Interfaith Council of Greater Richmond records

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Commonwealth University, Cabell Library
James Branch Cabell Library
Virginia Commonwealth University
P.O. Box 842003
901 Park Avenue
Richmond, VA 23284-2003
Contact for questions and access:
POC: SCA Staff
Phone: (804) 828-1108
Fax: (804) 828-0151
Restrictions:

Collection is open to research.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Interfaith Council of Greater Richmond records, 1936-1999, Collection # M 321, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.

Summary

Extent:
3.33 Linear Feet 8 letter document boxes
Creator:
Interfaith Council of Greater Richmond
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Interfaith Council of Greater Richmond records, 1936-1999, Collection # M 321, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.

Background

Scope and content:

The materials in this collection range from 1936 to 1999 and include correspondence, treasurer's reports, meeting minutes, photographs, yearbooks, news clippings, and ephemera from the Interfaith Council of Greater Richmond. The collection highlights the annual events and the meetings of the organization.

Biographical / historical:

The Interfaith Council of Greater Richmond (ICGR) is an organization of 19 different religious denominations in the city of Richmond, Virginia and surrounding counties. The 98 member congregations within these faith groups bring together diverse doctrinal, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds.

Prior to 1900, it was common for volunteers from various religious groups to assume some responsibility for public welfare in their communities. However, with the development of the profession of Social Work in the 1920s, many city governments began to employ public welfare workers. The need for communication among the public and private organizations, professionals, and volunteers in Richmond, VA led to the formation of the Richmond Council of Social Agencies in the early 1920s, and subsequently the Richmond Community Fund in 1924. Dr. Arthur Guild was the Executive Director of both groups.

There was confusion between the new social work professionals and volunteers from churches engaged in public welfare work around the new division of responsibilities. The Council of Social Agencies along with the Richmond Ministerial Union saw the need for understanding and cooperation between religious communities and the social agencies. To address this need, the Rev. Dr. James C. Faw, a member of the Board of Directors for both agencies, turned to the women of the churches and synagogues who were already organized within their organizations. The recommendation passed and a subcommittee of the Council was established. Dr. Faw and Mr. Guild assisted women from three faiths - Protestant, Catholic and Jewish - to organize the Council of Church Women in 1929 as a Sub-Council of the Council of Society Agencies. This Council of Church Women was the first name of the Interfaith Council of Greater Richmond. Mrs. McClean Whittet became the first Chair.

In 1940, the name of the Council of Church Women was changed to The Interfaith Council of the Richmond Area Church Women to avoid confusion with The Women's Council of Churches, an existing Protestant group.

In 1979, The Interfaith Council of Richmond Area Church Women shortened its name to The Interfaith Council in order to reflect more clearly the diversity of religious traditions it represented. The Baha'i Faith was the first expansion faith to join ICGR in the 1970s. In the same year, the Interfaith Council accepted an invitation to affiliate with the National Conference of Christians and Jews (NCCJ). In 1991-92, the Council added the Virginia Council of Churches (VCC) and the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy to its circle of affiliations.

In 1986, the Interfaith Council changed its name to the Interfaith Council of Greater Richmond (ICGR) to expand its membership to the entire area. In 1991-92, representatives from Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and American Baptist groups were welcomed into membership. Previously, the group almsot exclusively represented Christian and Jewish religious denominations.

In 1983-84, a member of the Greek Orthodox Church and in 1991-92, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints were elected President. The Board voted in January 1992 to incorporate all member religious organizations into the rotation for presidential election.

Past Presidents of ICGR

1929-30 Mrs. McLean Whittet, Presbyterian

Acquisition information:
Donated by the Interfaith Council of Greater Richmond, VA in 2003
Arrangement:

The Interfaith Council of Richmond records are arranged chronologically, largely following their original order. Prior to 1960, correspondence, minutes, etc. were generally organized by year, with some exceptions. Folders in box 1 that begin with a president's name have been slightly reorganized to follow the format of presidential terms (which started in May) instead of calendar years. Otherwise, original groupings and arrangement have been preserved. Post-1960, the collection was predominately organized chronologically in albums of each president's term, with some binders of meeting minutes and other administrative documents spanning multiple terms. Collection materials have been removed from binders and albums and added to folders, but the groupings have been preserved.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard