Robert Cowles, blessed sacrament catholic church historian
Proposal Type
Traditional Panel
Seeking
- Seeking General Feedback and Interest
Related Topics
- Archives
- Data/Information Management
- Oral History
Abstract
My Basic Topic will be my efforts as Church Historian for Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Jonesboro Arkansas, preserving the History of the 84 year old Church which was Closed October 1, 2017. As Church Historian I wrote a Manuscript entitled “A Brief History of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church” which covered history of the Parish from 1933 through January 13, 2019. A copy of this Manuscript was placed in the New Time Capsule. I will also discuss my efforts in the video recording of special events of the Church from January 2016 through December 2019 along with “Voices from the Pew: video Interviews of Blessed Sacrament Parishioners 2017; with a discussion of Archiving Church Files, Photographs and School Record Books from 1889-1960.
Description
I am wanting to include my include my recent efforts as a Church Historian during the transition period of closing our 84 year old Church and the completion of the New Church. I want to highlight the various methods I used to both preserve History of a Parish as well as the History of a building. I will discuss utilization of much of the Old Building in the New Church as an effort to ease this process especially among the older Parishioners. Also I wish to highlight the emotional attachment of parishioners associated to the Old Church as it was being sold to Saint Bernards Hospital, then subsequently closed and then razed. I would like to be a member of a panel which discusses the work of Public Historians as it relates to Church History.
If you have a direct offer of assistance, sensitive criticism, or wish to pass along someone’s contact information confidentially, please get in contact directly: Robert Cowles, [email protected]
All feedback and offers of assistance should be submitted by July 1, 2019. If you have general ideas or feedback to share, please feel free to use the comments feature below.
My “Brief History of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church”, has in the Introduction short history of the First Catholic Parish in Jonesboro named Saint Romans which begins in 1883 and ends October 17, 1933 when a new Church was renamed and Consecrated as Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. The rest of my manuscript discusses the first Blessed Sacrament Church from 1933 through October 1, 2017. Also included is a glimpse of the Future which looks at the construction of our New Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church which was completed and Consecrated January 13, 2019.
Hi Robert, did you plan to include other speakers on church history? Your proposal made me think of how many churches I have read about that are closing down because of low attendance or difficulties in maintaining older structures. It might enrich the discussion to include other presenters from different churches who are experiencing similar challenges of trying to preserve their church histories.
Hi Jennifer, I will be concentrating on the closing of this particular Church. I am wanting to be a panel member discussing the challenges of being a Volunteer Parish Church Historian, with little monetary resources, as well as my efforts during the process of closing our specific Church. During the closing process and the Design and Construction phase of building the New Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church I also served on the Design Committee and provided input related to the History of the Church, and its many Gothic/Romanesque features. I documented Special Events via personal camcorder. At time these events were going on I was working on my Master of Arts Degree in History, with an emphasis in Public History which I earned August 4, 2017. As a part of the Degree Requirements I created an Intership Video Project “Voices from the Pew” interviewing selected Parishioners, who sat in a pew in the Old Church, about their association with the Parish and their special memories of the building including any special attachment they may have to the Stained-Glass Windows, Statuary etc. I completed a mansucript “A Brief History of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church” a copy of it is located in our New Time Capsule. I will be bringing a copy with me to the conference.
Robert, I think there are some good opportunities for discussion here (I’ve spent time researching churches and the changing uses of their buildings myself, and I know several others have as well), but it isn’t quite clear from what you’ve said here if you’re looking to share a paper on a panel about different church history-type issues (and thus are looking for other folks with similar issues to join your panel) or if you’re proposing a panel that will feature yourself and several other folks involved with this particular church.
To put it another way: are you seeking other panel members? If so, what types of questions would you like them to address? Or are you proposing a full panel already? If so, what other people will be involved? Or is there a third option that you’re considering? All would be valid and interesting paths. I suggest making it clear which one you’re taking when you submit the formal proposal.
Hi Kristen, I am loooking to join a panel composed of people who have served as Church Historians. The discusssion would center around the challenges of properly maintaining a Church’s History during the process of closing an 84 year-old Church builiding and construction of a New Church building which incorporated many Historic items from the old Church, i.e. Stained-Glass Windows, Statuary etc. I want the panel members to discuss their work as Church Historians under similar circumstances, to include the fact that like myself they are working in a volunteer capacity with very limited monetary support from the Church. Also the panel members would discuss their efforts to properly organize and maintain Historic Books and Documents. I am currently facing the challenge of organizing and properly archiving documents, photographs with no names attached, etc. which have merely been stashed helter skelter in the Church Office over the last 84 plus years.
Hi Kristen, I have received responses to my proposal about Church History from you and Jennifer Scott. I have asked Jennifer if she would like to be on a panel with me discussing the topics I presented in my propsal and the challenges of being a Volunteer Church Historian. Would you be interested in being on such a panel?
Hi Jennifer, would you be interested in being on a panel discussing the topics I have proposed related to Church History?