Finding Aid Round Up

Posted on September 23, 2021 by Amanda Dietz

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!

John Henry Austin Varner Papers, 1939-1985, MS#447 [Revised Finding Aid]
John Henry Austin Varner was born on March 7, 1913 in Texas. In 1939 he graduated from Abilene Christian College. He married Inaleen Williams and the couple had two sons. Varner preached in Churches of Christ for thirty years. He died April 19, 1988 in San Marcos, Texas. These papers include type-written radio sermons, Bible class lesson notes, newspaper clippings, and church bulletins.

Ghana Bible College Collection, 1967-2013, MS#460 [Revised Finding Aid]
Ghana Bible College was founded in 1962 and was begun by missionaries from Cedars Church of Christ, Delaware. Fred Aarae, who donated these materials, is an Abilene Christian University alumnus and Director of Village of Hope in Ghana. This collection includes copies of newsletters and correspondence from missionaries and ministers in Ghana.

The Gospel for Ghana newsletter, Ghana Bible College Collection, 1967-2013. Center for Restoration Studies MS #460. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

Eddie Leon Sharp, Sr. Papers, 1949-1997, MS#470 [Revised Finding Aid]
Eddie Leon Sharp Sr., also known as Leon Sharp, was a Church of Christ minister for about 45 years primarily in Texas but also in New Mexico and Oklahoma. He was born in 1928 and died in 2017. He was married to his wife, Billie, in 1950 until her death in 2016. They had three sons, Eddie, Mark, and Bryan. His son, Eddie also became a Church of Christ minister. Leon preached at Churches of Christ across Texas, including in Bronte, Sheffield, Meadow, El Passo, Denison, and Canton, along with other churches in neighboring states. This is a collection of framed photographs and diplomas, sermon notes, and church bulletins. The collection is arranged chronologically within series. Boxes 1 and 2 are arranged from 1955-1995. Box 3 and 4 are arranged by content and date.

Lloyd Theodore “Ted” Poe Papers, 2005-2018, MS#483 [Revised Finding Aid]
Ted Poe was born in Temple, TX on September 10, 1948. Poe obtained his B.A. from Abilene Christian University in 1970 and his J.D. from the University of Houston in 1973. Poe served in the United States Air Force Reserves from 1970-1976. Poe served as district attorney for Harris County, Houston, TX from 1973-1981 and as district judge in Harris county from 1981-2003. Poe was elected to the United States House of Representatives for the 109th Congress in 2005 and served as Texas Representative (Republican) from January 3, 2005-January 3, 2019. This collection contains floor speeches by Congressman Ted Poe delivered to the United States House of Representatives during the years 2005-2018.

“Recognizing Over 200 Years of Sovereignty of the Principality of Liechtenstein,” Lloyd Theodore ‘Ted’ Poe Papers, 2005-2018. Center for Restoration Studies MS #483. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

Flaleah Byrd Cotter Papers, 1953-2002, MS#513 [New Finding Aid]
These papers include six folders of personal papers, a cassette tape, and an antique pitch pipe.

Stay tuned for more installments of Finding Aid Round Ups!

Finding Aid Round Up

Posted on August 20, 2021 by Amanda Dietz

James Marion, Jr. and Kathryn Adelaide Kerby Tolle Collection, 1559-1952, MS#448 [Revised Finding Aid]
James Marion Tolle, Jr. was born in Amarillo, Texas on October 22, 1915. Kathryn Adelaide Kerby was born in 1924 and the couple married on July 6, 1959. James attended Lipscomb College and the University of Tampa, Florida. He also did graduate work at George Peabody College and Los Angeles State. He preached throughout Tennessee, Florida, California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. James died on June 22, 2005 and Kathryn died January 22, 2013. This collection includes correspondence, photographs, and manuscripts collected by the Tolles. Some of the materials have original autographs.

Charles Camille Saint-Saëns, autograph music manuscript, James Marion, Jr. and Kathryn Adelaide Kerby Tolle Collection, 1559-1952. Center for Restoration Studies MS #448. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

Morris Dupree Norman Papers, 1948-2012, MS#461 [Revised Finding Aid]
This collection includes Morris Dupree Norman’s files for preaching and teaching, including annotated research, typewritten and handwritten sermons, teaching notes, and church bulletins.

11th and Willis Church of Christ Collection, 1986-1991, MS#472 [Revised Finding Aid]
The South 11th and Willis Church of Christ is located in Abilene, Texas. These records include cassette tapes of sermons and one DVD. Many of the tapes are of V. E. Howard as broadcast on the International Gospel Hour

Alice Carlson Papers, 1946-1989, MS#489 [Revised Finding Aid]
The Alice Carlson Papers contain 1 box of materials from Carlson’s ministry as a Sunday School teacher. Carlson’s lesson plans, study notes, and other church-related material are arranged in the order in which they were received.

“Year Six – Spring, Bible Reading Guide April – June, Prophets, Psalms,” Box 1, Alice Carlson Papers, 1946-1989. Center for Restoration Studies MS #489. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

Everett Oscar Coffman Papers, 1928-1934, MS#514 [New Finding Aid]
Everett Oscar Coffman (1882-1973) was born in Tennessee and eventually attended Abilene Christian College. He was a preacher in the Church of Christ and worked in the Lawrence County, Tennessee school system. These papers include one loose-leaf notebook of typed sermon outlines.

Stay tuned for more installments of Finding Aid Round Ups!

Finding Aid Round Up

Posted on July 20, 2021 by Amanda Dietz

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!