Clarence L. Jordan papers

Descriptive Summary
Repository:	Hargrett Manuscripts
Creator:	Jordan, Clarence
Title:	Clarence L. Jordan papers
Dates:	circa 1920s-1984
Quantity:	14.0 Linear feet (32 document boxes, 1 carton, 1 half box)
Abstract:	Correspondence, audiotapes and 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.
Coll. Number:	ms2340

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Biographical/Historical Note

Clarence L. Jordan was born in Talbotton, Georgia on July 29, 1912. 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 (1933) and his Th. M. (1936) and Ph. D. (1939) from the southern Baptist Seminary. After graduating, he became superintendent of City Missions for the Long Run Baptist Association. Jordan married Florence Kroeger on July 21, 1936 and had four children. He founded Kiononia Farms, a religious and interacial community near Americus, Georgia in 1942. Koinonia Farms was very progressive for its time, hiring blacks and whites, and paying them equally. Due to this, the KKK and other like-minded individuals attacked the Koinonia Farm. However, Clarence Jordan and his companions prevailed. Jordan was the author of The Sermon on The Mount (1952), The Cotton Patch Version of Paul's Epistles (1968), and The Cotton Patch Version of Luke and Acts (1969). Considering Jordan's degree in agriculture from the University of Georgia, the farm did well, particularly the pecan orchards. Jordan died of a heart attack while writing a sermon in 1969, but Koinonia Farm continued in his memory.

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Arrangement

Arranged by record type.

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Index Terms

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General Notes

Cotton patch gospels.

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Administrative Information

Ownership and Custodial History

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

Preferred Citation note

Clarence L. Jordan papers. MS 2340. Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

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Related Material

MS 2341 acts a continuation of MS 2340. Both regard Clarence Jordan, his life, and Koinonia Farm.

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Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

Series 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, undated

 

Series 2: Sound Recordings
		Subseries 2A: Transcripts
Box	Folder
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4	1		Love Enemies (Part 1 of Goshen Series)
	2		Jesus the Rebel (Part 2 of Goshen Series)
	3		Jesus and Processions (Part 3 of Goshen Series)
	4		Metamorphosis (Part 4 of Goshen Series)
	5		Man from Gadera (Part 5 of Goshen Series)
	6		Substance of Faith Parts A-C
	7-8		Teaching from Luke Parts A-E
	9		New Testament Evangelism Part 1 Content of
Box	Folder
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5	1		New Testament Evangelism Part 2 Methods of
	2		10 Commandments and Lord's Prayer #1 Parts A and B
	3		Introductory Translation - Sermon on the Mount
	4-6		Parables
	7		Koinonia Story
	8-9		God Movement A-C
Box	Folder
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6	1-2		God Movement D-F
	3		God Movement A-B
	4		God Movement
	5		New Testament Evangelism
	6		Ministers Under Pressure
	7		New Testament Evangelism
	8		I Corinthians 12-13 Study
Box	Folder
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7	1		Parables of Jesus; Power from Parables I Ministers Conference. Union Seminary NYC.
	2		ACTS American Baptist Convention. Seattle, Washington.
	3		Being a Christian in A World of Violencce
	4		Adventures of 3 Students in the Firey Furnace.
	5		Koinonia - Work Life. Morehouse College. Lectures 1, 2, and 3.
	6		Whiskey
	7		Draft the Boys at 65
	8-9		Sermon on the Mount and James
	10		Luke 6 and 7
	11		Goofed Up Bible - Luke
	12		Report to the People
	13		Christian Life and Renewal Week, Goshen
	14		Ephesians
Box	Folder
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8	1		Death of Jesus Christ; Hidden Springs Conf.
	2-4		Stony Point
	5		I and II Peter
		Subseries 2B: Reel-to-reel
Box	Reel
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9	1-2		The Ethics of Jesus, 1963 and undated
	3		Personal Faith
	4		Detroit Lecture on Ephesians 4-63 Master
	5		Lecture on Ephesians
	6-12		Sermon on the Mount and James (dub 1-7)
	13		Clarence Jordan Reading Sermon on the Mount
	14		Love Your Enemies
Box	Reel
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10	1		Love Your Enemies, 1965 and undated
	2-3		Jesus the Rebel
	4-5		Jesus and Possessions
	6-7		Metamorphosis
	8		Jordan-Intro. Translation-Sermon on the Mount
	9		Man from Gadera
	10		Parables-I
Box	Reel
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11	1		Parables-I, 1956-57 and undated
	2-3		Parables-II
	4		Parables-III
	5		Parables #2 Painesville, Ohio
	6		God at Work-I
	7		God at Work-II
	8		God at Work-III
	9		God Movement-I
Box	Reel
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12	1-2		God Movement-II, 1968-69 and undated
	3-4		God Movement-III
	5-6		God Movement-IV
	7		Tape #3 Midwinters Pastor's Conference
	8		New Testament Evangelism-Content of
	9		New Testament Evangelism-Methods of
	10		#1 Sides 1 & 2 Ministers Conf. 4/69
Box	Reel
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13	1		New Testament Evangelism
Box	Reel
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12	23		I Peter
Box	Reel
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13	3-4		I & II Peter
	5		Stoney Point Conference-I
	6-7		Stoney Point Conference-II
	8-9		Stoney Point Conference-III
	10		Lecture Series #1 Baptist Ministers Conf./Morehouse College 7/4-7 1950
Box	Reel
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14	1		Power from Parables-I
	2-3		Power from Parables-II
	4		Power from Parables-III
	5		Power from Parables-IV
	6		Detroit Lecture on Ephesians #1 4/63
	7		Whiskey #1 WSB 7/22/69
	8		Teaching from Luke
	9		"Lectures on Luke" #1 Side 1+2 Wisc. Baptist Convention.
	10		10 Commandments and the Lord's Prayer
Box	Reel
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15	1		Lesson on the Mount
	2		Ministers Under Pressure dub-12 Aug 74
	3		I Cor. 12-13 Bible Study
	4		Substance of Faith
	5		Study of Acts
	6		Being a Christian in Today's World.
	7		Adventures of Three Students in the Firey Furnace
	8		"Luke 6" "Goofed Up Bible" #1
	9		Luke
	10		Clarence Jordan- Findlay St.
	11		Christian Pacifism
	12		Unknown Tape #1
	3		Tape 45 Part 3, Tape 44, Tape 69 Pt. 1
	4		Tape #69 Part 2
Box	Reel
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16	1		Sermon on the Mount
	2		Incarnating Brotherhood
	3		Prodigal Son
	4		American Baptist Seattle '69
	5		Sermon on the Mount
	6		"Christian Life + Renewal Wee" #1 "Judas" WGCS Goshen, Ind 2/11/65
	7		Koinonia Story
	8		Record if there's anything on it
	9		Hidden Springs
	10		Report to the People
	11		Americus Meeting
Box	Reel
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17	1		Scott Morrison Interview with Clarence Jordan
	2		Ephesians 1+2
	3		Ephesians 3+4
	4		Ephesians 1+2 Master Tape
	5		Ephesians 3+4 Master Tape
	6		Ephesians 1+2 Detroit 1963 Master
	7		Ephesians Copy B
	8		Ephesians 3+4 Copy C
	9		Ephesians Lectures 1 and 2 ABC Detroit 1965 Copy D
Box	Reel
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18	1		Ephasians 1+2 Detroit 1965 Copy E
	2		Letter to Ephisians
	3		"Whiskey" #1 WSB
	4		Memorial Service for Clarence Jordan
	5		Clarence Jordan tells the Koinonia Story
	6		National Public Radio Koinonia Farm segment. Air date: Sept. 7, 1971.
	7		Bible Lectures of Ephesians #1 ABC Detroit 1963
	8		Smoking
	9		Draft the Boys at 65
	10		Draft the Boys at 65
	11		"The Death of Jesus Christ" #1 Nashville, Tenn.
Box	Reel
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19	1		The Death on Jesus Christ. #1 Nashville, Tenn.
	2		Prodigal Son.
	3		Rich Man and Lazarus
	4		Hidden Springs Conf.
	5		Man from Gadera
	6		Sermon on the Mount
	7-9		Stoney Point Conf. 1/69 Reels 1-3
	10		Judas
Box	Reel
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20	1		Clarence Jordan tells Koinonia History 1959
	2		The Sabbath is the Way of Life
	3		The Death of Jesus Christ. Nashville, Tenn.
	4		Teaching from Judge 17 and 18.
	5		Episode from Acts
	6-10		Koinonia Conference Parts 1-5
Box	Reel
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21	1-7		Koinonia Conference Parts 6-12
	8		Koinonia Conference 8-20-68 #13
	9		Koinonia Conference 8-12-68 #14 (Part of Side 1)
	2340-1		Koinonia Farms Scrapbooks microfilm
Box	Reel
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24	1		Millard Fuller, 1 reel
	2		W.S.A. Darker Brother "All men are Created Equal," #6, 1972 November 20
	3		Clarence Jordan- Sermon on Mt. and James, reel 2-B
	4		Boyce Van Osdell- Now is the Time and a Half- ABC (on reel with Baptists in Asian Church Mission), 1969
	4		U Kyaw Than- Baptists in Asian Church Missions (on reel w/ Now is the Time...)
	5		Gardner Taylor- A New Creation- ABC, Seattle (on reel w/ We Walk the Edge), 1968
	5		James Christison- We Walk the Edge of the New (on reel w/ A New Creation)
	6		James Cone #1- Human Relations Council, B[irming]ham Symposium, 1971 october 21
	7		Midwinters Pastors Conference #3, undated
	8		Unidentified reel
	9		Bird calls
Box	Reel
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25	1		Misc. Music.
	2		64 Man from Godera
	3		Unknown
	4		Clarence Jordan. Bible Study 5-A&B 3 3/4ips Dual Track
	5-6		Christian Involvement Seminar Reel
	7		ABC Seattle '69
	8-11		Ladon Sheats Address
	12		Coordinators tape #3 Ben Johnson
Carton	Item
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1	1		The Koinonia Story as told by Clarence Jordan.33 1/2 record.
	1		Adventures of Three Students in the Firey Furnace
	2		Methods of New Testament Evangelism, 1966
	3		Being a Christian in Today's World
	4		New Testament Evangelism - Content of
	5		Personal Faith
	6		New Testament Evangelism - Copy
	7		New Testament Evangelism - Methods of
	8		Judas
	9		Stoney Point Conference I
	10		N.T. Evangelism. No. Bapt. Theo. Sem. Master.
	11		God Movement. #1 Yokefellow Institute 3/4-6/68
	12		God Movement II
	13		Master New Testament Evangelism - Methods
	14		New Testament Evangelism
	15		Power from Parables
	16		Clarence Jordan reading Sermon on the Mount
	17		Love Your Enemies
	18		Memorial Service for Clarence Jordan
	19		Satire on Smoking. #1 8/11/67
	20		Episodes from Acts
	21		I Cor. 12-13 Bible Study
	22		Stoney Point Conference II
	23		Man from Gadera
	24		Metamorphosis
	25		God at Work II
	26		God at Work I
	27		Jesus the Rebel
	28		New Testament Evangelism
	29		Man from Gadara
	30		Ephesians #1 Master
	31		Jesus and Possessions
	32		Incarnating Brotherhood
	33		Sermon on the Mount and James III
	34		Koinonia Story. #1 West Cincinnati, Ohio. 1956 or 1957.
	35		10 Commandments and the Lord's Prayer
	36		Ladon Sheats Address
	37		Ramone S. Eaton. Am Nat'l Red Cross
	38		Sermon on the Mount Green Lake Aug 64
Box	Reel
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33	1-3		Sermon on the Mount and James I, II, and III
		Subseries 2C: Audio cassette tapes
Box
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22			Lecture on Ephesians
22		Sermon on the Mount and James
22		Love your Enemies; Metamorphosis
22		The God Movement
22		1st and 2nd Peter
22		Stony Point Conference
22		Power From Parables
22		Teaching from Luke
22		Ministers Under Pressure
22		Substance of Faith
22		A Christian in Today's World
Box	Cassette
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23	1		Three Students in a Fiery Furnace, copy 2
	2-5		Episodes from Acts I-IV, 2 sets, Koinonia Records (not transcribed)
	6-7		God at Work part 1 and 2, copy 3, Koinonia Records (not transcribed)
	8-9		Personal Faith part 1, Koinonia Records (not transcribed)
	10-14		Dr. Swomley #1-5 (not transcribed)
	15-22		Dr. Swomley #6-10 and 2 test dupliates of #10 (not transcribed)
	23		Millard Fuller: Marble Young Adults- NYC (not transcribed), 1971 March 21
	24-28		Graham Polkingham parts #1-5 (not transcribed)
	29-32		Graham Polkingham parts #1, 3-5 (not transcribed) [unclear if duplicate of above]
	33-37		Graham Polkingham parts #6-10, copy 4 (not transcribed)
	38-41		Graham Polkingham, Session 2-5 (not transcribed)
	42-46		Graham Polkingham tapes #1-5, copy 4 Koinonia Records (non-transcribed) [probable duplicate of above]
Box	Cassette
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15	1		Tape #45 Part 1
	2		Tape #45 Part 2
Box	Cassette
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16	3		Tape #51
	4		Tape #54 Hidden Springs Conference
	1-2		Americus Meeting
Box	Cassette
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17	1		Scott Morrison Interview with Clarence Jordan
Box	Cassette
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18	1		NPR Koinonia Farm Segment. Airdate Sept. 7, 1971.
Box	Cassette
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20	1-5		Koinonia Conference Duplicates Parts 1-5
Box	Cassette
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19	1-3		Stoney Pt. Conference 1/69 Reel 2 Duplicate
Box	Cassette
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21	1-9		Koinonia Conference Duplicates Parts 6-14
Box	Cassette
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25	1-2		Miscellaneous tapes
Carton	Cassette
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1	1-2		Bratcher 1st session. King or God?
	3		Bratcher 2nd session. Unknown.
	4-5		Bratcher 3rd session. Kingdom and Posesssions. Life in the Kingdom.
	6		Bratcher 4th session. Discussion on Jesus the Revolutionary. Life in the Kingdom.
	7-8		Bratcher 5th session. Life in the Kingdom. Christmas and the World.

 

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