Clarence L. Jordan papers

Descriptive Summary
Title: Clarence L. Jordan papers
Creator: Jordan, Clarence
Inclusive Dates: 1920-1984
Language(s): English
Extent: 15 Linear Feet 15 document boxes
Collection Number: ms2340
Repository: Hargrett Library

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Collection Description

Historical Note

Clarence L. Jordan (1912-1969) was born in Talbotton, Georgia. He was raised in the Baptist Church and at an early age was interested in becoming a Baptist minister. Jordan earned his B.S. degree at the University of Georgia, and his Th.M. and Ph.D. from the Southern Baptist Seminary. After graduating, he became superintendent of City Missions for the Long Run Baptist Association. Jordan married Florence Kroeger in 1936 and had four children. He founded Kiononia Farms, a religious and interracial community near Americus, Georgia in 1942. Jordan was the author of The Sermon on The Mount, The Cotton Patch Version of Paul's Epistles, and The Cotton Patch Version of Luke and Acts.

Scope and Content

Correspondence, audiotape transcripts, and other papers, relating to Clarence Jordan, Koinonia Farm, a religious and interracial community near Americus, Ga., which he founded in 1942, and his Cotton Patch Gospels; together with correspondence to his wife, Florence (Kroeger) Jordan, concerning his death and legal matters. Includes correspondence to his mother while a student at University of Georgia and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, original Koinonia commitment, and coroner's report on Jordan's death. Topics include an alleged insurance claim scandal and racial violence.

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Administrative Information

Custodial History

Gift of Mrs. Clarence Jordan, 1971, 1984, and 1985.

Preferred Citation

Clarence L. Jordan papers, ms2340, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

Finding Aid Publication

Finding aid prepared on: 2009 November 13.

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Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Related Collections in this Repository

Related collections include Clarence L. Jordan papers, ms2341, and Clarence L. Jordans papers, ms756.

Related audiovisual item available in the Media Archive: http://purl.libs.uga.edu/brown/har-ms2340/bmac-coll

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Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

1. Correspondence, 1942-1981
		In the early years of correspondence, Clarence Jordan and other members of Koinonia write joint letters explaining their living situations, the reasoning behind their settlement in Georgia, and appealing for financial support. There is much correspondence with Hans-Hermann Arnold of the Society of Brothers/Bruderhof at Woodcrest, a similar religious community started in 1954 in Rifton, New York. Correspondence is not exclusively with Christian organizations.In the middle years, correspondence to Clarence Jordan includes positive topics such as prospective donations but also negative topics such as accusations of Jordan being a Communist. In one reply, Jordan specifically lists the economic, legal, phsyical, and psychological attacks levied against Koinonia. In other correspondence, Jordan expresses stress over a trail about stealing tainted by the court's opinion of his treatment of race. Despite these struggles, Jordan is asked many times to speak at religious conferences across America.Later correspondence prominently features many requests for Jordan to speak at churches and events. Carbon copies of Jordan's replies are often attached to the original letters. Millard Fuller's replies to Jordan's correspondence and later letters of condolences starting in late October 1969 after Jordan's death are also included. Letters after 1971 are mostly addressed to Florence Jordan.
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1	1-16	1942-1958
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2	1-10	1959-1965
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3		1966-1981

 

2. Transcripts
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4	1	Love Enemies (Part 1 of Goshen Series)
4	2	Jesus the Rebel (Part 2 of Goshen Series)
4	3	Jesus and Processions (Part 3 of Goshen Series)
4	4	Metamorphosis (Part 4 of Goshen Series)
4	5	Man from Gadera (Part 5 of Goshen Series)
4	6	Substance of Faith Parts A-C
4	7-8	Teaching from Luke Parts A-E
4	9	New Testament Evangelism Part 1 Content of
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5	1	New Testament Evangelism Part 2 Methods of
5	2	10 Commandments and Lord's Prayer #1 Parts A and B
5	3	Introductory Translation - Sermon on the Mount
5	4-6	Parables
5	7	Koinonia Story
5	8-9	God Movement A-C
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6	1-2	God Movement D-F
6	3	God Movement A-B
6	4	God Movement
6	5	New Testament Evangelism
6	6	Ministers Under Pressure
6	7	New Testament Evangelism
6	8	I Corinthians 12-13 Study
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7	1	Parables of Jesus; Power from Parables I Ministers Conference. Union Seminary NYC.
7	2	ACTS American Baptist Convention. Seattle, Washington.
7	3	Being a Christian in A World of Violencce
7	4	Adventures of 3 Students in the Firey Furnace.
7	5	Koinonia - Work Life. Morehouse College. Lectures 1, 2, and 3.
7	6	Whiskey
7	7	Draft the Boys at 65
7	8-9	Sermon on the Mount and James
7	10	Luke 6 and 7
7	11	Goofed Up Bible - Luke
7	12	Report to the People
7	13	Christian Life and Renewal Week, Goshen
7	14	Ephesians
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8	1	Death of Jesus Christ; Hidden Springs Conf.
8	2-4	Stony Point
8	5	I and II Peter

 

3. Subject Files
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26	1	Beef Cattle Management
26	2	Building Plans
26	3	Coastal Bermuda Grass
26	4	Concrete
26	5	Electric Motors
26	6	Electricity
26	7	Equipment-Misc; Operating Instructions
26	8	Fencing
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27	1	Field Crops-Business
27	2	Field Crops-Crop Plans
27	3	Field Crops-Records
27	4	Forestry
27	5	Fruits and Nuts
27	6	Gas-LP
27	7	Gasoline
27	8	Grain
27	9	Insect Poisons
27	10	Insects
27	11	Limestone and Fertilizer Orders
27	12	Meat Inspection
27	13	Meat Processing
27	14	Muscadine Grapes
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28	1	Pastures
28	2	Pecans
28	3	Repair of Household and Farm Equipment
28	4	Roadside Market
28	5	Soil Test
28	6	Transportation-Business-Gasoline Refund Permit No. 7974
28	7	Transportation-Business-Insurance
28	8	War Surplus
28	9	Water and Septic Tank Diagrams
28	10	Weed Killer
28	11	Welding
28	12	Winter Grazing
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29	1	Articles and Essays
29	2	Clippings: Kesin, Mayor Elenor of Elkhart
29	3	"Clarence", July 8, 1957
29	4	The Church
29	5	Boyle, Sarah-Address to Congregation of Second Baptist Church, L.A., California, "Rocketship to Freedom" (Includes clippings.)
29	6	Braden, Carl First Amendment-House Un-American Activities
29	7	Carter, Jimmy (clippings and publications)
29	8	Clippings: News re: Clarence Jordans' death
29	9	Clippings: Koinonia and Jordan
29	10	Candymaking
29	11	Church (Programs and Bulletins)
29	12	The Church (Sermons, Papers, Lectures, Printed material)
29	13	Cotton Patch Gospel: Clippings, pamphlets
29	14	Directions to Koinonia Farm
29	15	Daniel: Chapter 11 Notes
29	16	Drafts: Israels' Prophets and Their Preaching
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30	1	List of Transcriptions, Tapes and Summaries
30	2	Lecture Series: Power From Parables
30	3	Lecture: A People, Its Leader and Its God. The Life Work of Moses
30	4	The Koinonia Story: Offprints
30	5	Koinonia Pamphlets
30	6	Economics
30	7	Finances: Annual Report
30	8	Finances: Business Purchasing
30	9	Finances: Citizens' Trust Company
30	10	Finances: General
30	11	Finances: Monthly Reports
30	12	Finances: Reports
30	13	Habitat for Humanity Conference; Report
30	14	The Hutterites, includes clippings
30	15	Insurance
30	16	Israel, Report on Trip
30	17	The Kiplinger Washington Letter
30	18	Kotźe, Theo
30	19	Kotźe, Theo: Correspondence
30	20	Landscaping: Printed material
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31	1	McCracklin, Maurice Clippings, Newsletters, Misc. Information re: Arrest and Trial
31	2	My Friend the Enemy (Book)
31	3	The New Testament (Book)
31	4	Newspapers
31	5	Newsletters
31	6	Outlines: Speeches
31	7	Pamphlets
31	8	Personal Memos
31	9	Photographs
31	10	Play: The Hair-Shirt Republic by McLeod Bryan
31	11	Poems, Quotations, etc.
31	12	Printed Material-Misc.
31	13	Racial Violence: Newspaper Reports and Injunction
31	14	Reba Place Fellowship
31	15	Price Lists
31	16	Profile of Georgia (Clippings)
31	17	Property in Lucerne Valley, California
31	18	Relationship with Community Churches
31	19	Religious Publications
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32	1	Religious Publications
32	2	Sermons: New Testament Preaching and the Liberation of Personality. Edward A. McDowell
32	3	Study Guide on the Gospel According to St. John
32	4	Translations
32	5	U.S. SERVAS Committee
32	6	Term Deeds
32	7	Sumter County vs. Koinonia Farm Inc. and Clarence Jordan
32	8	Schools
32	9	Sumter County Grand Jury Presentments; includes clippings
32	10	Misc.