This collection is made up of records from the various educational institutions that were run or supported by the Board and administrative material from the Board of Christian Education and its predecessor organizations.
Sem títuloThe 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.
Sem títuloThe work of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is documented through a variety of record types.
Minutes and reports reflect the official action of the agency when preparing for and dealing with various crises throughout the world. Through these documents we see the interconnectedness of UMCOR with the other general boards and agencies within the denomination in an attempt to fulfill the mandate to help others in the time of need. The series also shows UMCOR's humble beginnings and its subsequent maturity as a viable denominational entity.
Administrative records that document the general work of the agency can be found in the Office of the General Secretary series. Gaither Warfield, who was one of the primary forces of compassion ministries in the denomination during the mid-twentieth century, guided the agency from its nascent beginnings to an administrative powerhouse.
Warfield's records not only reflect his skill as an administrator, but also the heart of dedicated Christian whose compassion was translated into the basic philosophy that guided the decisions and direction that UMCOR became famous for in later years. Much of this guidance was based on his experience as both a missionary to Poland and subsequent imprisonment by both the Polish and Russian armies as a spy during World War II. The result of this experience produced a keen interest on Warfield's part, and the work of the staff, on the plight of refugees and their relief around the world. His correspondence, memos and other record types document ecumenical, denominational and personal involvement in the area of relief. Records of later general secretaries follow this same trend though the volume of material is much less than those records of Warfield's time. The Office of Refugee Resettlement Program series is the heart of the collection. It is in this area that the agency had its greatest impact.
This impact is reflected in the sheer size of materials in relation to the other series within the collection. Often this office had to work with ever-changing laws, programs and guidelines established by the United States Government and other governments around the world. A quick explanation of the laws that directly impact the work of the agency as documented in the collection would be helpful at this time. Record types that document the works of the office are card files, correspondence, application forms and photographs, reflect the value of their work.
Quota section - Immigration Act of May 26, 1924 limited the number of aliens of any nationality entering the United States to 3 percent of the foreign-born persons of that nationality who lived in the United States in 1910. Approximately 350,000 such aliens were permitted to enter each year as quota immigrants, mostly from Northern and Western Europe. This figure was changed in 1927 to 150,000 in relation to national origin as recorded in the 1920 census.
Immigration and Nationality Act of June 27, 1952 - A system of selected immigration by giving quota preferences to skilled aliens whose services were needed in the United States and were related to U.S. citizens or legal aliens.
Section 7 - relates to the citizenship of children of persons naturalized under certain laws.
Displacement Act (Displaced Persons Act) - President Truman introduced this act in 1948 to address the European refugee problem. Eventually 400,000 individuals immigrated to the United States under this act.
Refugee Relief Act - President Eisenhower pushed this act that allowed for 200,000 non quota visas for Europeans fleeing Hungary after the uprising. Later on the Refugee Escape Act in 1957 opened the door of any victims of communist controlled countries and their respective regimes. Primary nationalities that benefitted from this act were the Hungarians, Albanians, Koreans, Yugoslavs and Chinese.
Public Law 316 admitted aliens between the years of 1945 and 1954 which was amended in 1957 allowed entry of those individuals and their families who were fleeing persecution because of race, religion or politics but misrepresented their nationality, place of birth, identity, or residence because of fear due to persecution in their homelands.
The files of the Office of Refugee Resettlement Program is absent. A researcher may look at these files, but may not use any names, addresses, and other related information contained therein. The files can only be used for gathering statistical information. Please contact the General Commission on Archives and History for more information.
The Adoption Program files do not contain information on actual adoptions but illuminates both the roles and procedures that UMCOR used as a conduit in processing such requests from Methodist families to other church and governmental agencies. Information within these files includes the process on how to adopt an infant, monetary support of the work, general adoption information and program classifications for adoption. Records from the Office of the Treasurer are primarily reports and audits. Financial records historically tend to be secondary in documenting the history of an agency. That is not the case here. Over the course of time the agency spent less of a focus on actual physical work but financing the work of relief through other avenues. These records reflect this change and show what areas of relief were a priority depending on the need and specific time period. The Office of Public Relations records can be found exclusively in scrapbooks which contain pamphlets, clippings, brochures and other similar types of materials which illustrate how the agency publicized its needs and work to the denomination. The scrapbooks are oversized and some are in fragile condition.
Sem títuloThis collection is made up of records of the various agencies of the church. It also includes material regarding local churches and annual conferences. The collection is made up of thirteen series. The three largest series which make up the bulk of the collection are the Missionary Society, the Woman's Missionary Society, and the Board of Christian Education.
Sem títuloThis collection consists of three scrapbooks filled primarily with clippings from The Religious Telescope, a church newspaper of the United Brethren Church, and from assorted newspapers. These were compiled by C. I. B. Brane while he was active as the Washington correspondent for the magazine and the popular pastor of the Washington, D.C. United Brethren Church. The clippings are a rich resource for both religious and secular history in the latter years of the 19th century and the early part of the 20th century. In addition there are several letters and an address on the pioneers' history of the United Brethren Church written by Brane.
Sem títuloThis collection contains the papers of Charles A. Merrill. Included are five diaries dated 1856-1860. These contains short entries about daily life. There are also six pastor's record books dated 1861-1896. The years 1874- 1877 and 1881-1885 are missing. Scriptures used for sermons, financial notations, and membership information are listed in these books.
Additional information in this collection includes two letters. One is dated October 1895 and is from Henry C. Doughty, a nephew of Merrill's. The other letter is undated and impartial. There is a folder of biographical information on Merrill, mostly relating to his death. There are two church related items. One is a list of stewards in the Methodist Episcopal Church of Millville, Massachusetts. The other is a subscription list for the Rockport Church. Finally, a color map of Springfield, Massachusetts is included.
Sem títuloLeontine Turpeau Current Kelly's personal papers include materials pertaining to her election as bishop to the California-Nevada Conference and her activities before and after her election. The collection includes a large number of correspondences related to speaking engagements, social concerns, and a variety of other topics including her election to be the first African American female bishop, personal correspondences, and awards. Also included in this collection are clippings, publications, awards, sermon materials and sheet music.
Sem títuloThe Eben Samuel Johnson Collection is primarily composed of the Bishop' s papers but also includes records from his immediate family as well. The collection does not end with the death of the Bishop. It continues with correspondence between Sarah Tilsley Johnson and her children, especially with Samuel Darlow. The collection reflects the close interconnected relationships within the Johnson family. These were individuals whose characteristics were unique to themselves yet found a commonality within their love for each other and the church.
There are a total of nine series which cover a variety of subjects and record types. Included are correspondence, a journal, various writings, clippings, biographical material, and a racoon coat. Topics embrace David Livingstone, various church organizations, mission work, cultural anthropology, educational institutions, industry, cannibalism, governments, sermons, world events, etc. Much of Johnson's autographs are written in Pitman shorthand.
Sem títuloThis 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.
Sem títuloThe collection contains materials relating Lind's personal activities as a missionary. There are seventeenth diaries in this collection. They range in date from 1924 to1979. The years 1926 to 1928 and 1939 are missing. Entries in these diaries are only a few lines and discuss daily events, school activities, Bible meetings, and weather conditions. Many of the diaries reflect China's social unrest because of Western intervention. One diary makes note of mid to late twentieth century China and is a good resource for a student of Chinese culture as impacted by Protestant mission work. Another diary describes the military occupation in Kimkiang and communist regime in Nanchung. There is one more diary which describes historical sites of Egypt, the Middleast and Europe.
Correspondence is dated from 1935 to1962 and relates to family and friends, including "Memories of China" in 1951.
There are two memory scrapbook, dated 1960 and 1964 respectively, which were created by Lind's Bible Class Students. A third scrapbook is a 1959 graduation commemorative yearbook from Aoyama Woman's Junior College in Tokyo, Japan. The final part of this collection contains various clippings, programs, pamphlets, and photographs related to Lind's work and family.
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