PITTS THEOLOGY LIBRARY
ARCHIVES AND MANUSCRIPTS DEPT.

HARMON, NOLAN B. (NOLAN BAILEY), 1892-1993.
Papers, 1920-1990.

MANUSCRIPT NUMBER 134

EXTENT: 4.2 cubic ft. (12 letter-size archive boxes and 1 oversize box)

ACCESS: Unrestricted

REPRODUCTION: All requests subject to limitations noted in departmental policies on reproduction.

CITATION: Nolan B. Harmon Papers, MSS 134, Archives and Manuscripts Dept., Pitts Theology Library, Emory University.

Biographical Note

The Bishop Nolan Harmon was born in Meridian, Mississippi on July 14, 1892. He was the son, grandson, and great grandson of Methodist Ministers. Harmon attended Milsaps College in Mississippi and was a member of the first class of the Candler School of Theology in 1914. He then received his Master of arts at Princeton University in 1920. Harmon received honorary degrees from Milsaps college, Hamline University, Western Maryland, Mt. Union and Wofford Colleges. He also received an honorary doctor of divinity from Emory University in 1958.

In 1940 Harmon was elected book editor of the re-united Methodist Churches, editing documents of the Abdington Press, and the journal Religion in Life. He was also general editor of the twelve volume Interpreters Bible. In his retirement, he edited the Encyclopedia of World Methodism. Bishop Harmon was elected to the Episcopacy in 1956.From 1956 to 1964, Harmon was bishop of churches in many of the states in the Southeast. Between 1960 and 1964, Harmon was a member of Methodist committees that revised Methodist Hymn books. He retired from the ministry in 1964.

Bishop Harmon wrote many books including Ministerial Ethics and Etiquette, Ninety Years and Counting his autobiography, and The Famous Case of Myra Clark Gaines. Bishop Harmon made civil rights history in April of 1963 when he along with eight other ministers released a statement calling on African-Americans to stop taking part in demonstrations initiated by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The statement called the Atlanta born King's actions "unwise and untimely" and stated that only "slow, slow, slow" change should bring about equal rights. It was this statement that inflamed Dr. King and caused him to write the famous "Letter From the Birmingham Jail". Bishop Harmon in his 1983 biography referred to the letter as a "propaganda move".

After his retirement, Bishop Harmon joined the Emory University faculty as a visiting professor and continued there into his 96th year. He died in June 1993.

Scope and Content Note

The first series of this collection is composed of biographical material concerning Bishop Harmon.

The second series, and by far the largest series, is composed of Literary Works by Bishop Harmon. This series is comprised of three sub-series: Sermons: this material is maintained in its original order and can be accessed by using the "Index to Sermons" prepared by the Bishop himself. The sermons cover the years 1933 through 1968; Addresses: which is divided into dated and undated addresses; articles : which is likewise divided into dated and undated materials; a small file which Bishop Harmon had entitled lectures; some book reveiws; four poems by the bishop; and a collection of manuscripts.

Series Three is composed of material dealing with the Methodist Church and contains reports, material on race relations from the early 1960's, and committee files.

Series Four contains teaching material used by Bishop Harmon and is comprised almost entirely of copies of exams for the various courses he taught at Candler School of Theology.

Series Five contains correspondence relating to professional issues and controversies which concerned Harmon. Especially interesting is the material related to Harmon’s disapproval of Martin Luther King’s use of civil disobedience and rejection of the Board of Social Concern’s position’s support of King.

Series Six contains assorted “scrapbook” material originally arranged by Harmon. This material contains clippings, photographic prints, and pamphlets.

Series Seven contains ephemera including General conference medals and commemorative coins, a Communion set for Methodist Chaplains from around 1918, and assorted commemorative gavels.

CONTAINER LISTING

Box/Folder#

Series I: Biographical Information

1/1 A. Memorial Service, 12 June 1993.

1. Memorial Service program.

2. Eulogies.

a. William R. Cannon.

b. Joel D. McDavid.

c. Article: "The Rev. Nolan B. Harmon, 100, longtime

United Methodist bishop". Atlanta Journal /

Constitution, 19 June 1993.

1/1a B. Police report and correspondence dealing with 1988

robbery.

C. Photographs.

13/1 1. Photograph of Bishop Harmon (n.d.).

13/1 2. Photograph of Bishop Harmon (n.d.).

13/2 3. Photograph of Bishop Harmon with the Emory

University Trustees, 7 November 1958.

13/2 4. Photograph of Bishop Harmon with the Emory

University Trustees, 6 November 1959.

13/2 5. Photograph of Bishop Harmon with the South Eastern

Jurisdiction College of Bishops, ca. 1972.

13/2 6. Photograph of Bishop Harmon at a dinner with the

Western North Carolina Conference group, Nashville,

1973.

13/3 7. Assorted photographs of Bishop Harmon (n.d.).

D. Awards, Certificates, etc.

13/4 1. Presidential Order of Merit, 1991.

13/4 2. Certificate of Appreciation; Western North Carolina

Conference, United Methodist Church, 1966.

13/5 3. Plaque: "In Celebration of 100 Years of Life and

Christian Ministry", Council of Bishops of the

United Methodist Church. 1993.

Series II: Literary Works

A. Sermons.

1/2 1. Index to Sermons.

1/3 2. Vol. 1, Index to Sermons, Lectures & Address.

a. Nos. 1-81.

1/4 3. Vol. 2, Nos. 82-168.

1/5 4. Vol. 3, Nos. 169-271.

1/6 5. Vol. 4, Nos. 273-384.

1/7 6. Vol. 5, Nos. 385-458.

2/1 7. Vol. 6, Nos. 459-495.

2/2 8. Vol. 7, Nos. 496-572.

2/3 9. Vol. 8, Nos. 573-641.

2/4 10. Vol. 9, Nos. 642-725.

2/5 11. Vol. 10, Nos. 726-782.

2/6 12. Vol. 11, Nos. 783-817.

2/7 13. Vol. 12, Nos. 818-850.

3/1 14. Vol. 13, Nos. 851-889.

3/2 15. Vol. 14, Nos. 890-935.

3/3 16. Vol. 15, Nos. 936-978.

3/4 17. Vol. 16, Nos. 979-1012.

3/5 18. Vol. 17, Nos. 1013-1060.

3/6 19. Vol. 18, Nos. 1061-1076.

3/7 20. Vol. 19, Nos. 1077-1087.

4/1 21. Vol. 20, Nos. 1090-1105.

4/2 22. Vol. 21, Nos. 1105-1107.

4/3 23. Vol. 21, Nos. 1109-1148.

4/4 24. Vol. 22, Nos. 1149-1166.

4/5 25. Vol. 23, Nos. 1167-1209.

4/6 26. Vol. 24, Nos. 1210-1226.

4/7 27. Vol. 25, Nos. 1227-1230.

4/8 28. Vol. 26, Nos. 1231-1259.

4/9 29. Vol. 27, Nos. 1261-1294.

5/1 30. Early Sermons.

5/2 31. "Book G"; new sermons, etc. 1963-1968.

5/3 32. "Book H"; sermons, addresses, etc. 1965-1968.

5/4 33. Sermons, early 1960's.

a. Sermon Preached at the General Conference;

Trinity Methodist Church; Denver,

Colorado; 28 April 1960.

b. Sermon for General Conference, 1960.

c. "The True Prosperity" First Methodist Church,

Birmingham, Alabama; 5 March 1961.

d. Many Churches - One Church". Sermon delivered to

Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference. ca. 1962.

e. "We Owe So Much"; Myers Park Presbyterian Church, 28 November 1963.

f. Ordination sermon for bishops, 12 July 1964.

5/5 35. Sermon notes.

5/6&7 36. Radio Sermons, 1933-1939.

6/1 37. Radio Sermons, 1935-1939.

6/2&3 38. "Book A"; Sermons.

6/4 39. "Book B"; Annual Conference prayers, sermons,

talks, & programs.

6/5 40. "Book C"; sermons & addresses.

6/6 41. "Book D"; sermons, prayers, etc. for conference

ministerial meetings.

6/7 42. "Book E"; sermons, lectures.

7/1 43. "Book F".

7/2 44. "Book I".

7/3 45. "Book J"

7/4 46. "Book K".

7/5 47. Un bound Sermons

a. Sermon: I Corinthians, 6-2 "Do you not know that

the saints are to judge the earth"; Hansen

Memorial Church, Brooklyn, N.Y., 9 April 1943.

b. Sermon: "Easter Hope", 1961.

c. "The True Prosperity", First Methodist Church,

Birmingham, AL, 5 March 1961.

d. Sermon: "Meditation Upon the Seventh Word"; Good

Friday, 20 April 1962.

e. Sermon: "The Living of These Days"; Ovens

Auditorium, Charlotte N.C., 13 January 1963.

f. Ordination Sermon for North Alabama Conference,

Birmingham, 5 June 1972.

g. Sermon preached in Hansen Memorial Church,

Brooklyn, N.Y.; text I Corinthians, 6-2, (n.d.).

B. Addresses.

1. Dated [arranged chronologically]

7/6 a. "The Preacher as a Student"; address, 20 February

1922.

7/6 b. "The Broader Knowledge"; Speech at Millsaps

College, ca 1929.

7/6 c. "For Such a Time as This"; address to the New York

Conference at Newburgh, New York, 8 May 1943.

7/6 d. "Our Faith in Prayer"; The Methodist Hour, 13

November 1949.

7/6 e. Devotional Address to the Ecumenical Conference of

World Methodism. 3 September 1951.

7/6 f. "Man and Measures"; address Emory University, 7

June 1952.

7/6 g. "Perpetual Pentecost"; address Lynchburg,

Virginia, 24 May 1953.

7/6 h. "Toward What Unity?"; address, Sigma Chi, 3

November 1954.

7/6 i. "A Prayer of Dedication", at the dedication of the

new School Building at Samarcand, N.C., 17 October

1956.

7/7 j. "The Responsibility of the Church in Industrial

Life"; address, 1957 Conference, Lake Junaluska,

21-23 June 1957.

7/7 k. "Address Given by Bishop Nolan B. Harmon at the

Funeral of J. Ernest Yountz"; address, 7 June

1960.

7/7 l. Address to the Northeastern Juisdictional

Conference, Washington, D.C., 17 June 1960.

7/7 m. Dedicatory Invocation by Bishop Nolan B. Harmon at

the Wylie Station of the Duke Power Company;

address, 3 October 1960.

7/7 n. Invocation by Bishop Nolan B. Harmon on the

Occasion of the Visit of Vice President Nix,

Charlotte Coliseum; address, 3 October 1960.

7/7 o. "God's Open Door - A New Year's Meditation" [New

Years, 1961].

7/7 p. "Distinctive Emphases of Methodism"; Talk on WBT

radio, 24 May 1961.

7/7 q. "Address at the Ground-Breaking of the [Methodist]

Nursing Home"; address, Charlotte, N..C., 5

December 1961.

7/7 r. Statement on Race; [Birmingham North Alabama

Conference, 1961].

7/7 s. Methodism and Practical Ecumenicity" ; [address,

Dallas, 1961].

7/7 t. "Call Them to Preach"; address, May 1962.

7/7 u. "The Nature of the Church - Unity in Diversity",

article, South Carolina Methodist Advocate, 17

January 1963.

7/7 v. "Aldersgate and Organization"; address,

Southeastern Jurisdictional Convocation, Memphis,

Tenn, 5-7 March 1963.

7/7 w. "The Role of the Council of Bishops"; address,

Council of Bishops, San Francisco, CA, 16-19 April

1963.

7/7 x. "Ye Consciences, Murmuring Faiths Under Forms: The

Development of Formal Worship in American

Methodism"; address N. C. Pastors School and Duke

Divinity School Convocation, 28 October 1963.

7/7 y. "Save the Order of Decons"; article, 12 March

1964.

7/7 z. "The Episcopacy Speaks Through Particular Men";

address delivered ex tempore to the newly elected

Bishops, Gatlinburg, Tenn, 5 October 1964.

7/8 aa. Conference Historical Address-1965; address,

Florida Historical Society & North Georgia

Conference meeting, June 1965.

7/8 bb. "George Whitefield and His Georgia Orphanage";

address, Georgia Conference, 1970.

7/8 cc. "Francis Asbury"; Anniversary address, Holston

Conference, 1971.

7/8 dd. "Address to North Mississippi On Archives";

address, North Mississippi Conference, 5 May 1972.