Selected Records, 1958-1978

The Hinton Rural Life Center is a relatively young organization, and the collection of its extent records is small. Approximately four cubic feet in volume, the records are composed primarily of the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors (1965-77); the correspondence of directors Harold McSwain and Doyce Gunter (1964-78); and newsletters and other publications (1965-78).

The meetings of the Board of Directors provide specific information about the goals, program, and business affairs of the Center between 1968 and 1977. In addition, they serve to promote an understanding of United Methodist administration and legislative process. It is in these files that the most information is found concerning the Center’s efforts to link its work and programs to the needs of the Appalachian region.

The majority of the correspondence files of Harold McSwain and Doyce Gunter pertain to program development and development of the idea of parish-staff-type ministry. Consequently they supplement and fill out the discussions and reports found in the board minutes.

The publications are the most extensive and detailed sources on the development of the Center’s philosophy, and work for parish renewal and reformation in the small membership church, which, along with the accompanying research, training, and consultant components, came to be seen as the core of the Center’s work.

The manuscript records are divided into three series: 1: Operational and Vital records, 1958-77; 2: Correspondence, 1964-78; and 3: Publications, 1965-78.