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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.

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 contains sermons, lectures, a manuscript, correspondence, and biographical materials related to Charles B. Mitchell. The bulk of this collection is sermons. There are approximately four hundred sermons prepared by Mitchell between 1875 and 1941. All the sermons are handwritten. They were folded length- wise in envelopes which provide the date and location the sermon was given. Many of the sermons had news clippings accompanying them. His sermons were often published by The Inter Ocean newspaper, but a few clippings are from other papers. The clippings have been photocopied and are joined with the sermon and the envelope in an acid free mini folder. Additional clippings or short articles that supplemented the sermon or were used in its preparation have been kept with the sermon as well.

Mitchell's sermons are oriented to the Social Gospel, as he speaks of contemporary issues and challenges. He is particularly concerned with the spiritual and moral well being of young men and women. All the sermons have been arranged by text reference, except those that were given as part of a series. There are thirteen sets of sermons prepared as series. These series sermons contained several sermons on a particular topic such as temperance, gambling, the danger of cities, temptations, and the Christian life. One folder contains a sermon Mitchell gave on the death of Ulysses S. Grant. A news clipping of this sermon is from the Leavenworth Times. Another folder contains photocopies of four news clippings to sermons that had no handwritten copy. In addition, there is a folder of fragmented sermons.

Two folders contain prayer meeting materials prepared by Mitchell. There are forty-four prayer meeting talks in one folder. These are short notations on note cards or small pieces of paper. This material is dated 1897 to 1909, although not every piece is dated. These talks have been arranged by text reference. Talks with no text reference are separated from talks with text reference by an acid free sheet of paper. In addition, there are seven prayer meeting addresses which may have been part of a series. These addresses were given between 1901 and 1912. An envelope contains the date and location of each address.

Lectures and addresses given by Mitchell are the second major part of this collection. There are approximately ninety-five addresses given between 1882 and 1933. The lectures were also folded length-wise and placed in envelopes with the date and location of the presentation. Mitchell lectured to a variety of groups including the Y.M.C.A., college commencements, conferences, conventions, Mason meetings, women's clubs, community organizations and civic groups. Topics that Mitchell addressed in his lectures include peace, women's suffrage, missions, teachers, education, citizenship, Memorial Day, revivals, Abraham Lincoln, Sunday school, and youth. Mitchell also spoke at several universities including Hamline, Dakota Wesleyan, Allegheny College, and Nebraska Wesleyan. The lectures also include five travel accounts. The most extensive account is on the Bible lands. Other countries covered are Holland, Italy, Norway, and Russia.

A typed manuscript Mitchell prepared entitled "Questions to Modern Youth" is part of this collection. There are also three letters addressed to Mitchell. Biographical materials include a handwritten copy of a characterization of Mitchell by Reverend J. S. Daney; two short articles on Mitchell; an article on Mitchell's father, Revered Daniel Patrick Mitchell by S. J. Heaton; and an application for membership in the Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. This application contains some ancestry information.

The Bishop William Burt Collection is an excellent documentary on the life and work of a pioneer minister within the Methodist Episcopal Church. In this collection we see the pathos and commitment Burt and his family brought to the work of the church, especially in Europe. These records illuminate his varying roles as clergyperson, presiding elder, bishop, and family member. Well liked by most, Burt was an influential person within the denomination throughout his career.

Records from his wife, Helen, and daughter Edith are located here, as well. The collection shows the historical and sociological involvement Burt had with the life, events, and politics of Europe, the United States, and the rest of the world. This involvement covered society from its lowest common denominator all the way through and including the very top of the social ladder. Burt was a world traveler and the collection sheds light on Methodist Episcopal work around the globe. This is especially true in the correspondence, diaries, and photograph series. Besides reflecting Burt's ministry in Europe, there are significant records concerning his work in the United States. Other notable personalities are also included

Early missionaries to Europe, especially to Russia, have primary documents located here as well. Many of Italy's leading Methodists such as the Taglialatela family have both published and handwritten materials within the collection. Records by other bishops such as Vincent and Bast are interspersed throughout the first section. Another area which is documented is Burt's commitment to the ongoing work of the Jerusalem Home which was started by Bishop J. P. Newman. There is a sizeable amount of records pertaining to the Crandon Institute in Rome, as well.