November 12, 2012: Organization of FCC materials, label folders, copy newsprint, etc..  5 hours

I began by labeling a large number of folders with the title WAB: Federal Council of Churches Records.  I then placed in the folders materials I found regarding each committee, commission, department, conference, meeting and sorted the members papers.  I copied newspaper articles, placed the originals in Mylar sleeves or envelopes.  After my initial sort, which included taking metal pins and paper clips that bound material together out, as well as trying to figure out where 6 or 7 loose papers seemed to fit.  I found where they went for all of them except one, which I still have no idea what it is supposed to go to, it’s a budget sheet from minutes of some sort, but there is no date or title included on the sheet.  Some of the materials were fragile and degrading.  Some of the materials were in pretty good condition.  I found some very interesting materials on the Bethlehem Steel Strike and some good newspaper articles on unity.  I got through creating the final sort for 1 full box

November 13, 2012: Final FCC sort, Finding aid completed except for History and scope and contents note.   5 hours

I finished my final sort and labeling of the folders today.  The final FCC collection rests in 3 boxes.  Since much of the material was originally scattered in random boxes and mislabeled or non-labeled folders it was difficult to maintain original order of the materials.  I sorted the commissions, departments, committees, conferences and meetings alphabetically (for the folders) and then by date (within the folders)  For the members papers I kept them in their original order as far as subject, but then ordered them by date as best I could within the folder.  There was one whole section for the Greenwich Conference on Church Union that was the conference’s papers all in a bound folder like thing.  That is the only thing that definitely kept its original order.  I moved the papers into 4 new folders with a photocopy of the title of the original bound folder.  Next week I will finish the history portion and scope and contents note and submit it to Brigette and Ruth for final approval and then do DAM and cataloging.  I might work on the history and blog post this weekend at home.   My final collection will be the State Council of Churches Records.

Total hours: 10

Running total: 107