Religion Collections in Libraries and Archives: A Guide to Resources in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia Table of Contents - Preface/Acknowledgements - Abbreviations Lists of Entries: District of Columbia - Maryland - Virginia

The Salvation Army
National Archives and Research Center

Access Policies

The public is welcome, but appointments are preferred, since the staff may not be available at all times. The archives staff must do photocopying for which there is a 25 cents, per page, charge. Some documents are too fragile to be copied; whole collections will not be copied.

Reference Policy:

Telephone and mail reference questions are accepted. Photocopying charges may apply.

Borrowing Privileges:

Not a lending institution.

Networks/Consortia:

None.

Background Note:

The Archives was founded in 1974, as the Salvation Army was preparing for its 1980 centennial in the United States. The Archives was first housed in Territorial Headquarters in New York City, but has since been transferred to National Headquarters, located in Alexandria, Virginia.

Description of Collections

Books and monographs:

5,000 books, with inclusive publication dates from 1865 to the present. Subject areas covered are Salvation Army history, salvationism, and the Salvation Army, an international church.

Periodicals and newspapers:

5 current subscriptions; 1,000 bound volumes. Inclusive dates of the collection are from 1880 to the present. Subject areas covered are Salvation Army history, salvationism, and the Salvation Army in the United States. Of particular interest are Salvation Army periodicals The Young Salvationist, The Officer, The Musical Salvationist, and the War Cry, a biweekly periodical with issues as early as 1884.

There is a listing of holdings by year.

Archives, manuscripts, correspondence, and oral histories:

1,500 cubic feet of materials, with inclusive dates from 1880 to the present. Subject areas covered are the Salvation Army in the United States, salvationism, women in the clergy, and missions and missionaries. The collection includes personal papers of officers, correspondence, diaries, and literary and research projects.

Unpublished finding aids are available for all processed collections. There is limited access to unprocessed materials. Susan Mitchem is the archivist for this collection.

Microforms:

750 microfiche, 2,000 microfilms, covering the subjects of the Salvation Army in the United States and salvationism.

There is a yearly index to periodicals and other formats on film.

Vertical files:

55 vertical files, with inclusive dates of 1880 to the present. Subject areas covered in this collection include Salvation Army in the United States; William Booth, 1829-1912; and Evangeline Booth, 1865-1950.

The collection is arranged alphabetically by subject or name of person.

Paintings, photographs, slides, and prints:

100,000 photographs, with inclusive dates of 1870 to the present. Subject emphases of this collection include events and individuals of the Salvation Army in the United States; William Booth, 1829-1912; Evangeline Booth, 1865-1950; and salvationism. Also included are over 1600 lantern slides depicting late 19th and early 20th century scenes of Army work.

Subject Headings