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.

The Mellony Turner papers primarily documents her life as a missionary in Bulgaria. There is a number of records on the American School for Girls in Lovetch, consisting of photographs, textbooks, yearbooks, and financial records. Turner's notebooks and lecture notes are included in the collection. It should be noted that there is a single folder containing information on closing the school. Turner kept diaries during her tenure in Bulgaria as well extensive correspondence. There are general images in both photograph and slide format ranging from the royal family of Bulgaria to her own family in the United States. Turner has a copy of a sermon by Bishop Burt; the bishop who had established the Bulgarian mission at the beginning of the twentieth century. Clippings and other types of publications reflect Bulgarian life and politics. There are eight lectures and a sermon written by Turner. Artifacts are personal in nature, reflecting the clothing and accessories of mid-twentieth century Bulgarian dress. There is a pot in the artifact series as well.

The other series within the collection reflects Turner's immediate family. The few records relating to her parents deal with their will and a folder of letters. Mellony's brother, Ewart Turner's three folders are related to his spying for the United States War Department during the World War II. Though he was ministering to a church in the United States during the war, Ewart was familiar with German communities in Europe and South America. The War Department had Turner collect information on Germans, in the U.S., who were thought to be a threat to national security during the war. This information is elucidated in a correspondence folder.

This record group contains administrative records, as well as staff records from the division on curriculum research and development, the division of Higher Education, the Division of the Local Church, general youth fellowship material and various publications. The Administrative series contains executive meeting minutes, minutes of the board, audit reports and ad hoc committee reports. The Division of Curriculum contains meeting minutes and reports from various sub committees. The Division of Higher Education contains reports and correspondence with various schools supported by the denomination. The Division of the Local Church contains resources developed for the local church and Sunday school, meeting and convention minutes, and information relating to camping. General Youth Fellowship contains information about general conventions, resources developed for youth programs, and youth council minutes. Publications are resources developed for the local church and college programs.

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.

This material contains general administrative files from the World Division of the General Board of Global Ministries. The material holds Division minutes both of the various committees and of the staff, correspondence with Bishops, and with missionary institutions around the world. In addition to administrative functions there is information on the overseas educational institutions, autonomous church developments, building programs, and the Crusade program, and other scholarships from the World Division. This material holds a variety of administrative and support information as well as information about the general programs of the World Division. There are structural and design blueprints for mission site buildings from around the world are in the Blueprint series. Records dealing with the work of the Evangelical Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church in modern day Dominican Republic are located in two series. Gift processing, legal program, and Property deal with records related to gifts, financial bequests and property held by the Division. Editorial decisions and committee oversight are found in the New World Outlook series. The Office of Edwin Fisher and of Ralph Diffendorfer contain records related to their work; Fisher as a director of the work in several geographic regions and Diffendorfer as the director of the World Division during the 1930s and 1940s. Subject files contain general correspondence reflecting the various programs of the World Division. In addition to material relating to the general programs and functions of the World Division there are also records pertaining to autonomous church developments among the former mission sites, funding of churches, reports and training of missionaries, and reactions to critics of the Division's programs.