Today a researcher inquired about our holdings of Focus Magazine. I was thrilled that he discovered our issues through the library online catalog…(cataloging unbound periodical issues has been a special focus lately). We have just three issues but we need a nice robust collection of this journal. Pictured here are scans of the covers of the issues we hold. Can you please help us build the collection?
Likely no other hymnal shaped Churches of Christ in the 20th century like Elmer Leon Jorgenson’s Great Songs of the Church. He issued the first edition in 1921, made a few changes here and there before issuing a revised edition in 1937 (Great Songs #2). The #2 revision was issued in round and shaped notes under the imprint of Great Songs Press (Chicago), World Vision Publishing Company (Nashville), Chronicle Publishing Company (Abilene), and Standard Publishing Company (Cincinnati) before Abilene Christian College acquired the book in the 1950s. In 1943 Jorgenson issued a slim paperback book for use in gospel meetings: Great Gospel Songs for Tent and Tabernacle.
Over the years, many, many people remember singing from ‘old blue’ (or was it red?, or green?). Yes. It was blue, and red, and green.
Great Songs of the Church: 1921 (green, 1st edition), 1948 (red, 28th edition), and 1955 (blue, 34th edition)
We have many editions and printings of Great Songs, but we do not have a full set.
Great Songs of the Church
Here is brief list of the copies we hold:
Of the first edition we have:
1921
1922
1926
1928
1934
1935
In 1986 ACU Press issued a through revision. We have copies of this revision both as a stand alone hymnal and as part of a commemorative set with Forrest McCann’s book, Hymns and History. This set was issued as one of the ACU President’s Circle limited editions.
In 1975 Abilene Christian College issued a supplement to the hymnal, which we also hold. Dr. Jack Boyd, Director of Choral Activities at ACC at the time, oversaw production of a set of long-playing records to accompany this supplement. Side 8 includes Jack Boyd speaking on teaching new hymns to the congregation. This digital file consists of Dr. Boyd’s lecture.
However, in the 1940s, E. L. Jorgenson issued sets of records, produced out of Chicago using members of Chicagao-land Churches of Christ as singers. We do not have these records, and would very much like to locate them.
Brass printing plates used in the production of Great Songs of the Church
My appeal: we should assemble as quickly as possible a full complete set of Great Songs of the Church. It was a monumental hymnal, an achievement on behalf of Churches of Christ unequalled in its time for its scope, breadth, depth, and quality of songs. And it shaped generations of singers and worshippers. Take a second look at the photo of the shelves above. Just the fact that it was issued so many times indicates the demand for the book sustained, on average, one printing per year for over fifty years. The sheer number of printings is itself a testimony to its wide use. I would like to assemble a fine set of at least two excellent condition copies of each printing, by each publisher. Great Songs is a remarkable book, and we should preserve a remarkable set. A full set will serve any kind of research inquiry into this book for decades and decades to come. Can you help us us achieve this goal? Will you please check your shelves for copies we lack? Contact Mac Ice at mac.ice@acu.edu to help preserve this slice of history.
ACU Special Collections and Archives actively seeks materials from, by and about the Restoration Movement from its earliest days to the present. We hold books, periodicals, ephemera, photographs, audio and video recordings, archival materials and artifacts.
Books and periodicals: Ideally we will preserve one copy in as pristine a condition as we can locate. Where we have two copies, one will be available to researchers as a ‘use copy’ while the other is kept as a ‘preservation copy.’ We are always looking to 1) fill in gaps in our collection; 2) to acquire better-condition copies; and 3) acquire signed or inscribed copies. In outstanding cases we will retain additional signed or association copies.
Several first editions of the works of Alexander Campbell. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.
Masthead, Gospel Advance, September 1919, vol. 1 no. 1. Edited and published by Price Billingsley. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.
Ephemera and photographs: Printed for the moment then cast aside, ephemeral items open a window into our history that is, regrettably, seldom preserved. Broadsides, leaflets, posters, advertising cards, clippings and the like can help us understand moments that comprise our history. Photographs, portraits, snapshots, and slides document the moment without using words.
Campbell Street Church of Christ, Louisville, KY. 3 June 1923. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.
Scrapbook, Box 1, Folder 1, Mable Fuchs Papers, 1920-1921. Center for Restoration Studies MS #445. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.
Audio and Video Recordings: We estimate that we hold over 15,000 recordings in a variety of formats (from magnetic tape reels to phonograph records to cassettes to VCR tapes and DVDs). Listen below to Lynn Anderson’s sermon Ride the Wild Horses:
Listen below to Zelma Stroop remember David and Margaret Lipscomb:
Archival material: We currently house just under 490 collections of personal papers of ministers, evangelists, professors, editors and missionaries. Each set is as different as its creator. Some are rich in sermons or correspondence, others in manuscript materials and some contain records from congregations or organizations. Many have a little of everything. Congregational records include minutes books, selected bulletins, membership rosters, and directories.
Letter from Carl Ketcherside to Stanley Paregien, 11 February 1970. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.
Letter of Recommendation for both G.W. Varner and A.V. Varner signed by the entire congregation. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.
Artifacts: The iconic pulpit used by Thomas Campbell at Ahorey (Ireland) Presbyterian Church may be our most recognizable artifact. But we have communion ware from the 19th and early 20th centuries, a pew from the Madison, TN Church of Christ and artifacts from across the world from several missionaries. These items tell yet another side to the story.
Bed-sheet sized sermon chart on Heaven, ca. 1940s-1950s. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.
Brass printing plates used in the production of Great Songs of the Church. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.
If you have materials like these you would like to donate, please contact Mac Ice, Director of Special Collections and Archives at mac.ice@acu.edu or (325) 674-2144. Mac will be pleased to discuss any aspect of the holdings and work of ACU Special Collections and Archives.
