Foldered & Finished: Robert Lynn Anderson Papers

Posted on October 4, 2019 by Amanda Dietz

The Robert Lynn Anderson Papers (1965-2019) are processed and ready for researchers. The finding aid for the papers and digitized selections are now available on DigitalCommons@ACU. These papers include 34.5 linear feet (58 boxes) of paper-based files and cassette tapes, and over 1000 digital files including 175 audio and video files.

List of plases sermon What is ‘Spirituality?’ was preached over the years. Series VI, Spirituality flash drive, Robert Lynn Anderson Papers, 1965-2019. Center for Restoration Studies MS #488. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

The following biographical sketch is adapted from the biographical note on the dust jacket of Lynn Anderson, Steps to Life, 20th Century Sermons Series Volume 10. Abilene: Biblical Research Press, 1977.

Robert Lynn Anderson was born September 22, 1936 in Saskatchewan, Canada. After graduating from high school at Western Christian College (Weyburn, Saskatchewn) he attended Freed-Hardeman College (Henderson, Tennessee) and Harding College (Searcy, Arkansas) where he received the B.A. degree in 1959. He received the M.A. degree in 1965 from Harding Graduate School of Religion (Memphis, Tennessee). In 1990, Anderson was the first Doctor of Ministry graduate at Abilene Christian University.

Click on audio player below to hear the opening of Lynn Anderson’s sermon, Ride the Wild Horses, preached at Highland Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas. Visit DigitalCommons@ACU to hear the entire sermon and explore more digitized resources:

Anderson’s ministry experience includes the establishment of a congregation in Salmon Arm, British Columbia, where he preached from 1960-1964. In 1964-1965 he preached in Lepanto, Arkansas, and then established a congregation in Kelowna, British Columbia, where he ministered for six years. From 1971-1989 he preached at Highland Church of Christ, Abilene, Texas. From 1991-1996 he preached at Preston Road Church of Christ, Dallas, Texas. Following these congregational ministries, he devoted full-time to leadership development and coaching through Hope Network Ministries. He conducted a radio ministry consisting of brief 60-second spots heard twice daily in Kelowna and three times per day in Abilene.

Sermon Interruptions, Series VI, Wild Horses flash drive, Robert Lynn Anderson Papers, 1965-2017. Center for Restoration Studies MS #488. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

He was active in community life, serving in leadership and board positions in Kiwanis Club, Community Chest, United Appeals, Action for Education Association, and the Committee for Better Education Now. As an adjunct professor, he taught cross cultural communication, Bible, and ministry courses at Abilene Christian University.

Click on audio player below to hear part of Lynn Anderson’s sermon, How to Find Faith, which was part of a series on spirituality. Visit DigitalCommons@ACU to hear the entire sermon and explore more digitized resources:

Series I, Sermons and Research Material (boxes 2-16) consists of folders Anderson generated in the course of preaching and teaching through the Biblical text. The processor preserved the original order which closely mirrors the Biblical canon. In many cases the folders contain sermon notes, manuscripts or outlines. Series II, Topical Files (boxes 17-34) consists of topical files Anderson generated in the course of teaching, preaching, and speaking. Included in this series are the scripts from and correspondence about Anderson’s radio ministry. Series III, Ministry Files (boxes 35-39) contains files of historic memorabilia, keepsakes, and correspondence from Anderson’s tenures at Highland Church of Christ, Preston Road Church of Christ, and Hope Network Ministries. Of particular note are the notes of appreciation and encouragement Anderson received over the course of his ministry. He kept these in folders labelled ‘Bad Day File.’ Series IV, Writings (boxes 40-42) contains articles Anderson wrote as well as drafts and correspondence about Anderson’s books. Series V, Cassette Tapes (boxes 43-58) contains recordings of Anderson’s preaching at Highland Church of Christ and Preston Road Church of Christ. In many cases these recordings correspond to foldered materials in Series I and II. Series VI consists of digital files Anderson created in the course of his writing and speaking. Contact Special Collections and Archives for access to these files.

Stay tuned additional content on DigitalCommons@ACU!

Foldered & Finished: Ross Dean Blasingame Papers, (1958-1969)

Posted on February 16, 2019 by Amanda Dietz

The Ross Dean Blasingame Papers are ready for researchers. An updated finding aid and digitized selections from the collection are now available on DigitalCommons@ACU.

Bulletin for Reynolds at First Street Church of Christ 12 January 1969, Goldthwaite Bulletin, 1968-1969, Ross Dean Blasingame Papers, 1958-1969. Center for Restoration Studies MS #2. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

Ross Dean Blasingame served as preacher at the churches represented in these papers at the time the bulletins were published.

The Actuate 24 August 1958, folder The Actuate, 1958 – Bulletins from Lingleville, Texas Church of Christ, Ross Dean Blasingame Papers, 1958-1969. Center for Restoration Studies MS #2. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

This collection includes bulletins from Churches of Christ in Texas and New Mexico from 1958 to 1969. Bulletins are bound by congregation and then by date. The collection is housed in one box and one series.

Related resources from ACU Special Collections and Archives:

Blasingame, Ross, “Deaf work in the church” (1986). Lectureship and Summit Audio Collection. 4709.
Interested in other church bulletins? Many of our manuscript collections have church bulletins- below are a few examples. Check out the finding aids on DigitalCommons@ACU for even more:
- Riverside Drive Church of Christ (Nashville, TN) Records, (1953-2014)
  - Three boxes of bulletins covering 65 years
- Broadway Church of Christ Papers, (1891-1991)
- West Islip Church of Christ (Long Island, NY) Records, (1962-2002)
- University Avenue Church of Christ (Austin, TX) Records, (1875-2005)

This Just In: Christadelphian titles added

Posted on August 30, 2017 by Mac Ice

Over the summer one of our projects was to complete cataloging for a small collection of Christadelphian titles we recently acquired. Tracing origins to John Thomas, the Christadelphians began in the United States but emerged with vigor in England in the later 19th century. The movement shares restorationist strategies for Biblical interpretation, and eschews traditional theological formulations of the nature of Jesus Christ, Unitarianism and the Trinity. Thomas’ earliest controversy centered on the practice of rebaptism. With his closest family and circle of influence, he chided Alexander Campbell for his stance toward the unimmersed. The Campbell-Thomas exchange gained notoriety through a series of letters between Alexander Campbell and “a sister from Lunenburg [Virginia].”

The theological rationale for Thomas’ positions found expression in print: monographs, periodical literature, tracts, and pamphlets. The materials we acquired include primary sources such as Thomas’ seminal work Elpis Israel, substantial runs of periodicals such as The Christadelphian and Herald of the Kingdom and The Age to Come, and an assortment of materials by and about Thomas’ chief protege Robert Roberts. Pictured here are the books and periodicals, fresh from cataloging, and ready for the shelf. Still in progress are dozens of tracts and pamphlets and loose periodical issues.

The addition of these materials to our collection affords our researchers opportunity to more broadly and deeply explore the issues at play in the Stone-Campbell and related movements. It is another step forward in building our collections to better serve our users…they are on the shelf and ready for use.

Here is a list of some of these items, just in, and ready for research:

The Apocalypse and history : the book of Revelation in its historical setting / by W.H. Boulton and W.H. Barker. Rewritten by W.H. Boulton.

Believing the Bible / by A.D. Norris.

The Christadelphian.

Christadelphian Answers on all kinds of difficulties, objections, arguments and questions … By well-known Christadelphians. Compiled …by F.G. Jannaway.

Christendom astray from the Bible.

Conviction and Conduct. The faith that works.

The Devil : a Biblical exposition of the truth concerning “that old serpent, the devil and Satan,” : and a Refutation of the beliefs obtaining in the world regarding sin and its source / [Epps?].

England’s ruin : John Smith’s answer to Mr. Blatchford’s plea for socialism as contained in the widely circulated book, Merrie England : the subject considered from a Bible point of view.

Four lectures on Armageddon / by Charles P. Wauchope.

God’s way : a restatement of the full Christian gospel / by John Carter.

The Gospel of John. An analytical study.

The gospel of Mark : a systematic comm. with contributions from the other gospels.

Prophets after the exile / by John Carter.

The protesters / Alan Eyre.

A Souvenir of a Memorable Fraternal Gathering in the Town Hall at Birmingham, Whitsuntide, 1928. [With plates.].

“Thine is the kingdom” : the message of original christianity / Peter J. Southgate.

Understanding the Bible / A.D. Norris.

The visible hand of God, or, The miracles, signs and wonders which have occurred in the past dealings of God with the nation of Israel : the nature and design of such operations and their necessity to the accomplishment of the work of God in the earth / by Robert Roberts.

The ways of providence as authentically illustrated in Bible history: with three chapters on the overthrow of the Jewish commonwealth by the Romans, and the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus / by Robert Roberts.

Without the camp : being the story of why and how the Christadelphians were exempted from military service / by Frank G. Jannaway.

Wrested scriptures : a Christadelphian handbook of suggested explanations to difficult passages.

Yahweh- Elohim : a devotional study of the memorial name / by E.J. Lasius.