The accession includes a master, duplicating master, and use copy videotape recording of a talk given by Coffin at the Yale University Library on February 24, 2003. The title of the talk, "War is a Coward's Escape from the Problems of Peace" was derived from a quote by Thomas Mann. The talk was given in support of a library exhibit on the antiwar movement that featured Coffin's papers. Coffin gives his perspective on the upcoming war in Iraq and reflects on his experiences in the antiwar movement in the 1960s.
This accession is arranged in seven sections: Correspondence; Personal and family; Printed materials and clippings; Topical; Writings; Audiotapes; and Videotapes. There is also a small amount of oversize material. The materials supplement the previous accessions by documenting Coffin's "semi-retirement" during the 1990s and 2000s and by providing materials about his personal life as a father, son, friend, and minister, during the 1930s through the 1980s.
The accession is arranged in four sections: Correspondence; Printed materials and clippings; Topical; and Writings. The materials supplement the main accession and add significant documentation on Coffin's years as senior minister of Riverside Church. Highlighted in the materials is an extensive collection of sermons, both from Riverside and Yale University's Battell Chapel. Though donated by Coffin, these materials were transferred to Yale after the original accession by Warren Goldstein, who used them in researching his biography of Coffin.
This accession primarily contains notebooks and notes by William Sloane Coffin on religion, philosophy, and current events, 1940s-circa 2006, apparently used for his sermons and other writings. It also contains two address books kept by Coffin, undated; a card with a quotation by him, 2006; and notes on religious schedules and events, undated.
This accession was transferred from the basement of Battell Chapel and contains a wide variety of materials almost entirely dating between 1966 and 1968. Materials are arranged alphabetically by topic and folder headings are largely derived from the original folders. Most of the materials are clippings, pamphlets, and other collected material. There is very little correspondence and it is all found within topical folders. The small amount of writings and sermons are listed under those headings.
Luncheon in honor of Coffin with speeches by Margot Coffin, Cora Weiss, John Maguire, Andy Young, Bill Moyers, Warren Goldstein, Coffin, and a prayer by Joe Hough-relatively poor audio/visual.