Religious News Service Photographs

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About this Collection

Conceived by journalist Louis Minsky (1909-1957), Religious News Service (RNS) was established in 1934 as an affiliated but independently managed agency of the National Conference of Jews and Christians (later the National Conference of Christians and Jews), and was dedicated to providing authoritative and bias-free news about religion and ethics to both the secular and religious press. This collection contains photographs documenting Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, and Jewish groups. Coverage of Protestants (especially mainline Protestants) and Catholics constitutes the bulk of the images. View the collection guide to learn more. Digitization of some of the images in this collection made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Featured image: Father James Groppi, the civil rights activist priest from Milwaukee, and militant leader Rennie Davis are taken into custody during an anti war demonstration a block from the White House.

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Title:
The makings of a German church.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: THE MAKINGS OF A GERMAN CHURCH #s-3003 FRANKFURT -- As part of its plan to aid German churches to function again, the World Council of Churches has brought Swiss Army barracks and shipped them to Germany for use as places of worship. Here a horse-drawn cart carries a wooden steeple which will be erected atop one of the buildings. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (RR-GEN-MES-3C-6-W)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., World Council of Churches.
Topics:
Church buildings--Germany--Frankfurt am Main., Reconstruction (1939-1951)--Religious aspects., Spires--Germany--Frankfurt am Main.
Geographic subjects:
Frankfurt am Main (Germany)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:359112
Title:
Dresden cathedral background to ruin.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: DRESDEN CATHEDRAL BACKGROUND TO RUIN #c-3046 DRESDEN, Germany -- Dresden’s famous Hof Kirche, the Court Church of the Saxon kings (left background), was badly damaged during the war, but rebuilding work is going on now. The Hof Kirche was built from 1739-56. Its parapets were adorned by the statues of 59 saints, some of which are still standing (left and center). The tower rising in the background is 272 feet high. A covered passage (center) leads from the church to the Royal Palace. Dresden is in the Russian zone of occupation. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (PA-NY-MES-3D-6-C)
Creator:
Associated Press. (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Catholic Church--Buildings., Kathedrale (Dresden, Germany)
Topics:
Buildings--War damage--Germany--Desden., Church buildings--Germany--Dresden.
Geographic subjects:
Dresden (Germany), Dresden (Germany)--Buildings, structures, etc.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:359097
Title:
Bishop of Chichester in Berlin.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: S-1004 BISHOP OF CHICHESTER IN BERLIN BERLIN -- A little German refugee crouches by a fire at Lehrter Station and watches the Anglican Bishop of Chichester, Dr. G. K. A. Bell (directly behind the little girl). Dr. Bell was touring Berlin to inspect conditions on behalf of the World Council of Churches. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (MCE-NY-LM-11-13-5)
Creator:
Acme Newspictures (New York, N.Y.) (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Berlin Hauptbahnhof (Berlin, Germany), World Council of Churches., Bell, G. K. A. (George Kennedy Allen), 1883-1958., Church of England--Bishops.
Topics:
Visits of state--Germany--Berlin., War relief--Germany--Berlin., Interdenominational cooperation., European cooperation., Reconstruction (1939-1951)
Geographic subjects:
Berlin (Germany)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:358919
Title:
Berlin Counsellor for Jewish Problems.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: #811 BERLIN COUNSELLOR FOR JEWISH PROBLEMS Siegmund Weltinger, journalist and banker, is Counsellor for Jewish Problems in the Office for Church Affairs of the Berlin city government. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (EET-BER-LM-11-26-5)
Creator:
Turner. (photographer)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Weltlinger, Siegmund., Gesellschaft für Christlich-Jüdische Zusammenarbeit in Berlin.
Topics:
Church and state--Germany--Berlin., Jewish leadership--Germany--Berlin., Journalists--Germany--Berlin., Jewish journalists--Germany--Berlin., Bankers--Germany--Berlin.
Geographic subjects:
Berlin (Germany)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:358851
Title:
Berlin Counsellor for Roman Catholic interest.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: #810 BERLIN COUNSELLOR FOR ROMAN CATHOLIC INTEREST Father Peter Buchholz is the Counsellor [sic. Councillor] for Roman Catholic interests and chairman of the Office for Church Affairs of the Berlin city government. For twenty years he was chaplain at the Plotzensee Prison near Berlin. During the Nazi regime he ministered to over 1000 political prisoners who were sentenced to die by hanging. These included Catholics executed for the famous July 20 attempt on Hitler’s life. Father Buchholz and other Catholic clergymen in Berlin frequently wear ordinary street clothes when engaging in civil affairs. Credit Line Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (EET-BER-LM-11-26-5)
Creator:
Turner. (photographer)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Buchholz, Peter., Catholic Church--Clergy., Catholic Church--Diplomatic service.
Topics:
Church and state--Germany--Berlin., Prison chaplains--Germany., Christian leadership--Germany--Berlin., World War, 1939-1945--Chaplains.
Geographic subjects:
Berlin (Germany)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:358850
Title:
Dr. Karl Barth visits Germany.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: #730B DR. KARL BARTH VISITS GERMANY FRANKFURT-ON-MAIN -- Dr. Karl Barth, famous Swiss theologian (with glasses) greets the family of Pastor Frick, aide of Pastor Martin Niemoeller in Frankfurt. Dr. Barth was returning from the conference of German Evangelical leaders at Treysa, It was his first visit to Germany since he was expelled from the University of Bonn in 1935 by order of Adolf Hitler. Sitting next to Dr. Barth is Prof. Wolf of Freiburg-in-Breisgau who defended Niemoeller in court before his imprisonment. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (EZ-ER-LM-11-2-5)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Barth, Karl, 1886-1968., Universität Bonn--Faculty., Bekennende Kirche.
Topics:
Theologians--Switzerland., Visits of state--Germany--Frankfurt am Main.
Geographic subjects:
Frankfurt am Main (Germany)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:358820
Title:
Niemoeller preaches first Berlin sermon.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: #1008 NIEMOELLER PREACHES FIRST BERLIN SERMON Pastor Martin Niemoeller, famous German Confessional pastor, is shown preaching at Annan Church [sic. St. Anne's Church] in Berlin. It was his first sermon in Berlin since being released from a Nazi concentration camp. (An exclusive RNS photo) Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (EET-BER-LM-11-13-5)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Niemöller, Martin, 1892-1984., Bekennende Kirche--Clergy., St. Anne's Church, Dahlem (Berlin, Germany)
Topics:
Protestant churches--Clergy., Confessionalization., Ex-internment camp inmates--Germany--Berlin., Preaching--Germany--Berlin.
Geographic subjects:
Berlin (Germany)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:358797
Title:
Niemoeller preaches first Berlin sermon.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: #1008 NIEMOELLER PREACHES FIRST BERLIN SERMON Pastor Martin Niemoeller, famous German Confessional pastor, is shown preaching at Annan Church [sic. St. Anne's Church] in Berlin. It was his first sermon in Berlin since being released from a Nazi concentration camp. (An exclusive RNS photo) Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (EET-BER-LM-11-13-5)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Niemöller, Martin, 1892-1984., Bekennende Kirche--Clergy., St. Anne's Church, Dahlem (Berlin, Germany)
Topics:
Protestant churches--Clergy., Confessionalization., Ex-internment camp inmates--Germany--Berlin., Preaching--Germany--Berlin.
Geographic subjects:
Berlin (Germany)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:358796
Title:
Frauenkirche.
Creator:
Zaugg, Ernest. (photographer)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Frauenkirche (Munich, Germany), Catholic Church--Buildings.
Topics:
Church buildings--Germany--Munich., World War, 1939-1945--Germany--Munich., Buildings--War damage--Germany--Munich.
Geographic subjects:
Munich (Germany), Munich (Germany)--Buildings, structures, etc.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:358657
Title:
Crown of barbed wire thorns underlines Kirchentag theme.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: P-29679 CROWN OF BARBED WIRE THORNS UNDERLINES KIRCHENTAG THEME DORTMUND, Germany -- “To Live With Conflicts,” the theme of the 11th German Evangelical Church Day (Kirchentag) Congress at Dortmund, Germany, was dramatically underlined in a huge poster holding a crown of thorns, constructed of barbed wire. The absence of East German Protestants at the four-day rally, for the first time in its history, was the occasion for prayers for spiritual unity among Christians and the eventual reunification of the divided nation. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (Voss-Ber.-7E-NBM)
Creator:
Deutsche Presse-Agentur. (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Deutsche Evangelische Kirche., Deutsche Evangelische Kirche--Congresses.
Topics:
Congresses and conventions--Germany--Dortmund., Church and social problems--Germany., Church and social problems--Congresses., Communism and Christianity--Germany (East), Christian art and symbolism--Germany--Dortmund., Crown of thorns.
Geographic subjects:
Dortmund (Germany), Germany (East)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:358078
Title:
Martin Luther before Cardinal Cajetanus.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: #29858 MARTIN LUTHER BEFORE CARDINAL CAJETANUS Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (NYPL-9-63)
Creator:
New York Public Library. (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Catholic Church--Bishops., Luther, Martin, 1483-1546--Pictorial works., Cajetan, Tommaso de Vio, 1469-1534--Pictorial works.
Topics:
Bishops--Germany--Augsburg., Reformation--Germany., Christian art and symbolism.
Geographic subjects:
Augsburg (Germany)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:358020
Title:
Martin Luther's first study of the Bible.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: #29857 MARTIN LUTHER’S FIRST STUDY OF THE BIBLE. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (NYPL-9-63)
Creator:
New York Public Library. (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Luther, Martin, 1483-1546--Pictorial works.
Topics:
Reformation--Germany., Reformers--Germany--Halle an der Salle., Bible--Study and teaching.
Geographic subjects:
Halle an der Saale (Germany)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:358019
Title:
Martin Luther's cell at Erfurt.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: #29856 MARTIN LUTHER’S CELL AT ERFURT Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (NYPL-9-63)
Creator:
New York Public Library. (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Luther, Martin, 1483-1546--Homes and haunts.
Topics:
Rooms--Germany--Erfurt., Reformers--Germany--Erfurt.
Geographic subjects:
Erfurt (Germany)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:358018
Title:
Der 11. Deutsche Ev. Kirchenstag.
Description:
German language caption from publisher on reverse of image.
Creator:
Deutsche Presse-Agentur. (author)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Deutsche Evangelische Kirche., Deutsche Evangelische Kirche--Congresses.
Topics:
Congresses and conventions--Germany--Dortmund., Church and social problems--Germany., Church and social problems--Congresses., Communism and Christianity--Germany (East), Christian art and symbolism--Germany--Dortmund., Crown of thorns.
Geographic subjects:
Dortmund (Germany), Germany (East)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:357905
Title:
Crown of barbed wire thorns underlines Kirchentag theme.
Creator:
Voss, Klaus (author)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Deutsche Evangelische Kirche., Deutsche Evangelische Kirche--Congresses.
Topics:
Congresses and conventions--Germany--Dortmund., Church and social problems--Germany., Church and social problems--Congresses., Communism and Christianity--Germany (East), Christian art and symbolism--Germany--Dortmund., Crown of thorns.
Geographic subjects:
Dortmund (Germany), Germany (East)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:357869
Title:
Bremen’s famous Lutheran Cathedral is intact.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: #446 BREMEN’S FAMOUS LUTHERAN CATHEDRAL IS INTACT Bremen, Germany…St. Petri, historic Lutheran cathedral in this city, stands majestically amid the ruins of war. One of the most famous of European cathedrals, the church was virtually undamaged. Credit Line Should Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (cob)
Creator:
British Combine Photos, Ltd. (photographer)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Dom zu Bremen (Bremen, Germany), United States. Army. Signal Corps.
Topics:
Church buildings--Germany--Bremen., Buildings--War damage--Germany--Bremen., Buildings--Blast effects--Germany--Bremen., Architecture, Romanesque--Germany--Bremen., Lutheran church buildings--Germany--Bremen.
Geographic subjects:
Bremen (Germany)--Buildings, structures, etc., Bremen (Germany)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:357575
Title:
Famous Cathedral at Worms, Germany.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: #445 FAMOUS CATHEDRAL AT WORMS, GERMANY Standing majestically in the center of the blasted area is the famed Roman Catholic Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Worms, Germany. Almost miraculously, the ancient structure was spared destruction, although it bears the marks of the ravages of war. Credit Line Should Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO
Creator:
British Combine Photos, Ltd. (photographer)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Dom (Worms, Germany), United States. Army. Signal Corps.
Topics:
Church buildings--Germany--Worms., Buildings--War damage--Germany--Worms., Buildings--Blast effects--Germany--Worms., Architecture, Romanesque--Germany--Worms., Catholic church buildings--Germany--Worms.
Geographic subjects:
Worms (Germany)--Buildings, structures, etc., Worms (Germany)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:357574
Title:
Famous Cathedral at Worms, Germany.
Description:
Alternate caption.
Creator:
British Combine Photos, Ltd. (author)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Dom (Worms, Germany), United States. Army. Signal Corps.
Topics:
Church buildings--Germany--Worms., Buildings--War damage--Germany--Worms., Buildings--Blast effects--Germany--Worms., Architecture, Romanesque--Germany--Worms., Catholic church buildings--Germany--Worms.
Geographic subjects:
Worms (Germany)--Buildings, structures, etc., Worms (Germany)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:357526
Title:
Bremen’s famous Lutheran Cathedral is intact.
Description:
Alternate caption.
Creator:
British Combine Photos, Ltd. (author)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Dom zu Bremen (Bremen, Germany), United States. Army. Signal Corps.
Topics:
Church buildings--Germany--Bremen., Buildings--War damage--Germany--Bremen., Buildings--Blast effects--Germany--Bremen., Architecture, Romanesque--Germany--Bremen., Lutheran church buildings--Germany--Bremen.
Geographic subjects:
Bremen (Germany)--Buildings, structures, etc., Bremen (Germany)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:357500
Title:
The manger unites Catholic and Protestants.
Description:
Handwritten caption on reverse by contributor E.E. Tucker.
Creator:
Tucker, E. E. (author)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives.
Topics:
Christmas--Germany--Berlin., Children--Germany--Berlin., Interdenominational cooperation--Germany--Berlin., Christmas pageants --Germany--Berlin., World War, 1939-1945--Germany.
Geographic subjects:
Pankow (Berlin, Germany)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:357449

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