This collection contains both artifacts and manuscript items that reflect only portions of Edwin Fisher's work. Records from his early years include theses and notes from his college work, and sermons from the 1940s and 1950s that represent his years as a pastor and missionary in the Philippines. All that exists in this collection from his years of administrative work with the mission boards of both the EUB and United Methodist Churches are his travel notes and notebooks, mission personnel cards, and one report on the mission personnel and political situation in the Philippines. Sections of this report regarding personnel issues are closed until 2054. Fisher's administrative files can be found in the Records of the Board of Missions of the Evangelical United Church, and the Records of the Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church (U.S.). The artifacts come from a variety of sources, but mostly from Fisher's travels in Asia for the mission boards. Several of the items were given to Fisher as gifts.

The collection contains information pertaining to the educational and professional life, as well as the home life of Deaconess Ivy Myers, while also exploring topics within the Methodist Deaconess and Missionary organizations as a whole. These documents encompass Chicago Training School (CTS) class and faculty information, images and history between the years 1922, 1925-1927, 1929-1930, and 1933. The most prominent subject within the collection pertains to Lucy Rider Meyer, the founder of CTS, particularly information surrounding her death and accounts by acquaintances regarding Meyer's character and professional experience. The collection accommodates obituaries of other significant members of the Chicago Training School, as well as written correspondence to Ivy from various persons. The publications contain information on both Deaconess and missionary work. Photographs depict CTS faculty and students, as well as Ms. Myers life outside of her education and profession.

This material contains general administrative files from the World Division of the General Board of Global Ministries. The material holds Division minutes both of the various committees and of the staff, correspondence with Bishops, and with missionary institutions around the world. In addition to administrative functions there is information on the overseas educational institutions, autonomous church developments, building programs, and the Crusade program, and other scholarships from the World Division. This material holds a variety of administrative and support information as well as information about the general programs of the World Division. There are structural and design blueprints for mission site buildings from around the world are in the Blueprint series. Records dealing with the work of the Evangelical Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church in modern day Dominican Republic are located in two series. Gift processing, legal program, and Property deal with records related to gifts, financial bequests and property held by the Division. Editorial decisions and committee oversight are found in the New World Outlook series. The Office of Edwin Fisher and of Ralph Diffendorfer contain records related to their work; Fisher as a director of the work in several geographic regions and Diffendorfer as the director of the World Division during the 1930s and 1940s. Subject files contain general correspondence reflecting the various programs of the World Division. In addition to material relating to the general programs and functions of the World Division there are also records pertaining to autonomous church developments among the former mission sites, funding of churches, reports and training of missionaries, and reactions to critics of the Division's programs.

This collection is comprised mostly of correspondence. The first series consists of Josiah L. Parrish's correspondence, documents, and records. These records and letters cover several topics, including biographical and family information, information regarding business affairs and history. The biographical information deals with Josiah L. Parrish's family. There is limited information regarding his children from his first wife, Elizabeth Winn Parrish, his second wife Jennie Litchenthaler Parrish, and their daughters (Josie and Grace), and his third wife Mattie A. Pierce and her son LaRonda Pierce.

Parrish, being important in the history of Oregon, has a great deal of historical information in his collection. Also included in the history section is a copy of the general instructions to missionaries. Included in the business affairs materials are correspondences and records related to prospecting, agriculture, and real estate, as well as personal business records. Parrish's papers also include three oversized documents - one making him a member of the New York State Militia, one making him an Indian Agent, and one signed by President Andrew Johnson granting him land in Oregon.

The second series contains Mattie A. Parrish's papers, mostly letters. The biographical and family information contains correspondence between Mattie and her relatives - including her husband and his children, as well as her own child LaRonda.

The business affairs material is divided into financial records, legal records, and solicitations. The financial records cover banking, loans, notes, groceries, dry goods, livestock, clothiers, hardware, insurance, furniture, appliances and lumber.

The legal documents consist of letters from lawyers, court cases, and deeds. The collection also contains several clippings. These clippings cover multiple women's rights, socialism, the history of Oregon and its first Methodist pioneers, articles on Oregon and its politics, obituaries of relatives and neighbors, birthday announcements, Arbor Day, editorials, Helen Keller and the blind, and labor disputes.

The Dorothy Nyland papers are comprised of writings, seminars, informational files, photographs, and correspondences, dating from 1935 to 2009. This collection reflects the passion of Nyland in her work for a better spirit among all creeds and races.

The largest part of the collection is correspondences, which can be found throughout most of the folders in the collection. The bulk of the correspondences (1937-1990) are arranged chronologically and can be found in two folders and a bound book of letters. The letters found in the bound book date to 1959 are letters of well wishes for the next step in her life after her departure from the Secretary of Student Work position with the Women’s Division of Christian Service. These letters are from coworkers, friends, and acquaintances she met through the position. The other letters in the two folders date from 1937 to 1990 and contain personal letters, ‘dear friends’ letters, and letters pertaining to general work. Some of these letters are addressed to both Dorothy and her sister, Gertrude. Other correspondences can be found in folders related to an individual, an event, or a trip.

The file folder dealing with her trip to Japan in 1935 include photographs, letters to friends and family, and pamphlets from the ship. There is another file about Japan , which contains personal letters from Yoshi Tokunaga, postcards, and photographs. It also contains clippings, pamphlets, and booklets about international relations and Methodist missions in Japan. The file dealing with her trip to the Conference in Amsterdam in 1939 includes correspondence and writings for the conference, as well as the 1979 Commemoration.

There are also files dedicated to an individual or family. These files include photographs, clippings, pamphlets, and personal letters sent to Nyland from the individual or family members. These individuals are Toyohiko Kagawa, Jameson Jones, Julius S. Scott Jr., Frank and Jean Tubban, Richard Deates, Dr. Benjamin Mays, A.J. Muste, and Theressa Hoover.

Additional files deal with Nyland’s work. A file of seminars she attended, created, and/or organized includes the programs of the “Christian Citizenship Seminar for Students” (first held at the United Nations in 1953) and the “Missionary Education among College Students” seminar. Included in this file are photographs, including two of Eleanor Roosevelt giving a lecture at the “Christian Citizenship Seminar for Students,” letters from parents and participants, and participant surveys. A file that contains her writings includes a copy of the program guide she wrote that accompanied the missionary education movement’s textbook, The Trumpet of the Prophecy by Richard Baker. Other files deal with course outlines, foreign relations, campus co-operatives, Chinese co-operatives, writings about world peace and race relations (especially in the United States). These files all contain clippings, photographs, pamphlets, and some letters.

The papers of Bishop Ivan Lee Holt chiefly reflect his work while pastoring the St. John's Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in Saint Louis, Missouri. However, other areas of Holt's service to the church are documented as well. There is a small number of records that pertain directly to his episcopacy. Holt was an intellectual who mastered many areas within the study of theology. More often than not he would make both broad and minute applications of his various learning experiences and apply them in praxis from the local church level all the way up to and including his work with the World Council of Churches.

The effects of twentieth century wars on the Christian faith and the subsequent role of ecumenicism as related to these wars were primary in Holt's thoughts. Methodism and its placement in conjunction with other denominations during his lifetime is well represented. This is especially true of his sermons. The first and largest series within the collection is entitled Discourses. Here the researcher will find sermons, addresses, prayers, meditations, and quotes. The first sub-series, sermons, make up the bulk of the series. It is here that the diversity of Holt's ministry is best illuminated. However, it should be noted that the standard identifying tags that distinguish between sermons, addresses, and manuscripts are at times blurred. The second series is comprised of manuscripts. Subjects such as Methodism in South America, the Old Testament account of the military campaign against Biblical Sihon, and Bishops Quayle and Selecman are covered. Correspondence is the next series. This series contains letters relating to pastoral appointments, speaking engagements, and various conference cabinets.

Other professional activities include correspondence dealing with Bishop Holt's teaching career, episcopacy, and the various honorary degrees he received during his lifetime. One will find Holt's personal correspondence here as well. Holt's administrative records are located in the following series. Records such as reports, dockets, statements, regulations, minutes, and interviews complete this series.

Like many of the previous series the administrative series reflects both the Bishop's personal and professional life. Subjects include: Southern Methodist University, Central College, Federal Council of Churches, American-Japanese relations, the Commission on Christian Unity, North Texas Annual Conference, Asian Methodism, and cornerstone dedications. Series five contains publications. The first section encompasses both local church and conference publications. This would include bulletins, programs, pamphlets, and postcards. Holt's involvement with award dinners, church services, Women's Society of Christian Service in Northwest Texas, youth rallies, liturgy, various heritage meetings, and special holidays/ celebrations such as Reformation Sunday are documented. The second section includes reprinted articles collected by Holt for research purposes. Subjects covered are sociology, morality, communications, fishing, economics, biographies, Catholicism, Protestantism, Italy, and the Bible.

Newspaper clippings make up the final section. Centering on the United States in general and more specifically Texas, topics include church traditions, political science, awards, Reformation Sunday, speaking announcements, spirituality, and church unity Series six contains biographical records. This series focuses on Holt's memoirs. Oral history transcripts, travel documents and a vita round out the record types. The seventh and final series is a general file. Postcards, poems, correspondence, and notes cover areas such as orders of worship, sermon topics, and Holt's publication: The Methodists of the World.

This collection contains the sermons and prayers of Matthew Simpson Hughes. The sermons, given between 1888 and 1917, document his ministerial career. Hughes placed each of his sermons in an envelope on which he noted the title and the date and location where he preached the sermon. The majority of the sermons were given in Kansas City, Missouri, and Pasadena, California. He also preached in Iowa, Maine, and Minnesota. Most of the sermons are handwritten. Only a few are typed. Many of the sermons contained draft, revision, and alternate copies. There are approximately five hundred sermons in this collection. Some of the topics addressed by Hughes include missions and morality.

Twenty-four sermons have no text reference, and are arranged alphabetically. This includes a lecture on the evolution of women. News clippings, articles, and small note cards were also part of the envelopes. The clippings include Hughes' published sermons which appeared in newspapers, as well as articles and news stories that supported or related to his sermons. The note cards contain brief bibliographic references to works Hughes used in preparing a sermon. The clippings, articles, and note cards have been photocopied onto acid free paper. All the items related to the sermon were kept together and placed in an acid free mini folder with the title and text reference noted on the outside of the folder. The last folder in this collection contains fourteen prayers prepared by Hughes. Eight of these prayers are dated from 1898 and 1902. The remainder are undated.

A large section of this collection consists of almost ninety years of correspondence between the Hartzlers and their friends and relations. It begins with some of Lucy's earliest letters as a young child. It also includes much correspondence dating from Coleman and Lucy's courtship. Later letters describe, in great detail, their days as missionaries, with Lucy striving to include almost every small detail of their lives in her letters. As their sons grew up and moved away, the letters between them and their parents become a central feature of the collection. Also present is a signed letter from John Kennedy to Coleman Hartzler, dating from Kennedy's 1960 election campaign. The diaries are Lucy Padrick Hartzler's accounts of both missionary and family life in Africa and the United States. Written in long hand, they give brief insights into Lucy's devotion to her husband, family, and church. They are personal in nature and quite informative.

In the first diary there is a short genealogical record of the Padrick family (1851-1957). Those records that center primarily on Coleman Hartzler are located in the Sermons and Administrative series. The former series reflects Hartzler's philosophy of ministry, Christianity, hermeneutics, ethos, and world-view. Most of the sermons are in outline form and are type scripted. There are research notes attached to a few of the sermons. Some of the sermons are dated. Supporting documentation for Hartzler's sermon preparation is comprised of notes, proto-addresses, quotes, prayers, poems, and litanies. The latter series, Administrative, contains three primary elements. The records in the first element reflects his professional life as a minister and a missionary. Subjects include the mission work in the Congo, financial accounts, job descriptions, and the Collins Pension Fund.

The second element contains personal/family administration. The third and final element encompasses those travel documents that both Coleman and Lucy Hartzler used throughout their lives. The series containing photographs and biographical information are a mix of different family members both immediate and extended. It here that the genealogist will want to start their research. The photographs series cover the geographic areas of Africa and the United States. They are primarily portrait in orientation but also include a church facade (unknown) and weddings of variously connected relatives. The biographical series contains subjects that cover clergy, baptismal, and death certificates. Other subjects include various family members funeral services and education. The final series is located in a general file which covers such topics as pastoral records, African holidays, historic sites, friends, obituaries, and a historical calendar of the Congo mission. The bits of information contained within this small series fills the intellectual gaps left out by the preceding series.

The Jeremiah S. Fitterer Papers contain sermons, addresses, record books, clippings, and correspondence. The bulk of this collection is comprised of approximately 900 sermons which document the preaching career of Fitterer.

The remainder of the papers contains four addresses, two record books, clippings related to topics on which Fitterer preached, and a stewardship appeal. Sermons make up the largest part of this collection, and most are undated. Those with dates also usually contain references to the location where the sermon was preached. A few sermons are in German. Most of the sermons, written on small sheets of paper or note cards, have been grouped by books of the Bible. However, there are three small books of bound sermons and sermonettes.

In addition, there are nine small booklets of sermons on specific topics, including children, the church, Christians, the conference year, missions, tithing, revivals, the Sabbath, temperance, and education. One folder contains incomplete sermons and fragments. Fitterer used many illustrations and examples in his sermons. One folder contains a small book of illustrations. Another folder contains small pieces of paper with notations and inspirational references on them.

The collection contains an index to fifty of the sermons. This index contains a short title and a text reference. Four addresses are contained in this collection. The addresses are titled, "Decision Day," "Before the Liquor League of Ohio," "G.A.R. Memorial Service," and "Socialism." The G.A.R. address was presented at Bettsville, Ohio, in 1904. The address on socialism was given to the Mt. Cory Reunion in 1909. The other two addresses are undated.

Two record books are part of these papers. One is a 1892 pastoral record book which contains a text reference to the sermon preached on Sunday, notations on weather throughout the week, and lists of visitations. At the back of this book, there is a list of expenses. A second record book is an account book from 1892-1893. Dozens of clippings Fitterer accumulated on topics of importance to him are contained in this collection. Many were used in preparation of his sermons, and some were incorporated into them. These clippings are on a variety of topics including temperance, missions, tithing, and the religious aspects of dancing. The clippings are in the form of short articles, poems, and inspirational thoughts. They have been photocopied from the originals due to deterioration. Most have no reference to date or to the newspaper or periodical from which they were taken. The last item in this collection is an undated letter on the topic of stewardship. It is a handwritten form letter from the Board of Officials of the Evangelical Church to church members regarding financial contributions to the church.

This collection contains photographs, portraits, photograph albums, correspondence, higher education documents and artifacts from the missionary work of the Stahl family members. The numerous photographs and photograph albums contain images of former students including wedding photographs, other missionary workers and various landscapes in China.