Recent books in Restoration history

Posted on March 26, 2020 by Mac Ice

Several recent publications suggest interest in Stone-Campbell history thought, and theology is by no means dormant. The sample listed below reflects a wide scope of interest. Some focus intently on local or regional history, while others are thematic, anecdotal, or institutional. Some are designed to be immediately accessible to any reader, while others require varying degrees of prior knowledge. Below are just a few, I intend to regularly post updates as new material is published.

Robert W. Steffer. Saving Cane Ridge. Paris: Cane Ridge Shrine, Inc. 2015. 378 pages.

Robert W. Steffer, Saving Cane Ridge

Libby Weed, A Cloud of Witnesses: Centennial History of Austin Graduate School of Theology. Austin: Christian Studies Press, 2018. 202 pages.

Libby Weed, A Cloud of Witnesses: Centennial History of Austin Graduate School of Theology.

Larry C. Jackson, Choosing Sides: A History of the Churches of Christ in Austin 1847-2018. LaGrange, TX: Larry C. Jackson, 2018. 198 pages.

Larry C. Jackson, Choosing Sides: A History of the Churches of Christ in Austin 1847-2018.

John Young, Visions of Restoration: The History of Churches of Christ. Florence: Cypress Publications, 2019.

John Young, Visions of Restoration: The History of Churches of Christ.

Edward J. Robinson, Hard Fighting Soldiers: A History of African American Churches of Christ. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 2019. 224 pages.

Edward J. Robinson, Hard Fighting Soldiers: A History of African American Churches of Christ.

J. Caleb Clanton, editor. Restoration and Philosophy: New Philosophical Engagements with the Stone-Campbell Tradition. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 2019. 389 pages.

J. Caleb Clanton, editor. Restoration and Philosophy: New Philosophical Engagements with the Stone-Campbell Tradition.

Perry C. Cotham, Please Don’t Revive Us Again!: The Human Side of the Church of Christ. Bloomington: Archway Publishing, 2020. 390 pages.

Perry C. Cotham, Please Don’t Revive Us Again!: The Human Side of the Church of Christ.

John Mark Hicks, editor. Resisting Babel: Allegiance to God and the Problem of Government. Abilene: Abilene Christian University Press, 2020

John Mark Hicks, editor. Resisting Babel: Allegiance to God and the Problem of Government.

Greg Massey, By the Grace of God: The Story of Freed-Hardeman University. Abilene: Abilene Christian University Press, 2020.

Greg Massey, By the Grace of God: The Story of Freed-Hardeman University.

Center for Restoration Studies Organizational Files Finding Aid now available

Posted on January 14, 2020 by Mac Ice

A revised and updated Finding Aid for the Center for Restoration Studies Organizational File set is now available for browsing or download.

ACU Library staff created this set of files in the 1980s to collect and preserve materials from and about a wide array of organizations, entities, businesses, non-profits, and missionary, educational, and benevolent institutions affiliated with Churches of Christ, Christian Churches and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The file set includes clippings, articles, promotional materials, newsletters, photographs and ephemera from or about 325 such entities. It complements four similar sets of vertical files, all housed as part of the collections of Center for Restoration Studies: Church Leaders Biographical Files, Congregational Files, World Churches Files, and Subject Files.

In 2018-2019 we improved the arrangement and order of these files by removing and cataloging many published tracts and pamphlets. After weeding non-Stone-Campbell-related material, many of the files were refoldered and the entire set was relabeled and an inventory created. With the publication of this finding aid, we now have online access to all of our vertical file sets within the Center for Restoration Studies collection, and all four sets are open to researchers.

We solicit donations for these file sets. Ephemera of all kinds, promotional brochures, annual reports, photographs all contribute to our knowledge of the past. Contact Mac Ice at mac.ice@acu.edu for details on how you can preserve these materials.

What Does Special Collections Collect?: A Brief Guide for Donors and Patrons

Posted on October 7, 2019 by Mac Ice

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 19^th and early 20^th 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.