tions and correspondence with John B. Morris were especially helpful in understanding his work with the Episcopal Society for Cultural and Racial Unity, as was his generous sharing of numerous documents and newsletters. The staffs at several archives—including the Department of Special Collections of Mugar Memorial Library at Boston University; the American Jewish Archives in Waltham, Massachusetts; and the Presbyterian Church ( U.S.A.) Office of History in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—were courteous and prompt in helping track down important documents in their varied manuscript collections.

Special thanks are due two invaluable friends, Roy and Kim Robson. Their good humor, faith, support, and advice has proven to be a bulwark of encouragement and a source of much pleasure through. graduate school and beyond—much more, perhaps, than they ever can understand.

Finally, a word of appreciation for the three most important people in my life. The greatest debt—one I can never repay, although I look forward to a lifetime of trying—is to my wife Julie, who has been a tower of strength throughout the entire project, putting up with stacks of books and papers and a tired and often distracted husband with an amazing combination of empathy and optimism. This work could never have been completed without her, and if anything of note shines forth from these pages, much credit is due to her inspiring influence. Special thanks are due our son Benjamin. He came into our lives on a fine spring morning when the dissertation was only half done, but his easygoing temperament made the work flow that much more quickly. More importantly, his wonderful smile, frequently bestowed on a father who spent more time staring at a computer screen than at his adorable face, served to remind me of the truly important things in life. Since that time several years ago he has found somewhat more persistent and effective ways of distracting his father, but the end result—my delight in his presence—has remained the same. And now, with the manuscript having moved well beyond dissertation committees and taking up a new life in the world of university presses, we have been blessed with a daughter, Rachel. Being the author of a monograph, especially with all the support I have received over the years, was an enjoyable enough task, but being a parent is far more gratifying. It is to my beautiful wife and two wonderful children that this work is gratefully dedicated.

-x-