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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.

This collection consists of the dissertation of K. James Stein at Union Theological Seminary, submitted in 1965. There is a single volume of roughly 320 typed pages. Its focus is on the various Ecumenical currents within the Church of the United Brethren in Christ and its forerunners, along with its occasional attempts at union with denominations such as the Methodist Episcopal Church. Stein examines the attempts and explains their origins, progress and ultimate reasons (in attempts at union) for failure. The time-span largely focuses on the 19th century, with some early focus on the late-18th century. Stein depicts the ethos, and rural emphasis of the Brethren sects along with their involvement in foreign missionary work. He also makes a significant focus of the pietistic elements in Church of the United Brethren doctrine, attitude, and worship.

This collection primarily documents the work and ministry of the Evangelical Church's annual conferences and local churches from the middle nineteenth century to the middle twentieth century. To a lesser degree there are records that reflect the ministry of the general church as well. There are other records that pertain to filial denominations such as the Evangelical Association, United Evangelical Church, Church of the United Brethren in Christ (United Brethren Church), and the Evangelical United Brethren Churches are also found in this collection. Leedy was an avid collector of church related information so that the topical landscape of this collection is broad enough to cover information ranging from local church ministries and histories to denominational theological beliefs and social concerns. Most of the paper records center on church work in the Ohio region though not to the exclusion of other geographic areas within the continental United States and Germany. All in all this collection provides a nice overview of the diversified life within the Evangelical tradition and is an excellent resource for those who wish to understand more fully the Evangelical Church's historical influence within the ongoing traditions of United Methodism.