Guide to the Papers of Reverend Frank Engel
MS 9073
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Frank Engel
- Title
- Papers of Reverend Frank Engel
- Date Range
- ca. 1930-2006
- Collection Number
- MS 9073
- Extent
- 8.4 metres (52 boxes, 2 cartons)
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- National Library of Australia
Introduction
Scope and Contents
The papers comprise correspondence, sermons, addresses, lectures, writings by Engel, minutes, reports, leaflets, articles, conference papers, cuttings, notes, publications and other papers relating primarily to Engel's involvement in the New Zealand Student Christian Movement, Australian Frontier, Overseas Service Bureau, World Council of Churches, Australian Council of Churches, Action for World Development and the Christian Conference of Asia. They also include a large sequence of files relating to Aboriginal land rights and issues, and a copy of Engel's unpublished autobiography entitled 'Rarely a dull moment'.
Conditions Governing Access
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1487052).
Conditions Governing Use
Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.
Preferred Citation
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Reverend Frank Engel, National Library of Australia, [class/series/file number]'.
Provenance
The papers were donated by Frank Engel in 1985 and 1995. Further material was added in 2003 and 2009.
Related Materials
Papers of T.M. Haslett received from Engel in 1985 are held at MS 9074.
Australian Student Christian Movement records are held at MS 980.
The Records of the Australian Council of Churches are held by the Library at MS 7645.
The archives of Australian Frontier are held by the La Trobe Library, State Library of Victoria at MS 11366.
Arrangement
In general, the structure of the collection closely resembles the groupings maintained by Engel. Order within series has been largely imposed by Library staff with the exception of series 8 and 10 which were listed by Engel and have been retained in original order.
Separated Materials
Some publications from the collection were transferred to the Australian book collection.
Biographical Note
Frank Graham Engel was born in Korea in 1911. He was educated at Pyengyang Foreign School (Korea), Scotch College (Melbourne) and the University of Melbourne, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Divinity. He later received a Doctorate of Theology from the Melbourne College of Divinity.
Date | Event |
---|---|
1936 | Minister, Murray Bridge Presbyterian Church, South Australia |
1937-41 | Travelling Secretary, Australian Student Christian Movement |
1941 | Married Mary Morgan |
1941-43 | General Secretary, New Zealand Student Christian Movement |
1943-49 | Minister, Hawthorn Presbyterian Church, SA |
1949-58 | General Secretary, Australian Student Christian Movement |
1950-58 | Editor, The Australian Intercollegian |
1959-61 | East Asian Secretary, World Student Christian Federation |
1961 | Secretary, Ecumenical Institute, Australian Council of Churches |
1961-68 | Member, Central Committee, World Council of Churches |
1961-68 | Committee Division, Ecumenical Action |
1961-75 | Consultant Division, World Mission and Evangelism |
1962-64 | General Secretary, National Missionary Council of Australia |
1962-94 | Committee Member, Overseas Service Bureau |
1962-69 | Honorary Secretary, Pacific Christian Literature Society |
1965-69 | Associate General Secretary, Australian Council of Churches |
1965-67 | Board Member, Centre for Research into Aboriginal Affairs, Monash University |
1965-72 | Vice Chairman, Australian Frontier |
1967-71 | World Council of Churches consultant Pacific Conference Churches |
1968-70 | Member, Council of International Documentation of Contemporary Church |
1969-75 | General Secretary, Australian Council of Churches. |
1970-76 | Member, Joint Secretariat on Action for World Development |
1970-77 | General Committee, Christian Conference of Asia |
1972-73 | Acting Chairman, Australian Frontier |
1973-77 | Executive Committee, Christian Conference of Asia |
1976-77 | Aboriginal Communities Development Advisor for the Board of Ecumenical Mission and Relations, Presbyterian Uniting Churges |
1976-88 | Commissioner, Australian Frontier |
1977-80 | Convenor, Ecumenical Affairs Committee, Uniting Church |
1981 | Chaplain, Ormond College, University of Melbourne |
Date | Event |
---|---|
1936 | Minister, Murray Bridge Presbyterian Church, South Australia |
1937-41 | Travelling Secretary, Australian Student Christian Movement |
1941 | Married Mary Morgan |
1941-43 | General Secretary, New Zealand Student Christian Movement |
1943-49 | Minister, Hawthorn Presbyterian Church, SA |
1949-58 | General Secretary, Australian Student Christian Movement |
1950-58 | Editor, The Australian Intercollegian |
1959-61 | East Asian Secretary, World Student Christian Federation |
1961 | Secretary, Ecumenical Institute, Australian Council of Churches |
1961-68 | Member, Central Committee, World Council of Churches |
1961-68 | Committee Division, Ecumenical Action |
1961-75 | Consultant Division, World Mission and Evangelism |
1962-64 | General Secretary, National Missionary Council of Australia |
1962-94 | Committee Member, Overseas Service Bureau |
1962-69 | Honorary Secretary, Pacific Christian Literature Society |
1965-69 | Associate General Secretary, Australian Council of Churches |
1965-67 | Board Member, Centre for Research into Aboriginal Affairs, Monash University |
1965-72 | Vice Chairman, Australian Frontier |
1967-71 | World Council of Churches consultant Pacific Conference Churches |
1968-70 | Member, Council of International Documentation of Contemporary Church |
1969-75 | General Secretary, Australian Council of Churches. |
1970-76 | Member, Joint Secretariat on Action for World Development |
1970-77 | General Committee, Christian Conference of Asia |
1972-73 | Acting Chairman, Australian Frontier |
1973-77 | Executive Committee, Christian Conference of Asia |
1976-77 | Aboriginal Communities Development Advisor for the Board of Ecumenical Mission and Relations, Presbyterian Uniting Churges |
1976-88 | Commissioner, Australian Frontier |
1977-80 | Convenor, Ecumenical Affairs Committee, Uniting Church |
1981 | Chaplain, Ormond College, University of Melbourne |
Item Descriptions
Class MS 9073. Original Consignment
Series 1. Sermons, 1933-49
Sermons mainly delivered by Engel in Melbourne and Murray Bridge, SA, 1933-36 and at Hawthorn Presbyterian Church, Adelaide, 1943-49. Also includes records of church services at Hawthorn. Some of the sermons were redelivered up into the 1970s.
Hawthorn Presbyterian Church, 1943-49: Sermons on texts from the Gospels (File 4-6) - Box 1 (MS 9073)
Hawthorn Presbyterian Church, 1943-49: Sermons for festivals and sacraments (File 9-11) - Box 2 (MS 9073)
Series 2. Writings, addresses and lectures, 1942-95
Lists of writings, typescript and manuscript drafts, correspondence, cuttings, publications and other papers.
See also series 10/6 for material relating to Turning land into hope and series 4/81-82 for 21 years of Australian Frontier.
World Council of Churches and Aboriginal affairs (includes Australian Aborigines and their land rights by F.G. Engel), 1978-81 (File 5) - Box 5 (MS 9073)
Series 3. New Zealand Student Christian Movement, 1931-46
Papers compiled by Engel while General Secretary of the NZSCM.
Sundry New Zealand material, 1940-43 including letters by Rev. W. Merlin Davies, minutes and annual reports of the NZSCM, 1940-43 and papers relating to the Campaign for Christian Order (File 2) - Box 6 (MS 9073)
Series 4. Australian Frontier, 1950-93
Australian Frontier was established in 1962 with the aim 'to promote effective contact, communication and relationships among people that they and the churches may better undertake their responsibilities in society' (21 years of Australian Frontier, 1988, p.32). Australian Frontier was administered by the Australian Frontier Commission, chaired from 1962-71 by Sir James Darling and later by Evan Walker (1976-81), Judi Kiraly (1981-86) and Michael Henry (1986-). Directors of Australian Frontier include Peter Mathews (1963-75), Chris Phillips (1975-78) of Sid Spindler (1979-82) and Michael Henry (1979-93).
A major part of Australian Frontier's work has been organising 'consultations' on a variety of topics relating to community life and problems such as the needs of the aged, migrants, youth, Aborigines and the handicapped, prisoner rehabilitation, education and the impact of automation. Consultation reports have been produced from these activities.
Engel was involved in Australian Frontier since its inception and served as Honorary Secretary, Commissioner (1976-88), Vice Chairman (1965-72) and Acting Chairman (1972-73)
The records comprise minutes, reports, publications, correspondence and other papers maintained by Engel during his involvement with the organisation and its predecessor, the Ecumenical Institute. They document many of Australian Frontier's activities including consultations held in 1961 relating to its formation, the Future Directions Conferences of 1980 and 1981, the proposed Institute for the Study of Man and Society, as well as Engel's book 21 years of Australian Frontier.
The papers have been arranged into three sequences: files containing material bearing the Australian Frontier filing code, other files and loose papers.
Correspondence on annual meeting, minutes, reports and balance sheets, 1965-71 (AF/COM/3) (File 5) - Box 7 (MS 9073)
Appointment of commissioners, committees, counsellors, 1967-73 (AF/COM/5) (File 7) - Box 7 (MS 9073)
General papers on nature and organisation of Frontier, 1961-72 (AF/COM/8) (File 10) - Box 7 (MS 9073)
Institute for Study of Man and Society (constitution and rules), 1968-72 (AF/INST/1) (File 27) - Box 9 (MS 9073)
Institute for Study of Man and Society (general papers), 1969-72 (AF/INST/2) (File 28-30) - Box 9, 10 (MS 9073)
Some ecumenical institutions in UK and Europe (possible models for Australian Frontier), 1951-57 (File 40) - Box 11 (MS 9073)
Notebooks relating to 1961 meetings of the Ecumenical Institute Advisory Committee, 1961 consultations and the 1975 Conference of Australian Religious History (File 48b) - Box 12 (MS 9073)
Australian Frontier, 1962 - transition from Australian Council of Churches' Ecumenical Institute of Advisory Committee to Australian Frontier Commission (File 50) - Box 12 (MS 9073)
First quarter 1969 (minutes, constitution, rules and 'The nature, philosophy and organisation of Australian Frontier Incorporated') (File 57) - Box 12 (MS 9073)
Future Directions Conference (La Trobe University, 1980 and University of Sydney, 1981), 1979-80 (File 73-78) - Box 14, 15 (MS 9073)
Series 5. Overseas Service Bureau, 1961-94
The Bureau was established in 1963, based on the Volunteer Graduates Scheme to Indonesia in the 1950s. The Bureau administers the Australian Volunteers Abroad Scheme which enables Australians to serve as volunteers in Asia, Africa, the Pacific and Papua New Guinea.
The papers are arranged roughly chronologically and comprise correspondence, minutes, financial papers, reports, leaflets, publications and other papers collected by Engel while serving as a committee member.
Series 6. World Council of Churches, 1954-91
Engel served as a member of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches in 1961-68.
Files containing publications, articles, conference papers, reports, cuttings and other papers.
Series 7. Australian Council of Churches, 1944-95
Engel was Associate General Secretary of the Australian Council of Churches in 1965-69 and General Secretary in 1969-75.
Files containing notes, cuttings, reports, publications, articles, correspondence, pamphlets, minutes and other papers.
Visit of World Council of Churches Executive Committee to Australia, 1956 (File 1) - Box 23 (MS 9073)
Consultation on Christian work among students, Queen's College, Melbourne, 1961 (File 4) - Box 23 (MS 9073)
Series 8. Christian Conference of Asia, 1956-81
The Christian Conference of Asia (then known as the East Asia Christian Conference) was constituted by the decisions of Christian churches, national councils of churches and national Christian councils at a meeting in Prapat, 1957 and was inaugurated at the Assembly in 1959 in Kuala Lumpur. The name was changed to the Christian Conference of Asia at the Fifth Assembly in Singapore in 1973.
The functions of the Christian Conference of Asia included the encouragement of Asian contribution to Christian thought, worship and action throughout the world, the development of Christian responses to the challenges of Asian societies and the promotion of joint action and cooperation among churches in the region.
The papers in this series comprise reports, booklets, minutes, conference papers, correspondence, itineraries, constitution, annual reports, sermons, lists of members and other records.
This series was item listed and arranged chronologically by Engel. See folder 1 for details on the contents of folders 6-18.
Series 9. Action for World Development, 1970-92
Action for World Development (AWD) was established in 1971 after the 1970 conference 'Action for World Development', sponsored by the Australian Council of Churches and the AEC (Australian Episcopal (Bishops) Conference of the Roman Catholic Church). AWD is an ecumenical network of individuals and groups, independent of the major churches, created to promote awareness of social injustice and its causes. Concerns of AWD include Aborigines, the relationship of Australia and the Third World, Timor and unemployment.
The papers include addresses, cuttings, reports, papers on the aims and achievements of AWD, notes by Engel on the 1970 conference 'Action for World Development', and kits for leaders on trade and injustice and the Third World. Also contains publications including Victorian newsletter, 1982-85, Asian development information, Rich and poor nations (1970), Development is for people (1981) and AWD documentation.
Series 10. Aboriginal affairs, 1936-95
Papers collected by Engel documenting his involvement as Aboriginal Communities Development Advisor for the Board of Ecumenical Mission and Relations, 1976-77 and his writings on and general interest in Aboriginal affairs. The material in this series has been listed by Engel (folder 35) and is retained in original order.
See also series 2for addresses and writings by Engel on Aboriginal issues.
Aboriginal land rights - Australian Council of Churches, National Missionary Council of Australia and individual church statements and submissions, 1964-76 (File 5) - Box 28 (MS 9073)
Aboriginal welfare throughout Australia - Yallourn Junior Chamber report, 1965 (File 8) - Box 29 (MS 9073)
Aboriginal affairs - 1972 survey of living conditions; contributions of missions to Aboriginal social welfare; Aboriginal view of conservation, 1966-74 (File 9) - Box 29 (MS 9073)
Aboriginal affairs - newspaper clippings, government and church reports, statements, 1965-81 (File 11) - Box 29 (MS 9073)
Aurukun - Presbyterian/Uniting Church consultation with the Aurukun community, 1976 (File 12) - Box 30 (MS 9073)
Kevin Gilbert letter and extracts from action in N.T. Supreme Court, Dick Malwago and Johnny Marali v. Northern Land Council, 1978 (File 22) - Box 31 (MS 9073)
Australian government (Member of the House of Representatives) contacts, 1975-77 (File 29) - Box 31 (MS 9073)
Series 11. Miscellaneous papers, 1938-95
Christian Socialist movement - NSW, 1939-41 (File 2) - Box 32 (MS 9073)
Account by Mary Engel of visit to Auckland and a holiday at Franz Joseph glacier, 1942;
'The story of a movement' by Catherine Fraser, c.1960 'movment' was National Missionary Council
Notes by Engel on the ASCM National Conference, Adelaide, 1970-71 (File 4) - Box 33 (MS 9073)
Margaret Holmes, the ASCM and the Dunera Internees, 1970-84
Rosemary Crumlin 'The Blake prize for religious art', 1984 (File 6) - Box 33 (MS 9073)
H.F. Leatherland 'Reflections on a journey made into a time of liturgical change', 1971