Guide to the Rev. Dr. Lucius H. Garner Collection 1861-1983 Bulk dates: 1925-1945 MG 1680

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Descriptive Summary
Biographical Note
Scope and Content Note
Arrangement
Access Points
Related Material
Administrative Information

Series Descriptions and Container List

Series 1: Correspondence & Other Documents, 1926-1946.

Series 2: Subject files: Includes various organizations and topics, 1923-1939.

Series 3: Articles and Notes, 1947-1983.

Series 4: Publications, 1861-1940

Series 5: Financial Ledger, 1930-1933

Series 6: Photographs, ca. 1930s-1960s.

Series 7: Scrapbooks. ca. 1930s.

Guide to the Rev. Dr. Lucius H. Garner Collection
1861-1983
Bulk dates: 1925-1945
MG 1680
The New Jersey Historical Society
52 Park Place
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Contact: NJHS Library
Phone: (973) 596-8500 x249
Email: library@jerseyhistory.org
URL: https://www.jerseyhistory.org
© 2007 All rights reserved.
The New Jersey Historical Society, Publisher
Inventory prepared by Julia Telonidis.

Finding aid encoded by Julia Telonidis. August 2007. Production of the EAD 2002 version of this finding aid was made possible by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Finding aid written in English.

Descriptive Summary
Creator: Garner, Lucius Hamilton, 1899-1979.
Title: Rev. Dr. Lucius H. Garner Collection
Dates 1861-1983
Abstract: Consists of the papers of Rev. Lucius H. Garner, a Newark, NJ based Universalist minister and social activist.
Quantity: 5 linear feet (13 boxes + 1 ledger sized box)
Collection Number: MG 1680

Biographical Note

Lucius Hamilton Garner was born in Waverly, Alabama on November 23, 1899. He married Geneva Van Bergen on June 18, 1925 and
had three children, Fradley H., born June 20, 1926, Peter Osburn, born September 16, 1931, and David Russon, born September
23, 1932. He attended St. Lawrence Univerity in Canton, NY, graduating with a B.A. in 1925. He originally worked as an educator
and went on to pursue theological studies.

He did graduate work at the St Lawrence Theological Seminary, graduating in 1927 with a B.D. From 1925-1928 he served as
minister at First Universalist Church on Potsdam, NY. He later worked at the Church of the Redeemer in Newark, NJ, serving
as Associate Minister from 1928-1929 and as Minister from 1929-1937. During his tenure at that church, he proved to be a
controversial figure. Known for promoting liberal causes, he resigned from his position in 1937, after facing charges of radicalism.
From 1928-1938 he was the director of the Community Forum in Newark, NJ. From 1937-1941 he was the Director for the Newark
Labor Relations Board. Begining in 1942, he was the Assistant Director for the National Labor Relations Board, in New York
City.

Lucius Garner was very active in social welfare, educational, and liberal organizations. At various times, he served as President
of the Board of Trustees of institutions such as of Newark Public Library, the New Jersey Urban League, the New Jersey Council
on Adult Education, The New Jersey Council of International Relations, and the Newark Interracial Council. He was a member
of the board of other various Newark and New Jersey institutions. He compiled an extensive library on the field of labor
relations and was an important local resource for this information. He often served as a mediator in local labor disputes.
He died in May 1979 at the age of 79.

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Scope and Content Note

This collection consists of personal and professional correspondence, notes, articles, photographs and
other published items collected by Rev. Dr. Lucius H. Garner mostly from the 1920s through the 1940s. There are many letters
to his wife Geneva Van Bergen Garner. There are various Universalist church financial reports and ledgers. There are many
items that reflect Rev. Garner’s social activism including items that reflect the race relations climate of the period. There
is a speakers/ lecturers file that contains brochures and advertisements for prominent speakers of the era. There are publications
by many prominent New Jersey and Newark institutions and organizations including the Federal Music Project of New Jersey
and the New Jersey Urban League. There are church publications, anti-Nazi publications, and various publications with a labor
rights agenda. Also included are photographs of Rev. Garner and his family and scrapbooks that contain clippings mostly pertaining
to the Universalist Church of the Redeemer in Newark.

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Arrangement

The papers are organized into four series, according to the type of house represented:

Series 1: Correspondence & Other Documents, 1926-1946.

Series 2: Subject Files: Includes Various Organizations and Topics, 1923-1939.

Series 3: Articles and Notes, 1947-1983.

Series 4: Publications, 1861-1940.

Series 5: Financial Ledgers, 1930-1933.

Series 6: Photographs, ca. 1930s-1960s.

Series 7: Scrapbooks, ca. 1930s.

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Access Points
The entries below represent persons, organizations, topics, forms, and occupations documented in this collection.
Subject Names:
Garner, David Russon, 1932-.
Garner, Fradley H., 1926-.
Garner, Geneva Van Bergen.
Garner, Lucius Hamilton, 1899-1979.
Garner, Peter Osburn, 1931-.
Subject Organizations:
American Assocation for Adult Education.
Federal Music Project (N.J.).
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
National Urban League.
Rutgers–Newark.
Union Universalist Church (Newark, N.J.)
Subject Topics:
Anti-Nazi movement–New Jersey–Newark.
Church finance–New Jersey–Newark.
Churches–New Jersey–Newark.
Civil rights.
Clergy–New Jersey–Newark.
Industrial relations–New Jersey–Newark.
Lecturers–New Jersey–Newark.
Liberalism.
Peace movements–New Jersey.
Race relations.
Radicalism–New Jersey–Newark.
Sermons–New Jersey–Newark.
Subject Places:
New York (N.Y.)
Newark (N.J.)
Potsdam (N.Y.)
Document Types:
Brochures.
Letters (Correspondence).
Notes.
Pamphlets.
Photographs.
Scrapbooks.
Subject Occupations
Clergy.

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Related Material

For other materials related to architects and architectural drawings, see:


Manuscript Group 255, Henry Clay Fish (fl. 1841-1873), Baptist minister diary.

                Manuscript Group 271, Clinton Avenue Baptist Church, Newark, NJ minute books.

                Manuscript Group 772, Second Avenue Congregational Church, Newark, NJ records.

                Manuscript Group 889, Universalist Churches, Newark, NJ record books.

Manuscript Group 1673, Derek Winans Papers.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

This collection should be cited as: Manuscript Group 1680, Rev. Dr. Lucius H. Garner Collection, The New Jersey Historical
Society.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Warren Grover, 2007.

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Series Descriptions and Container List

Series 1: Correspondence & Other Documents, 1926-1946.

Box Folder Title Date
1 1 Correspondence: Professional 1926-1928
1 2 Correspondence 1929 Jan.-May
1 3 Correspondence: Professional. 1929 Sept.-Nov.
1 4 Correspondence: Professional. 1930-1931
1 5 Correspondence: Professional. 1932-1934
1 6 Correspondence: Professional. 1935 Mar.-May
1 7 Correspondence: Professional. 1935 June-1936 Dec.
1 8 Correspondence: Professional. 1937 Jan.-Mar.
1 9 Correspondence: Professional. 1937 Mar.
1 10 Correspondence: Professional. 1937 Apr.
1 11 Correspondence: Professional. 1937 Apr.
1 12 Correspondence: Professional. 1937 May
1 13 Correspondence: Professional. 1937 June-1946 May
1 14 Correspondence: Subscriptions. 1929 Mar.-Apr.
1 15 Correspondence: Subscriptions. 1929 May-1935 May
Box Folder Title Date
2 1 Correspondence: Letters to Geneva Van Bergen Garner 1927-1930
2 2 Correspondence: Letters to Geneva Van Bergen Garner 1931
2 3 Correspondence: Letters to Geneva Van Bergen Garner 1935-1936
2 4 Correspondence: Letters to Geneva Van Bergen Garner 1937-1943
2 5 Correspondence: Letters to Geneva Van Bergen Garner 1937-1943
2 6 Correspondence: Letters from Geneva Van Bergen Garner to Lucius Garner 1942 Aug.
2 7 Correspondence: Letters to Geneva Van Bergen Garner and Lucius Garner 1937-1981
2 8 Correspondence: Letters to and from Mary Clyde Garner (Lucius’s sister), including family genealogical information 1937-1943
2 9 Correspondence: Letters from Robert Alfred Garner (Lucius’s brother) 1943-1944
2 10 Correspondence: Letters from Major Henry A. Davidson 1942-1944
2 11 Correspondence: Letters from Mary Johnston to Mrs. Garner 1950
2 12 Correspondence: Letters from Ruth A. Major 1937-1961
2 13 Correspondence: Postards 1960-1961
2 14 Lucius H. Garner’s small diary 1941
2 15 Documents: Geneva Van Bergen Garner 1920-1924
2 16 Legal document: Account of the Proceedings of J. Frederick Fradley 1935
2 17 Lucius H. Garner: Biographical file 1942-1980
2 18 Writings and Documents (inlcuding a sermon and a thesis): Lucius H. Garner ca. 1930s-1946
2 19 Newspaper clippings: Lucius H. Garner 1936-1940
2 20 Newspaper clippings: Canton and Potsdam, NY 1927
2 21 Newspaper clippings: church issues ca. 1920s-1936
2 22 Newspaper clippings: general subjects 1933-1936
2 23 Publications: The Laurentian & the First annual Report Newark Labor Relations Board 1933-1936
Box Folder Title Date
3 1 Correspondence: from David Russon Garner 1943-1952
3 2 Correspondence: from David Russon Garner 1952-1961
3 3 Correspondence, clippings, Newark Academy diploma : David Russon Garner 1950-1967
3 4 Correspondence from Fradley H. Garner 1939-1944
3 5 Correspondence from Fradley H. Garner 1945 Apr.-June
3 6 Correspondence from Fradley H. Garner 1945 July-Oct.
3 7 Correspondence from Fradley H. Garner 1946-1948
3 8 Correspondence from Fradley H. Garner 1950-1958
3 9 Postcards from Fradley H. Garner 1959-1961
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3 10 Correspondence from Fradley H. Garner 1960 July-Oct.
3 11 Correspondence from Fradley H. Garner 1960 Nov.-Dec.
3 12 Correspondence from Fradley H. Garner 1961 Feb.- June
3 13 Correspondence from Fradley H. Garner 1961 July-Nov.
3 14 Writings and clippings from Fradley H. Garner 1939-ca. 1950s
Box Folder Title Date
4 1 Letters from Dr. Peter Garner 1942-1950
4 2 Letters from Dr. Peter Garner 1951
4 3 Letters from Dr. Peter Garner and Sally Garner 1952
4 4 Letters from Dr. Peter Garner 1953
4 5 Letters from Dr. Peter Garner and Family 1954 Jan.-June
4 6 Letters from Dr. Peter Garner and Family 1954 July-Dec.
4 7 Letters from Dr. Peter Garner and Family 1955
4 8 Letters from Dr. Peter Garner and Family 1956
4 9 Letters from Dr. Peter Garner and Family 1957 Jan.-June
4 10 Letters from Dr. Peter Garner and Family 1957 July-Sept.
4 11 Letters from Dr. Peter Garner and Family 1958
4 12 Letters from Dr. Peter Garner and Family 1960-1975

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Series 2: Subject files: Includes various organizations and topics, 1923-1939.
Box Folder Title Date
5 1 American Assocation for Adult Education 1936
5 2 Adult Education addresses 1935-1936
5 3 Adult Education Annual Reports 1936
5 4 Adult Education Conference, NJ 1937
5 5 Adult Education Conference, NJ (folder 2) 1937
5 6 Adult Education Conferences and Meetings 1936-1937
5 6 Adult Education Conferences and Meetings 1936-1937
5 7 Adult Education Correspondence S. Arthur Stern 1936-1937
5 8 Adult Education Council of Chicago 1924-1931
5 9 Adult Education Publications 1935-1936
5 10 Adult Education School Catalogs (Folder 1) 1934-1937
5 11 Adult Education School Catalogs (Folder 2) 1937-1938
5 12 Adult Education Themes and Topics 1932-1938
Box Folder Title Date
6 1 Church Finances: Appeals Literature 1925-1930
6 2 Church Finances: Career and Ministry 1925-1928
6 3 Church Finances: Collector’s Reports 1929-1932
6 4 Church Finances: Examples 1929-1930
6 5 Church Finances: Publications 1926-1934
6 6 Church Finances: Treasurer’s Reports 1929-1932
6 7 Church Finances: Church of the Redeemer 1926-1933
6 8 Church Work: Career and Ministry 1925-1929
6 9 Church Work: Career and Ministry 1930-1935
6 10 Church Work: Career and Ministry 1936-1937
6 11 General File: Miscellaneous, includes Austro-Hungarian currency, brochures, League of Nations meeting invitation ca. 1928-1930
6 12 College Youth 1923-1929
6 13 Community Church of New York 1925-1932
6 14 Community Forum 1932-1937
6 15 Consumers League of New Jersey 1937
6 16 Dana College Correspondence and Minutes (Dana College became Rutgers Newark) 1934 Apr.-May
6 17 Dana College Reports (Dana College became Rutgers Newark) 1934 Apr.
6 18 Dana College Reports (Dana College became Rutgers Newark) 1934 Apr.
6 19 Dana College Reports (Dana College became Rutgers Newark) 1934 May
Box Folder Title Date
7 1 Federal Council of the Church of Christ in America 1924-1936
7 2 Federal Music Project of New Jersey 1937 Apr.-June
7 3 Fellowhip of Reconcilliation 1927-1932
7 4 Foreign Policy Association 1926-1937
7 5 Interprofessional Association for Social Insurance 1934-1936
7 6 Julian Huxley Lecture Courses 1932
7 7 Negroes: Federal Council of Churches 1928-1934
7 8 Negroes: Lynching Issue 1924-1934
7 9 Negroes: NAACP 1926-1932
7 10 Negroes: National Urban League 1928-1931
7 11 Negroes: New Jersey Survey 1932
7 12 Negroes: New Jersey Survey 1932
7 13 Negroes: New Jersey Urban League 1927-1937
7 14 Negroes: Newspaper Clippings 1927-1937
7 15 Negroes: Publications 1927-1931
7 16 Negroes: Race Relations 1928-1933
7 17 Anti-Nazi publications 1934-1937
7 18 Anti-Nazi publications 1937
Box Folder Title Date
8 1 Peace movement: Government Documents 1923-1934
8 2 Peace movement: Literature 1923-1934
8 3 Peace movement: Literature 1930-1937
8 4 Peace movement: Publications ca. 1920s
8 5 Peace movement: Publications 1924-1925
8 6 Peace movement: Publications 1926-1927
8 7 Peace movement: Publications 1928-1937
8 8 Resignation of L. Hamilton Garner 1933-1936
8 9 Resignation of L. Hamilton Garner 1937-1941
8 10 Resignation of L. Hamilton Garner 1935-1937
8 11 Resignation of L. Hamilton Garner 1935-1937
8 12 Social Welfare: Chapin Home 1929-1930
8 13 Social Welfare 1930-1936
8 14 Spanish Civil War 1936-1937
8 15 Speakers/Lecturers File (includes brochures, flyers for speaking engagments) 1928-1929
8 16 Speakers/Lecturers File (includes brochures, flyers for speaking engagments) ca. 1930s
8 17 Speakers/Lecturers File (includes brochures, flyers for speaking engagments) ca. 1930s
8 18 Speakers/Lecturers File (includes brochures, flyers for speaking engagments by prominent lecturers) ca. 1930s
Box Folder Title Date
9 1 Speakers/Lecturers File (includes brochures, flyers for speaking engagments by prominent lecturers) ca. 1930s
9 2 Speakers/Lecturers File (includes brochures, flyers for speaking engagments) (includes Margaret Sanger, Clarence Darrow) 1931-1932
9 3 Speakers/Lecturers File (includes brochures, flyers for speaking engagments by prominent lecturers) 1932-1933
9 4 Speakers/Lecturers File (includes brochures, flyers for speaking engagments by prominent lecturers) 1933-1934
9 5 Speakers/Lecturers File (includes brochures, flyers for speaking engagments by prominent lecturers) 1934
9 6 Speakers/Lecturers File (includes brochures, flyers for speaking engagments by prominent lecturers) 1935-1937
9 7 Speakers/Lecturers File (includes brochures, flyers for speaking engagments by prominent lecturers) 1938-1939
9 8 New Jersey Urban League materials 1934-1937

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Series 3: Articles and Notes, 1947-1983.
Box Folder Title Date
10 1 Medical Related Articles Printed 1965-1966
10 2 Medical Related Articles Published 1966
10 3 Medical Related Articles 1966
10 4 Lucius–Idea Stuff 1947-1966
10 5 Lucius–Idea Stuff 1947-1966
10 6 Poems and Quotes 1947-1966
10 7 Poems and Quotes n.d.
10 8 Tax Related Documents n.d.
10 9 Travel 1965-1966
10 10 Articles/Notes 1977-1983
10 11 Articles “Why some people don’t marry” 1959

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Series 4: Publications, 1861-1940
Box Folder Title Date
11 1 Christian Century 1925-1937
11 2 Christian Century 1930-1937
11 2 Christian Century 1930-1937
11 3 Community Church News 1926-1932
11 4 First Flight 1940 Spring
11 5 Forestry Publications 1929 Spring
11 6 Newark Universalist 1929 Apr.-Dec.
11 7 Newark Universalist 1930 Jan.-1931 Mar.
11 7 Newark Universalist 1930 Jan.-1931 Mar.
11 8 Newark Universalist 1934 Oct.-1935 Apr.
11 9 Newark Universalist church calendars 1934 Oct.-1936 Jan.
11 10 New Student 1925 Jan.-Feb.
11 11 New Student 1925 Mar.-Apr.
11 12 New Student 1925 May
11 13 New Student 1924 Oct.-Nov.
11 14 Radical Publications 1929-1937
11 15 Radical Publications 1928-1936
11 16 Unitarian Publications 1922-1937
11 17 Unitarian Yearbook 1936
11 18 World Tomorrow 1931-1932
Box Folder Title Date
12 1 Book: American Aesop : Humor of the Negro, the Jew, the Irishman and Others 1926
12 2 Book: American Aesop : Humor of the Negro, the Jew, the Irishman and Others 1926
12 2 Booklets: John G. Neidhardt; Edwin Arlington Robinson; Sara Teasdale; John Masefield; Marguerite Wilkinson 1930-1938
12 3 Booklet: College Crackers 1923
12 4 Book: Francais Pratique by Paul Bercy 1892
12 5 Book: Growth of the Idea of God by Dean Shailer Matthews 1931
12 6 Book: Japan on the Upward Trail 1923
12 7 Booklet: Peace! Peace! 1861
12 8 Booklet: Ramsay MacDonald on India 1930
12 9 Booklet: The Turn Toward Peace by Florence Brewer Boeckel 1930

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Series 5: Financial Ledger, 1930-1933
Box Folder Title Date
13 1 Financial Ledger (includes inserts) 1930-1933

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Series 6: Photographs, ca. 1930s-1960s.
Box Folder Title Date
13 2 Garner portraiture photographs (folder 1) ca. 1930s
13 3 Garner portraiture photographs (folder 2) ca. 1930s
13 4 Garner portraiture photographs (folder 3) ca. 1930s
13 5 Garner portraiture photographs (folder 4) ca. 1930s
13 5 Garner portraiture photographs (folder 4) ca. 1930s
13 6 Garner family and professional photographs ca. 1930s-1960s
13 7 Garner family photographs ca. 1930s-1960s
13 7 Garner friends photographs (children of the Major family and photo taken at U.S. Army Medical Center, Australia) 1937-1942
13 8 Speakers ca. 1930s

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Series 7: Scrapbooks. ca. 1930s.
Box Folder Title Date
14 (Ledger sized) 1 Scrapbooks (2), mostly pertining to the Universalist Church of the Redeemer activities and services ca. 1930s

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