Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
- 1911-1947 (Creation)
Extent
2.68 cubic feet
Name of creator
Biographical history
John Balmer Showers (1879-1962) was an Evangelical United Brethren Church bishop and church leader. He was born near Paris, Ontario, Canada, son of the Reverend Joseph and Margaret Showers. His childhood was spent in the small towns and open country of Onotario Province where his father served as pastor of United Brethren churches. John Showers was educated in Canada at an early age. He obtained a license to preach in United Brethren church at eighteen. Showers graduated from Lebanon Valley College (B.A., 1907) and Bronebrake (now United) Theological Seminary (B.D., 1910). He did graduate study at Chicago University (1910-1911) and Berlin University (1911-1912). A research trip was taken to the Far East in 1922. Showers married Justina Lorenz in April 1911.
He was licensed to preach by a local church in 1898 and by the Ontario Conference of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ in 1899. In 1902 he was ordained by the Erie Conference. Showers served several pastorates including Dechard circuit (1900-1903) and Bradford Station (1903-1904) in Pennsylvania. He was at Westfield College (1906-1907) in Illinois and Belmont Mission in Ohio (1908-1910). From 1910 to 1926 Showers was professor of New Testament Literature and Interpretation at Bonebrake Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. In 1926, Showers became the associate editor of the "Religious Telescope." He remained in that position until 1933. From 1931-1933 he was an associate publishing agent for the denomination. In 1933, he became publisher of "The Otterbein Press," a position he held until 1945. The General Conference of 1945 elected John Showers to the episcopacy and he was assigned to be bishop in the Eastern Area. He was later assigned to supervise the North Central Area. In 1954, Showers retired as emeritus bishop. From 1954 to 1962, he lived in Dayton, Ohio. He died on September 25, 1962 and was buried in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Dayton Ohio.
In 1933, he became publisher of "The Otterbein Press," a position he held until 1945.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
This collection contains papers related to John Balmer Showers. The bulk of this material includes writings by Showers. There are three folders of short typed pages. Some are on selected topics such as faith, Pentecost, stewardship and service, evangelism, the home, and the preacher. Other writings are greetings, welcomings, or dedications prepared by Showers on special occasions such as anniversaries, dedications, and conference meetings. The remaining writings are tributes or memorials to A. B. Statton, Elizabeth Ann Powell, Harold C. Urschel, Sam Stanrod, and Walther Murth.
Also included is a booklet kept by Showers when he was a student at Berlin University. It contains a listing of courses in German. There is a certificate of appreciation present to Showers from Otterbein Press in 1946 and an honorary degree diploma presented to him from Indiana Central College in 1947 are part of this collection. An essay Showers wrote on his father-in-law, Edmund S. Lorenz, is part of these papers. Some work Lorenz did on the hymnal book questionnaire can be found in the same folder. Finally, there is a scrapbook entitled, "Memories of My Years at Otterbein Press." This contains photographs of Showers and staff members, as well as articles written by Showers.
System of arrangement
Material is arranged by original order.
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
There are no restrictions regarding this collection.
Physical access
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
Detailed use restrictions relating to our collections can be requested from the office of the archivist at the General Commission on Archives and History. Photocopying is handled by the staff and may be limited in certain instances. Before using any material for publication from this collection a formal request for permission to publish is expected and required.
Languages of the material
- English
Scripts of the material
Language and script notes
Finding aids
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
Immediate source of acquisition
Accession: 1996-193. This collection was part of the fragmented Evangelical United Brethren Collection.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Accruals
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
Douglas Dutro Woodard Collection
Related descriptions
Notes element
General note
The purpose of this finding aid is to help you understand the nature of this collection and to assist you in the retrieval of material from this collection. The following pages contain a brief biographical history of the person, or persons, who created or collected these papers; followed by a general description of the collection in the scope and content note. If more detailed information is warranted then series descriptions also appear.
The container listing appears last and is the listing of material in each box, or container, of this collection. To request material you need to turn to the container listing section. It is essentially a listing of file folders, or artifact items, in the collection. Each folder, or item, has a call number associated with it. Each folder also lists the inclusive dates of the material in the folder. On the material request form list both the call number and the folder, or item, title. Use a different line for each folder, or item, requested. When your request sheet is complete, or full, bring it to the archivist and the material will be retrieved.
General note
When citing material from this collection please use the following format: Direct reference to the item or its file folder, John Balmer Showers Collection, United Methodist Church Archives - GCAH, Madison, New Jersey. Do not make use of the items call number as that is not a stable descriptor.
Specialized notes
Alternative identifier(s)
Description control element
Rules or conventions
Sources used
Archivist's note
Prepared by Nickolay Petrov, Student Assistant and Mark C. Shenise, Associate Archivist