Eugene Barnett international visit reports

Collection

Identifier: Y.USA.95

Staff Only

SCOPE AND CONTENTS OF THE COLLECTION

Bound typescript reports of visits made by Eugene Barnett to various countries around the world as a consultant to their YMCA movements, as reported on to the International Committee (later World Service) of the YMCA in the United States. The reports include many observations of political and social conditions prevalent in those countries at the time, as well as his assessment of the specific challenges and successes for their YMCAs.

Dates

1937-1955

Creator

Barnett, Eugene E. (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Open for use in the Elmer L. Andersen Library reading room.

Conditions Governing Use

This collection may be protected by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code). It is the user's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and to obtain all necessary permissions prior to the reproduction, publication, or other use of any portion of these materials. Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair use provision of the copyright law.

BIOGRAPHY OF EUGENE BARNETT

Eugene Epperson Barnett was born in Leesburg, Florida on February 21, 1888. A Phi Beta Kappa student, he graduated from Emory University in 1907. In 1908, he began his YMCA career as a student secretary at the University of North Carolina, where he was a graduate student.

In 1910, he married Bertha Smith and was sent to China, where he founded the YMCA in Hangchow (Hangzhou) and headed it as general secretary until 1921. For the next two years he served as the national student secretary for China and then was promoted to national city secretary, holding that position until 1925, when he became senior secretary for the International Committee of the YMCA in China. While in China, Barnett worked closely with many of the country's civic, military, religious, and educational leaders. He held substantial responsibilities in the development of the emergency program that rendered service to Chinese troops when the country was first invaded by Japan.

In 1937, Barnett was recalled to the United States to become executive secretary of the YMCA's International Committee, which at the time was struggling with significant debt. In 1945, the indebtedness was wiped out with a substantial gift from John D. Rockefeller, Jr. In 1940, Barnett became the general secretary of the National Council. He was active in the work of the World Alliance of YMCAs and played a major role in the shaping of its policies.

Though Barnett retired as general secretary in 1953, he continued his involvement in the YMCA, serving as a consultant for many years and participating in YMCA gatherings almost until the day of his death in 1970.