Robert A. McKibben papers

Collection

Identifier: 0489

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Scope and Content

The Robert A. McKibben papers consists of correspondence and documents relating to All Nations Foundation while it was under McKibben's direction. All Nations Foundation was an organization affiliated with the Church of All Nations, providing important welfare services to the community in Los Angeles. The collection includes such items as reports on the status of children and teens in the Los Angeles area who were at risk for delinquency; progress reports on community improvement and delinquency rates; and information from conferences and employee trainings, many of which had a specific focus on group work. Also included is much correspondence between All Nations Foundation and other local or national welfare agencies regarding funding, grants, and progress made in the community.

Dates

Creation: 1927 - 1968

Creator

McKibben, Robert A. (Robert Anderson) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Advance notice required for access.

Conditions Governing Use

The use of archival materials for on-site research does not constitute permission from the California Social Welfare Archives to publish them. Copyright has not been assigned to the California Social Welfare Archives, and the researcher is instructed to obtain permission to quote from or publish manuscripts in the CSWA's collections from the copyright holder.

Biographical note

The Reverend Robert A. McKibben directed the All Nations Foundation from 1927-1952 and was dedicated to improving the Los Angeles community in which the Foundation worked. All Nations Foundation was considered the largest and most effective social welfare organization at the time in Los Angeles. McKibben collaborated with other welfare foundations both locally and nationally in order to improve the success of All Nations Foundation programs. Most of his projects focused on the healthy development of children, and the many programs of All Nations Foundation had the goal of ensuring that the participating children were physically, psychologically, and socially healthy. In 1952, Robert McKibben resigned from All Nations Foundation in order to accept a position as a member of the National Board of Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In addition to serving as director of All Nations Foundation, McKibben was also president of the Los Angeles County Coordinating Council's Executive Board, and a Vice President of the Council of Social Agencies. Because of his influential and untiring work, the delinquency rate on the east side of Los Angeles dropped 65% within his first three years of directing All Nations Foundation.

Extent

0.84 Linear Feet (2 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Rev. Dr. Robert A. McKibben was Executive Director of the All Nations Foundation and Pastor of the Church of All Nations in Los Angeles from 1927 until 1952, when he resigned to accept appointment by the Methodist Episcopal Church to its National Board of Missions. McKibben's correspondence relating to the All Nations Foundation, including his fund raising letters and his papers on church social work programs, are to be found with the records of that agency. Papers in this collection reflect his wide interests, his acquaintance with leading social welfare administrators throughout the West, and his national and international connections with social work associations, particularly those concerned with the developing specialty of group work, and with issues from the provision of services to youth, to narcotics education, and international student exchange programs. An influential figure in Los Angeles, McKibben was president of the Los Angeles County Coordinating Council's Executive Board, and a Vice-President of the Council of Social Agencies, on whose Executive Committee he served for many years.

Related Archival Materials

All Nations Church and Foundation records, Collection no. 0403, California Social Welfare Archives, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California

All Nations Church and Foundation photographs, Collection no. 0421, California Social Welfare Archives, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California

Los Angeles County Coordinating Councils Records, Collection no. 0406, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California

Council of Social Agencies of Los Angeles records, Collection no. 0480, California Social Welfare Archives, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California

Community Chest and Welfare Federation of Los Angeles Area records, Collection no. 0461, California Social Welfare Archives, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California