Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
University Baptist Church sanctuary movement records, 1982-1990
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- University Baptist Church (Seattle, Wash.)
- Title
- University Baptist Church sanctuary movement records
- Dates
- 1982-1990 (inclusive)19821990
- Quantity
- 1.69 cubic feet (3 boxes and 1 oversize folder)
- Collection Number
- 5346
- Summary
- Records of the University Baptist Church, Seattle, concerning its 1980s sanctuary program for Central American refugees.
- Repository
-
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Open to all users.
- Languages
- English, Spanish
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
The University Baptist Church (UBC) is located in the Seattle near the University of Washington.
UBC declared itself a sanctuary for Central American refugees on December 5, 1982, becoming the first publicly declared sanctuary in the Northwest, the first American Baptist sanctuary in the U.S., and the seventh publicly declared church sanctuary in the nation. UBC successfully petitioned the city of Seattle to declare itself a Sanctuary City, sent relief workers and supplies to El Salvador, and toured the Northwest advocating the sanctuary program's implementation in those areas. Members of UBC also founded Amparo, a newsletter about the sanctuary movement in the Puget Sound area. In addition, UBC was an active local voice in opposition to U.S. foreign policy.
The controversy over Central America and UBC's activism frequently brought the UBC into conflicts with government agencies and, as a result, into the newspaper headlines. Beginning in 1985, the federal government began to indict sanctuary workers for harboring and assisting illegal immigrants. In order to facilitate these prosecutions, immigration officials arrested refugees to provide testimonies. On January 14, 1985, the same day that 16 indictments were made against Tucson sanctuary workers, seven UBC refugees were arrested in Seattle. In July 1985, the UBC was burglarized. Similar crimes were committed nationally against sanctuary churches, causing many to attribute the crime to the FBI. These concerns, and perceived attacks against the sanctuary movement, further fanned the accusations of governmental abuse and violation of religious freedom, in turn inspiring greater determination on the part of the congregation. UBC and its members posted bail for the numerous refugees and aided in the many legal battles that ensued while continuing to provide a haven for those escaping persecution in Central America.
Donovan Cook was pastor of the congregation during the 1980s.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
These University Baptist Church records primarily reflect the congregation's involvement in the Central American sanctuary movement during the 1980s. Because of the church's interest and activity in a national movement, many of the records were collected from other organizations or individuals. Many writings and speeches, both by those associated with the church and those involved with the national movement, defend providing sanctuary and include firsthand accounts of violence and injustice in Central America. Community support for the church's activities is represented by various letters and resolutions.
UBC's records include a transcript of the congressional testimony submitted by Rev. Donovan Cook, several sermons related to sanctuary, and personal accounts of the movement's impact on the Seattle congregation. A description of the 1985 burglary is located in the subject series Sanctuary Break-ins. Another subject series contains documents on UBC refugee Pilar Martinez, who was targeted by federal investigators and eventually granted political asylum after her arrest and prosecution. The minutes of the Sanctuary Task Force also include the financial statements for the church sanctuary, as well as national correspondence and minutes of the National Sanctuary Communications Council.
The bulk of the records consist of newspaper clippings relating to Central American foreign policy and the sanctuary movement. Most are arranged chronologically, but several specific subjects have been highlighted.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
University Baptist Church Sanctuary Movement Records, 1982-1990. Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries, Seattle, Washington.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Accession No. 5346-001: University Baptist Church records, 1982-1990Return to Top
Scope and Content: Minutes, clippings, newsletters, flyers, notes, and other records from the congregation's sanctuary project, a program to shelter Central American, especially Salvadoran refugees in U.S. churches. Also documents the aftermath of the presumable FBI break-in; 1982-1990
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Restrictions on Use: Literary rights of representatives of the records-creating organization transferred to the University of Washington Libraries
Acquisition Info: University Baptist Church via Anne S. Hall.
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | Accession | ||
1/1 | 5346-001 | Historical information |
1982-1987 |
1/2-3 | 5346-001 | Incoming letters |
1982-1987 |
1/4 | 5346-001 | Outgoing letters |
1983-1985 |
1/5 | 5346-001 | Minutes: Sanctuary Task Force
Scope and Content: Monthly financial statements for the UBC are among this
material. Also located within the task force minutes are a recount of the
National Sanctuary Communications Council, a press release issued by the NSCC,
and invitations and minutes from regional and national sanctuary organizations.
|
1987-1988 |
1/6 | 5346-001 | Resolutions |
undated |
1/7 | 5346-001 | Resolutions: other organizations |
1983-1985 |
Newsletters |
1982-1989 | ||
Box/Folder | Accession | ||
1/8 | 5346-001 | Amparo: The Puget Sound Sanctuary
News |
1985-1989 |
1/9 | 5346-001 | Ground Zero |
1984-1985 |
1/10 | 5346-001 | University Baptist
Church |
1982-1985 |
2/1 | 5346-001 | Miscellaneous |
1983-1985 |
Subject series |
undated | ||
Box/Folder | Accession | ||
2/2 | 5346-001 | American Baptist churches |
1985-1987 |
2/3 | 5346-001 | Anniversary |
1987 |
2/4 | 5346-001 | Break-ins |
1985-1987 |
2/5 | 5346-001 | Citizens Commission on Central America |
1985-1986 |
2/6 | 5346-001 | Contacts |
undated |
2/7 | 5346-001 | Immigration and Naturalization Service asylum
statistics |
1985 |
box:oversize | |||
Miscellaneous oversize box 9 | 5346-001 | Martinez, Pilar
Scope and Content: Includes drawings by Pilar's children following their
encounter with INS officials.
|
undated |
Box/Folder | |||
2/8 | 5346-001 | Media packet |
1985 |
2/9 | 5346-001 | Public opinion poll |
1984 |
2/10 | 5346-001 | Speaking engagements |
undated |
2/11 | 5346-001 | Tucson trial |
1985-1986 |
2/12 | 5346-001 | Vigil |
1986 |
Box/Folder | Accession | ||
2/13 | 5346-001 | Speeches and writings |
1983-1988 |
2/14 | 5346-001 | Speeches and writings: other organizations |
1982-1987 |
2/15 | 5346-001 | Notes |
1983, undated |
2/16 | 5346-001 | News releases |
1983-1986 |
2/17 | 5346-001 | News releases: other organizations |
1983-1986 |
2/18 | 5346-001 | Conference: "The Central American Question: A Conference
Presenting All Perspectives" (Renton, Wash.) |
1983 |
2/19 | 5346-001 | Statistics |
1983-1987 |
3/1 | 5346-001 | Order of church service |
1983-1988 |
3/2 | 5346-001 | Order of church service: other congregations |
1983-1985 |
3/3 | 5346-001 | Testimonies of refugees |
1983-1988 |
3/4-7 | 5346-001 | Monitor log
Scope and Content: The monitor log contains the guidelines, procedures, and log
entries of attendants stationed to secure the apartments of the refugees.
|
1983-1984 |
Folder | |||
3/8 | 5346-001 | Publications: other organizations |
1983-1984 |
Box/Folder | |||
3/9 | 5346-001 | Ephemera |
1985-1990 |
3/10 | 5346-001 | Ephemera: other organizations |
1983-1987 |
3/11 | 5346-001 | Plaque
Scope and Content: A wooden plaque decorated with a hand-painted tribute to El
Salvador.
|
undated |
Folder | |||
3/12 | 5346-001 | Miscellany |
undated |
Clippings |
1982-1989 | ||
Box/Folder | Accession | ||
3/13 | 5346-001 | Jennifer Casolo |
1989 |
3/14 | 5346-001 | Ben Linder |
1985-1987 |
3/15 | 5346-001 | Judge Nail |
undated |
3/16 | 5346-001 | Donald Reno |
1987 |
3/17 | 5346-001 | Sanctuary cities |
1985-1986 |
3/18 | 5346-001 | Seattle Initiative 30 |
1986 |
3/19 | 5346-001 | Tucson papers |
1985-1986 |
3/20 | 5346-001 | Tucson trial indictments |
1985 |
3/20-58 | 5346-001 | Miscellaneous clippings |
1982-1989 |
Accession No. 5346-002: University Baptist Church records, 1983-2006Return to Top
Scope and Content: Clippings, correspondence, and a pamphlet.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Church work with refugees--United States
- Church work with refugees--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
- Political refugees--Central America
- Sanctuary movement--United States
- Sanctuary movement--Washington (State)--Seattle
Corporate Names
- University Baptist Church (Seattle, Wash.)--Archives
Geographical Names
- United States--Foreign relations--Central America
Titles within the Collection
- Amparo