Collection

Spike, Robert W. Papers

Span Dates: 1838-2005
Bulk Dates:
Volume: 23.75 linear feet (29 boxes)

Description

The collection contains correspondence, sermons, articles, essays, audiotape recordings, and other materials relating, among other subjects, to the history of the Christian church and social activism, ecumenism, and the history of the civil rights movement in the United States. A more detailed description of its contents can be found in the series descriptions at the start of each series in the inventory section of this guide. The collection contains material from 1838 to 2005, though most of the material falls between 1950 and 1966. Series VIII contains restricted student records and legal correspondence, which are respectively closed until 2043 and indefinitely. The collection is organized into eight series: I. Personal II. Correspondence III. Writings IV. Professional V. Writings by Others VI. Audio-Visual VII. Oversize VIII. Restricted I. Personal: Contains material pertinent to Spike's early life from his childhood and education - such as essays from his high school through his doctoral study - and to his death - such as memorials and obituaries. This series contains genealogical material, scrapbooks, journals, appointment calendars, essays, biographies, obituaries, memorials, and newspaper clippings. Notably, it also contains an original program from the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. It ranges in date from 1828 to 1977, but mostly falls between 1935 and 1966. II. Correspondence: Contains the personal and professional correspondence of Robert Spike. It also contains condolence telegrams and correspondence to Mrs. Alice Spike, Dean Jerald Brauer of the University of Chicago Divinity School, and Dr. Howard Moody of Judson Memorial Church after Spike’s murder. Telegrams, many with extended messages, include those from Martin Luther King, Jr., Vice-President Hubert Humphrey, A. Philip Randolph, Roy Wilkins, Whitney Young, Stokley Carmichael, Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach, and Victor Reuther. There are also telegrams from various groups in Mississippi, including the Child Development Group of Mississippi (CDGM), with whom he was very active up to his death. The material in this series covers from 1936 to 2005, but mostly falls between 1950 and 1966. III. Writings: Contains material related to the development of Spike's published and unpublished written work, as well as sermons and speeches. This includes notes, outlines, manuscripts and typescripts, correspondence, publicity, and reviews. Subjects range from the role of the church in social action, to race and the civil rights movement. Material ranges in date from 1941 to 1966; it mostly falls between 1955 and 1966. IV. Professional: Contains reports, newsletters, correspondence, articles, pamphlets, memos, minutes, agendas, and syllabi from throughout Robert Spike’s professional career. Subseries include Judson Memorial Church, The American Baptist Convention, The Protestant Council of the City of New York, Leadership in Political Organizations, Board of Homeland Ministries of the United Church of Christ and the National Council of the Churches in Christ, The World Council of Churches, the White House Conference “To Fulfill These Rights,” the Child Development Groups of Mississippi (CDGM), and Teaching. Spike’s most prominent role is represented by his time as the first Executive Director of the ecumenical Commission on Religion and Race; this is located under National Council of the Churches in Christ. This series ranges in date from 1946 to 1990; the bulk of the material falls between 1950 and 1966. A description of each subseries is found under the Series Description for Series IV below. V. Writings by Others: Contains publications, books, pamphlets, newsletters, reports, magazines, and brochures written by other authors from 1937 to 1966. VI. Audio-Visual: Contains photographs, photographic negatives, one film reel of home movies from 1946 to 1958, one reel-to-reel audiotape, and a VHS tape. The photographs range from 1860 to 1966, with most of them falling between 1955 and 1966. Folder 11 contains photographs taken at the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The audiotape reel is of particular interest, as it is a recording of three lectures Robert Spike gave several months before his death in 1966. This series does not include access copies for the audiotape, the film reel, or the VHS tape. Researchers will need to consult with staff before requesting these items. VII. Oversize: Contains a broad range of materials from 1901 to 1966, though the bulk of the material falls between 1955 and 1966. Personal materials include sheet music composed by Robert Spike’s grandmother, genealogical material, and a family photo album of Alice and Robert Spike. There are also articles and photographs from Robert Spike’s professional career. This series also notably contains a series of commemorative prints for the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. VIII. Restricted: Contains restricted student records from Robert Spike’s sons, John and Paul Spike, which are closed until 2043, and legal correspondence for Robert and Alice Spike regarding real estate, which are closed indefinitely.

Hist/Bio Note

The Reverend Doctor Robert Warren Spike (1923-1966) was a minister, theologian, and activist who served as the first Executive Director of the Commission on Religion and Race of the National Council of Churches and Professor of Ministry and Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program in the Divinity School of the University of Chicago. A leader in mobilizing church involvement in the civil rights movement, Spike was murdered less than a year after assuming his post in Chicago. Robert Spike was born on November 13, 1923 in Buffalo, New York to Warren and Lucy Spike. After graduating from Denison University in Ohio, he went on to attend Colgate-Rochester Divinity School. He then earned his doctorate from Columbia University in 1954. He married Alice Coffman in 1945, with whom he had two sons, Paul and John Spike. Spike served as an associate minister of the First Baptist Church in Granville, Ohio from 1946 to 1948, and from 1949 until 1956 he was the minister of Judson Memorial Church in New York City. At Judson, Spike worked to integrate community action into the church. He also served as a chaplain at Youth House, a detention home for adolescents in New York City. Following his time at Judson, Spike began his career at the National Council of Churches. He became the General Secretary of The Board of Homeland Ministries of the United Church of Christ, as well as the Chairman of the Committee for a Christian Ministry in the National Parks. He also served on the Commission on a Christian Ministry with People in Leisure-Recreation. His ecumenical work was extensive, and extended to a role in the World Council of Churches. Spike was thrust onto the national stage when he became the first Executive Director of the National Council of Churches’ Commission on Religion and Race, created in June 1963 “to mobilize the resources of all units of the National Council and its member denominations in a planned strategy against all forms of racial injustice in American life.” In this role, Spike was prominent in the civil rights movement, organizing Protestant participation in civil rights protests and marches across the country and working closely with the White House as an advocate on the formation and implementation of civil rights legislation. He was also involved in the National Council of Churches’ ministry and activism in Mississippi, and continued to work for the funding of programs, such as the Child Development Groups of Mississippi (CDGM), even after his appointment as the Director of the pioneering Doctor of Ministry Program in the Divinity School at the University of Chicago before his death in 1966. In addition to his teaching and ministry, Spike was known as a successful speaker, delivering speeches and addresses at conferences and on college campuses around the country, as well as preaching at a range of religious institutions. In addition to numerous speeches and sermons, Spike was the author of the books Tests of a Living Church, Safe in Bondage, To be a Man, and The Freedom Revolution and the Churches. He also wrote many articles, and served on the editorial board of the journal Christianity and Crisis.

Finding Aid

An online finding aid is available.
https://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/scrc/findingaids/view.php?eadid=ICU.SPCL.SPIKE

Location

The Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center The University of Chicago Library 1100 E. 57th St., Chicago, IL 60637
https://www.lib.uchicago.edu/scrc/

Collection

Spike, Robert W. Papers

Description

Hist/Bio Note

Finding Aid

Location

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