to go to the site run by the Crawford family, which contains the lyrics and music for many of Ruth Crawford's songs and photos of Percy and Ruth Crawford ministries.
Collection 357
[February 16, 2005]
Crawford, Percy Bartimus; 1902-1960
Porter, Ruth Crawford; 1916-1986
Papers; 1922-1989
1 Box (DC: .4 cubic feet), Audio Tapes, Films, Phonograph Records, Photographs, Video Tapes
Restrictions:
Copyrights to the radio and television programs in this collection are held by The Young People's Church of the Air. Permission to copy these programs and use them must be secured from:
Donald B. Crawford, President
The Young People's Church of the Air
P.O. Box 3003
Blue Bell, PA 19422
Forms to use for securing permission to copy are available in the Archives.
Folder 1-13 is closed during the lifetime of Billy Graham.
Biography
| Full name: | Percy Bartimus Crawford | |
| Birth date: | October 20, 1902, in Minnedosa, Manitoba, Canada | |
| Death date: | October 31, 1960 | |
| Family: | ||
| Parents: | Thomas and Margaret Crawford | |
| Siblings: | Alphonse | |
| Marital Status: | Married to Ruth Marjorie (Duvall) Crawford, September 18, 1933 at Pinebrook Camp in Pennsylvania | |
| Children: | Donald Bruce (1937), Richard Torrey (1939), Dan (1941), Dean(1944), Donna Lee (1949) | |
| Conversion: | September 23, 1923, at the Church of the Open Door in Los Angeles during a sermon by Bill "Willie" Nicholson | |
| Education: | ||
| 1922-1923 | Attended and graduated from a college preparatory program at the Oregon Institute of Technology, Portland, Oregon, which was run by the Young Men's Christian Association | |
| 1923-1926 | Attended and graduated from BIOLA (Bible Institute of Los Angeles) | |
| 1926 | Enrolled in the University of California, Southern Branch | |
| 1927 | Transferred to Wheaton College, Illinois | |
| 1929 | Graduated from Wheaton College | |
| 1929-1932 | Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, B.TH. degree | |
| 1932 | Received Masters degree in Hisotry from the University of Pennsylvania | |
| Career: | ||
| Summer 1931 | Began holding Saturday night evangelistic rallies at Barnes Memorial Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, rallies which were one of the models for Youth for Christ | |
| 1931 | Began radio broadcasting Young People's Church of the Air in Philadelphia on station WIP | |
| 1931-? | Held youth rallies along the eastern coast of the United States | |
| 1933 | Opened Pinebrook Bible Camp in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Later he also started Shadowbrook (for boys) and Mountainbrook (for girls) camps | |
| 1938 | Opened King's College in Belmar, New Jersey (property had been acquired in 1936). He continued as president until his death. | |
| 1938-1941 | Founded and edited magazine, Young People Today | |
| 1941 | King's College moved to an estate near New Castle, Delaware, due to the financial requirements of New Jersey for the recertification of educational institutions | |
| 1949 | Youth on the March television program premiered on ABC on October 9. This was the first coast-to coast evangelistic program broadcast on television, aired on twenty-two stations | |
| 1951-1954 | Founded and edited magazine, Youth on the March, The Christian Newsette | |
| 1953-1954 | World tour with Ruth Crawford and vocalists from Young People's Church of the Air | |
| 1953 | Started King's Korean Mission | |
| 1955 | King's College moved to Briarcliff Manor, New York | |
| 1957 | Began Youtharama, a Saturday night rally for young people, in Philadelphia | |
| 1958? | Started Christian television station WPCA in Philadelphia; acquired other stations in Detroit, Hammond (Indiana), Lancaster (Pennsylvania), Fort Lauderdale (Florida), and Forest Grove (oregon) | |
**********
| Full name: | Ruth Marjorie (Duvall) Crawford, later Ruth Crawford Porter | |
| Birth date: | May 2, 1916 | |
| Death date : | October 28, 1986 | |
| Family: | ||
| Parents: | Rezin Duvall and Nancy Viola McDonald Duvall | |
| Siblings: | Esther, R. Fenton, Bruce, William | |
| Marital Status: | Married Percy Crawford September 18, 1933 at Pinebrook Camp in Pennsylvania | |
| Married Dr. Robert Monroe Porter (chiropractor) in March 1966 | ||
| Children: | Donald Bruce (1937), Richard Torrey (1939), Dan (1941), Dean(1944), Donna Lee (1949) | |
| Conversion: | Date unknown, product of an evangelical Methodist home | |
| Education: | Completed 11th grade of high school in Collingswood, New Jersey | |
| Career: | ||
| 1931- | Involved in Percy Crawford's ministry as pianist, songwriter, composer and remained the main influence on all musical aspects of the ministry Continued to be active as a songwriter and musician until her death. She compiled seventeen hymnals during her lifetime; produced several albums of Christian music (including her own compositions and arrangements); trained seven quartets; orchestrated and conducted orchestras for radio and television programs; orchestrated, arranged and led several choral groups, including the King's Singers; and played piano, organ, and harp at a professional level. She also was the main creative force behind the six-day-a-week devotional radio program, Pinebrook Praises. Following Percy Crawford's death in 1960, she continued Pinebrook Praises until ca. 1965 and traveled in an evangelistic ministry with her son Donald until ca. 1967. Published Sing My Heart (1962), Hearts in Harmony (1978), and Singing and Making Melodies (1983). With her sister Esther Eden, she for several years had a brief daily radio program entitled, Bible Women Speak Today. | |
Scope and Content
[Note: In the Scope and Content description, the notation "folder 2-5" means box 2, folder 5.]
This collection consists of a variety of items about the work of Percy and Ruth Crawford
collected from many different sources, but primarily the Crawford family. The arrangement was
provided by the archivist.
Series: Paper records Series: Audio tapes and phonograph records T1 - Copies of two shows of the radio program Youth on the March. First program includes the
sermon "Crucified." The second program includes the sermon "Weak in Christ." 1951. T2-T6 contain a recording of a testimonial dinner held for Percy Crawford by the alumni
association of King's College. Each individual tape is about thirty minutes long and overlaps
slightly with the previous tape. Included on the tape is the drone of dinner conversation before
the program, poems by Ruth Crawford and her sister Esther Eagan, stories by family, friends and
co-workers about Crawford's childhood, college and seminary days, the beginning of the Young
People's Church of the Air, his courtship and marriage of Ruth Duvall, evangelistic meetings,
births of his children, start of Pinebrook Camp, founding of King's College, letters and telegrams
from a variety of people who worked with him, including Torrey Johnson. Sound quality is often
very bad. April 23, 1953. Tapes T7, T9-T13, T19 contain various of Percy Crawford's radio programs, entitled Youth on
the March or Pinebrook Praises. The format of the show usually included several musical
numbers, reports of Percy's activities at Pinebrook or at evangelistic meetings, and a brief
evangelistic sermon. 1951, 1954, ca. late 1950s-1960. T8 Chapel sermon by Percy Crawford on King College's doctrinal statement. It is unclear if this
address was to the entire school or just the faculty. Crawford gives a thumbnail history of King's
College; describes the variety and size of his operations at that time in the college, camps,
television, radio; describes his policies in his various organizations; responds to criticism;
defends his view of hell and the Bible; talks about the value of the King James Version of the
Bible over the Revised Standard Version; refers to his disagreements with Carl McIntire, John R.
Rice, and Bob Jones. December 10, 1959. Tapes T15-T16
contains an interview of Mrs. Ruth Crawford Porter by William Drury. The purpose
of the interview was to record her memories of her and her husband's ministry
for the BGC Archives. Tape
T15 includes discussion of how she and Percy met, her involvement in the
Young People's Church of the Air, early days of Pinebrook camp, description
of Percy Crawford's conversion at the Church of the Open Door, memories of the
first summer of Pinebrook in 1933, and the founding of King's College in 1938,
starting the Pinebrook Bookstore in Philadelphia (at 730 Chestnut Street) ,
starting television channel 17 in Philadelphia (approximately 1958), Percy's
work as an evangelist in churches and at one night rallies around the country,
the types of invitation Percy gave, memories of Jack Wyrtzen, Crawford's characteristics
as a preacher, Billy Graham's preaching at Pinebrook, Graham's preaching Crawford's
memorial services, memories of George Beverly Shea and the song "I Would Rather
Have Jesus," and a description of Percy Crawford's last heart attack. Tape
T16 includes a description of Percy's last days and death, Ruth's involvement
in the music of the ministry, the beginning of the television ministry in 1949,
the birth of her children, cost to the family of an evangelistic ministry, importance
of music in Percy's services, the King's Korean Mission and Dr. Peter Pak, Percy's
plans for a retirement home, Percy's leadership abilities, Drury's comments
on Percy Crawford, death of Donald Barnhouse, Percy's ministries after his death.
August 18, 1981. T17. Ruth Crawford-Porter Memorial Album"God Be With You Till We Meet Again" Memorial
tape, containing examples of music she composed or played. Produced by her son, Dean
Crawford. 1987. T18 We Were There When It Happened!/ A Musical Rejoicing and Remembering of the Lives
and Ministry of Ruth and Percy Crawford. Includes numbers by many of vocalists who had been
involved in the Crawfords' ministry, such as Donald Crawford, Fred P. Davies, Steve Musto,
Samuel Seymour, Robert Straton, and George W. Wesner. Series: Films and video tapes Provenance
April 26, 1999 List of the Broadcast Dates of the Television Program Youth on the March
for Which There are Copies in the Archives
Arrangement: Alphabetical by folder title. Arrangement was supplied by archivist.
Date range: 1922-1981
Volume: .4 cubic feet
Boxes: 1
Geographic coverage: United States, South Korea
Type of documents: Included are articles, correspondence, a book manuscript, sermon notes,
Percy Crawford's education records, program notes for radio and television productions, and
miscellaneous items.
Correspondents: Norman Clayton, Percy Crawford, Ruth Crawford, Merrill Dunlop, Henry
Dixon Loes, Wendell Loveless
Subjects: Percy Crawford's life and evangelistic ministry, Ruth Crawford Porter's evangelistic
ministry, the Crawford's 1953-1954 trip to South Korea, their television and radio work, and the
preparation of hymnals for publication
Notes: All paper documents in this series were photocopies received from the Crawford family
Exceptional items: Folder 1-2 contains an unfinished book manuscript about Percy Crawford's
life, "A Pioneer for God: The Biography of Percy Crawford." The author is not indicated and
apparently it was never published. The last chapter listed in the table of contents, about the
Crawford's trip to Korea in 1953-1954, is not included in the manuscript. Material in folders
1-4, 1-8 and 1-12 was probably used as research material for the book. Folder 1-8 also contains a pamphlet with the diary of an evangelistic tour Percy and Ruth Crawford and members of the YPCA made in January-March, 1946. The diary gives a very interesting day by day description of the tour. The cover shows Percy preaching to a large indoor crowd, possibly in Moody Church. Folder 1-13 contains copies of correspondence from fellow evangelist Billy Graham in which Graham expresses admiration for Crawford's television work and his appreciation of Crawford's support during the 1957 New York Crusade. Folder 1-14 contains a printed version of the address, given by Donald Crawford, at the funeral service of his father, Percy Crawford, on November 4, 1960.
Folder 1-7 contains a
memorial booklet about Ruth Crawford Porter, prepared by her family, which is a valuable
record of her life, character and influence. Folders 1-9 and 1-10 contain dozens of brief
messages that Ruth Crawford Porter apparently broadcast over the radio; each one would take
only a couple of minutes. Folder 1-11 contains many typed sermon notes of Percy Crawford's
messages, almost all of which are evangelistic. Folder 1-1 contains a tract, probably from the
1930s, with excerpts from some of Percy Crawford's radio broadcasts and articles about his
ministry.
Arrangement: Chronological
Date range: 1951-1989
Volume: 19 tapes comprising approximately 10 hours of recording; 10 phonograph records
Geographic coverage: Northeast United States
Type of documents: Tapes of radio programs, interviews, a testimonial dinner, records of
Christian music
Participants or people discussed: Dean Crawford, Donald Crawford, Percy Crawford, Ruth
Crawford, Fred P. Davies, William Drury, Esther Eagan, Billy Graham, Torrey Johnson, Bob
Jones, Carl McIntire, Steve Musto, John R. Rice, George Beverly Shea, Robert Straton, George
Wesner, Jack Wyrtzen
Subjects: American sermons, Bible, Bible-versions (King James, Revised Standard Version),
conversion, evangelistic music, evangelistic sermons, hell, music, King's College, Pinebrook
Camp, Pinebrook Praises, radio in evangelism, television in evangelism, salvation, sin, Young
People's Church of the Air, Youth on the March
Notes: The Archives does not have the equipment to record and copy phonograph records P1
through P10. Therefore they cannot be described, beyond saying that they are recordings of the
Crawfords' radio programs from the years 1946 through 1952.
Arrangement: Chronological
Date range: 1949-1953
Volume: 13 films, 39 videos
Geographic coverage: Northeastern United States
Type of documents: Copies of kinescopes of television broadcasts
Participants or people discussed: Edgar Bundy, Dan Crawford, David Crawford, Dean
Crawford, Donald Crawford, Donna Lee Crawford, Percy Crawford, Ruth Crawford, Gil Dodds,
John Grant, Stuart Hamblen, Wendell Loveless, Anton Marco, Moses, Louis and Phil Palermo,
Merv Rosell, Hilda Schmeiser, Colleen Townsend, Ernie Wilson
Subjects: American sermons, Armistice Day, Billy Graham's 1949 Los Angeles meetings,
Christmas, conversion, conversion of children, death, evangelism, evangelistic sermons, faith,
the Great Commission, Battle of Guadalcanal, hell, Haven of Rest, heaven, Korean conflict, the
prodigal son, salvation, Jesus' second coming, sin, storytelling, television in religion,
Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day, Young People's Church of the Air, Youth for Christ, Youth on
the March
*****
Accession: 81-20, 81-121, 83-65, 84-69, 85-7, 85-42, 86-29, 86-100, 86-112, 87-37, 87-72,
87-111, 87-112, 87-130, 87-153, 87-162, 88-30, 88-33, 88-68, 88-102, 89-117, 91-75, 94-25,
94-37, 94-62, 95-126, 95-148, 99-46
Robert Shuster
R. Williams
July 9, 1999, updated
Robert Shuster
Accession 01-46
August 13, 2001
Robert Shuster
Accession 01-53
September 18, 2001
Robert Shuster
Accession 04-18
April 16, 2004
Robert Shuster
Accession 94-01
February 16, 2005
Christian Sawyer
10/9/49 - V1
10/16/49 - V1
10/30/49 - V2
11/6/49 - V2
11/13/49 - V3
11/20/49 - V3
11/27/49 - V4
12/4/49 - V4
12/11/49 - V5
12/18/49 - V5
12/25/49 - V6
1/1/50 - V6
1/8/50 - V7
1/22/50 - V7
1/29/50 - V8
2/5/50 - V8
2/12/50 - V9
2/19/50 - V10
2/26/50 - V10
3/5/50 - V11
3/12/50 - V11
3/19/50 - V12
4/2?/50 - V12
4/16/50 - V13
4/23/50 - V13
4/30/50 - V14
5/7/50 - V14
5/14/50 - V15
6/4/50 - V16
6/14/50 - V17
10/8/50 - V17
10/15/50 - V18
11/5/50 - V18
11/12/50 - V19
12/10/50 - V19
11/26/50 - V20
12/3/50 - V20
12/17/50 - V20
12/24/50 - V21
12/31/50 - V22, V23
1/21/51 - V24
1/28/51 - V16
4/29/51 - V26
6/17/51 - V27
6/24/51 - V25
10/28/51 - V26
11/11/51 - F8
11/18/51 - F9
11/25/51 - F10
12/2/51 - F11
12/9/51 - F12
1/13/52 - F13
1/27/52 - V25
1/6/52 - V34
1/17/52 - V34
2/24/52 - V33, V35
3/16/52 - V35
3/23/52 - V36
Spring 52? - F15
10/26/52 - F16
11/29/52 - F17
2/22/53 - V36
3/15/53 - V37
3/22/53 - V15
3/29/53 - V38
4/12/53 - V37, V38
4/19/53 - V39
4/26/53 - V39
5/3/53 - V23
1954? - F18
to go to a description of the contents.| Box | Folder | Item |
| 1 | 1 | Articles; 1932-1960 |
| 1 | 2 | Book Mss: "Pioneer for God"; 1954 |
| 1 | 13 R | Correspondence - Graham, Billy; 1951, 1957 |
| 1 | 3 | Correspondence - Hymns; 1942-1966 |
| 1 | 4 | Correspondence - Korean Trip; 1953-1954 |
| 1 | 5 | Educational Records; 1923-1931 |
| 1 | 14 | Funeral Service Address; November 4, 1960 |
| 1 | 6 | List of Song Titles and Authors; n.d. |
| 1 | 7 | Memorial Booklet: In Loving Remembrance and Thanksgiving for the Life, Love and Music of Ruth Crawford Porter; 1986 |
| 1 | 8 | Miscellaneous, 1922-1951 |
| 1 | 9 | Program Notes; 1980 |
| 1 | 10 | Program Notes; 1981 |
| 1 | 11 | Sermon Notes; n.d. |
| 1 | 12 | Television Program Notes; ca. 1962 |