Edmund A. Opitz papers , 1946-1974

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Opitz, Edmund A., 1914-
Title
Edmund A. Opitz papers
Dates
1946-1974 (inclusive)
Quantity
4.5 linear feet, (9 containers)
Collection Number
Coll 009
Summary
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.
Repository
University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives
UO Libraries--SCUA
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene OR
97403-1299
Telephone: 5413463068
spcarref@uoregon.edu
Access Restrictions

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.

Additional Reference Guides

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.

See the Current Collection Guide for detailed description and requesting options.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

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.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

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.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Christian leadership--United States
  • Conservatism--United States
  • Conservative literature
  • Conservatives--United States
  • Religion--Economic aspects

Corporate Names

  • Nockian Society
  • Remnant (Organization)
  • Spiritual Mobilization (Organization)