The papers (1903-67) of Walter Marshall Horton constitute a valuable resource for the study of the modern Ecumenical Movement in general and Walter Horton's thought in particular. The collection has been arranged into six series: Series 1. Writings, 1917-66; Series 2. Correspondence, 1922-66; Series 3. Subject Files, 1910-67; Series 4. Student and Teaching Materials, 1914-62; Series 5. Diaries, 1917, 1932-59; and Series 6. Photograph and Postcard Albums, 1903-38. While Series 4 through 6 contain materials of a personal nature, such as Horton's undergraduate essays (1914-17) and Lidie Horton's travel diaries (1932-59), the first three series effectively document Horton's professional development over a forty-year period. Series 1. Writings, contains reviews of ten of his many books as well as Horton's articles, sermons, radio broadcasts, and research notes on such topics as American historical theology, christology, ecumenism, missions, social credit, world peace, ethics, poetry, and travel. Although the correspondence series is thin (4") and consists almost exclusively of incoming letters, it provides evidence of Horton's continuous dialogue with theologians around the world. Correspondents include the Episcopal clergyman W. Norman Pittenger (b. 1905), philosopher Eugene William Lyman (1872-1948), and British writer Charles Earle Raven (1885-1964).

The Subject Files, 1910-66, provide significant documentation of the growth of the Protestant ecumenical movement after 1910 and of Horton's activities on the movement's behalf. Topical arrangement includes World Council of Churches publications, conference proceedings, and committee reports, as well as the publications of those national and international ecumenical institutes with which Horton was affiliated. Of special interest to students of Oberlin's role in the ecumenical movement will be materials relating to the 1957 meeting in Oberlin of the World Conference on Faith and Order. Horton's annual reports to Presidents Henry Churchill King (1879-1934) and Ernest Hatch Wilkins (1880-1966) provide useful synopses of his professional activities from 1925 to 1952.

Series 1. Writings, 1917-67 (1.4 l.f.)

The series is composed of books and shorter works written by Walter M. Horton. Books are arranged alphabetically and include mainly reviews; shorter works are divided into Articles, Talks and Sermons, Book Reviews, Research Notes, and Poetry and are arranged chronologically within these categories. Writings include manuscript, typescript, and printed materials.

Series 2. Correspondence, 1922-66 (0.2 l.f.)

Incoming correspondence is arranged alphabetically by correspondent. Carbon copies of five letters from Walter Horton are arranged chronologically and appear before the alphabetical run. Some letters are in French and German.

Series 3. Subject Files, 1910-67 (2.0 l.f.)

Subject Files are arranged alphabetically by topics, which include Annual Reports to College President, The Church and World Order, Conference Materials, Ecumenism, Fulbright Stay in Strasbourg, Jewish-Christian Relations, Memorials to Theologians, Papers on Psychology and Religion, and YMCA. Conference Materials are arranged alphabetically by conference name and chronologically by meeting. The Church and World Order material relates to the prevention of war, pacifism, and Christian social action. Gathered together under"Fulbright" are lectures and sermons, many in French, delivered by Horton while in Strasbourg as well as newspaper clippings from French newspapers relating to his stay.

Series 4. Student and Teaching Material, 1914-62 (0.8 l.f.)

Includes Walter Horton's essays, notebooks, course syllabi, and miscellaneous papers from his undergraduate (1914-17) and graduate (1917-26) years at Harvard University, Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University, and the Universities of Paris, Strasbourg, and Marburg. These materials are chronologically arranged. Some writings are in French and German. Teaching materials include syllabi and bibliographies for Horton's Oberlin classes.

Series 5. Diaries, 1917, 1932-59 (0.4 l.f.)

With the exception of one 1917 datebook of Walter Horton, contains the travel diaries of Lidie Horton kept during trips with her husband to Europe and the Far East from 1932-59. The diaries are arranged chronologically.

Series 6. Photograph and Postcard Albums, 1903-38 (1.25 l.f.)

Contains Lidie Horton's postcard album (1903-08) and Bride's Book, 1919, as well as postcard albums (1920-22; 1932-33) and photograph albums (1903-38; 1919-21; 1932) created by the Hortons during their travels together. Housed with the albums are two folders of loose photographs ([1922], 1937, 1938, 1953) including several snapshots of identified individuals attending the 1938 Madras meeting of the International Missionary Council.

Series 7. Sound Recordings, 1962

Consists of a sound recording (reel tape and copy cassettes) of a seance with Arthur Ford, Norman Rody, and Walter Horton, 11 February 1962.