Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
- 1836-1986 (Creation)
Extent
9.71 cubic feet
Name of creator
Biographical history
Edwin Ronald Garrison (1897-1995), an American bishop, was born to R. Eliot and Susie Enright Garriosn in Frankford, Indiana, on December 26, 1897. Garrison married Edith Heritage on January 20, 1922. They had two daughters, Helen Carolyn (Mrs. Lewis Kauffmann) and Marion Ann (Mrs. J. H. LoPrete). Edith Garrison died July 14, 1971. Edwin married Marion Thompson in 1973. Edwin died on January 3, 1995.
Garrison attended Depauw University (B.A. 1921) and Drew Theological Seminary (B.D. 1925) as well as receiveing other honorary degrees. He was ordained to the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1927. Between 1928 and 1942 he served churches in Sheridan, Elkhart (St. Paul's), and Bluffton, Indiana. He was District Superintendent of the Wabash District for five years. Between 1950 and 1960 Garrison served as the administrative assistant to Bishop Richard C. Raines. In 1960, he was elected to the episcopacy by the North Central Jurisdiction and assigned to the Dakotas Area. He retired at the North Central Jurisdictional Conference in 1968. In 1992, Garrison received the Drew University School Distinguished Service Award.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
The bulk of the three hundred and fifty-one folders in this collection are placed in the Study of the Parish System series. In the mid-1960's, the Council of Bishops asked Bishop Garrison to do a comprehensive study on how to restructure the parish ministry to meet the rapid changes in both society and United Methodism. Here we find all the records of Garrison’s study which still influences parish ministry into the early 21st century. The researcher will be surprised at the efficiency and scope Garrison brought to the task. By the early to mid-1970's Garrison wound down his research and presented his findings to the Council of Bishops. The Episcopal series documents Bishop Garrison’s work as administrative head for both the Dakotas and Indian areas. Besides illuminating his bishopric work amongst the annual conferences within the appropriate episcopal geographic boundaries, there are other records on important topics facing the larger denomination as well. A number of audio CD’s created from reel-to-reel tapes record meetings and ordination services that Garrison took part in during his episcopal tenure. The Ministry series covers his professional life prior to his episcopal election. One will find sermons, overseas trips, vital church records where he served and other kinds of materials related to local church ministries. Lastly, is the Education series which centers on higher education. Degrees, earned or honorary, are located in various folders. Correspondence makes up the rest of the series which includes notable figures in church and political circles.
System of arrangement
This collection is arranged by series.
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
There are no restrictions regarding this collection.
Physical access
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
Detailed use restrictions relating to our collections can be requested from the office of the archivist at the General Commission on Archives and History. Photocopying is handled by the staff and may be limited in certain instances. Before using any material for publication from this collection a formal request for permission to publish is expected and required.
Languages of the material
- English
Scripts of the material
Language and script notes
Finding aids
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
Immediate source of acquisition
Accession: 1980-021, Accession: 1990-019, Accession: 1980-013
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Accruals
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
Disposed 0.54 cubic feet of audio tapes. Tapes were converted to digital files. 01/07/2011. MCS
Bishops Oral History Project
Records of the Council of Bishops
Records of the General Council on Ministries
Records of the Mission Education and Cultivation Program Department of the General Board of Global Ministries
Administrative files of United Methodist Communications
Records of the World Division of the General Board of Global Ministries
Related descriptions
Notes element
General note
When citing material from this collection please use the following format: Direct reference to the item or its file folder, Edwin Roland Garrison Personal Papers, United Methodist Church Archives - GCAH, Madison, New Jersey. Do not make use of the items call number as that is not a stable descriptor.
Specialized notes
Alternative identifier(s)
Description control element
Rules or conventions
Sources used
Archivist's note
Prepared by Eric Jackson, Student Assistant and Mark C. Shenise, Associate Archivist
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Methodist Church (U.S.) (Subject)
- United Methodist Church (U.S.) (Subject)