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The collection contains mostly letters, some publications, artifacts, photographs, and personal documents (1903-1913). The letters cover all phases of their lives in Rangoon and are addressed primarily to " the folks at home," which makes them both personal and informative. There is some later correspondence dated 1951 to 1964 between Graves and persons he knew in Burma. The collection contains original letters as well as photocopies.

This collection contains items related to the Karl E. Anderson family. The bulk of this collection are Karl Anderson's diaries which are dated 1897-1905, 1914-1915, 1924, 1926-1927, and 1929-1934. The diaries contain information about his daily experiences and religious observations. Other records include sermons and writings which are in outline format (undated), notes from which Anderson preached (undated), and a poem (undated). There are also several biographical materials (1931-1970) in this collection. Dorothea Anderson's materials of creative writings (undated) are located in a single folder. These items are mostly plays and articles on Indian mission subjects.

There is also a folder of letters and articles (1933- 1945) by or about Bishop William F. Oldham. This includes correspondence from Oldham and a copy of his funeral service bulletin. Oldham was the subject of a 3,000 word biography written by Emma Anderson. Helen Rieger Emmerson has a manuscript (1970) on the history of the Lisbon, Iowa, United Methodist Church. This piece covers the time period when Anderson pastored the church. In addition there are two photographs: one of the General Committee of the Foreign Mission Board from November 1913, and a second picture of the General Executive Committee of the Women's Foreign Missionary Society in October 1923. The two artifacts in this collection include a Bidar metal vase (undated) with a copy of a legend and a woven straw tray (undated).

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.

The Sherertz Family Papers cover the time period from about 1870 to 1970. These documents were created by several generations of missionaries assigned to China and Africa.

The focus of the collection is divided between China and Africa. China constitutes the earlier period from about 1855 to 1945. The Sherertz' activity in Southern Rhodesia begins in 1953 and ends in their retirement in 1958. Of particular interest is the first Methodist deaconess from Southern Rhodesia, Mai Mhlanga (1007-2-7:04).

Because of D. L. Sherertz's propensity for documentation, the bulk of the collection directly reflects his life and career. Two highlights include his role in the national government of the Republic of China and his internment in Pootung by the Japanese. He also preserved family genealogies and memoirs.

The Park family is represented by William Hector Park's memoirs, several photographs, and a few letters by his wife, Nora Lambuth Park, which were written during the years after her husband's death.

The Lambuths' papers include one letter from Mary McClellan Lambuth in Chinese and English as well as a number of photographs from this early period.

Upon reviewing the entire collection, it becomes apparent that Margarita Park Sherertz played the central role in the family's development. Her papers are not as voluminous as those belonging to her husband, but it is clear that she was a charismatic and intelligent individual. Margarita's strength reveals itself when her husband was interned by the Japanese in China after Pearl Harbor. Her letters written during this period and those she wrote shortly before she left China illustrate her cognizance of political and social events which occurred locally and internationally.

Margarita's mother, Nora Lambuth Park, similarly remarks in a few of her letters about local political developments as they relate to the welfare and fate of the missionary community. Nora's experience as a seasoned missionary in China during several periods of social upheaval is demonstrated in her comments about the events in Soochow leading up to Pearl Harbor. Her work was indispensable to her husband's career as wife, mother, caretaker, nurse, teacher, cook and social secretary. She was equally revered by the Chinese community.

Nora's mother, Mary McClellan Lambuth was an extremely intelligent individual who mastered written and spoken Chinese during her tenure as a missionary (see 1005-6-1:18). She also provided the means for her children's education and was an active and vital force in the Chinese community according to her daughter and granddaughter.

Nora Lambuth Park and Mary McClellan Lambuth are two figures who deserve further illumination because of their pivotal role in family development and stabilization, community work and religious dedication.

Diaries and journals belonging to Mary Isabella McClellan Lambuth and Walter R. Lambuth can be found at the J.B. Cain Archives, Millsaps-Wilson Library, Millsaps College, Jackson, Mississippi.

The lives of William Hector Park and Dwight Lamar Sherertz illustrate the more public and well known series of events among missionaries in China. Their letters, memoirs, diaries and public statements give a broad view of events in China before and during World War II. As a whole, this collection provides a valuable glimpse of their private family life as well. Specifically, the lives of Margarita Park Sherertz, Nora Lambuth Park and Mary McClellan Lambuth come into focus as "the thread which binds" generation to generation.

There are two items in this collection. The first is a Seth Thomas Clock that was built in 1876. The clock was removed from what is known as the William Butler bungalow in Bareilly, UP, India around 1970 by Dr. Robert Petersen at the suggestion of Dr. Stanley Thoburn, deceased. Due to the patent date, it is highly probable that some other early Methodist missionary actually owned it.

The second item in this collection is a book written by William Butler entitled THE LAND OF THE VEDA. The book is autographed in the front by Clemetina Butler who was William's third wife.

The material in this collection represents Mueller's work from his first years as a pastor in the Evangelical Association to his retirement from the Episcopacy of the United Methodist Church (1921-1975). The earliest manuscripts include sermons and addresses (1921-1975). The rest of the collection consists of correspondence (1941-1973), photographs (1962-1976), addresses (1921-1975), articles, and clippings (1921-1975). The most sustained record of Mueller's work begins in the 1940's with Mueller's election as Executive Secretary of Christian Education. The collection continues with records from his episcopal leadership, his presidency of the N.C.C., and his involvement in the negotiations for the Uniting Conference in 1968.

The records of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women (COSROW) encompass its beginnings as a general agency and continues up to the early twenty-first century. Its primary role is advocacy for women both within and beyond United Methodism. Over time advocacy would be expanded beyond just women roles and acceptance as leaders. Responsibilities in their defined mission include workplace and sexual harassment, equitable leadership roles and benefits in relation to gender and race, legislation to General Conference such as changing language usage in the Book of Discipline to codify improvements for women and social issues relating thereof. These are but a few examples of its advocacy work for the denomination.

In order to support, empower and educate the denomination on all levels within COSROW’s defined responsibilities can be found in the Advocacy, Audio-Visuals, Connectional Ministries and Printed Matter series. Here the researcher will find a plethora of avenues by which COSROW fulfills its mission through multimedia, mailings, newsletters such as the Yellow Ribbon and The Flyer, correspondence, creation and submission of petitions to General Conference along with organizing and informing delegates, worship resources reflecting various women’s concerns and expressions, pamphlets, workshops and monitoring seminaries and all the boards and agencies throughout the connectional structures within the larger church.

COSROW is highly organized in the sense of resourcing and utilizing its membership both on the general church and annual conference levels. The creation of a talent bank in which to draw upon not only for its own qualitative work but also to network skilled individuals is but one of the creative ways COSROW optimizes its impact on the church despite its small staff. The records illustrate how the role of monitoring became a defining part of its work. Social justice issues related to women and children are amply documented in the files. The genesis of using non-gender specific language issue to promote inclusiveness within United Methodism can be traced here as well.

The Financial and Administration series reflects how COSROW ran its organization and implemented its mission on a daily basis. Minutes of the various committees, reports on the work and funding of the commission, along with membership records and the General Secretary’s office files make up the primary documents in this series. A researcher will notice multiple files on the same topics. The reason for this duplication rests upon the original organizational structure the commission utilized for an egalitarian General Secretariat rather than a typical top-down corporate management structure found in other United Methodist agencies. Later COSROW adapted the latter structure out of necessity. On another note it should be noted that COSROW often recorded their meetings in various media platforms which became the official record.

This collection is made up of administrative records from the Council of Bishops and predecessor organizations. It includes the minutes of the Bishops meetings and their position papers.

Material in this collection that relates to women include records from the World Federation of Methodist Women, notes from Wade's second wife, and an address by Emily Smith. Those records that relate to the World Federation of Methodist Women include articles, correspondence, a constitution, treasurer's reports, and signatures from representatives. The inclusive dates are 1936-1961, with the bulk of the material from the 1940s. Also included in Bishop Wade's papers are travel notes and observations from 1949 by his second wife. There are also several copies of an address given by Emily Smith in 1934 regarding Africa.

This collection consists of sermons, notes, photographs, legal documents, reports, clippings, correponsdence, and an artifact, reflecting mainly Bishop Wade's professional life. Also includes materials relating to the trial and prosecution of Bishop Anton Bast.

There is a microfilm (1892-1946) of his papers and manuscripts located in the library.

Record types include: correspondence, photocopies, handwritten transcripts, publications, photographs, financial records and contracts. This is the only known extent collection of Bishop Otterbein' s papers in the Western Hemisphere. The collection contains autographs and his ministerial credentials.