Finding Aid Round Up

We’ve been busy writing finding aids for recent acquisitions and revising finding aids for sets of papers already in our holdings. You can browse all of our collections on DigitalCommons. See something below that piques your interest or could be useful for your research? Get in touch and let us know what you’re thinking about; we’d love to help!


Charles H. Marler Papers, 1825-2013, MS#123 [Revised Finding Aid]
Dr. Charlie Marler is professor emeritus of journalism and mass communication who taught full-time at ACU from 1955-2003, one of the longest tenures for a faculty member in his alma mater’s history. (Biographical note from ACU Today website: acu.today/author/marlerc/) The Charles H. Marler Papers include 11 boxes of materials documenting his work as a journalist, professor, and church member. The papers include his extensive research files on Frank Grimes and Alexander Campbell, among others. Dr. Marler’s involvement in University Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas, and West Islip in New York are also represented in these papers. Finally, there are teaching materials and campus involvement documents from events such as the Abilene Christian University Centennial included in Dr. Marler’s papers.

University Church of Christ Directory, Box 5, Charles H. Marler Papers,
1825-2013. Center for Restoration Studies MS #123. Abilene Christian University Special
Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

Ancel Edward Nunn Collection, 2002, MS#406 [Revised Finding Aid]
Ancel Edward Nunn was born in 1928. He lived in Abilene where he graduated from high school in 1946 before joining the U. S. Army. He was a skilled artist who studied at an early age under artists such as Alexander Hogue and Dong Kingman. He was known for using egg tempera and acrylic in his work. He lived throughout Texas and his work is held in many public and private collections. He died in 1999. This collection includes a leather-bound collection of Ancel Edward Nunn’s lithographs.

Edwin Randall “Randy” Becton Papers, 1970-2012, MS#458 [Revised Finding Aid]
Edwin Randall “Randy” Becton (1944-2015) served in Churches of Christ and various ministries throughout the United States. This collection consists of articles, notes, speeches, publications, and correspondence related to Highland Church of Christ, Herald of Truth, Abilene Christian University, Pepperdine University, Care Ministry, and Cancer Ministry.

“To the Praise of His Glory,” Box 6, Edwin Randall “Randy”
Becton Papers, 1970-2012. Center for Restoration Studies MS #458. Abilene Christian
University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University,
Abilene, TX.

Fifth and Grape Church of Christ (Abilene, TX) Records, 2006-2015, MS#493 [New Finding Aid]
The Fifth and Grape Church of Christ is located in Abilene, Texas. These records include three boxes of audio and visual materials from the congregation.

William Wesley Grasham Papers, 1955-2016, MS#515 [New Finding Aid]

These papers include William Wesley Grasham’s research and topical files, image slides, and some multimedia and print materials.


Stay tuned for more installments of Finding Aid Round Ups!

Foldered & Finished: Claude Adrian Guild Papers

The Claude Adrian Guild Papers (1939-1992) are processed and ready for researchers. The finding aid for the papers and digitized selections are now available on DigitalCommons@ACU.

The Unity of the Spirit sermon, Box 1, Folder 9, Claude Adrian Guild Papers, 1939-1992. Center for Restoration Studies MS #60. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

Claude Adrian Guild was born in Buffalo, Montana, in 1916. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Abilene Christian College in 1939 and a Master of Arts in Religion from Pepperdine University in 1978. Guild was raised as member of the Lutheran Church but later converted and began serving as an evangelist for the Churches of Christ. He was baptized by J. C. Bailey in Radville, Saskatchewan. Guild preached for a number of Churches of Christ in Texas including Springtown Church of Christ in Springtown, and Riverside Church of Christ in Fort Worth. In Oregon Guild served at Southwest Church of Christ in Tigard and also held evangelistic meeting across the Western United States and Canada. Additionally, he spent time as a missionary in Australia, and served as the Vice President of Columbia Christian College (Portland, Oregon) and as the President of Fort Worth Christian College (Fort Worth, Texas). Guild died in 1996.

The “Tas-Dil” News, 24 May 1981, Series II, Box 1, Folder 7, Claude Adrian Guild Papers, 1939-1992. Center for Restoration Studies MS #60. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

This collection includes sermons, scrapbooks, biographical information, notes from graduate studies, and a number of awards. The Australia – Bulletins and Advertisements folder and the red scrapbook provide insight into Guild’s work as a missionary in Australia. The scrapbooks provide the most biographical information and the most substantive correspondence.

Foldered & Finished: Christian Scholars Conference Records

The Christian Scholars Conference Records are ready for researchers. An updated finding aid and digitized selections from the collection are now available on DigitalCommons@ACU.

Christian Scholars Conference 1982 program, box 1, Christian Scholars Conference Records, 1981-2009. Center for Restoration Studies MS #4. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

The Christian Scholars Conference was created in 1981 by Dr.
Thomas Henry Olbricht of Pepperdine University. The conference is annually hosted by
universities associated with the Churches of Christ. The Conference’s mission is to create
and nurture an intellectual and Christian community that joins individuals and institutions
to stimulate networks of scholarly dialogue and collaboration.

Christian Scholars Conference 1994 program, box 1, Christian Scholars Conference Records, 1981-2009. Center for Restoration Studies MS #4. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

This record group contains papers including correspondence,
brochures, scholarly papers, and programs produced by the Christian Scholars Conference from 1981-2009. These records are housed in seven boxes.

Related resources from ACU Special Collections and Archives: