Figure 1.--This is the Norris Square U.P. Church Daily Bible School in July 1924 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We are not sure what U.P. means, probably United Presbyterian Church.

We know Vacation Bible Schools were held in the 1920s af have found a substantial numbr of examples in the photographic record. On the previous page we see a VBS at a Presbyterian Church in Michigan (1921). Robert Boville of the Baptist Mission Society had heard of the Hawes New York 1898 experiment. He began encouraging Baptist churches to organize VBS programs. The Baptists were are a major denomiation and VBS began to be promoted by an established chuch. Boville heped organize local VBSs taught by students at the Union Theological Seminary. During one summer, some 1,000 students were enrolled in five different VBSs that had been rganized. Boville founded the World Association of Daily Vacation Bible School (1922). There were apparently other VBSs sprining up elsewhere. Standard Publishing began producing the first printed VBS curriculum. The material was for a 5-week course for three age levels--kindergarten, primary, and junior (1923). Other pubishers created material with Bible stories, religious songs, arts and crafts, skits or puppet shows which aimed at primary-age children. Here we see another VBS at a Presbyterian Church, this one in Phladelphia, Pennsylvania (1924) (figure 1). We also see an Evangelical church with A VBS in the 1920s. This one in San Diego, California. Cearly VBS was being adopted by Anerica's many different denominations--at least the Protestant churches.
.

Created: 4:50 PM 7/13/2025
Last updated: 6:15 PM 7/13/2025