By The Wheaton College Archives & Special Collections Staff
Title: Keston, USA Records, 1971-1990
Predominant Dates:1985-1990
ID: SC/042
Primary Creator: Keston, USA (1987-)
Extent: 7.0 boxes. More info below.
Arrangement: The collection is arranged by series with folder level control.
Date Acquired: 00/00/1990
Subjects: Freedom of religion -- Soviet Union, Keston College, Persecution -- Soviet Union, Religion and state -- Soviet Union, Soviet Union -- Religion
Forms of Material: Administrative Records, Annual Reports, Articles, Correspondence, Financial Records, Legal Documents, Photographs
Though its efforts started earlier, Keston, USA was incorporated in 1987 to further the understanding of religious life in Soviet nations and to support human and religious rights of Christians living in Communist countries. It was founded as the American affiliate of Keston College and Keston Research in Oxford, England. Keston College/Research was founded by Rev. Michael Bourdeaux and became the premier research and information source for information on religious affairs in the USSR. Since the "fall" of communism in Russian and Eastern Europe, Keston College/Research has continued to highlight religious persecution in this region.
Inspired by these efforts, Keston, USA serves the needs of Keston Research by facilitating the dissemination of current and accurate information, promoting religious freedom and promoting inter-religious dialog, cooperation and understanding.
Keston, USA has served as co-sponsor of scholarly conferences and has partnered with other ministry organizations to provide on-going expertise for Christian efforts in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.
Keston USA, published the Keston News Service, a bi-weekly compilation of news and analysis of current religious situations and individuals. This publication ceased publication in 1991. Keston, USA also distributed Keston Research publications Right to Believe, Frontier and Religion, State and Society.
Keston, USA began its work in earnest with the hiring of a full-time executive director, David Ziomek, in 1986. The departure of Ziomek in 1990 and the changes in the political landscape in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe hastened the reduced profile of Keston, USA.
Freedom of religion -- Soviet Union
Keston College
Persecution -- Soviet Union
Religion and state -- Soviet Union
Soviet Union -- Religion
Repository: Wheaton College Archives & Special Collections
Alternate Extent Statement: 17 linear feet
Access Restrictions: Access to correspondence is restricted to those persons having permission of the donors. The container list enumerates the restricted folders.
Use Restrictions: Duplication may be restricted if copying could cause damage to items.
Acquisition Source: The Keston USA archive materials were given as donations from various board members to Wheaton College in 1990.
Acquisition Method: Gift
Preferred Citation: Keston, USA Records (SC-42), Wheaton College Special Collections, Wheaton, Illinois.
Other Note: The Keston USA Records document the work of an agency that studies religious life and persecution in Communist and totalitarian nations and publishes various newsletters and other organs to inform Western churches and leaders.
Other URL: http://library.wheaton.edu
