Ferrer was a key figure in Philippine Methodism. His professional interests were many and are reflected throughout this collection. Ferrer's correspondence covers a diversity of topics: episcopal matters which include the Filipino episcopal controversy in the early 1970s, responses to articles he had written, national and world events, Central Conference business, ministry, and ecumenism. Those in correspondence with Ferrer include government officials, district superintendents, bishops of The United Methodist Church, officers of the Philippine church, Church World Service workers, the Christian Century magazine, the Philippine Federation of Churches, National Council of Churches in the Philippines, as well as staff members of the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church (U.S.). One folder contains bound correspondence. The minutes and reports reflect the work of the Filipino church on all levels. Here are the records from conference lay leaders, United Methodist Men (MACUMM), local clergy, district superintendents, annual conferences, College of Bishops, National Council of Churches in the Philippines, and other ecumenical organizations.

There are a number of supporting documents within the Administrative subseries that contain church statistics, a list of Filipino Crusade Scholars, resolutions, petitions, Judicial Council decisions, pastoral appointments to the local church, and other general administrative type records.

Manuscripts and addresses are next. Most of the manuscripts are one to two pages in length. Others are longer. Ferrer was a prolific writer and wrote about rural ministry, church autonomy, church history, memorials, biographies, spiritual care, sociology, autobiographies, and various levels of church administration. The content for the shorter manuscripts tends to reflect unpublished news releases and meditations. Some of the manuscripts were later used as addresses. Those records that are specifically identified as addresses are inclined to be episcopal in nature. The newsletters and bulletins cover not only Methodist work, but pan-denominational and social work within the Philippines as well. Publications and pamphlets contain souvenir books, histories, church administration, sociology, and study books.

Programs reflect Ferrer's pastoral duties, which included dedications, school programs, annual conferences, and installations. Another subseries within the collection are the scrapbooks. There are two of them. One is a remembrance book on the life of Gumersindo Garcia, a Filipino physician. The other contains clippings of Ferrer's newspaper articles. The final two subseries in this first series are Personal and Miscellaneous. The former contains a curriculum vitae, biographical sketch, and the Ferrer family genealogy. The latter embraces a clipping, curriculum vitae for Narciso Albarracin, a governmental minster of education, and a thank-you note from a group of visiting Methodists from the United States.

The second series contains manuscripts by various authors. The subjects are multi-faceted. Authors include: Restitute C. Basa, Isamu Chiba, Onofre G. Fonceca, Ezekias Gacutan, David T. Lara, Juan Naboong, M. Ellia Peter, and Victor Claveria Vinluan. A sampling of topics contained therein include information on the laity, ecclesiastical leadership, Protestantism in the Philippines, Filipino Methodism, annual conferences, schools, and ecumenical work.

This collection is comprised of papers, correspondence, journals, photographs, portraits pertaining to various aspects of his pastoral work and with the inclusion of the Drew Newman collection there is added significant correspondence as well as papers having to do with his Episcopal work.

One important item is the journal Newman kept from July 23,1871 to February 27,1872. The early part of the journal describes his personal relationship to President Grant and his family. The later part of the journal continues an account of his ministerial activities. The central part of the Journal, however, is very significant as it provides an excellent account of his journey on the U.S. Congress on its journey to Greenland. The purpose of the venture was to secure permission from the Danish government to use Greenland as a base of supplies for Captain Hall's expedition to the North Pole on the US Polaris. Permission was granted and Newman led the crew in Divine Services prior to their embarkation. The Polaris expedition, although Captain Hall died en route, became the closest a sailing vessel came to the polar cap. The details of the expedition are covered in the "Narrative of the North Polar Expedition". A copy is in the Drew University library.

While in Greenland on the Congress Newman describes ably his adventures in the interior as well as frequent cultural and religious contacts with the Eskimos. He wrote nine letters about his trip which were published in the "Methodist".

Other material in the collection includes personal correspondence between the Newmans 1854-1855. The letters in the Drew collection, which have now been consolidated with the commission's collection, offer for the period 1864-1895 some useful insights especially concerning the role Newman had in the Grant administration. There is a Thanksgiving sermon which states a patriotic theme typical of the period. A Scrapbook includes a lecture and preaching appointments.

Newspaper clippings reporting Grant's illness and death as well as those concerning Newman's death and funeral are a part of the collection.

There is a genealogy for Mrs. Newman's Ensign family and a collection of family photographs for 1880-1890 including several of J. P. Newman, his wife, and other family members. Another part of the collection includes portraits of both Bishop and Mrs. Newman.

Commentaries written by Mrs. Newman describing her journey around the world are a part of the collection and were used by her in presenting slide programs. The slides are not in the collection.

Finally the collection includes materials from Newman's episcopal administration. There are records of votes taken 1893-1894 in Annual Conferences having to do with constitutional questions in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and Scandinavia, and also a plan of Episcopal visitation. One of the more historic items is a letter to Bishop Newman involving a petition 1893 asking for separation of the Oklahoma Conference from Indian territory.

The portraits in the collection include a pencil drawn likeness of Mrs. Newman. An oil painting of Mrs. Newman. A charcoal pencil portrait of Bishop Newman.

The record of uncataloqued Bishop Newman publications held in the Drew University collection are: Old Age,a Sermon; Sermons for the Masses on the Character of the Resurrection Body; Self-Denial for the Promotion of Temperance a Duty and a Pleasure; Religious Liberty, A Free Church in a Free Country; Sermons of Rev. J. P. Newman; The Funeral Service of an Aged Lady; Evenings With the Prophets On the Lost Empires of the World, Seven Discourses; Character, a sermon;The White Stone, The Foundation of Christian Character; Mission of Science, an address; Aurora Borealis Amid the Icebergs of Greenland's Mountains; St.John; Prisoner of Patmos; Entire Sanctification.

The collection is primarily composed of records from the nineteenth century. The bulk of the material belongs to James McKendree Reiley ( 1880-1891). Two manuscripts, one handwritten and the other published, chronicles the life and ministry of James Reiley. The researcher should be aware that the handwritten manuscript does not match the printed one in content. The difference can be subtle at times. Other record types document the broader family history.