Scope and Contents
The Opitz collection largely consists of correspondence pertaining to Spiritual Mobilization, the Remnant, and the Nockian Society. Also included are speeches, printed materials by Mr. Opitz, printed materials tangential to the organizations named above, and the book invoices of the Society.
The correspondence is arranged chronologically within folders marked with the year and month. Mr. Opitz's speeches are arranged alphabetically by title.
The content of the collection can be roughly divided at the year 1963. Before that time, the correspondence is largely concerned with Mr. Opitz's dealings with a senior member of Spiritual Mobilization and the founder of the Remnant. There is a wealth of information on the wide variety of views taken by religious leaders on libertarian and conservative ideologies that would be of interest to a researcher pursuing this aspect of the conservative movement.
After 1963, the bulk of the correspondence pertains to the functioning of the Nockian Society. Interspersed throughout the collections is the personal correspondence of Mr. Opitz.
Mr. Opitz corresponded with a large number of religious and conservative figures; some of the more prominent are listed in the letter index, along with some of the more voluminous personal correspondence with friends.
Dates
- 1946-1974
Creator
- Opitz, Edmund A., 1914- (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries. Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs. All requests for permission to publish collection materials must be submitted to Special Collections and University Archives. The reader must also obtain permission of the copyright holder.
Biographical / Historical
The Reverent Edmund A. Opitz (1914-2006), minister, author, speaker, editor, is the energetic founder, in 1957, of the Remnant, a national fellowship of ministers predominately conservative in their political and economic outlook, and, in 1963, of the Nockian Society, a low key organization of admirers of Albert Jay Nock, an influential individualist of the first half of the 20th century. Both organizations have been run under the auspices of the Foundation for Economic Education in Irvington-on-Hudson, New York, a leading conservative think-tank. Prior to joining the staff of FEE in 1955, Mr. Opitz was, successively, the Regional Conference Program Director for Spiritual Mobilization in the early 1950s and the director of its Eastern Office. He also served as book editor for Faith and Freedom, the magazine of Spiritual Mobilization. He is the author of several books, including The Powers that Be: Case Studies of the Church in Political Action; Religion and CapitalismùAllies, not Enemies; and the co-author of The Kingdom without God: Road's End for the Social Gospel, as well as numerous articles for such journals as National Review and the Freeman. An avid bicyclist, Mr. Opitz resided in New York until his death.
Extent
4.5 linear feet (9 containers)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Edmund Opitz (1914-2006) was a minister, author, speaker, editor, and founder of the Remnant and the Nockian Society. The collection includes correspondence, speeches, publications, and printed materials relating to the Remnant and the Nockian Society.
Arrangement
Collection is organized into the following series: Series I. Correspondence; Series II. Speeches; Series III. Nockian Society miscellany; Series IV. Printed material..
Other Finding Aids
See the Collective Name Index to the Research Collection of Conservative and Libertarian Studies for a cross-referenced index to names of correspondents in this collection, if any, and 37 related University of Oregon collections, including dates of correspondence. See index instructions on use.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Edmund Opitz in 1978.
Processing Information
Collection processed by staff.
This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.
- Christian leadership -- United States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Conservatism -- United States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Conservative literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Conservatives -- United States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Nockian Society
- Political campaigns Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Religion Subject Source: Archiveswest
- Religion -- Economic aspects Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Remnant (Organization)
- Spiritual Mobilization (Organization)
- Title
- Guide to the Edmund A. Opitz Papers
- Status
- Complete Description
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Brian Lematta, Manuscripts Processor
- Date
- 2006
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English.
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Repository Details
Part of the University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives Repository
