wilmer clemont fields papers ar 627 – 5 - Southern Baptist Historical

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WILMER CLEMONT FIELDS PAPERS

AR 627 – 5

Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives
Nashville, Tennessee

August, 2006

Updated March, 2012
Wilmer Clemont Fields Papers

AR 627 – 5

Summary
Main Entry: Wilmer Clemont Fields Papers

Date Span: 1943, 2004

Abstract: The Wilmer C. Fields Papers are a mix of official papers and personal material.
There is material from his service as a pastor and as editor of the Baptist Record. But the
majority of the files are his official papers as an employee of the Southern Baptist
Convention Executive Committee, serving as Vice President for Public Relations from
1959 till 1987.

Size: 122 linear ft. (109 boxes)

Collection #: AR 627 – 5

Biographical Sketch
Wilmer Clemont Fields was born in Saline, Louisiana March 16, 1922 to Felder Burkett
Fields and Eva Mae Corbitt Fields. He was a graduate of Louisiana College in Pineville,
Louisiana and held Th.M. and Th.D. degrees from Southern Baptist Theological
Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.

Fields served as pastor to Baptist churches in Louisiana, Kentucky, and Mississippi from
1940 to 1956. From 1956 to 1959, he served as editor of the Baptist Record, the state
Baptist newspaper for Mississippi. In July, 1959, he came to work for the Executive
Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, serving as
assistant to the Executive Secretary and Director of Public Relations. The title for this
position later changed to Vice President for Public Relations. He retired from the
Executive Committee in 1987.

Fields directed the work of Baptist Press, the news service for Southern Baptists, and
edited the Baptist Program, a monthly promotional magazine published by the Executive
Committee. He edited the material for the Baptist Bulletin Service and organized the
annual SBC Communications Conference. Dr. Fields had a significant role in the
Southern Baptist Press Association, the Baptist Public Relations Association, the Public
Relations Society of America, Religious Public Relations Council, and Associated
Church Press. He assisted in the planning and administration of the annual meeting of the
Southern Baptist Convention and traveled extensively throughout his life. Some of his
papers reflect those trips.
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Scope and Content Notes
The Wilmer C. Fields Papers are a mix of official papers and personal material. The
collection includes material from his service as pastor to churches in Kentucky and
Mississippi. The majority of the files are his official papers as a staff member of the
Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention. The initial papers were placed
in the archives in 1994, with additional items donated in 2003.

The papers are arranged in alphabetical order by folder title. The bulk of the papers
cover the period 1943 to 2004. The collection is contained in 109 boxes and includes
approximately 122 linear ft. of material. The files cover a wide range of topics related to
Baptists, particularly Southern Baptists. The collection includes correspondence,
sermons, informational files, committee files, subject and topical files, files on SBC
agencies and programs, meetings of the SBC and its related organizations, and files
related to Field’s professional involvement.

The Correspondence files cover a wide range of topics and interest. The files prior to
1959 focus on Fields work as editor of the Baptist Record (Baptist newspaper for
Mississippi). The correspondence from 1959 to 1987 includes his activities as head of
Baptist Press, editor of Baptist Program, his professional involvement, and his work with
the Executive Committee and the Convention meetings. The correspondence in the early
1980’s reflects the controversy with the Southern Baptist family between conservatives
and moderates. The correspondence is arranged in chronological order and then
alphabetically by the correspondent. The majority of the correspondence is from
individuals outside the Executive Committee.

Two other items of note include the files related to Field’s dissertation research and
transcripts of oral histories conducted by the Oral History Program at Baylor University.

Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by folder title. Correspondence arranged chronologically, then
alphabetically

Provenance
Initial papers placed in the SBHLA in 1994, with additions in 2003

Preferred Citation
Wilmer Clemont Fields Papers, Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives,
Nashville, Tennessee

Access Restrictions
None

Subject Terms
Pressler, Paul
Smith, Bailey, 1939 –
American Bible Society
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Associated Baptist Press
Associated Church Press
Baptist Bulletin Service
Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs
Baptist Public Relations Association
Baptist Record (Mississippi)
Baptist World Alliance
Southern Baptist Convention. Christian Life Commission
Southern Baptist Convention. Committee of Fifteen
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
European Baptist Press Service
Southern Baptist Convention. Executive Committee
Mississippi Baptist Convention
Missouri Baptist Convention
National Religious Broadcasters
Public Relations Society of America
Religious Public Relations Council
Southern Baptist Convention. Cooperative Program
Southern Baptist Convention. Interagency council
Southern Baptist Convention. Pastor’s Conference
Southern Baptist Convention. Sunday School Board
Southern Baptist Convention. Woman’s Missionary Union
Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists
Southern Baptist Press Association
Southern Baptist Religious Education Association
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Ecumenical movement
Sermons – Baptist
Stewardship. Christian
Race relations
Press, Baptist
Controversies – Baptist, 20th century
Baptists – Canada
Baptists – Mississippi

Related Materials

Southern Baptist Convention. Executive Office Records. Southern Baptist Historical
Library and Archives, AR 627.
Southern Baptist Convention. Controversy Oral History Collection, Southern Baptist
Historical Library and Archives, R553vt

Container List

Box 1
1.1 Aarhaug, Aksel (Norwegian Mission Society), 1972
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1.2 Abortion
1.3 Abstract of Principles, 1858 – Southern Seminary
1.4 Academic Freedom
1.5 Adams, Theodore F., 1960 – 1967
1.6 Advertising, 1954 – 1965
1.7 (The) Advertising Council, 1971 – 1973
1.8 Africa, 1958 – 1974
1.9 Africa – Articles, 1969 – 1973
1.10 Africa – Clippings, 1970
1.11 Africa – Correspondence, 1970
1.12 Africa – Rhodesia, 1967
1.13 Africa – South Africa, 1967
1.14 Africa Trip, 1970
1.15 Aging
1.16 Aircraft
1.17 (The) Alabama Baptist, 1971 – 1974
1.18 Alabama Baptist Convention, 1962 – 1966
1.19 Alabama Baptist Convention, 1969 (Birmingham)
1.20 Alabama Baptist Convention, 1972 – 1986
1.21 Alabama Baptist Convention – “Bold Believers on Mission,” 1978
1.22 Alabama – Birmingham – Fist Baptist Church, 1971
1.23 Alabama – Birmingham – Ruhama Baptist Church, 1969
1.24 Alabama – Gadsden – Dwight Baptist Church, 1961
1.25 Alabama – Madison Baptist Association, 1970 – 1971
1.26 Alabama – Phenix City – North Phenix Baptist Church, 1959
1.27 Alabama – Troy – First Baptist Church, 1978
1.28 Alaska – Anchorage, 1977
1.29 Alaska – Anchorage – First Baptist Church, 1983
1.30 Alaska – Anchorage – Grandview Baptist Church, 1966
1.31 Alaska – Arctic, 1977
1.32 (The) Alaska Baptist, 1960
1.33 Alaska Baptist Convention, 1966 – Book of Report
1.34 Alaska Baptist Convention, 1966 – 1977
1.35 Alaska Baptist Convention, 1983
1.36 Alaska Baptist Convention, 1983 – Book of Reports
1.37 Alaska Baptist Convention, 1984
1.38 Alaska Baptist Messenger, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1976, 1977 (Broken)
1.39 Alaska Baptist Messenger, 1983
1.40 Alaska Baptists, 1954 – 1959
1.41 Alaska – Calvary Baptist Church, 1959
1.42 Alaska’s Challenge, 1964
1.43 Alaska – Correspondence, 1966 – 1975
1.44 Alaska – Correspondence, 1976 – 1985
1.45 Alaska – Correspondence, 1977
1.46 Alaska Cruise, 1995, 1999
1.47 Alcohol / Alcoholism
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1.48 ALIA – Public Relations – Special Report, 1978
1.49 (The) All – American Baptist, 1958
1.50 All – India New Life Crusade
1.51 Allen, Catherine B. (Mrs. Lee N.)
1.52 Allen, Clifton Judson, 1957 – 1982
1.53 Allen, Jimmie – SBC, 1977 – 1980
1.54 Allen, John H., 1983
1.55 Allen, Judson, 1960 – 1966
1.56 Alley, Reuben, 1948
1.57 Alley, Robert S., 1978
1.58 Allison, B. Gray – Mid -America, 1973
1.59 Alumni Directory, 1965 – 1966
1.60 Amarillo Baptist Association, 1974
1.61 Ambassador Church Finance, 1976
1.62 Ambassador Life, 1964 – 1966
1.63 Ambassador to the Vatican, 1969 – 1970
1.64 Ambrose, Winston H. (D.C.), 1959
1.65 America in Search of its Soul – Rabbi Balfour Brickner, 1985
1.66 American Association for Business History, 1983 – Special Report
1.67 American Baptist Census, 1961
1.68 American Baptist Churches, 1973 – 1985
1.69 American Baptist Convention, 1962 – 1969
1.70 American Baptist Convention, 1970 – 1973
1.71 American Baptist Convention – Census of Church Membership, 1960
1.72 American Baptist – Israel, 1973
1.73 American Baptist News Service, 1959
1.74. American Baptist Theological Seminary, 1959 – 1972
1.75 American Bible Society, 1950 – 1959
1.76 American Bible Society, 1960 – 1969
1.77 American Bible Society, 1964
1.78 American Bible Society, 1965 – January – July

Box 2
2.1 American Bible Society, 1965 – July – December
2.2. American Bible Society, 1966
2.3 American Bible Society, 1967
2.4 American Bible Society, 1968
2.5 American Bible Society, 1969
2.6 American Bible Society, 1970 – 1979
2.7 American Bible Society, 1980 – 1989
2.8 American Bible Society – Photographs
2.9 American Broadcasting Company (ABC), 1983
2.10 American Christian Television System (ACTS), 1984
2.11 (The) American Foundation of Religion and Psychiatry, 1962 – 1963
2.12 American Issues Forum, 1974
2.13 American Jewish Committee, 1964
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2.14 American Lutheran Church, 1962 – 1964
2.15 American Management association, 1973
2.16 American Red Cross, 1944 (Louisville)
2.17 Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, 1970 – 1973 – By -
Laws, Rules…
2.18 Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, 1974 – 1985
2.19 Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, 1975 – Directories
2.20 Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, 1975 – Minutes
2.21 Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, 1975 – Report
2.22 Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, 1975 – 1979 –
Employment
2.23 Amnesty, 1972 – 1975
2.24 Anabaptists, 1957 – 1959
2.25 Antarctica, 1971 – 1997
2.26 Anno Domini, 1984 – 1985
2.27 Annual Report – How to Develop, 1965 – 1977
2.28 Annuity Board, 1960 – 1976
2.29 Anonymous Letters, 1955 – 1959
2.30 Anti – Defamation League – 1957
2.31 Antigua Baptists, 1986
2.32 Apartheid, 1961
2.33 Apocrypha
2.34 Apollo 15, 1971 – 1972
2.35 Appleman, Hyman (Evangelist), 1967
2.36 Archaeology
2.37 Arendall, Charles Baker, 1952
2.38 Argentina, 1957 – 1970
2.39 Arizona – Phoenix – North Phoenix Baptist Church, 1978
2.40 Arizona – Tucson – Emmanuel Baptist Church, 1964
2.41 Arizona Southern Baptist Convention, 1975
2.42 Arkansas Baptist, 1961 – 1984
2.43 Arkansas Baptist Convention, 1960 – 1976
2.44 Arkansas Baptist Medical Center, 1966
2.45 Arkansas Baptist – Newsmagazine – Correspondence, 1972 – 1979
2.46 Arkansas – El Dorado – First Baptist Church, 1953
2.47 Arkansas – De Queen – First Baptist Church, 1959
2.48 Armstrong, O. K. and Marjorie Moore, 1962 – 1980
2.49 Arson (Church)
2.50 Art
2.51 Art Theme (SBC)
2.52 Ashcraft, Charles (Utah – Idaho), 1965 – 1970
2.53 Asian Baptist News, 1974 – 1975
2.54 Associated Baptist Press, 1994 – 1996
2.55 Associated Baptist Press, 1997 – 1999
2.56 Associated Baptist Press, 2000
2.57 Associated Baptist Press, 2001
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2.58 Associated Baptist Press, 2002
2.59 Associated Baptist Press, 2003
2.60 Associated Church Press – Biographies, 1963
2.61 Associated Church Press – Church Press Month, 1963
2.62 Associated Church Press – Constitution and By- Laws, 1948 – 1957
2.63 Associated Church Press – Directory, 1951 – 1967
2.64 Associated Church Press – Directory, 1967 – 1974
2.65 Associated Church Press, 1948 – 1950
2.66 Associated Church Press, 1951 – 1952
2.67 Associated Church Press, 1953 – 1956
2.68 Associated Church Press, 1957
2.69 Associated Church Press, 1958
2.70 Associated Church Press, 1958 – Proposal
2.71 Associated Church Press, 1959
2.72 Associated Church Press, 1959 – Proposal
2.73 Associated Church Press, 1960
2.74 Associated Church Press, 1961
2.75 Associated Church Press, 1962

Box 3
3.1 Associated Church Press, 1962 – Correspondence
3.2 Associated Church Press, 1963 – January – March
3.3 Associated Church Press, 1963 – April – June
3.4 Associated Church Press, 1963 – July – September
3.5 Associated Church Press, 1963 – Membership
3.6 Associated Church Press, 1963 – Program Committee
3.7 Associated Church Press, 1963 – Program Correspondence
3.8 Associated Church Press, 1964
3.9 Associated Church Press, 1965
3.10 Associated Church Press, 1966 – History
3.11 Associated Church Press, 1966 – January – March
3.12 Associated Church Press, 1966 – April – June
3.13 Associated Church Press, 1966 – July – September
3.14 Associated Church Press, 1966 – October – December
3.15 Associated Church Press, 1967 – January – February
3.16 Associated Church Press, 1967 – March – April
3.17 Associated Church Press, 1967 – May – June
3.18 Associated Church Press, 1967 – July – August
3.19 Associated Church Press, 1967 – September – October
3.20 Associated Church Press, 1967 – November – December
3.21 Associated Church Press, 1968 – January – February
3.22 Associated Church Press, 1968 – March – April
3.23 Associated Church Press, 1968 – May – June
3.24 Associated Church Press, 1968 – July – August
3.25 Associated Church Press, 1968 – September – October
3.26 Associated Church Press, 1968 – November – December
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3.27 Associated Church Press, 1969 – January
3.28 Associated Church Press, 1969 – February
3.29 Associated Church Press, 1969 – March
3.30 Associated Church Press, 1969 – April
3.31 Associated Church Press, 1969 – May (1 of 2)
3.32 Associated Church Press, 1969 – May (2 of 2)
3.33 Associated Church Press, 1969 – June
3.34 Associated Church Press, 1969 – July
3.35 Associated Church Press, 1969 – August
3.36 Associated Church Press, 1969 – September
3.37 Associated Church Press, 1969 – October
3.38 Associated Church Press, 1969 – November
3.39 Associated Church Press, 1969 – December
3.40 Associated Church Press, 1969 – Papers
3.41 Associated Church Press, 1970 – January – June
3.42 Associated Church Press, 1970 – July – December
3.43 Associated Church Press, 1971

Box 4
4.1 Associated Church Press, 1972
4.2 Associated Church Press, 1973
4.3 Associated Church Press, 1973 – Correspondence
4.4 Associated Church Press, 1974
4.5 Associated Church Press, 1974 – Correspondence
4.6 Associated Church Press, 1974 – Directory
4.7 Associated Church Press, 1974 – Newsletter
4.8 Associated Church Press, 1975
4.9 Associated Church Press, 1975 – 1976 – Directory
4.10 Associated Church Press, 1976
4.11 Associated Church Press, 1976 – 1977 – Directory
4.12 Associated Church Press, 1977
4.13 Associated Church Press, 1977 – Directory
4.14 Associated Church Press, 1977 – News log
4.15 Associated Church Press, 1977 – 1978 – Directory
4.16 Associated Church Press, 1978
4.17 Associated Church Press, 1978 – News log
4.18 Associated Church Press, 1979
4.19 Associated Church Press, 1979 – 1980 – Directory
4.20 Associated Church Press, 1979 – News log
4.21 Associated Church Press, 1980
4.22 Associated Church Press, 1981
4.23 Associated Church Press, 1982
4.24 Associated Church Press, 1983
4.25 Associated Church Press, 1983 – Directory
4.26 Associated Church Press, 1984
4.27 Associated Church Press, 1985
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4.28 Associated Church Press, 1985 – Directory
4.29 Associated Church Press, 1985 – Newsletter
4.30 Associated Church Press, 1986
4.31 Associated Church Press, 1987 – 1998
4.32 Associated Church Press, 1992 – News log
4.33 Associated Church Press, 1994 – Directory
4.34 Associated Press, 1958 – 1985
4.35 Associated Press, 1965 – Style Book
4.36 Association of Baptist State Convention Bond Plans, 1978
4.37 Association of Baptist State Executive Directors, 1980
4.38 Association of Baptists for Scouting, 1960 – 1979
4.39 Association of Baptists for Scouting, 1980 – 1984
4.40 Association of Baptists for Scouting, 1885 – 1989
4.41 Association of Southern Baptist Campus Ministers, 1979 – 1986
4.42 Association of State Student Directors, 1978
4.43 Associational Library Week, 1945 (KY)
4.44 Associations (About)
4.45 Astronomy
4.46 Atheism
4.47 Athletes in Action (Arkansas), 1974
4.48 Atkinson, Ernest E., 1983
4.49 Atlantic Baptist, 1974
4.50 Attendance, Perfect, 1974
4.51 Attitudes
4.52 Australia, 1970
4.53 Australia – Correspondence, 1960 – 1984
4.54 (The) Australian Baptist, 1970 – January – April
4.55 (The) Australian Baptist, 1970 – May – June
4.56 (The) Australian Baptist, 1970 – July – October
4.57 (The) Australian Baptist, 1970
4.58 Austria, 1963 – 1997
4.59 Avery, Julius H. – Baptist, Under God, In the World, 1958
4.60 Aviation
4.61 Aviation – Humor
4.62 Awards and Recognition Program – SBC

Box 5
5.1 BTN, 1984 – Correspondence
5.2 BTN, 1984 – Guide
5.3 BTN, 1984 – Introduction
5.4 BTN, 1985 – Correspondence
5.5 BTN, 1985 – Guide
5.6 BTN, 1986 – Correspondence
5.7 BTN, 1986 – Guide
5.8 BTN, 1987 – Correspondence
5.9 BWA News, 1963
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