Finding Aid Round Up

We’ve been busy writing finding aids for recent acquisitions and revising finding aids for some materials already in our holdings. You can browse all of our archival holdings 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!


LeMoine Gaunce Lewis Papers, 1936-1995, MS#13 [Revised Finding Aid]
These papers span the entire academic career of one of Abilene Christian University’s most illustrious teachers from his time at Abilene Christian College (ACC), Harvard, and then back to teach at ACC. The collection consists of Lewis’ personal, hand-written notes taken down during his course work at Harvard Divinity School; his sermons and speeches given throughout his career, arranged by topic; and materials related to his work with congregations in New England and west Texas.

From the LeMoine Gaunce Lewis Papers, (1936-2995). Center for Restoration Studies Manuscripts #13.

James Lacy Lovell Papers, 1930-1995, MS#14 [Revised Finding Aid]
James Lovell was a prolific author and editor of religious publications. This collection contains personal and professional papers, including correspondence, financial records, and photographs which outline Lovell’s involvement in missions, Pepperdine College, World Bible School, religious publications, and other charitable endeavors. These papers also reflect Lovell’s active correspondence with his peers. The collection is housed in 44 boxes.

Dudley Lynch Papers, 1950-2007, MS#15 [Revised Finding Aid]
Dudley Lynch attended Abilene Christian College in 1958 and 1960-1961. He went on to attend other universities and graduate B.A. of Arts, Journalism, and Religion and then a M.A. in Mass Communication and History. He worked as a journalist and writer and then changed his career path to focus on exploring the nature of human thinking and technologies.
These papers include personal and business correspondence, various periodicals and articles written by Dudley Lynch, manuscripts, material for Lynch’s thought-development books, and floppy discs. Also contains bound journals and newspapers.

This collection was sealed upon acquisition in 1999 and may not be accessed by researchers for seventy-five (75) years from date of acquisition.

Gaines Beachamp Stanley, Sr. Papers, 1940-2010, MS#503 [New Finding Aid]
Gaines Beachamp Stanley, Sr. was born in Tahoka, Texas, and grew up in the Texas panhandle area. Gaines Graduated from Abilene Christian University in 1950 and began preaching across Texas. Throughout his life he was engaged in continuing education programs that focused on hospital ministry and marriage and family counseling. In 1981 he began serving at the Central Church of Christ on Ball Road in Orange County, California. This collection includes class materials from Gaines Stanley’s time at Abilene Christian College as well as extensive sermon notes. There are also two boxes of commemorative material related to the Gaines B. Stanley Theological Reading Room at Abilene Christian University.

Morlan and Gray Family Papers, 1915-2010, MS#502 [New Finding Aid]
G. C. and Alma (Adams) Morlan worked at Abilene Christian College as faculty members. G. C. Morlan began teaching in 1918 in the education department and in 1922 chaired the Education and Psychology department. Alma Morlan was the founding Home Economics Department Chair and served as the sponsor to the social club, Cadettes.
G. C. and Alma had four children: G. C. Morlan, Jr. (ACC ‘39), Alice Alene Floyd (ACC ‘42), Barbara Morlan Gray (ACC ‘45), and John Morlan (ACC ‘52). The materials in this collection were donated by John Gray, son of Barbara Morlan Gray and C. G. Gray.
C. G. Gray and Barbara Morlan Gray were married in 1951. Barbara’s career in education included teaching in public schools, serving as an assistant registrar, and then in 1981 joining the ACU faculty. She continued in the General Studies program until she retired in 1993. C. G. Gray served the university as Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs and was heavily involved in strategic planning for the university. The preceding information is from the Dr. and Mrs. G. C. Morlan Endowed Scholarship Fund page and ACU Remembers: Barbara Gray from ACU Today.

These papers document the award of the Grover C. Morlan Medal from the early 1970s through the early 1990s. There are also photographs, newspaper clippings, correspondence, and subject files related to the Morlan and Gray families.


Stay tuned for more installments of Finding Aid Round Ups!

Finding Aid Round Up

We’ve been busy writing finding aids for recent acquisitions and revising finding aids for some materials already in our holdings. You can browse all of our archival holdings 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!


Theophilus Brown Larimore Papers, 1907-1935, MS#6 [Revised Finding Aid]
Theophilus Brown Larimore was among the most widely-known and successful evangelists among Disciples and Churches of Christ from the latter decades of the nineteenth century until his death in 1929. This collection includes professional and business correspondence.

Letter from Emma Larimore to B. R. Colson dated 6 July 1915, Dixieland College Materials (1), Theophilus Brown Larimore Papers, 1907-1935. Center for Restoration Studies MS #6. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

Reuel Gordon Lemmons Papers, 1908-1989, MS#11 [Revised Finding Aid]
Reuel Gordon Lemmons served Churches of Christ as a minister, writer, editor, and publisher. These papers are arranged by subject and include minutes, academic papers, broadcast transcripts, pictures, correspondence, and sermons materials.

John Parham Lewis Papers, 1926-1985, MS#12 [Revised Finding Aid]
John Parham Lewis was a Church of Christ preacher and teacher. These papers include his handwritten Bible notes and class notes, correspondence, assorted literary materials, and a scrapbook.

James Shannon Papers, 1849-1857, MS#505 [New Finding Aid]
James Shannon was president of Bacon College (Kentucky) from 1856-1859 and then president at Christian University (Missouri). He was an ardent defender of slavery and frequent contributor to church papers such as Alexander Campbell’s Millennial Harbinger. These papers include six issues of the Millennial Harbinger dating from 1849-1857 that were owned by James Shannon.

Front cover, Millennial Harbinger, March 1849, owned by James Shannon

George Phillip Holt, Sr. Papers, 1971-1972, MS#506 [New Finding Aid]
George Phillip Holt, Sr. was an evangelist and education advocate in the Church of Christ. These papers include one folder of photocopies of sermon outlines written and preached by Holt.


Stay tuned for more installments of Finding Aid Round Ups!

Foldered & Finished: V. Aubrey Hallum

The V. Aubrey Hallum Papers (1962-2011) are processed and ready for researchers. The finding aid for the papers and digitized selections are now available on DigitalCommons@ACU. These papers include 30 linear feet (80 boxes) of architectural drawings, papers, and memorabilia.

Architectural Drawing of Garland Road / Highland Oaks Church of Christ, Dallas, TX, Box 17, Vernon Aubrey Hallum Papers, 1962-2011. Center for Restoration Studies MS#485 . Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

V. Aubrey Hallum is an architect in Ft. Worth, Texas. He was born August 16, 1930 in Seymour, Texas, to Dixie Jewell (nee Bryant) Hallum (1912-2004) and Vernon D. Hallum (1904-1992). He holds the Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Texas (1956). After an architectural internship in 1957 in Washington, D.C., Hallum opened an architectural office in Highland Park (Dallas, Texas) in 1961. He retired from practice after 53 years in 2014. Hallum married Yvonne Bevil in 1955. They have two sons, David and Jeffrey.

“Guide for Planning Church Buildings for the Churches of Christ, Box 80, Folder 1, Item 10, Vernon Aubrey Hallum Papers, 1962-2011. Center for Restoration Studies MS#485 . Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

This collection consists of rolled sets of drawings of churches, mainly Churches of Christ in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, as well as of a few church-related buildings. Included are designs, master plans, construction drawings, and blueprints. In addition to the drawings, there are one complete set of contract administration files for one church building; about fifty clippings, articles, and letters; and a few memorabilia.

Architectural Drawing of Riverside Church of Christ, Coppell, TX, Box 40, Vernon Aubrey Hallum Papers, 1962-2011. Center for Restoration Studies MS#485 . Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.