Correspondence, 1942-1944

Boxes 1-8

This series has been divided into three sub-groups of materials documenting McEwen's academic and professional activities. Correspondence dates from 1937 with little personal correspondence from family members and friends that does not involve the activities and functions of the United Church of Christ or the First Congregational Church in Atlanta, Georgia. The bulk of the correspondence files, arranged chronologically, are professional in nature with incoming and outgoing letters to various organizational boards and committees, both national and local in which McEwen served. Invitations and cards have been boxed separately and are arranged in chronological order. Academic work and the Federal Writer's Project cover the era of 1930 to 1942 and consists of essays and research materials for classes McEwen attended during his education at Straight College 1930 to 1934, during his assignment with the Federal Writer's Project at Dillard University circa 1935-1936, and the Chicago Theological Seminary from 1940 to 1942. These materials are arranged in chronological order and are extremely brittle and fragile. Of note are essays focused on economic and social conditions for African Americans in Louisiana. Other materials, arranged alphabetically by topic, organization, or materials format, document McEwen's many personal and professional activities that extend beyond his professional life in Atlanta and his work nationally with the United Church of Christ. These materials include ephemera, such as programs, orders of service, brochures, and flyers; collected publications, sermons, and speeches; McEwen's essays and sermons; and a small amount of photographs and slides. Many of these materials cover the era when McEwen was in Chicago and New York, particularly the Brownville a community in Brooklyn, New York. The ephemeral materials include programs and orders of services for venues in which McEwen attended or spoke. Of interest is the ephemeral material from Chicago, particularly obscure broadsides, business cards, and advertisements for psychic readings. McEwen's essays focus on community and church relations.