

Marital Status: Married Lois Margaret Dickason (1914-1990) on February 7, 1942

Children: Charles III (born 1944), Miriam (b. 1948, nee de Paredes), David Garrett (b. 1951)

Education:

1932-1936 Wheaton College (BS)

Career:

1936-1939 Staff member of Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship, Canada (IVCF)

1939-1940 In September 1939 Charles Troutman was sent to Michigan and Grace Koch was sent to Philadelphia as the first full-time Inter-Varsity staff members in the country. The next year IVCF-USA was established as a separate organization. Woods was General Secretary of both IVCF-Canada and IVCF-USA. Troutman became Associate General Secretary, based in Chicago.

1940-1941 Associate General Secretary, IVCF-USA

1941-1945 Joined US Army, became lieutenant in Corp. of Engineers, served in New Guinea, Australia, the Philippines, and Japan

1945 Helped organize the Officers Christian Fellowship (later the Officers Christian Union)

1946-1953 Associate General Secretary, IVCF-USA

1953 Staff member of IVF-Australia

1954-1961 General Secretary of IVC-Australia

1961-1964 General Director, IVCF-USA

1961? Served on the executive committee of Inter-Varsity Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES)

1964-1965 Associate General Director, IVCF-USA

1966-1979 Joined the staff of Latin American Mission (LAM) as a member of the personnel staff. Starting in 1970, Latin America Mission began to make important changes in its administrative structure to change from an organization largely run from North America to one run largely by Latin nationals from the countries where LAM worked. The new organization was called the Community of Latin American Evangelical Ministries (CLAME) and was made up of equal member groups representing each nation participating in the ministry, including Latin America Mission.

1966-1967 Attended language school in Costa Rica

1967- Director of LAM's Ministry to the Student World

1969- President of Spanish Language Institute, San Jose, California

Other significant information:

Charles H. Troutman, Sr. Was a prominent leader both in the local business community and in the Lutheran Church. He was also a trustee (1935-1944) of Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois.

ca. 1954 Apparently the Troutmans at first only planned a brief stay in Australia. However, Mrs. Troutman and two of her children contracted polio, necessitating a longer stay in Australia

1965 After leaving IVCF, he worked for the organization on a manuscript on the historical roots of evangelistic work among students

1966 Troutman family moved to Costa Rica

1979 Retired from CLAME and moved to Arizona. There he maintained a voluminous correspondence with the Inter-Varsity and LAM workers, and others, who wrote to him for advise. He also continued to work on many writing projects, including a history of evangelistic work among university students.

1979 Troutman's book Everything You Want to Know About the Mission Field But Are Afraid to Ask published.

Extent

29.42 Cubic Feet

35 Boxes

3 Audio Tapes

4 Oversize Files

1 Phonograph Record

8 Photograph Files

1 Slide File

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement of Material

[Note: In the Arrangement section, the notation “folder 2-5" means “Box 2, Folder 5"]

The material in the collection is a portion of the papers of Charles H. Troutman Jr. There are a few photographs and posters but the overwhelming bulk of the collection consists of correspondence, memos, reports and minutes. When the first part of the collection was received by the Archives in March 1980, most of the records were bound in inexpensive report covers. For ease of handling and to better preserve the material, the correspondence was removed from the covers and placed in acid free file folders. The folder titles were assigned by the Archives staff according to the information on the notebook cover and the actual contents of the folder. The folders are arranged alphabetically according to title.

Additional material received in 1981 from Troutman comes mainly from his years as General Director of IVCF-USA and as a staff member of LAM and CLAME, although there are a few items from his work in Australia. The bulk of the materials came in nine notebooks compiled by Troutman. Four of the notebooks contain IVCF reference material; the other five consist of letters, reports, and other documents from Troutman's work in Latin America. For more convenient use, two of the IVCF notebooks were taken apart by the archival processor and their components put in separate folders. Folders 20-2, 20-3, 20-5, 20-7, 20-8, 20-10, 20-11, 20-13, 20-14, 20-15, and 20-16 made up one notebook. Folders 20-4, 20-6, and 20-10 made up another. The other notebooks were kept together in the condition in which they were received. Additional small accessions were received over the years and after Mr. Troutman's death in 1990, three notebooks of his writings and his correspondence up to 1987 were given to the archives. There too were maintained in the condition they were received, except that the correspondence was put in acid-free folders. Some additional papers, especially an almost complete set of his journals and his wartime (World War II) correspondence, was donated in 2015.

The paper records fall into four major categories:

Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship - USA

Inter-Varsity Fellowship - Australia

Latin America Mission

Personal correspondence and records

Sub-Series I: Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship - USA

Arrangement: Alphabetical by folder title

Date Range: 1936-1965, n.d.

Volume: 12.11 cubic feet

Boxes: 1-11, 20, 29

Geographic coverage: United States

Type of documents: Correspondence, minutes, reports, handbooks, manuals

Correspondents: David Adeney, Bonnie Anderson, Joseph Bayly, Paul Beckwith, Arthur John Dain, Leighton Ford, Mel Friesen, Billy Graham, Vernon Grounds, Wesley L. Gustafsen, Margaret Haines, James Kraakevik, Karlis Leyasmeyer, Herb Netsch, Eugene Nida, James Reapsome, Herbert John Taylor, Kenneth Taylor, Merrill C. Tenney, Ralph Willoughly, C. Stacy Woods

Subjects: History and growth of IVCF-USA

Notes: The IVCF-USA folders, which make up over half the collection, are further divided into correspondence with particular persons or institutions; general correspondence; reports on evangelistic meetings on U.S. campuses; historical background on student ministries gathered by Troutman; minutes of IVCF-USA governing bodies; reference files on topics such as World Council of Churches, student associations, etc.; and reports, memos and handbooks of the staff.

Exceptional items: The IVCF-USA files trace the growth of Inter-Varsity from its early beginnings in the United States. (Note: Be sure to also see Troutman's personal correspondence from his later years in boxes 22 through 25. These contain many letters with reflections about the origins of IVCF, the role of Stacey Woods, the change in the organization over the years and many other aspects of IV history. See, for example the February 28th letter to Charles Hummel in folder 24-2 and the several letters to IVCF historian Keith Hunt in folder 25-4.) Folders 2-28 to 3-2 contain records describing Troutman's activities in Canada, the opposition to IVCF's move to the United States, especially from the League of Evangelical Students, procedures for starting up IVCF chapters on campuses (Folder 2-30), the work of Hudson Armerding among prayer groups at Wheaton College (Folder 2-49). (Folder 2-28 also contains some descriptions of campus life at Wheaton College.) Correspondents in these folders include Merrill C. Tenney, Kenneth Taylor and Eugene Nida. The folders labeled IVCF-USA: Correspondence-Headquarters (Folders 4-6 to 4-15) contain similar materials including several memos to secretaries of IVCF university groups with ideas and suggestions. Folders 5-46 to 5-50, and 8-59 to 8-62 contain Troutman's weekly reports to Woods during this formative period. (Folder 23-5 contains letters and other information on Woods death in 1983.) Margaret Haines was one of the persons who helped bring IVCF south of the Canadian border. Folder 4-5 contains letters and memos sent to her over the years outlining the organization of IVCF; describing the effect of World War II on IVCF; early board meetings; a report by Woods of a trip in 1944 to Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Cuba; IVCF incorporation papers and constitution and by-laws; and a report on the 1951 Urbana convention.

Material on Troutman's own administration as General Director can be found in several places throughout this section, but especially in the folders in box 3 and box 20. There is a great deal of information in box 20 on Troutman's attempts to develop long-range plans for the organization and his suggestions for changes in administrative structure. Also of interest are the job descriptions of IVCF officers in Folder 20-6 and the drafts of various revisions for the staff manual contained in Folders 20-8 and 20-9.

Folders 7-17 to 7-26 contain materials Troutman gathered or wrote about evangelical university witness in general and IVCF in particular. There is a great deal of data on the start of IVCF chapters in Michigan, Minnesota and other states. Folder 7-26 contains a 1961 script for a film about the history of the Fellowship.

Other folders contain information on the development of IVCF administration after the war. Folder 10-21 contains notes from regional conference of chapters held in the late 1940s. IVCF, like most organizations, underwent periodic self-evaluations and reorganizations. Troutman's records contain analyses, reports, suggestions and discussion from two such periods: one in the early fifties and one in the early sixties. Folder 9-3 contains Troutman's analysis of IVCF in 1952. Folders 2-3 and 2-4 contain letters and reports involving both board members and staff about leadership problems. Folder 1-7 contains some information on the work John Bolten and other board members did on by-laws revision. Other folders containing reorganization discussions include Folders 8-1, 8-6, 8-8 and 10-26. The chapter analysis charts in the oversize folder (OS15) are interesting because they contain statistical data on the membership of IVCF on each institutional campus where it had a chapter and this information is collated by region and nationally. Folders 3-17, 3-19, 3-20, 3-23, 3-24, 10-23, 10-24 and 10-25 contain details on reorganization in the 1960's. For example, Folder 3-17 holds reorganization plans from Stacey Woods; Folder 3-20 contains a letter from field director Charles Hummel on administrative structure and a letter from Troutman to staff council members on changes to be made in IVCF. The history of Troutman's resignation in 1964 and his replacement by John Alexander can be traced in the materials in Folders 2-5, 3-23 to 3-31, 7-34, 7-35 and 7-38.

The work of the board of directors of IVCF is described in the minutes, agendas, reports, letters and notes in Folders 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 4-5, 7-32 to 7-35 and 10-45. For example, Folder 7-33 contains annual reports from the seven regional directors as well as reports from the field director, the missionary director, the head of the Nurses Christian Fellowship, the International Student department, His magazine, and Inter-Varsity Press.

Staff manuals in Folders 6-43, 9-15, 10-1, 10-16, 10-17 and 29-7 outline the procedures by which things were done and the directories in Folders 9-12 and 9-13 list most of the major staff members. The memos and minutes of the senior staff council (Folders 8-63 to 9-2) contain records of reappointments, long-range planning ideas and organization charts. Additional information on individual staff members can be found in the questionnaires they filled out in 1950 and 1951 (Folders 9-23 and 10-20). Much of the staff training was done at camps, such as Campus-in-the-Woods and Cedar Campus (Folders 1-9 to 1-13, 3-8, 3-9, 6-5, 8-10, 10-6 and 10-20). Additional information of staff orientation is in Folders 9-8 and 9-9. Folders 9-5 and 9-6 contain documents describing the history and purpose of the associate staff member program.

Most of the work of IVCF revolved around the campus chapters. Besides the data mentioned above in the 1950 chapter analysis in OS15, several folders contain information about the work going on in particular chapters and this information permits the reader to view a cross section of IVCF activities. As mentioned above, Folders 7-21 to 7-26 contain notes on the origins of several IVCF chapters. Folders 6-34 to 7-13 and 5-9 to 5-13 contain descriptive material about the evangelistic meetings by IVCF chapters across the country. Besides reports on the actual results of these meetings, the files contain a great deal of information on how they were planned, scheduled, advertised and evaluated. Folder 5-1, for example, contains suggestions for handling public relations. Folders 6-11 and 6-37 to 6-39 contain letters from Herb Netsch, Bonnie Anderson, Ralph Willoughly, Paul Beckwith, Wesley L. Gustafsen, Joseph Bayly, James Reapsome, Mel Friesen and others about the evangelistic meetings on specific campuses. Other letters discuss planning for missionary conferences, the possibility of having Billy Graham come to talk, the general philosophy of evangelistic missions, flaws that need work and the impact of the meetings. Folder 7-8 contains letters from Jack Wyrtzen, Harold Ockenga, Billy Graham and Donald Barnhouse, Sr. The problems and interests of individual chapters can be studied through the public reports they made to the IVCF newsletters in Folders 8-13, 8-14 and 10-13 to 10-15. Also of interest are the requests for prayer about various difficulties and opportunities from IVCF chapters, regions and divisions sent in for the Day of Prayer held in 1952 (Folder 9-11). Folders 1-14 to 1-19, 1-43 to 1-45 and 10-12 contain further reports from the various chapters. Thus Folder 1-14 contains statistics on Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois (including Chicago), Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan (including Detroit), Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York (including New York City), North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania (including Philadelphia), Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming. Also in the folder are reports from Paul Fromer and James F. Nyquist. Some folders, such as Folders 2-20, 5-37 and 8-5 contain reports on the faculty participation in chapter events and suggestions on ways the Christian teachers could support the IVCF work. Folder 5-37 contains a list of some particularly active Christian faculty. Folder 2-20 contains correspondence on faculty participation from Charles Hatfield, Jr. More information on particular chapters is scattered throughout the collection, like the letters in Folder 5-28 which describe a minor furor caused by the reporting and then the denial of a mock crucifixion at Oberlin College.

Other folders deal with the work of the regional staff members, who coordinated and assisted the chapters within their area. Folders 10-22, 10-28 to 10-34 and 10-35 to 10-44 contain reports of the contracts and activities of these staff persons. Thus Folder 10-48 contains descriptions by Carl Thomas, Troutman and Joseph Bayly about activities in the western, midwestern and eastern sections, respectively.

One of the best known and most important activities of Inter-Varsity was to sponsor a mission conference at regular three-year intervals which would be attended by students from all over the country. The students would listen to speakers, go to Bible studies, and visit exhibits which would describe the needs and goals of the mission movement. One of the prime purposes of this conference (which came to be known as the Urbana Conference from the site where it was held since 1951, Urbana, Illinois) was to recruit students as missionaries. Protestant mission boards of all types and sizes sent representatives. Much of the early history of the conference can be traced in Troutman's papers. There is information as well on the mission emphasis work of the local chapters. Folder 7-27 contains a report on the work Wesley Gustafsen and David Howard did in preparing for the 1953 conference and their recommendations for the next conference. There is information on Urbana scattered all through the general correspondence, board minutes and staff reports. For example, Folder 3-25 contains letters about the plans for the upcoming 1964 meeting. Other information can be found in Folder 7-19. Material from early mission conferences is contained in Folders 8-11 and 8-12. A manual for staff working on the 1964 Urbana Conference is in Folder 11-1. Folders 11-6 to 11-9 contain more documents about the meetings in the early 1960's. Folder 21-1 contains information on Urbana '73 and folders 24-3 and 24-4 contain information on Urbana '84.

Several files contain information on IVCF's work among nurses. Folders 8-15 to 8-17 contain correspondence with Tressie Meyers describing how the Christian Nurses Fellowship came to be affiliated with IVCF and how its name was changed to the Nurses Christian Fellowship. The chapters analysis in OS15 contains statistics on its membership in 1950. Annual reports to the board of directors and staff manuals describe its activities. There was an attempt to start a similar organization for teachers, the Teachers Christian Fellowship; Folder 6-10 contains a draft constitution of the group and some information on its activities. Folder 5-1 contains correspondence dealing with the work of the Inter-Varsity Serviceman's Fellowship. In the folder are many letters from servicemen about their problems and their attempts to spread Christian beliefs in the armed forces. Troutman also stayed in touch with other Christian organizations in the military such as the Officers Christian Union (OCU) and the Christian Military Men's Committee (CMMC). Folder 2-3 contains some information on the OCU's constitution, newsletter and a description of the conflict between it and the CMMC.

Another group IVCF worked with was foreign students studying in the United States. Once again reports to the board of directors and staff manuals give an idea of the scope of activities. Folder 3-13 contains an interesting letter about a conference in Chicago for English speaking Japanese. Troutman exchanged a good deal of correspondence with Robert V. Finley, who organized International Students, Inc. (ISI) to do Christian work among students who came to the United States to attend colleges and universities. Folders 2-21, 4-30 to 4-32 contain very complete information on the activities of this group. There is also correspondence about a proposed merger between IVCF and ISI. Correspondents include Herbert John Taylor and James Kraakevik. Troutman also corresponded with Theodore Choy (Folders 1-22, 1-48, 1-49) who founded Ambassadors for Christ to work among Chinese students and with Chinese for Christ, Inc. (Folder 1-46) and the Chinese Interim Committee (Folder 1-47).

There were national IV groups similar to IVCF in many countries working among university students. Troutman has reports from all over the world about the activities of IVCF groups. Folder 10-3, for example, contains information on Afghanistan and Folder 7-14 has information on activities in Great Britain, Malaysia, Australia, Hong Kong and Africa. The International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) was made up of all the national IV's. There is information on the IFES scattered all through Troutman's files, but Folders 4-24 to 4-29, 6-26, 7-36 and 8-56 contain records dealing specifically with the work of the Fellowship. Folder 8-56 contains some early material, including a report by Wilbur Sutherland describing the needs of the IV groups in Europe and Asia. Another interesting Folder is 4-26, which contains a report by W.A. Hutchinson about a trip he took from Wellington, New Zealand to London. He describes the IVCF staff in Australia and the Philippines; estimates the effect of politics on work in the Philippines; gives his impression of Japan and the work of the KGK, the Japanese Christian Student group; notes the influence of communism in Asia; and outlines the student work in Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. Several of the folders contain minutes or agendas of the governing council of IFES. Some other related folders are Folder 2-25 (correspondence with Melvin Friesen who was North American secretary of IFES), Folder 1-21 (correspondence with David Adeney who was IFES associate secretary for the Far East. This file contains reports on relations between IV groups and the Student Christian Movement (SCM), as well as reports on Manila, Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan). The correspondence-general folders also contain a good deal of information on the Fellowship, such as the material in Folder 3-12 about a proposed meeting of the general committee of the IFES in Switzerland in 1953. There are also a few files that contain correspondence between staff members of IVCF-USA and the staff of IV organizations in other countries. Folder 5-4 contains letters from Douglas Johnson, the general secretary of Inter-Varsity Fellowship in Great Britain. His correspondence describes the work of the Christian Medical Society and other outreach programs to medical students. Folders 1-38 and 2-14 contain correspondence of Ian Burnard and Brian Dickey of Australia's Inter-Varsity Fellowship. Burnard's letters go over the liaison between the American and Australian organizations and describes in great detail world wide activities of the IFES. He also describes meetings of the IFES's executive committee. Folder 6-7 and 3-20 contain correspondence from H. Wilbur Sutherland of the Canadian IV. Folders 3-23 to 3-26 contain information on the work in India.

Also in the IVCF-USA folders are letters and reports from other Christian organizations about evangelism and mission activities around the world. For example, Folder 5-34 has letters and critiques of the Peniel movement and Folder 1-20 contains a report from Sidney Langford on the situation of the Christian Church in Africa in the early 1960's. An interesting letter in folder 19-1 deals with IV's attitude toward Pentecostalism and speaking in tongues.

As indicated in some of the paragraphs above, there is a great deal of data in the collection about other Christian organizations. Folders 1-38, 1-40 and 1-41, among others, contain documents on the beginnings and growth of Campus Crusade for Christ. Included in these files are memos on the different techniques of IVCF and Campus Crusade, areas of conflict, and the possibility of a merger. Correspondents include Bill Bright, Paul Little, Paul Fromer and Charles Hummel. Folders 5-22, 5-23 and 10-11 contain similar material on the work of the Navigators and correspondence from Dawson Trotman. Folder 8-23 contains a detailed critique of the Navigators' methods. Other folders contain data from or about Scripture Union (Folders 5-44 and 5-45), including information on the relationship between the Union and IVCF, description of various literature ministries and correspondence from Colin Becroft, Eternity magazine, and the Evangelical Foundation. Several folders contain reports about an outbreak of glossolalia at Yale University (Folders 2-1, 3-21 to 3-26, 4-2). The folder of Christianity Today correspondence (Folder 2-1) includes correspondence about in errancy and about a special issue the magazine was planning on college evangelism. Frank Gaebelein was one of the correspondents.

Another organization with which IVCF had frequent contact was the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA). Folders 1-33, 1-37, 2-22, 3-18, 4-1, 7-16 and 7-26 contain letters, reports and statistics about BGEA activities. Folder 1-36 contains letters from Billy Graham, Gerald Beaven, Robert Glockner and Willis Haymaker. There is some discussion of a university meeting Troutman helped arrange for the BGEA, such as one held at Harvard and general comments on the strategy and tactics of mass evangelism on campuses. There is also information on the crusade held in Philadelphia in 1961 and in Los Angeles in 1963. Folder 7-26 has letters about the assistance IVCF gave the BGEA during the 1957 New York Crusade and Folder 3-18 has a letter from Billy Graham about a speaking engagement he hoped to arrange for IVCF. Don Hustad, who was a member of the BGEA team, has some correspondence in Folder 5-19 about the founding of the National Christian Music Fellowship, of which he was president.

Folder 5-20 contains a brochure and other material from the National Negro Evangelical Association. It also has a letter from Ruth Lewis about her experience in Alabama. Folder 2-28 contains a description of the work of the Navajo Indian Evangelization Movement.

Throughout his time at IVCF and especially in 1964 and 1965, Troutman gathered documents on the history of Christian work among university students. Many of these documents can be found in Folders 4-19, 7-17 to 7-20, 8-1 to 8-10, 8-19 to 8-54, and 11-5. These reference files also contain information on groups like the United Student Christian Council (Folder 8-43) which was associated with the World Council of Churches and the National Council of Churches. More information on work among students can be found in Folder 5-21 which contains a survey of various denominational programs done in 1964 for the World Christian Fellowship. Additional programs done in 1964 for the university evangelism in the United States can be found in Folders 17-6 to 17-11 which contain documents that Troutman gathered by and about the League of Evangelical Students. J. Gresham Machen is among the correspondents in these files, which trace the growth and demise of the League and measures some of its effects. (Troutman had served as president of the Wheaton chapter of the League during his school days.) Folder 20-1 contains a manuscript of a history by Troutman of evangelism on United States and, to some extent, British university campuses. Later versions of this manuscript are in folders 26-1 and 26-2. Folders 1-11 and 7-28 contain materials and correspondence from IVCF-Canada.

There is some data scattered through the IVCF-USA files that relates to matters beyond the work of IVCF. For example, Folder 3-26 contains a letter by Ted Benson discussing Barry Goldwater and civil rights; and Folder 9-10, which contains materials on strategies for reaching metropolitan campuses, has notes on some of the problems of urbanization. A few other miscellaneous items of interest are: transcript of speech by Francis Schaeffer given in 1950 to the International Council of Christian Churches on the New Modernism (Folder 6-18), book reviews from a conservative Christian viewpoint of Reinhold Niebuhr's Faith and History (Folder 6-18), a series of addresses given by Ian Thomas at the Prairie Tabernacle in 1956 (Folder 8-54), results of a survey of IVCF staff members on the questions most often asked by Christians and non-Christians about Christianity (Folder 10-21), and the papers produced at a consultation of Christian leaders sponsored by the Evangelical Foundation (Folder 5-8). The meeting was an attempt to give church leaders an informal environment in which to meet outside of councils or ecumenical structures. Papers were given by Lyeurgus M. Starkey, Everett L. Cattell, Bruce Metzger, and Arthur Glasser, among others.

Sub-Series II: Inter-Varsity Fellowship - Australia

Arrangement: Alphabetical by folder title

Date Range: 1949-1965, n.d.

Volume: 1.56 cubic feet

Boxes: 11, 12, 20

Geographic coverage: Australia

Type of documents: Clippings, correspondence, minutes, reports, memos, handbook

Correspondents: Joseph Bayly, Billy Graham, Charles Hummel, Warner Hutchinson, Paul Little, Maurice Murphy, Wilbur Sutherland, Stacey Woods

Subjects: IVCF-Australia, Scripture Union, Australian Christian Student Movement

Notes: The next group of files in Collection 111 are from Troutman's years in Australia as an Inter-Varsity Fellowship staff member and the general director. The problems and opportunities in a large country with a small population were in many ways different than those in the United States, as these files illustrate. In particular, liberal and evangelical denominations and organizations had to work much closer together.

Exceptional items: Perhaps the best document for gaining an understanding of the work "down under" is the handbook in Folder 12-6 which Troutman prepared for his successor. This manual sets forth in detail how the IVF functioned; gives background information on the ecumenical movement; describes the organization's training program and executive committee; provides data on the staff in the various regions Australia was divided into; explained the activities of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students; and much more. Other information on the work of IVF can be found in Folders 11-24 to 12-1, 12-9, and 12-10. The last two mentioned folders contain summaries on the basic goals and program of IVF, annual reports, reports on continent-wide activities, ideas on how to run Bible studies, a letter from Ian Burnard about the restriction policies, a report of the Tyndale Fellowship, descriptions of the efforts of the Evangelical Union and the Student Christian Movement, and bulletins of the Overseas Christian Fellowship. There are a few records from the IVF-Great Britain in folders 12-12 to 12-14.

Folders 20-17, 20-18 and 20-20 contain additional information on the work of IVF in Australia. These folders contain material intended for the students who would serve, on a voluntary basis, as the leaders of IVF chapters on campuses throughout the continent. The responsibilities of various positions are described, resources are listed, and the purpose, history, and organizational structure of IVF are reviewed. The memo in Folder 20-18 goes into great detail describing, from Inter-Varsity's viewpoint, the theological and practical differences between IVF-Australia and the Australian Christian Student Movement (ACSM). This memo also contains information on the history of ACSM and the World Council of Churches. Folder 20-12 contains notes for talks Troutman gave in Australia and the USA conferences, Bible studies, seminars, etc. Most of these outlines are studies of passages of Scripture.

The general correspondence folders contain letters about problems in the American IVCF organization and description of IV activities in Japan, Hong Kong, and other Asian countries.

Boxes 22 through 25 contain Troutman's personal correspondence after his retirement and these include some reports from the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students (AFES) and reports from his friends in Australia on trends in work among university students. Also of interest is tape T3 in this collection, which is a history of the AFES produced in 1986. See also his correspondence with Francis Anderson in folder 30-3.

Other folders contain documents relating to ecumenicalism in Australia. Folder 11-10 contains papers given at the 1966 meeting of the Australian Council of Churches and a list of attenders. Some of the topics: refugees in Australia, the general church situation in Australia, the Church and industrial society, and "Ethical Problems for Missionary Strategies." Folder 12-4 contains letters from H. Sasse about activities of Christian liberals on the Australian conference of the World Council of Churches and information about the relationship between IVF and ACWCC. There is also a report by Troutman in the file on the projected development of IVF.

The file on the Scripture Union (Folder 12-11) contains evaluations of the SU's activities in Southeast Asia and Indonesia as well as discussions of plans for work in private schools and an outline of the organization's policy toward Youth for Christ. Folder 24-4 contains a letter Troutman wrote to Clifford Swanson later in life about the history of the introduction of the Scripture Union in the United states and the differing Australian and American perceptions of the event.

Folders 11-11 to 11-21 and 12-2 contain reports, correspondence, statistics, newspaper clippings, follow-up information, form letters, etc. from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's crusade in Australia and New Zealand in 1958 and 1959. There is a great deal of information on the Sydney Crusade on which Troutman chaired the student committee. Many documents describe how to do things - how to do visitation (Folder 11-17), how to counsel and follow-up on counseling, how to prepare for the classes taught by Charlie Riggs (Folder 11-19), how to gather statistics (Folder 11-20), and how to work with children (Folder 11-21). The actual process of getting ready for the crusade can be traced in Folder 11-16 which contains letters to churches and Christian associations inviting them to participate, periodic progress reports, details or arrangements, and plans for counseling work in the armed services. Results of the meetings can be gauged by the statistical reports in Folders 11-16 and 11-20. The same folders contain written reports on the meetings in Melbourne and Sydney. Folder 11-16 contains some interesting discussions of an idea of Graham's to found an American-style university in Australia and an evaluation of IVF's participation in the Australian crusades. Folder 11-20 has a memo to IVF staff members justifying the work of the Graham Association. The correspondence to and from Graham in Folder 12-2 discusses some criticism of the crusades, methods of reaching university students, and the advantages of ecclesiastical separatism versus ecumenicalism. Paul Little also has some letters in this file. Folder 11-29 also contains a letter from Graham.

Sub-Series III: Latin America Mission

Arrangement: Alphabetical by folder title

Date Range: 1924-1979

Volume: 7.32 cubic feet

Boxes: 12-17, 20-22

Geographic coverage: United States, Latin America

Type of documents: Correspondence, reports, minutes, charts, financial records

Correspondents: David Adeney, John Alexander, Gerald Harry Anderson, Colin Becroft, Clayton L. Berg, James Montgomery Boice, Ian Burnard, Orlando E. Costas, Arthur John "Jack" Dain, Fred Denton, Samuel E. Escobar, Horace L. Fenton, Douglas Floor, Arthur Frederick Glasser, Thomas Hanks, Glen Harewood, Joanne Harewood, Charles Richard "Dick" Hillis, David Morris Howard , Harry S. Klepper, William Kornfield, Paul E. Little, Noe Martinez, Hugo Wilbert Norton, Edward Pentecost, John Stam, John Robert Walmsley Stott, Janvier Willison Voelkel, and Ralph D. Winter

Subjects: LAM, League of Evangelical Students

Notes: The next large group of material is from Troutman's years in the Latin America Mission. One of the most interesting aspects of these files is the documentation of the changes from the Latin America Mission into the Community of Latin America Ministries (CLAME).

Exceptional items: Correspondence, reports, minutes, flow charts, budgets, etc. can be found in the notebooks in Folders 17-1 and 17-2. Descriptions of the reasons for the tensions encountered can be found all throughout the general correspondence files, especially in Folders 15-2, 15-21, 15-24, 16-3, and 16-6. For example, Folder 15-28 contains the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Costa Rican Committee on restructuring; a rough draft of the new constitution for the Christian students group, the Sociedad Minamundo Internacional; Clayton L. Berg's presentation to the board of trustees; and minutes of the meeting of CLAME missionaries residing in San Jose. Folder 16-6 contains the LAM-USA's proposed revision of the statement of the principles, government, and function of the Council of Affiliates. Additional information on the development of CLAME can be found in folders 21-2 and 21-3. These note books include papers on the meaning of autonomy in CLAME, the regulations of CLAME, ways for North Americans to latinize their personal style, public relations, finance, personal relationship between North Americans and Latin Americans, the effects of the formation of CLAME, methods for selecting missionaries, a new personnel policy defining the requirements of different categories of staff members, goals for CLAME, the increasing superficiality of relationships between the autonomous members of CLAME. Also of interest is a folder (22-1) in which Troutman kept several documents which he felt were key to the history of the Community. These include a 1966 paper by Harry Strachan (grandson of the founder of Latin American Mission) that was one of the first moves in this direction of the formation of CLAME, papers given at a seminar on Latin American perspective on evangelism, minutes of the interfield council, papers on conflict at the Seminary, the constitution of CLAME. Also of interest in this regard is a book-length manuscript by Troutman on the theme "that now institutional models and vocational roles are required for continued North American/European participation in the world-wide expansion of the church."

The files of General Council correspondence (Folders 16-8, 16-19, 16-20) contain a great deal of information on the inner workings of LAM before its reorganization into CLAME. There are descriptions of the public relations policy, regulations, lists of council members, and a report on the death of general director R. Kenneth Strachan. Information of a more public nature can be found in the LAM newsletters in Folders 16-21 and 16-22.

Troutman's main responsibilities were with personnel management on one hand and university work on the other. Files 15-7, 15-9, 16-5, and 16-7 contain letters and memos about the kind of personnel matters with which he had to concern himself. Throughout the LAM files there are letters, reports and memos about Minamundo (Folders 12-23, 12-26, 13-5, 15-6, 15-7, 15-12, 15-18, 15-19, 15-22, 15-24, 15-29, 20-19 among others). Folder 13-13 contains a paper on youth evangelism which first laid out the stretgy for what became Minamundo's method of outreach. Folder 21-1 includes a handbook of Minamundo. Several files contain periodic progress reports while others, such as Folder 15-6 contain information on fund raising or Folder 15-18 contains reorganization plans; or Folder 15-29 contains statements of goals and methods. The notebook in Folder 17-3 contains the documents from a consultation held by LAM on University Evangelism. Also in the notebook are records of a trip Troutman made to Panama for the Officer's Christian Union and thumbnail sketches of university evangelism in Great Britain, Scandinavia, Taiwan, and Australia. An interesting letter to H. L. Fenton in folder 19-1 deals with the probable attitude of there university ministries, such as Campus Crusade, Navigators, and Inter-Varsity, to a new university ministry under the auspices of LAM.

In 1969 Charles Troutman and Thomas Hanks began a mimeographed publication called Penetracion which consisted of papers about aspects of Christian university work in Latin America. The records in Folders 13-11, 13-19, 13-23, 13-28, 14-3, 21-4, 27-2, and 30-1, among others, trace the beginning and development of this project.

Troutman naturally maintained liaison with other Christian groups working among students and wrote and received reports on university evangelism from many sources around the world. Folder 12-19 and 13-10 contain descriptions of Campus Crusade's work in the United States; Folders 13-4 and 13-16 include documents which detail the work of the Evangelical Student Information Service; Folder 13-27 contains data on the Student Volunteer Movement (SVM); Folders 12-19, 12-23, and 16-6 hold reports on the activities of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students; and throughout the folders are reports on activities of IVCF-USA (see especially Folders 13-9 and 16-6). Particularly interesting are the folders containing reports on the preparations and results of the regular missions conferences held for students in Urbana, Illinois (Folders 13-2, 13-3, 13-5, 15-7, 15-9). Further reports on Christian work among university students can be found in Folders 12-22, 12-26, 13-3, 13-13, 13-14, 13-17, 13-20, 12-28, 15-15, 15-28, 15-29, and 6-14.

A large part of the correspondence in the LAM files is concerned with the Spanish Language Institute - what it should or shouldn't be doing and ways its work could be improved and whether LAM should take it over (Folders 12-20, 12-26, 13-19, 13-25, 13-29, 14-2, 15-9, 16-1, and 16-6). Folder 15-9 contains some interesting documents about LAM's public relations work.

Other organizations for which there is information in this part of the collection include the Wheaton Bible Church (Folder 12-18 there is also material about the Troutman’s involvement in WBC in folder 31-6), the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (Folders 12-19, 14-3), Evangelical Literature Overseas (Folder 13-5), Missionary Dentist (Folder 13-13), the International Congress on World Evangelization (Folder 15-9, 15-10, 15-11), the Christian Action Committee (Folder 13-6), the Navajo Gospel Mission (Folder 16-3), and Scripture Union (Folder 16-9).

Troutman had a wide range of correspondents and he was continually receiving reports of Christian activities, especially university evangelism, from around the world. Countries he heard from include Argentina (Folder 13-20), Australia (Folders 12-24, 15-11, 15-26), Bolivia (Folders 12-26, 15-27, 17-3), China (Folder 16-10), Colombia (Folders 12-21, 13-2, 13-5, 13-7, 13-8, 13-16, 13-22, 13-23, 13-26, 15-11), Costa Rica (Folders 13-19, 14-6, 15-22, 16-7, 17-2), Ecuador (Folder 13-29), Ethiopia (Folder 13-3), Germany (Folder 13-26), Great Britain (Folder 17-3), Guatemala (Folder 12-23), India (Folder 12-25), Japan (Folder 12-26), Nicaragua (Folder 16-13), Panama (Folders 13-6, 16-5, 17-3), Peru (Folders 12-25, 15-2, 15-11), Philippines (Folders 12-19, 12-20, 12-24), Portugal (Folder 12-22), Taiwan (Folders 12-23, 17-3), and Vietnam (Folders 12-23).

There are also many letters that deal generally with the problems and opportunities of Christian work. Folder 13-23 contains data on missionary medical work; Folder 15-11 contains descriptions of Pentacostalism in Latin America. Folder 13-14 holds letters about the theology of liberation. Folder 13-19 includes information on the growth of Latin American Protestant churches. Folder 16-1 has data describing the debate over lesbianism in some United States churches. Folders 15-10 and 16-15 hold letters discussing problems missionaries are likely to face. This is just a sample of topics covered. One very interesting report in Folder 13-9 contains descriptions of the impressions of North Americans held by Latin Americans who hosted visiting students. Also interesting are the letters Troutman and others wrote protesting the use by the Central Intelligence Agency of missionaries for information gathering purposes (Folders 15-20, 15-21, 15-22, 15-25, 15-26). Folder 16-5 contains letters supporting the treaty on the Panama Canal negotiated between Panama and the United States.

Correspondents in the LAM files include David Adeney (Folder 16-10), John Alexander, Gerald Harry Anderson (Folder 16-15), Colin Becroft, Clayton L. Berg (Folders 15-28, 16-3), James Montgomery Boice (Folder 13-2), Ian Burnard (Folder 12-24), Orlando E. Costas (Folders 15-12, 15-24), Arthur John "Jack" Dain (Folders 15-9, 15-10, 15-11), Fred Denton, Samuel E. Escobar (Folders 15-15, 15-16), Horace L. Fenton (Folders 12-16, 15-11), Douglas Floor, Arthur Frederick Glasser, Thomas Hanks, Glen Harewood (Folder 16-2), Joanne Harewood (Folder 16-2), Charles Richard "Dick" Hillis (Folder 12-22), David Morris Howard (Folders 13-27, 15-9, 21-1), Harry S. Klepper (Folder 15-2), William Kornfield (Folder 15-27), Paul E. Little, Noe Martinez, Hugo Wilbert Norton, Edward Pentecost, John Stam (Folder 16-3), John Robert Walmsley Stott (Folder 16-6, see folder 21-2 for letter on the problems in Latin America of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students), Janvier Willison Voelkel (Folders 13-25 and 14-1), and Ralph D. Winter (Folders 13-23 and 15-10).

Troutman himself also wrote voluminously on many topics. For example, see his papers in folder 20-19 on ways to reach university professors, medical missions, the goals of LAM, devotional life, church organizations in Latin America, Scripture Union, Christian book stores in Costa Rica, stewardship, evangelism and social action, and the characteristics of Latin American university and college students. Folder 21-1 includes papers on creation vs. evolution, radical preachers, and tips for new missionaries setting up housekeeping. Folder 21-5 has papers (often called "Memos to Myself") on his personal experience and impressions of missionary activities in Latin America; the Latin American Biblical Seminary; the possibility of the separation of LAM-USA from CLAME; a report on a Third World Perspectives Seminar held in Costa Rica in which North American churches heard presentations by Latin Americans about the rule of the Somoza family in Nicaragua, Roman Catholic renewal, the charismatic movement, poverty, the theology of liberation, the United States and Latin American, and the Christian in politics in Latin America; and the manuscript of a book on the place of Western missionaries in the modern world. The same folder contains correspondence with LAM administrators Kenneth Strachan and Paul Pretiz and Canadian Inter-Varsity director Jim Berney. Additional Berney correspondence is in folder 30-4.

Folder 30-1 contains various papers that Troutman apparently presented at LAM’s annual Inter-Field meetings. Some of these concerned particular questions about the reorganization of LAM unto CLAME (see also an analysis of the proposed CLAME constitution by Troutman’s lawyer son Charles in folder 30-6). Other topics include an analysis of LAM’s student ministry in the last part of the 1960s, Evangelicals and the middle class in Latin America, and a study of the then-current Latin American scene in relation to LAM.

Sub-Series IV: Personal Correspondence and Records.

Arrangement: Alphabetical by folder title.

Date Range: 1921-1990

Volume: 5.31 cubic feet

Boxes: 17-19, 22-29

Geographic coverage: United States

Type of documents: Correspondence, journals

Correspondents: Correspondents: Hudson Taylor Armerding, Paul Beckwith, Joseph Bayly, Michael Berg, Sen. Dennis Deconcini, Frederick Dickason, Jack Drake, V. Raymond Edman, Thomas Hanks, Neil Hawkins, William Houghton, David Howard, Howard Larsen, Chris Lyons, Gordon McDonald, Miriam Troutman Paredes (daughter), James Rayburn, Otto and Katharine Schoerner, Pat and Gordie Thomas, Charles Troutman III (son), David Troutman (son), Sen. Morris Udall

Subjects: Evangelical Literature Overseas; Scripture Union; Wheaton Bible Church; InterVarsity in Canada, Australia, and the United States; Troutman’s views on Scripture, evolution, the Christian faith, contemporary Christianity

Subjects: Evangelical Literature Overseas, Scripture Union, Wheaton Bible Church

Notes: Troutman’s personal correspondence and journals

Exceptional items: Troutman's personal correspondence and documents in Folders 17-12 to 19-23 and Folder 28-1 to 28-6 cover his life from young manhood to retirement. Some of the earliest material is in Folder 18-17 which contains condolences sent to the family on the occasion of Charles Troutman Sr.'s death. Correspondents included V. Raymond Edman , Paul Beckwith, James Rayburn and William Houghton, the Navajo Bible School and the Reheboth Mission Boarding School. Several folders contain the letters Troutman wrote and received during his stint in the armed services during World War II (Folders 18-18 to 19-12). The "correspondence general files" (Folders 18-4 to 18-12) contain letters from a world wide set of acquaintances in Christian work. For example, Folder 18-5 contains letters from IVF workers in Australia, Pat and Gordie Thomas in Newfoundland, Neil Hawkins in Brazil, and Otto and Katharine Schoerner in China. Or, another example, Folder 18-8 holds a letter from Hudson Taylor Armerding on inerrancy, Jack Drake of the Southwest Bible and Missionary Conference, Frederick Dickason in Burma, Neil Hawkins of Unevangelized Field Mission, and Howard Larsen from France. Folders 18-1 and 18-6 contain material from his years in Australia including a drivers license. Some letters of IVCF-Canada are in folders 22-3 through 25-3, all of 24-5.

There is relatively little in the collection from Troutman’s student days at Wheaton in the 1930s. Folder 31-6 contains some of the student papers he wrote, mainly for his geology class, but also a short story for English class, one on ancient ethic codes, probably for a philosophy or ethics class, and one on oleomargarine for chemistry class. Some of his papers for geology classes illustrate his deep love of his native Arizona and many of the papers illustrate the analytical turn of his mind and approach to problems. Folder 31-7 contain a clipping from the Christian Beacon on the 1936 revival on Wheaton’s campus.

Several folders contain the letters Troutman wrote and received during his stint in the armed services during World War II (Folders 18-18 to 19-12, 30-11 to 31-2). The folders in boxes 18 and 19 are mostly to Troutman or to his wife Lois from his family or from co-workers in InterVarsity, including Stacey Woods. The letters in folders 30-11 to 31-2 are almost all from Troutman to his wife or mother or in a few cases to friends. They describe is activities as a chaplain with the Corp of Engineers receiving training at various Army camps in the United States, shipping over to the Pacific theater in 1944, and his time in Australia, the Philippines and Japan. Although there are a few brief references to the larger events of the war, such as the mention of the death of President Franklin Roosevelt in a April 13, 1945 letter or the attitudes of the Japanese to their country’s occupation in a November 1, 1945 letter. But most of the letters are concerned with his daily activities in camp, his development of evangelistic programs for the American servicemen and the local residents, his contacts with Youth for Christ and InterVarsity people in the American forces, and his request for information about his family back home, particularly his wife and their newborn baby. There are several examples of V-Mail in folders 30-12 and 31-1, the microfilmed letters that the American Army and Navy used during the war to greatly reduce the weight of servicemen’s letters being transported to the United States. Folder 31-2 contains several undated letters. Since these are usually talking about his activities in Army camps in Florida and elsewhere in the United States, they were probably written in 1942 and 1943 before he was shipped to the Pacific.

The "correspondence general files" (Folders 18-4 to 18-12) contain letters from a worldwide set of acquaintances in Christian work. For example, Folder 18-5 contains letters from IVF workers in Australia, Pat and Gordie Thomas in Newfoundland, Neil Hawkins in Brazil, and Otto and Katharine Schoerner in China. Or, another example, Folder 18-8 holds a letter from Hudson Taylor Armerding on inerrancy, Jack Drake of the Southwest Bible and Missionary Conference, Frederick Dickason in Burma, Neil Hawkins of Unevangelized Field Mission, and Howard Larsen from France. Folders 18-1 and 18-6 contain material from his years in Australia including a driver’s license. Some letters of IVCF-Canada are in folders 22-3 through 25-3, all of 24-5. Folder 30-5 contains extensive correspondence between Troutman and Mel Donald, an IVCF-Canada staff member who was researching a history of that ministry, which apparently was written but never published. Their letters contain many details about Troutman’s memories of InterVarsity’s work in Canada and elsewhere and especially about the part Stacey Woods played in the movement. Troutman also give many details of the chronology of his life in these letters. For more on the unpublished history, see folder 30-10.

Several folders contain records of Troutman's involvement in the work of other evangelical organizations besides IVCF and LAM. Folders 18-14 and 19-16 contain reports about the work of the National Association of Evangelicals, especially its Education Commission. Folder 18-18 is about the Officers Christian Union and mostly about 1966 Telcon, a conference held over radio communication. The organization Evangelical Literature Overseas (ELO) is the subject of the documents in Folders 18-3, 19-13, 19-14, and 19-15 (Troutman served on the executive committee of the board of ELO). These files include letters from president James L. Johnson, budgets, and reports on activities in various parts of the world. Troutman was also a board member of the United States branch of Scripture Union and Folders 19-17 to 19-23 record that participation. They include reports from the executive director, budgets, audit statements, minutes of meetings, and description of Union activities in Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil. Troutman served on the council of Mid-America Keswick with H. Wilbert Norton and the papers in Folder 18-13 deal with ways to adopt the Keswick idea to the American scene. The records in Folder 17-13 are also very interesting. In the late forties and early fifties, various fundamentalist leaders used to gather every summer in a kind of think tank to discuss various aspects of their faith and ways to present it to the secular world. The file includes letters or papers by Ted M. Benson, Dale McCulley, John D. Frame, Rudy Nelson, Donald G. Barnhouse Jr., Gilbert James, Virginia F. Matson, Russell Mixter, Archer Torrey, and Eugene A. Nida.

The three folders in the collection, (Folders 19-24 to 19-26), contain records of the Missionary Orientation Project of the Wheaton Bible Church. The purpose of the project was to arrange for young people of the church to spend eight months to a year assisting missionaries overseas. This would give those who were considering a career as a missionary a chance to see what it would be like. Troutman helped in the planning of the idea and the records in the collection trace its development.

After his retirement from LAM at the end of 1979, Troutman maintained a very large correspondence with missionaries and other Christian leaders in many part of the world. Box 22 through 25 and Box 28 contains this correspondence. There are many letters with the leaders of IVCF-USA, LAM-USA, and CLAME, and, to a much lesser extent, Christian workers in university evangelism in Australia. Folder 28-6 contain correspondence to and from LAM worker, Thomas Hanks, related to his divorce and homosexual lifestyle. Besides folder 25-5, which contains his correspondence with James Berney of the Canadian IVCF, letters to Berney about changes in the organization and methods of Inter-Varsity in that country can be found throughout the correspondence folders in these boxes. (See also folder 30-4 where Troutman corresponds with Berney about, among other topics, cooperation between student ministries on university campuses.) Several folders also contain reports on the involvement of Native American Christians in university evangelism (folders 24-3 and 25-2, among others). The full richness and variety of Troutman's interest in the church around the world can only be appreciated by going through some of these folders. Of particular interest is folder 24-2, which contains several reports and other documents from LAM outlining the mission's achievements in 1983 and its goals for the future; a letter to William Baucum in folder 24-2 giving Troutman's views on various Bible translations; and a letter to Bill Guest in folder 25-2 on Troutman's memories of the early history of Pioneer Ontario, a Christian boys' club. The Troutmans' mailing list in folder 25-6 give some idea of his wide range of contacts.

There are also many letters to (and a few from) his children and their spouses in folder 30-6. These include his son Charles’ analysis of the proposed CLAME constitution, Troutman’s long description of his thoughts on evolution and creationism, his reflections on society and culture in the United States, Central America, and Latin America, and a variety of theological issues. Also throughout these letter too, of course, is family news and topics, such as Troutman’s concerns for his wife Lois’ health. Folder 30-8 contains correspondence to non-family members from Troutman’s latter years, including Will Norton and InterVarsity colleagues such as Ned Hale, John Kyle, and Ian Burnard, and friends from church and other Christian ministries.

A growing concern of Troutman's was the United States' foreign policy in Central America, particularly towards Nicaragua and El Salvador, which he felt often hid power politics motives behind an anti-communist mask, although he was at least equally opposed to Russian imperialism. He was also concerned because he felt very little of the true picture of life in Central America was available in the United States. There are numerous letters in boxes 22 through 25 in which Troutman discusses these topics or receives reports (often conflicting) on events from friends in Central America. See, for example, his response to LAM director Michael Berg's letter to President Ronald Reagan about the United States policy toward Nicaragua (folder 23-3), his letter to J. Herbert Kane on how to interpret reports received from Central America (folder 24-3), a similar but much more detailed audio tape he sent to IV worker David Jones (tape T1 and T2), and letters on Central America which he got from senators Morris Udall (folder 24-2) and Dennis Deconcini (folders 24-1 and 28-4).

ications in the book of Acts, choosing the right church, fifty years of student work (Troutman's personal reflections on the changes), the first wave of world-wide student work 1898-1920, the book of Joshua, the infallibility of Scripture, prayers. Folder 27-2: paternalism, abortion, the birth of Christ, and issues of Penetracion (see page 14 of this guide). Another indication of Troutman's continuing intellectual curiosity and daily Bible study is the handwritten concordance he drew up (folder 22-2) which shows the uses of the word "abide" and related terms in several books of the New Testament.

Topics covered by his other notebooks are as follows: folder 26-3 : the missionary enterprise, missionary recruiting among North Americans, culture and law in Galatians, the negative legacy of the modern missionary enterprise, church planting, inerrancy, personal development in trans-cultural Christian service, the ten commandments for trans-cultural missions, the Great Commission, the proliferation of evangelical student groups in North America, the influence of John Mott on the deterioration of Bible studies in the YMCA (this paper also has Troutman's description of his talks with Kenneth Scott Latourette), the scriptural view of evolution, Christian witness in the universities, vision of IVCF's purpose in the next decade (written 1985), and a narrative telling the story of Christ's birth and placing it in historical context. Folder 27-1: staff identity in a Christian organization, fund raising, the basics of university work, competition between university ministries, counseling, the importance of a personal quiet time for Bible study and prayer, IVCF-Canada, characteristics of university students, campus spirituality, Christians and political protect, the 1910 World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh, trans-cultural communications in the book of Acts, choosing the right church, fifty years of student work (Troutman's personal reflections on the changes), the first wave of world-wide student work 1898-1920, the book of Joshua, the infallibility of Scripture, prayers. Folder 27-2: paternalism, abortion, the birth of Christ, and issues of Penetracion (see page 14 of this guide). see also folder 30-1 for additonal Penetraction materials). Another indication of Troutman's continuing intellectual curiosity and daily Bible study is the handwritten concordance he drew up (folder 22-2) which shows the uses of the word "abide" and related terms in several books of the New Testament. A few more of his retirement writings can be found in folder 31-8. These deal with abortion, the early history of the church, his defense of a high view of Scripture, and the Christian attitude toward public protest.

Folder 31-4 contains a multitude of 3.5” x 5” or 3.5” x 6.5” sheets of loose-leaf notebook pages that Troutman used throughout most of his life. These pages, both handwritten and typed, include his prayer list and prayers from the 1940s while he was a chaplain in the Army, as well as calendar pages from the 1990, the last year of his life; most of them are undated and seem to come from the 1960s through the 1980s. There are Bible studies, reflections on the Christian life, and random thoughts on the work of InterVarsity. These were probably kept in a notebook for easy reference.

Troutman kept journals of his daily activities most of his life. He was also a list maker and most of his journals contain a variety of his lists – books he had read, cities he had been to, prayers, and miles flown in different types of transport were among the most common. The Archives has almost a complete set of these journals, covering the years 1938 until 1990. There were twenty-four journals altogether, including 8a, 9a, 12a, 13a, and an unnumbered red journal. Troutman numbered them himself and later, probably during his retirement, place a brief introduction at the beginning of most of the journals. They are mostly in chronological order, although some contain entries from widely different time periods. There are a few oddities, such as journal 12 which consists of carbons of letters Troutman wrote to his family and InterVarsity associates. The letters to is family describe his daily activities much like his journals. The letters to his InterVarsity associates are concerned with the policies and purpose of the organization. Also, every journal has, besides daily entries and lists, a series of documents pasted in or stuck in, such as postcards, V-mail, programs, clippings, tracts, ID cards, greeting cards, etc. The Archives did not receive journals 4 and 5, which would have covered the period of April 1942 until April 1945, most of Troutman’s wartime service. There is another chronological gap for the journals from October 1967 until August 1971.

These journals, besides describing Troutman’s own life, are full of information on the history, activities, and culture of InterVarsity (world-wide, especially in Australia, Canada, and the United States), as well as Latin America Mission. They also contain details about Evangelicalism and Fundamentalism in the United States.

• Journal 1: October 14, 1938-November 9, 1939. (Folder 32-1) Includes chronology of events in Troutman’s life, especially relating to IVCF, May 1916-October 1938. • Journal 2: November 9, 1939-August 1, 1940. (Folder 32-2) Includes an article from the Sunday School Times about the 1936 Wheaton Revival pasted in the volume (see also folder 3-17) as well as a Christmas card. • Journal 3: August 3, 1940-April 17, 1942 (Folder 32-3) Articles, letters photos, and much else pasted in book. • Journal 6: April 28, 1945-February 20, 1946. (Folder 32-4) From July 29, 1945 onward the entries are typed. In the back of the notebook are several pages labeled “Personal Correspondence,” which are notes on biblical passages; also lists of expenses and gifts, books he has read, dates of letters he received (?) and from who, list of places where entries were made. • Journal 7: February 21, 1946-July 24, 1947. (Folder 33-1) Many items are pasted in book, including tickets, V-mail, and driving permits. Lists of books read, places where entries were made, and letters. • Journal 8: 8 July 25, 1947-November 5, 1953. (Folder 33-2) Greeting cards, photos, tickets, and programs pasted into journal. In the back are lists of miles traveled by what type of vehicle, books read, places visited, and number of Dictaphone belts used. • Journal 8a. 1950-1954. (Folder 29-1) The entry for June 24, 1951 gives a brief chronology of Troutman’s life from 1936 to 1951 and the growing tensions between Stacy Woods and himself over the governing structure of IVCF that eventually led Troutman to leave IVCF-USA for IVCF-Australia. There is a transcript of the journal made by Troutman’s son David. • Journal 9: November 6, 1953-March 18, 1956. (Folder 33-3) Newspaper articles, greeting cards, memorabilia, programs, tracts, pasted into book, as well as articles about the polio attack on Lois and the children. Lists of places stayed overnight, miles traveled, and books read. • Journal 9a: August 21-September 9, 1950. (Folder 33-4) Journal covered a trip to England for InterVarsity and also contains the draft of an article and notes on InterVarsity organization. • Journal 10: March 19, 1956-October 22, 1960. (Folder 34-1) Includes lists of places he visited, books he read, and miles he traveled. Also loose in the book are letters, lists of talks he gave between 1956 and 1961, programs, tracts, ID cards, and greeting cards. It also has a copy of a very brief note from C. S. Lewis. • Journal 11. October 29-1960. (Folder 29-2) Covers a three-week period when Troutman was traveling from Australia, through Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, to the USA. The journal contains carbon copies of letters mostly written to his wife Lois. Pages 86-90 contain a list of issues for the senior staff council meeting. This list appears to continue on pages 94-95. Other subjects are: Weaknesses in E. Lansing Conference (page 96); Inter-Varsity Press Proposals (pages 97-98, begins on page 98 and continues on page 97); and suggestion re: C. Stacy Woods and the IVCF-USA (pages 100 and 99). There is a transcript of the journal made by Troutman’s son David. • Journal 12: November 17, 1960-February 2, 1961. (Folder 34-2) This notebook seems to consist of carbons of letters Troutman wrote to his family and InterVarsity associates. The letters to is family describe his daily activities much like his journals. The letters to his InterVarsity associates are concerned with the policies and purpose of the organization. • Journal 12a: 1961. (Folder 29-3) The journal begins with a list of eighty-two miscellaneous notes about the structure and operation of IVCF. The rest of the journal contains Troutman’s and other individuals suggestions for the efficient running of IVCF. There is a transcript of the journal made by Troutman’s son David. • Journal 13: 1955, January 31, 1965-October 6, 1967. (Folder 34-3) Contains drafts of letters and journal entries as well as notes about the work of IVCF. There are several loose pages from 1974-1977 labeled “Spanish diary.” • Journal 13a. July-September 1964. (Folder 34-4) Appears to be mainly notes on meetings that he had on various days, some of the notes being out of order. • Journal 14: 1962-1965, 1971-1979. (Folder 35-1) The journal portion covers November 13, 1977, to February 4, 1979. The book also contains many other writings by Troutman, including a brief chronology of Australian student mission work and his gathering together notes he had written on scraps of paper about different aspects of the dynamics of Christian organizations and other topics. • Journal 15: August 4, 1971-May 17, 1984. (Folder 35-2) Besides his journal there are many pages of his comments on the book of Acts and other general notes on theology and Christian life. Includes some loose pages from June-September 1982 and February 1983 with journal entries for that time period. Also, pictures, cards, and other memorabilia are taped into the book. According to a note in volume 16, the pages from 268 through 304 contain Troutman’s observations on the Kingdom of God. • Journal 16: May 18, 1984-August 21, 1985. (Folder 35-3) Includes further notes on the Kingdom of God on pages 144-152, apparently continued from the notes in volume 15. • Journal 17: August 28, 1985-February 18, 1987. (Folder 35-4) A few newspaper clippings pasted in the book. • Journal 18: February 19, 1987-April 3, 1989. (Folder 35-5) Some clippings and other material pasted in the book, as well as notes on various theological topics in the back of the book. • Journal 19: April 1989 to October 1990. (Folder 29-4) Journal ends a month before Troutman’s death. Entries for December 1 & 4, 1989, (pages 42-43) describe a some of the history of IVCF and the December 15, 1989 entry (pages 44-49) contains Troutman’s thoughts on homosexuality. • Unnumbered journal with red covers. 1980-1990. (Folder 31-3) Not a daily record of his events. There is a brief introductory note by Troutman. Lists of his Bible readings, surface travel, book readings, and overnight stays.

There are a few folders with documents dating from after Charles and Lois Troutman’s deaths. Folder 31-5 has the program from their 1991 memorial service. Folder 30-10 consists of correspondence David Troutman has with Walter Liefeld and Mel Donald about his parents’ life and ministry. Folder 3-11 contains a series of letters begun by Charles Troutman and then continued by his son David after his father’s death with Australian scholar Mark Hutchinson—Hutchinson was working on an article about Troutman’s work in Australia as head of the InterVarsity organization there. A copy of his final article is in the folder. Folder 30-2 contains certificates or letters of appreciation for Christian service given to Charles Troutman and to Lois Troutman over the years from Wheaton College, InterVarsity, and Latin America Mission, as well as Charles’ Teacher certificate from the Evangelical Teacher Training Association.

Folder 29-5 contains a report, A Trip Through Hopi Land, by Charles H. Troutman, Sr. The trip took place in 1920 with visits to missions stations in the Hopi and Navajo reservations.

Accruals and Additions

The materials in this collection were given to the Billy Graham Center Archives in March 1980, July 1981, September 1982, June 1983, and July 1988 by Charles Troutman Jr. Following Troutman's death in 1990, his son David , in compliance with his father's request, sent additional papers to the Archives in August 1991, June 1992, November 1993, and November 1993, and November 2015.

Accession: 80-40, 80-41, 80-42, 80-43

December 2, 1980

Robert Shuster

M. Hilton

A. Peterson

S. Kouns

Accession: 81-44

January 11, 1982

Robert Shuster

J. Lynch

J. Nasgowitz

August 6, 1991, revised

Paul Ericksen

L. Ferguson

Accession: 82-130, 83-63, 84-132, 85-22, 88-77, 88-78, 91-68, 92-59

August 19, 1992, revised

Robert Shuster

Accession: 93-121

November 18, 2004

Wayne D. Weber

November 24, 2021

Bob Shuster

Accession 15-35

Title
Collection 111 Papers of Charles H. Troutman, Jr.
Author
Bob Shuster
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Roman Script

Repository Details

Part of the Evangelism & Missions Archives Repository

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