Mary Baker Eddy News

The Mary Baker Eddy Library’s collections pertain to the life of Eddy as well as to the history of the Christian Science movement. Now, newly reprocessed papers from the archives of The Christian Science Monitor are open for research. They shed light on the people, events, and ideals that helped the Monitor develop into an internationally-respected newspaper, based on Eddy’s vision for better journalism.

These documents consist primarily of material that Erwin D. Canham used to write his 1958 book Commitment to Freedom: The Story of The Christian Science Monitor, which presents a history of the newspaper’s first 50 years. Canham worked for the Monitor for much of that time, starting there in 1925 and rising to editor-in-chief before his 1974 retirement. Most of the records he used to write Commitment to Freedom were compiled by Paul S. Deland, an original staff member. The material includes written reminiscences by Monitor staffers, clippings, letters and memos on policy, stylebooks, correspondence relating to the newspaper’s fiftieth anniversary edition, and early drafts and proofs of Canham’s book.

These papers provide rich context for the Monitor’s editorial policy, vocabulary, and advertising decisions. They elucidate challenges that workers faced in establishing a publication with broad international appeal, fulfilling its mandate“to injure no man, but to bless all mankind.” Among many areas, this is a collection of interest in the study and research of newspaper history, Christian Science publications, World War II news coverage, religious identity, and twentieth-century culture.

Assorted papers from the Commitment to Freedom collection, including copies of the Monitor, photos, and notes.

Photo credit: Dan Bullman