WILLIAM MORITZ:

An Inventory of His Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society

Manuscripts Collection

OVERVIEW


	Creator:	Moritz, William G., 1906-1979, creator.
	Title:	William Moritz papers.
	Dates:	1930-1978.
	Abstract:	Personal papers and church records of a pastor of the Evangelical Free Church of America, documenting his tenure at churches in Balaton, Slayton, and North Branch, Minnesota and Wesley and Upper Flat, Iowa, as well as his other evangelistic work, including a weekly Christian radio program broadcast over KMHL radio in Marshall, Minnesota.
	Quantity:	4.3 cubic feet (5 boxes).
	Location:	See Detailed Description for shelf locations.

William Moritz was born 22 September 1906. He married Bernice C. Knutson (b. 29 Jan 1913) and the couple had four children, Juanita, William, Marilynn, and Joann. A minister in the Evangelical Free Church, Moritz took up pastorates at Skandia Evangelical Free Church in Balaton and the neighboring Evangelical Church of Slayton (Minn.) during the 1940s-1950s. During this period he also did a weekly radio program called the "Good News Broadcast" over KMHL radio in Marshall, Minnesota. In 1961, he moved to North Branch, Minnesota, where he became pastor of Kost Evangelical Free Church. He spent the last decade or so of his career in Wesley, Iowa, where he was minister for the neighboring Upper Flat (Britt, Iowa) and Wesley Evangelical Free churches. He passed away in January 1979. Bernice moved back to Minnesota, where she passed away on 4 November 2001.

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SCOPE AND CONTENTS

Correspondence, sermon notes, diaries and calendars, bible school materials, and other church-related records of a pastor of the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA), documenting his tenure at churches in Balaton, Slayton, and North Branch, Minnesota (1940s-1960s) and Wesley and Upper Flat, Iowa (1970s), as well as his other evangelistic work.

Of particular interest are radio scripts, outlines, and other notes for Moritz's weekly Christian radio program, which was broadcast over KMHL radio in Marshall, Minnesota during the 1950s. Moritz's work with Christian education, including his involvement and promotion of bible schools and bible camps, is also well represented in the collection.

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ARRANGEMENT

These documents are organized into the following sections:


		Personal Papers.
		Church Records by Church
		Correspondence
		Church Records by Topic
		Miscellaneous Papers

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ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. William Moritz Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 15,665

Processing Information:

Processed by: Lara D. Friedman~Shedlov, July 2002

Catalog ID number: 990017376020104294

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION

PERSONAL PAPERS

Location

Box

149.C.19.10F

Notes for sermons, radio messages, orders of service, etc., undated and 1930s-1970s. 13 folders.

Lecture notes, undated and [1930s?].

Notes on pastoral theology, homiletics, biblical exegesis, church history, missions, and other courses apparently taken by Moritz as a seminarian.

Notebooks and ledgers, 1930s-1940s. 1 folder containing 14 volumes.

Pocket-sized notebooks with records of daily expenses, lists of announcements to be made during services, orders of service, and other miscellaneous lists and notes.

Diaries/Calendars, 1926, 1942.

Pocket dairy and desk calendar with brief notes on daily activities and appointments.

Location

Box

148.F.6.1B

Diaries/Calendars, 1953-1954, 1957, 1959-1960. 3 folders.

Wall calendars with brief notes on daily activities and appointments, and notes for prayer meetings.

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CHURCH RECORDS BY CHURCH

Minutes, church bulletins, correspondence, and other records from the Minnesota and Iowa churches where Moritz served as pastor from the 1930s through the 1970s.

Location

Box

148.F.6.1B

Skandia and Slayton Churches:

Moritz served concurrently at two churches in Marshall County, Minnesota, during the period from the 1930s through the 1950s, Skandia Evangelical Free Church in Balaton, and the Evangelical Free Church of Slayton.

Articles of incorporation, constitution, minutes, and related documents, 1948, 1953.

Minutes and theological notes, 1934-1960.

Church bulletins and miscellaneous records, 1940s-1950s.

Slayton church building drawings, undated.

Loan-related correspondence and related documents, 1950-1951.

Correspondence, 1930s-1960.

Correspondence: Student letters, 1948-1950.

Kost Church:

Kost Church is located in North Branch (Chisago County) Minnesota. Moritz was pastor there from 1961-1970.

Correspondence, 1962-1969. 4 folders.

Press releases, undated and 1960s. 2 folders.

Primarily announcements of church services and other activities for the local newspaper.

Women's Missionary Society, undated and 1962-1965.

Young married, 1961-1963.

Church attendance data, 1968.

Church bulletins including a record of attendance and offerings.

Miscellaneous records, 1960s.

Includes church bulletins, annual meeting reports, membership application, and other records.

Wesley and Upper Flat Churches:

Moritz served concurrently at two churches in northern Iowa during the period from 1970 until his death in 1979, Wesley Evangelical Free Church in Wesley and Upper Flat Evangelical Free Church in Britt.

Correspondence and miscellany, 1966-1976.

Thanksgiving services, 1970-1978.

News nights, undated.

Ministerial group minutes and other related material, 1973-1976.

Vacation bible school, Upper Flat, 1969-1977.

Vacation bible school, Wesley, 1969-1977.

Annual reports and related materials, 1966-1975.

Wesley Church building program, undated.

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CORRESPONDENCE

Location

Box

148.F.6.2F

Miscellaneous correspondence, 1933, 1937-1970s. 6 folders.

Primarily church correspondence, with some personal correspondence mixed in.

Correspondence regarding property, 1961.

Correspondence concerning the disposition of Moritz's personal property upon his move from Balaton to North Branch, Minnesota.

Correspondence regarding speakers for special meetings and services, 1931-1945.

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CHURCH RECORDS BY TOPIC

Location

Box

148.F.6.2F

Bible and other book orders, 1960s.

Materials primarily from Beacon and Cicero publishers.

Bible Camps:

Arrowhead Bible Camp [Chetek, Wis.], 1960s-1970.

Camp Shamineau [Motley, Minn.], 1960s.

Miscellaneous camps and retreats, 1960s-1970s. 2 folders.

Bible conferences, 1950s.

Bible School:

Sunday School Council, undated.

Sunday School improvement, 1962-1965.

Teacher training, 1960s.

Includes student records and coursework of individuals trained as Sunday school teachers under the auspices of the Evangelical Teacher Training Association.

Sunday school materials, undated and 1960s. 3 folders.

Student worksheets, grades, and attendance records.

Christian Education Department, 1960s-1970s.

Communications and publications from the department of the Evangelical Free Church of America that was responsible for promoting bible school programs.

Catholic question, undated.

Includes tracts, newspaper articles, and other materials concerning the EFCA's relationship with the Roman Catholic Church.

Christmas, undated and 1960s.

Communism, undated.

Correspondence course, 1940s.

Deacons, 1963-1965.

Location

Box

149.C.20.1B

EFCA headquarters, 1970s.

Includes conference materials, newsletters, letters, etc.

Evangelists, 1960s.

Films, undated and 1969.

Funerals, 1960s-1970s. 3 folders.

Includes funeral programs for many of the services Moritz presided at during this period.

Good Friday, 1960-1973.

Interdenominational Christian Men's Fellowship, 1961.

Interdenominational pastor relations, 1951, 1953.

Laymen's organizations, 1973.

Memorial Day programs, 1948, 1950, 1961.

Men's fellowship, 1951-1953.

Ministerial Associations:

East Central Ministerial Association, 1964-1970.

Kossuth County/Algona Area Clergy, 1971-1976.

Murray County Ministerial Association, 1948-1957.

Missionary conferences, 1960s.

Missionary work, 1961-1964, 1970-1972. 2 folders.

Mother's Day, undated.

Ordinations and Ordination Council, 1950s-1960s.

Prayer meetings, 1964-1965.

Radio Broadcasting:

KMHL Radio (Marshall, Minn.)., 1949-1956.

Radio programs, 1950-1951.

Scripts and outlines for Moritz's "Good News Radio Broadcast."

Recommendation letters, 1949-1961.

Right to life, 1974.

Location

Box

P1873

Soil stewardship, 1955-1978.

Tri-County Evangelistic Association, 1960s.

Weddings, undated and 1960s.

Youth For Christ, 1960s.

Youth group: New Life, 1970-1974.

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MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS

Location

Box

P1873

Income tax and social security records, 1970s.

Class notes [Bernice Moritz?], undated.

Miscellaneous papers, 1940s-1970s.

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RELATED MATERIALS

Records, newsletters, yearbooks, and a published history of the Evangelical Free Church of America and its predecessor, the Swedish Evangelical Free Church of the United States of America, are separately cataloged in the Minnesota Historical Society manuscripts, book, and serials collections.

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CATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:: Church management.; Anti-Catholicism.; Protestant churches -- Relations -- Catholic Church.; Church camps -- Minnesota.; Church camps -- Wisconsin.; Radio in religion.; Radio broadcasting -- Religious aspects.; Christian education -- Teacher training.; Christian education -- Teaching methods.; Sunday school teachers.; Sunday schools -- Minnesota.; Vacation schools, Christian -- Iowa.

Persons:: Moritz, Bernice C., 1913-2001.

Organizations:: Arrowhead Bible Camp (Chetek, Wis.).; Camp Shamineau (Motley, Minn.).; Evangelical Free Church (Slayton, Minn.).; Evangelical Free Church of America -- Missions.; Evangelical Free Church of America -- Sermons.; Evangelical Free Church of America -- Clergy.; Evangelical Teacher Training Association.; KMHL (Radio station : Marshall, Minn.).; Kost Evangelical Free Church (North Branch, Minn.).; Skandia Evangelical Free Church (Balaton, Minn.).; Upper Flat Evangelical Free Church (Britt, Iowa).; Wesley Evangelical Free Church (Wesley, Iowa).

Document Types:: Sermons.; Tracts (documents).; Radio scripts.

Occupations:: Clergy.

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