Series VII: Publications and Literature Distribution

The Student Volunteer Movement had a message which it wanted to communicate to students on North American college and university campuses. Early in its existence it discovered that one of the most effective means of communicating its message was through the publication and distribution of periodicals, pamphlets and books. Even during the years when the Movement's role on local campuses was questioned, its mandate to produce missions-related literature remained clear. The over fourteen linear feet of records in Series VII are divided in five sections:

A. Literature Committee records

The correspondence, meeting minutes and other administrative papers in this section date from approximately 1940 to 1960. Also included in this section are a folder of literature copyright records (1913-1937), a folder of orders for literature not published by the SVM, and several record books dating from 1927 to 1952.

B. Literature distribution correspondence

1. General records: The material in this section is topically arranged and includes literature inventories, accounts, orders, etc.

2. Literature distribution correspondence: The letters in this section date from approximately 1916 to 1957. They are in general alphabetical order, according to the name of the individual or organization requesting or inquiring about a SVM publication.

C. Prospective publications

The material in this chronologically arranged file includes manuscripts, reviews, correspondence, and notes related to actual or possible SVM publications. The title of the prospective publication is noted in addition to the dates when it was under consideration.

D. Periodical publications

The major periodical publications of the Student Volunteer Movement were as follows:

The Student Volunteer (1893-1898)

The Intercollegian (1898-1912; published jointly with the YMCA)

The North American Student (1913-19 ; published jointly with the YWCA)

Student Volunteer Movement Bulletin (1915-1930)

Far Horizons ( 1930-1934)

Intercollegian and Far Horizons (1934-1939; published with the YMCA)

Intercollegian 1939-1959; published with the YMCA and YWCA)

These periodicals were issued at varying frequencies and were supplemented at certain times with less substantial offerings such as the Fellowship News. During the 1940s and 1950s the SVM also published a semi-annual listing of missionary vacancies entitled Christian Horizons. After the SVM became the Commission on World Mission of the National Student Christian Federation, the Committee on the Fellowship of Student Volunteers produced

a newsletter, for which copies are available through 1964. The bulk of the material in this section is related to the more recent

periodicals published by the SVM, Far Horizons and Christian Horizons. Thematerial consists primarily of correspondence to arrange for articles and to maintain subscriptions. The series is arranged alphabetically, by the title of the publication.

E. Pamphlet Publications

Copies of many of the pamphlets published by the Student Volunteer Movement are available in this section, arranged alphabetically by title.