Youth for Christ Records.
Scope and Contents
Minutes, constitution and by-laws, clippings, newsletters, manuals, pamphlets, directories, press releases, audio tapes, videotapes, photographs, posters, club yearbooks, correspondence, etc., about the founding, development and growth, and activities of Youth for Christ in the USA and internationally.
Collection documents organizational policies, correspondence of the organization's presidents, conventions and Bible quiz competitions, the operation of Campus Life clubs, Youth Guidance program for troubled teenagers, YFC programs in other countries, audio tapes of YFC's radio program REALITY and its Bible quizzes, and Billy Graham's involvement in YFC; photographs of YFC leaders and activities are numerous; information on YFCI's magazine, correpondence, and financial records are limited. Subjects covered include evangelism among and by young people in both the United States and throughout the world, leadership training for staff and youth, fund raising and public relations, and the discipleship of youth. Some of YFCI's key figures featured include Robert Cook, Torrey Johnson, Sam Wolgemuth, and Jay Kesler.
Dates
- Created: 1944-ongoing
- Other: Majority of material found in 1944-ongoing
Conditions Governing Access
Folder 32-2 is closed until December 31, 2048.
Conditions Governing Use
Youth For Christ/USA, retains the copyrights to any published works in the collection belonging to YFCI; to videotapes or the films the tapes were copied from; to Youth for Christ magazine, Campus Life magazine, and any other printed material dated after July 1, 1980.
Biographical or Historical Information
Evangelistic organization working among young people; founded in 1944 to centralize independently organized rallies around the country; Billy Graham was YFC's first full-time evangelist; emphasis shifted from Saturday night rallies to organized clubs, known in 1960s as Campus Life, including activities for recreation and spiritual growth; developed a program for troubled teenagers called Youth Guidance; Mid-Winter conventions were held in different American cities (1956- ) as a youth conference, adding a business portion after 1969; periodical YOUTH FOR CHRIST developed, later called CAMPUS LIFE; during World War II included focus on ministry to servicemen; developed REALITY, a radio program with contemporary music and evangelistic messages for youth, 1974; presidents included Torrey Johnson (1945-1948), Robert Cook (1948-1957), Ted Engstrom (1957-1963), Carl Bihl (1963-1965), Sam Wolgemuth (1965-1973), Jay Kesler (1973-1985), and Richard Wynn (1986-1989); headquarters based in Chicago (1944-1953), Wheaton (1953-1990) and Denver (1990- ); indigenous YFCs emerged throughout the world with YFCI's ehlp. YFC organizations also started in countries and these joined together in 1968 to form the International Council of YFC, also known as YFC International.
Extent
33.70 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement Note
Organized into 8 series: I. Early history. II. Administration. III. Conventions. IV. Bible Quiz Competitions. V. Campus Life. VI. Youth Guidance. VII. Overseas Divisions. VIII. Miscellaneous.
Other Descriptive Information
http://www2.wheaton.edu/bgc/archives/guides/048.htm
- Bible -- Congresses.
- Bible -- Memorizing.
- Bible -- Study and teaching.
- Bible games and puzzles.
- Bible.
- Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
- Christian education of teenagers -- United States.
- Christian education of teenagers.
- Christian leadership.
- Christian life.
- Church work with military personnel.
- Church work with students -- United States.
- Church work with students.
- Church work with youth -- Congresses.
- Church work with youth -- United States.
- Church work with youth.
- City missions.
- Contemporary Christian music -- United States.
- Contemporary Christian music.
- Conversion.
- Cook, Robert A., 1912-
- Evangelicalism.
- Evangelistic work -- Africa.
- Evangelistic work -- Argentina.
- Evangelistic work -- Asia, Southeastern.
- Evangelistic work -- Asia.
- Evangelistic work -- Australia.
- Evangelistic work -- Austria.
- Evangelistic work -- Bahamas.
- Evangelistic work -- Belguim.
- Evangelistic work -- Brazil.
- Evangelistic work -- Caribbean Area.
- Evangelistic work -- Central America.
- Evangelistic work -- Congresses
- Evangelistic work -- Congresses -- United States.
- Evangelistic work -- Ecuador.
- Evangelistic work -- Europe, Eastern.
- Evangelistic work -- Europe.
- Evangelistic work -- Finland.
- Evangelistic work -- Germany.
- Evangelistic work -- Ghana.
- Evangelistic work -- Great Britain.
- Evangelistic work -- Guatemala.
- Evangelistic work -- Hungary.
- Evangelistic work -- India.
- Evangelistic work -- Indonesia.
- Evangelistic work -- Italy.
- Evangelistic work -- Jamaica.
- Evangelistic work -- Japan.
- Evangelistic work -- Korea.
- Evangelistic work -- Lebanon.
- Evangelistic work -- Mexico.
- Evangelistic work -- Middle East.
- Evangelistic work -- Netherlands.
- Evangelistic work -- New Zealand.
- Evangelistic work -- Philosophy.
- Evangelistic work -- Poland.
- Evangelistic work -- Portugal.
- Evangelistic work -- South Africa.
- Evangelistic work -- South America.
- Evangelistic work -- Sweden.
- Evangelistic work -- Switzerland.
- Evangelistic work -- Taiwan.
- Evangelistic work -- United States.
- Evangelistic work -- Venezuela.
- Evangelistic work -- Yugoslavia.
- Evangelistic work.
- Fund raising.
- Graham, Billy, 1918-2018.
- Johnson, Torrey Maynard, 1909-
- Kesler, Jay.
- Mass media in religion -- United States.
- Mass media in religion.
- Missions -- Europe.
- Missions -- Finance.
- Missions -- Finland.
- Missions -- Great Britain.
- Missions -- Public relations.
- Missions.
- Music
- Music -- Christianity.
- Music -- United States.
- Organizational change -- United States.
- Organizational change.
- Personnel management.
- Radio in religion -- United States.
- Radio in religion.
- Reality (Radio Program)
- Religious institutions.
- Wolgemuth, Sam.
- Youth
- Youth -- Religious life.
- Youth -- Societies and clubs.
- Youth -- United States
- Youth -- United States -- Conversion to Christianity.
- Youth -- United States -- Religious life.
- Youth -- United States -- Societies and clubs.
- Youth for Christ/USA.
Subject
- Robert P. Evans, 1918-2011. (Person)
- Title
- Collection 048 Records of Youth for Christ
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Evangelism & Missions Archives Repository