318 Elmer L. Andersen Library, University of Minnesota, 222 21st Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55455

EUGENE E. BARNETT:
An Inventory of His Papers

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BIOGRAPHY OF EUGENE BARNETT

Eugene 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 was a confidant 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. His qualities of statesmanship were demonstrated at a difficult period. Barnett, together with lay and staff colleagues, devoted every effort to securing income to liquidate debt, while maintaining a modest program. 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 did not by any means retire from an abiding interest and involvement in the YMCA. He remained a familiar figure at YMCA gatherings almost until the day of his death in 1970.

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SCOPE AND CONTENTS OF THE COLLECTION

Barnett's papers cover only his later career from 1937 until his death in 1970. Correspondence with YMCA secretaries in China documents the increasingly unstable political conditions with the occupation of the Japanese during World War II and later, the Communist takeover. As general secretary of the International Committee and the National Council, Barnett made a number of speeches including "The American YMCA, the World YMCA and the World Committee." There are some press releases concerning his appointment to the general secretaryship in 1941. His correspondence as general secretary tends to concentrate on administrative functions. Most of the materials from the 1960s and 1970s concern his memoirs, including the collecting of biographical information and distribution of the finished product. There is also a manuscript of volume two of the memoirs.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

The following section contains a detailed list of the materials in the collection. To request materials, please note the corresponding box number.

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