Barnett, Eugene E.

Eugene E. Barnett grew up in Florida; studied at Emory College, Vanderbilt University, and the University of North Carolina; and spent 26 years as an official with the YMCA in China.

Eugene Barnett was born in Leesburg, Florida in 1888. He began his YMCA career as a student secretary at the University of North Carolina, where he was a graduate student. In 1910, he was sent to China, where he founded the YMCA in Hangchow (Hangzhou) and headed it as general secretary until 1921. During the next fifteen years, he served in a variety of leadership roles for the YMCA in China and was a confidant of the country's civic, military, religious, and educational leaders. In 1937, Barnett was recalled to the United States to become executive secretary of the YMCA's International Committee. His tenure was notable for his success in reducing the organization's debt. From 1943 until his retirement in 1953, he was general secretary of the National Council. He was also active in the work of the World Alliance of YMCAs and remained a familiar figure at YMCA gatherings until his death in 1970.

Resident of Spokane, Wash. Witness to Centralia Massacre, Centralia, Wash., 1919.

Witness to Centralia Massacre, Centralia, Wash., 1919.

Eugene Epperson Barnett was born in Florida in 1888. He attended Emory University, Vanderbilt University, and the University of North Carolina. He was the General Secretary of the National Council of Young Mens' Christian Associations from 1908 to 1910 and continued to work for the YMCA unti retirement in 1953. From 1910 to 1936 he worked in China. He died in 1970.

General Secretary of the Young Men's Christian Associaion (YMCA), secretary of numerous committees and divisions within the YMCA.

Eugene E. Barnett (b. 1888) was born in Leesburg, Fla., to Robert H. Barnett, a Methodist minister, and Sarah Epperson Barnett. He graduated from Emory University, Oxford, Ga., 1907, and was a graduate student at Vanderbuilt University, Tenn., and the University of North Carolina where he also served as student secretary of the campus Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). He later continued his work for the YMCA as in Hangchow, 1910-1921, and Shanghai, 1921-1936, China. He married Bertha Mae Smith in 1910. After 1936 he continued his domestic and international YMCA work based in New York and participated in numerous organizations to promote world peace, international relief work, and human relations.

BIOGHIST REQUIRED Eugene E. Barnett (1888-1970) began his work with the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) by serving as a Secretary for the University of North Carolina Student YMCA from 1908-1910, where he was enrolled as a graduate student.

In 1910, the YMCA sent Barnett to China, where he was to remain until 1937. In China, he organized the YMCA in Hangchow, and served as its General Secretary until 1921. In 1925, became the Senior Secretary for the International Committee of the YMCA in China. He served concurrently as Associate General Secretary of the China National Committee and was also a member of the National Christian Council.

In 1937, the YMCA recalled Barnett to the United States, and he became the Executive Secretary of the International Board of the YMCA. In this role, he managed the World Services Program, and was instrumental in helping the YMCA to elimiate a substantial amount of accumulated debt.

In 1941, Barnett became the General Secretary of the National Council of YMCAs. He would serve in this position until his retirement in 1953.

Eugene Barnett was born in Leesburg, Florida on February 21, 1888. A Phi Beta Kappa student, he graduated from Emory University in 1907. In 1908, he began his YMCA career as a student secretary at the University of North Carolina, where he was a graduate student.

In 1910, he married Bertha Smith and was sent to China, where he founded the YMCA in Hangchow (Hangzhou) and headed it as general secretary until 1921. For the next two years he served as the national student secretary for China and then was promoted to national city secretary, holding that position until 1925, when he became senior secretary for the International Committee of the YMCA in China. While in China, Barnett was a confidant of the country's civic, military, religious, and educational leaders. He held substantial responsibilities in the development of the emergency program that rendered service to Chinese troops when the country was first invaded by Japan.

In 1937, Barnett was recalled to the United States to become executive secretary of the YMCA's International Committee. His qualities of statesmanship were demonstrated at a difficult period. Barnett, together with lay and staff colleagues, devoted every effort to securing income to liquidate debt, while maintaining a modest program. In 1945, the indebtedness was wiped out with a substantial gift from John D. Rockefeller, Jr. In 1940, Barnett became the general secretary of the National Council. He was active in the work of the World Alliance of YMCAs and played a major role in the shaping of its policies.

Though Barnett retired as general secretary in 1953, he did not by any means retire from an abiding interest and involvement in the YMCA. He remained a familiar figure at YMCA gatherings almost until the day of his death in 1970.