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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (3199 notes).

Note 3197 by UMNS on Sept. 30, 1996 at 15:55 Eastern (4582 characters).

SEARCH: archives, history, commission, Internet 
Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT: Linda Green                             483(10-71B){3197}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470            Sept. 30, 1996

Commission on Archives and History 
heads for the Internet

by Robert Lear*

     MADISON, N.J. (UMNS)-- United Methodism's extensive archives
are headed for the information highway.
     Meeting Sept. 27-29 here, the denomination's Commission on
Archives and History approved establishing an archives page on the
Internet. The new venture is expected to be on line by early next
year.
     In other business as the 24-member commission organized for
the 1997-2000 quadrennium, Bishop Emilio J.M. de Carvalho, Luanda,
Angola, was re-elected president. Bishop J. Lawrence McClesky,
Columbia, S.C., was named vice president and Patricia J. Thompson,
Presque Isle, Me., secretary. The Rev. Charles Yrigoyen Jr., was
re-elected general secretary.
     Introducing the Internet proposal, Russell E. Richey, a
commission director from Durham, N.C., said the page will enable
people doing research to determine what is available before taking
the time and expense to come to the Archives and History
headquarters on the campus of Drew University, here. In the past
year, 47 researchers from Korea, Japan, Europe, Canada and various
U.S. locations visited the center here. 
     L. Dale Patterson, archivist and records administrator for
the commission, said presently there are about 200 archives pages
on the Internet, but it is believed that the Billy Graham
evangelistic organization is the only religious organization with
a page devoted to archives.
     Patterson said the new page will offer several categories of
information, beginning with such basic information as to hours the
archives are open to the public and directions to Madison. Other
information will include descriptions of available materials,
frequently asked questions, newsletters from annual conference
history commissions, details of exhibits and some images of
materials.
     Start-up costs and other expenses during the first year of
Internet page operation are expected to run about $40,000. Annual
costs thereafter are expected to run about $15,000.
     Electronic library access will continue to be provided
through Drew University channels, but this avenue is considered
inadequate for archive purposes.
     Archival items continue to be received at a steady pace. In
the past 12 months, 32 distinct accession were received, totaling
more than 260 cubic feet.
     The commission adopted a 1997 budget of $675,389, including
the Internet page. Yrigoyen said a vacant staff position of
assistant general secretary will not be filled for a least a year.
On a trial basis the present staff will care for some functions,
and others will be contracted out, he said.
     Women's and ethnic history will continue to be an emphasis of
the commission. A churchwide historical convocation is planned for
1999 at a location yet to be determined.
     The commission presented its Distinguished Service Award to
retired Bishop Paul W. Milhouse, Franklin, Ind. Accepting the
recognition, Milhouse said "a sense of history gives us an
anchorage. . . (and) a perspective with which we can look forward
to tomorrow." Milhouse was elected to the episcopacy in 1960 by
the Evangelical United Brethern Church and retired in 1980.
     A special citation was approved for retired Bishop William R.
Cannon, Atlanta, for his work in the field of Wesleyan theology
and church history. 
     The 1997 Distinguished Service Award will be presented to
Rosemary Keller Skinner, dean of Union Theological Seminary in New
York City and a distinguished author and scholar of the role of
women in the church.
     The commission will hold its next annual meeting Sept. 12-14,
1997.
                               # # #
     *Robert Lear is a retired director of the Washington office
of United Methodist News Service living in Wernersville, Pa.

NOTE TO EDITORS: UMNS sent a story dated July 30, giving you the
names of people from your annual conference elected to serve on
churchwide agencies. However, that list did not include additional
members elected here, to assure representation by gender, race,
age, geography, church size and expertise.

Additional members for the Commission on Archives and History will
be chosen later by mail ballot.
     

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