Life Magazine from February 15, 1937 - Buchman’s Oxford Groupers Marching As To War
Title: Life Magazine – February 15, 1937
Publisher: Time Inc.
Publication Date: February 15, 1937
Pages: Approx. 76
Condition: Very Good – cover bright with light edge wear and faint handling marks; interior pages clean with light toning typical of age; binding secure. Please review photos for exact condition details.
Featured Article:
“Buchman’s Oxford Groupers Marching As To War”
This issue of Life magazine contains a remarkable photographic feature titled “Buchman’s Oxford Groupers Marching As To War.” The article provides an in-depth look at the Oxford Group’s mass gathering in Malvern, England, where over one thousand men and women convened under the leadership of Dr. Frank Buchman.
Through vivid images and descriptive reporting, the piece illustrates the disciplined, almost military style of the Oxford Group’s activities, highlighting their message of “moral re-armament” through principles of honesty, purity, unselfishness, and love. The article describes their energetic marches, slogans, and rigorous daily schedules, offering readers a detailed glimpse into the inner workings of the movement.
A companion spread, “A Day With Oxford Groupers,” walks readers through the participants’ structured routine—from morning prayers and chores, to large communal gatherings, speeches, and exhortations. It emphasizes the group’s emphasis on order, dedication, and evangelism, portraying the Oxford Group as a disciplined spiritual force preparing for cultural transformation.
For historians and collectors, this article is especially significant. The Oxford Group’s practices and ideology directly influenced the formation of Alcoholics Anonymous. This issue of Life thus documents an essential precursor to one of the most important spiritual and recovery movements of the twentieth century.
Collector’s Significance
- Historic Feature: Among the earliest major U.S. magazine photo essays on Frank Buchman and the Oxford Group.
- AA Connection: Offers crucial context on the roots of Alcoholics Anonymous, which adapted key Oxford Group principles into the Twelve Steps.
- Iconic Photography: Life’s striking photojournalism captures the scale and fervor of the Malvern gathering.
- Condition: Well-preserved copy, very good overall, with only modest signs of age.
This issue stands as a visually and historically important artifact, offering a rare contemporary look at the Oxford Group in its prime and its role in shaping the philosophy that would soon evolve into Alcoholics Anonymous.
