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Collection Overview
Title: Chester R. Young Papers
Predominant Dates:1931-1998
Primary Creator: Young, Chester Raymond -- 1920-1999
Extent: 74.0 MS boxes
Arrangement:
The collection has been arranged in the following series and subseries:
Series 1: Correspondence
Series 2: Personal documents and records
Subseries 1: Boy Scouts
Subseries 2: Family History
Subseries 3: General
Series 3: Personal education
Subseries 1: High School and undergraduate
Subseries 2: Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Subseries 3: University of Hawaii
Subseries 4: Vanderbilt University
Series 4: Mission work
Subseries 1: Foreign Mission Board
Subseries 2: Community mission work
Subseries 3: Hawaii religions
Subseries 4: Kentucky Baptist Convention
Series 5: Cumberland College
Subseries 1: General
Subseries 2: Phi Alpha Theta, Upsilon Upsilon chapter
Subseries 3: Kentucky History class
Series 6: Manuscripts
Subseries 1: Research and notes
Subseries 1-Sub-subseries 1: Dictionary of Oceania
Subseries 1-Sub-subseries 2: Westward into Kentucky
Subseries 1-Sub-subseries 3: To Win the Prize
Subseries 1-Sub-subseries 4: Baptists on the American Frontier
Subseries 1-Sub-subseries 5: “The Effects of the French and Indian War on Civilian Life in the Frontier Counties of Virginia, 1754-1763”
Subseries 1-Sub-subseries 6: Cumberland College History
Subseries 1-Sub-subseries 7: Baptist History
Subseries 1-Sub-subseries 8: American history
Subseries 1-Sub-subseries 9: Kentucky history
Subseries 1-Sub-subseries 10: Miscellaneous research
Subseries 2: Publishing contracts and correspondence
Subseries 3: Marketing and public relations
Subseries 4: Manuscripts and typescripts
Subseries 5: Note cards
Series 7: Photographic materials
Series 8: Audio tapes
Series 9: Microfilm and slides
Date Acquired: 07/00/1996
Subjects: Adair County (Ky.) -- History., American University (Washington, D.C.), Baptists -- History., Berea College, Cumberland College (Williamsburg, Ky.)., Hawaii -- History., Hawaii -- Religion., Jones, Loyal -- 1928-, Lindsey Wilson College., Missionaries -- Hawaii., Southern Baptist Convention., Southern Baptist Convention. Foreign Mission Board., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary., Taylor, John -- 1752-1835, Trabue, Daniel -- 1760-1840, University of Hawaii at Manoa., Vanderbilt University., Young, Chester Raymond -- 1920-1999
Abstract
Chester Young was born July 2, 1920 in rural Adair County, Kentucky to parents Joseph and Sarah Young and moved to Columbia, Kentucky at the age of three. During his childhood, Young was a member of Columbia Baptist Church, the Royal Ambassadors and the Boys Scouts, later becoming a Scoutmaster and a Star Scout.
Young graduated from Columbia High School in 1938, then graduated from Lindsey Wilson College in 1940, received his B.A. from Berea College in 1943 and attended briefly attended American University in Washington, D.C., studying archival practices. He received a Masters of Divinity from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1949 and his Masters of Theology in 1959, a Masters in History from the University of Hawaii in 1964 and his Ph.D. in History from Vanderbilt University in 1969.
Young served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Washington, D.C. and in Hawaii from 1942-1946 and joined the Southern Baptist Convention Foreign Mission Board as a missionary to Hawaii in 1949 where he lived with his wife Florence and three children, Charlotte (Cookie), Virginia and Chester Jr., until moving back to the mainland in 1964. While in Hawaii, he edited the Hawaii Baptist from 1949-1952, served as President of the Hawaii Baptist Convention from 1952-1954, and pastored Kalihi Baptist Church from 1950-1964.
After living in Nashville and Jellico, Tennessee, Young moved to Williamsburg, Kentucky to teach history at Cumberland College, a Baptist college. He started the Upsilon Upsilon chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, a history honors society, and served as advisor of the organization from 1974-1985. The chapter received the Best Chapter in the Nation award for 18 out of 19 years. He retired from teaching in 1985.
Young was the author of three books: Westward Into Kentucky: The Narrative of Daniel Trabue, published by the University Press of Kentucky in 1981; To Win the Prize, a history of the First Baptist Church of Williamsburg, Ky. published in 1983; and Baptists on the American Frontier, the edited work of John Taylor, published by Mercer University Press in 1995. He also wrote historical and religious articles for various publications, including entries for the Encyclopedia of Southern Religions. He was awarded the Certificate of Commendation from the American Association for State and Local History in 1982 for Westward into Kentucky, and the DAR National History Award by the Office of the Historical General, Washington, D.C. in 1996 in recognition of his scholarship and commitment to American history.
Chester R. Young died in 1999.
Scope and Contents of the Materials
The collection includes material related to the education, work, research, writing, and personal life of Chester R. Young. These materials include correspondence, clippings, photographs, manuscripts, research notes, publications and documents. They cover a wide range of subject matter, including mission work, some Hawaiian archives and history, Kentucky and Virginia history, religious topics, and education. Portions of Young’s Hawaiian material were transferred to the Hawaiian Collection at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Library in 2011.
Biographical Note
Chester Raymond Young (1920-1999) was born in Adair County, Ky.; graduate of Berea College; graduate degrees from both Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and University of Hawaii; Ph.D. in history from Vanderbilt University.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
Berea College Special Collections and Archives Catalog
Access Restrictions:
Records can be accessed through the Reading Room, Berea College Special Collections and Archives, Hutchins Library, Berea College.
Use Restrictions:
Certain records within the collection are restricted (as noted on the Box List). Federal copyright regulations apply to all materials.
Acquisition Source:
Chester R. Young
Acquisition Method:
The Chester R. Young Papers were donated by Chester R. Young and accessioned into the Berea College Special Collections & Archives for disposition in the Southern Appalachian Archives in July 1996.
Preferred Citation:
[Object identification], Chester R. Young Papers, Berea College Special Collections & Archives, Berea, KY.
Processing Information:
The collection opened for research in August 2008 following arrangement and description by Janice Childers, graduate intern from the University of Kentucky. Additional arrangement and integration of found materials was conducted between 2009 and 2011. The finding aid was updated in January 2016.
Other Note:
BCA 0111 SAA 111
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Correspondence],
[
Series 2: Personal documents and records],
[
Series 3: Personal education],
[Series 4: Mission Work],
[
Series 5: Cumberland College],
[
Series 6: Manuscripts],
[
Series 7: Photographic Materials],
[
Series 8: Audio tapes],
[
Series 9: Microfilm and Slides],
[
All]
- Series 4: Mission Work
- This series relates primarily to Young’s work for the Southern Baptist Convention’s Foreign Mission Board in Hawaii and also includes some Kentucky materials connected to mission work. Materials date from 1940-1993 and include records from the FMB; documents concerning conventions, information about the church Young pastored, other missionaries, other religions prevalent in Hawaii and research into religious topics. The series has been divided into four subseries arranged by topic: Foreign Mission Board, Community mission work, Hawaii religions, and Kentucky Baptist Convention.
- Sub-Series 1: Foreign Mission Board
- Materials in this subseries date from 1944-1964, during most of which Young was serving as a missionary in Hawaii. They include photographs and documents relating to Kalihi and Olivet Baptist churches, furlough papers and correspondence. Arranged by topic.
- Box 14
- Folder 1: Furlough documents, 1952-1959
- Folder 2: Furlough documents, 1964-1965
- Folder 3: "Off salary", 1965-1967
- Folder 4: Kalihi Church, 1959-1963
- Folder 5: Kalihi Church continued, 1959-1963
- Folder 6: Kalihi Church continued, 1959-1963
- Folder 7: Olivet Baptist Church, 1944-1966
- Folder 8: Olivet Baptist Church continued, 1944-1966
- Folder 9: Olivet Baptist Church continued, 1944-1966
- Folder 10: "First term", 1949-1952
- Folder 11: "Second term", 1953-1956
- Folder 12: "Second term", 1953-1956
- Folder 13: "Third term", 1956-1959
- Folder 14: "Fourth term", 1959-1964
- Folder 15: "Fourth term", 1959-1964
- Sub-Series 2: Community mission work
- In addition to his official FMB work in Hawaii, Young was involved in broader community efforts. Materials in this subseries date from 1940-1984 and reflect his work with Royal Ambassadors, Kalihi Paloma community council, prison outreach, work with the Baptist community in Hawaii and conventions, including events after the Youngs’ returned from Hawaii. Arranged by topic.
- Box 15
- Folder 1: Oahu Royal Ambassadors, 1944
- Folder 2: Oahu Royal Ambassadors, 1950, 1959
- Folder 3: Oahu Prison, Chaplain's Orientation/Oahu Baptist Pastors Conference, 24 September 1957; 1961
- Folder 4: Kalihi Paloma Community Council, 1961-1963
- Folder 5: Baptist community in Hawaii, 1940-1952
- Folder 6: Baptist community in Hawaii, 1945-1963
- Folder 7: Baptist community in Hawaii, 1952-1958
- Folder 8: Baptist community in Hawaii, 1952-1966
- Folder 9: Baptist community in Hawaii, 1952-1984
- Folder 10: Baptist community in Hawaii continued, 1952-1984
- Folder 11: Baptist community in Hawaii continued, 1952-1984
- Folder 12: Hawaii Baptist Convention, presidency, 1952-1954
- Folder 13: Hawaii Baptist Convention, presidency continued, 1952-1954
- Folder 14: Hawaiian Mission, Finance and Property Committee, 1951-1952
- Folder 15: Hawaii Convention and Hawaiian Mission Association, 1940-1962
- Sub-Series 3: Hawaii religions
- Young collected information about other practicing religions in Hawaii from newspaper clippings, newsletters, correspondence and research. The materials in this subseries reflect that study and date from 1945-1968. Included are runs of Buddhist newsletters, clippings, note, publications and programs. Arranged alphabetically by religion.
- Box 16
- Folder 1: Apostolic Faith, Baha'i, Bible Tabernacle, 1955, 1963
- Folder 2: Buddhism, general, circa 1951-1963
- Folder 3: (1) Buddhist children's illustrations book, undated
- Folder 4: (3) Buddhist children's illustrations books, undated
- Folder 5: Buddhism, Chinese and Jodo, circa 1954-1962
- Folder 6: Jodo Buddhism, Hawaii Buddhism newsletter, September 1952 -December 1955
- Folder 7: Jodo Buddhism, Hawaii Buddhism newsletter, January 1956 -December 1957
- Folder 8: Jodo Buddhism, Hawaii Buddhism newsletter, January 1958 -December 1959
- Folder 9: Jodo Buddhism, Hawaii Buddhism newsletter, January 1960 -December 1961
- Folder 10: Jodo Buddhism, Hawaii Buddhism newsletter, January 1962 -December 1964
- Folder 11: Jodo Buddhism, Hawaii Buddhism newsletter, January - June 1964
- Folder 12: Jodo Shin Buddhism, circa 1956-1963
- Folder 13: Jodo Shin Buddhism, circa 1954-1960
- Box 17
- Folder 1: Jodo Shin Buddhism, circa 1952-1964
- Folder 2: Jodo Shin Buddhism, children's materials, circa 1945 - 1954
- Folder 3: Jodo Shin Buddhism, Hongwanji Newsletter, September 1952, February 1953, July 1954 - December 1955
- Folder 4: Jodo Shin Buddhism, Hongwanji Newsletter, January 1956 - December 1957
- Folder 5: Jodo Shin Buddhism, Hongwanji Newsletter, January 1958 - December 1959
- Folder 6: Jodo Shin Buddhism, Hongwanji Newsletter, January - October 1960, July - October
- Folder 7: Jodo Shin Buddhism, Hongwanji Newsletter, January 1963 - December 1964
- Folder 8: Jodo Shin Buddhism, Hongwanji Newsletter, January 1965 - December 1966
- Folder 9: Jodo Shin Buddhism, Hongwanji Newsletter, January 1967 - March 1968
- Folder 10: Buddhism: Nichiren, Shingon, Soto, circa 1954 - 1962
- Folder 11: Chinese Native, Christian Science, 1955-1960
- Folder 12: Church and state in Hawaii, general, 1950-1960
- Folder 13: Church of Christ, Church of God in Christ, Confucianism, 1956-1962
- Folder 14: Congregationalists, circa 1962-1964
- Folder 15: Door of Faith, Episcopalian, Gospel of Salvation, circa 1956-1958
- Box 18
- Folder 1: General religion, 1947-1963
- Folder 2: Hawaiian Polytheism, 1953-1960
- Folder 3: Hinduism, Jehovah's Witness, Judaism, 1955-1956
- Folder 4: Ka Hale Hoana Hou O Ke Akua, Ka Makua Mau Loa Ekalesia, Lutheran, Meshi-Ya-Kyo, Methodist, Missionary, Mormonism, 1953-1989
- Folder 5: General religion, Roman Catholic, Sicho-No-Ie, Seventh Day Adventists, 1953-1962
- Folder 6: Shinto, 1954-1968
- Folder 7: Soka Gakkai, Shinto Tenrikyo, 1955-1960
- Folder 8: Shinto Tenrikyo, 1953-1956
- Folder 9: Tenrikyo newsletter, July 1956-March 1958
- Folder 10: Tenrikyo newsletter, April 1958-April 1959
- Folder 11: Tenrikyo newsletter, May 1959-April 1961
- Folder 12: Taoism, Tensho-Kotai-Jingu-Kyo, Unitarianism, 1952-1963
- Sub-Series 4: Kentucky Baptist Convention
- Dating from 1989-1994, these materials are all related to Young’s work on the Historical Commission of the KBC and include correspondence, minutes, documents a notes. Arranged chronologically.
- Box 18
- Folder 13: Historical Commission, 1989-1991
- Folder 14: Historical Commission, 1991-1992
- Folder 15: Historical Commission, 1993-1994
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Correspondence],
[
Series 2: Personal documents and records],
[
Series 3: Personal education],
[Series 4: Mission Work],
[
Series 5: Cumberland College],
[
Series 6: Manuscripts],
[
Series 7: Photographic Materials],
[
Series 8: Audio tapes],
[
Series 9: Microfilm and Slides],
[
All]
