From the collection: a letter of recommendation from the Church of Christ at Lone Oak, Texas, 1892

Here is a letter of dismissal from the Church of Christ at Lone Oak, Texas, to Eunice Wells, dated “1st Lord’s day January, 1892.” The letter commends Eunice to a congregation of “Disciples of Christ wherever [it] may be presented.” This was a common practice until well into the 20th century. The occasion prompting the letter was a move from Lone Oak that would eventually take her to far West Texas.

A letter of dismissal from the Church of Christ at Lone Oak, Texas, to Eunice Wells, dated “1st Lord’s day January, 1892,” Texas–Lone Oak, Congregational Vertical File. Center for Restoration Studies. Milliken Special Collections, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

Eunice Emily Davis Wells Thompson is the great-grandmother of Dr. Kenneth Pybus, ACU Associate Professor and Chair of Journalism and Mass Communication, who supplies this information: “My great-great-grandmother, Eunice Emily Davis Wells Thompson, was born in 1839 in Tennessee. She moved to East Texas as a child and married Ed Wells. They lived in Lone Oak and had four sons. After she was widowed, she married James R. Thompson and had another son. She and several sons left Lone Oak in 1892, moving for a time to Archer City and ultimately to Quanah, Texas, where she died at age 79. Several of her Wells and Thompson descendants attended ACU, including my grandfather, Sanford Rodgers Thompson, my sister, and several of my cousins. In fact, I know of one third cousin who went to ACU who’s a descendant, Gaylynn Wells Neas. (’92).”

Photograph of Eunice Wells, ca. 1892, Texas–Lone Oak, Congregational Vertical File. Center for Restoration Studies. Milliken Special Collections, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

Kenneth’s grandfather donated the letter several years ago. He says, “Sanford Rodgers Thompson (‘41). He was a resident of Lake Jackson, Texas, and was employed as a chemist by Dow Chemical. He served as an elder at Lake Jackson Church of Christ for 40 years and died Feb. 18, 2010.”

Correspondence accompanying a letter of dismissal from the Church of Christ at Lone Oak, Texas, to Eunice Wells, dated “1st Lord’s day January, 1892,” Texas–Lone Oak, Congregational Vertical File. Center for Restoration Studies. Milliken Special Collections, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

Envelope accompanying letter of dismissal from the Church of Christ at Lone Oak, Texas, to Eunice Wells, dated “1st Lord’s day January, 1892,” Texas–Lone Oak, Congregational Vertical File. Center for Restoration Studies. Milliken Special Collections, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

Kenneth sent us this photograph of Eunice, taken about the time she moved from Lone Oak. This is a very nice example of a church dismissal letter, and one of the few in our collection. It is also especially nice to have a photograph to accompany the letter.

Challenges: The Restoration Movement in Texas film now available online

In 1986 Herald of Truth and Abilene Christian University collaborated on a video retelling 150 years of Restoration history in Texas.  It features R. L. Roberts, Bill Humble, Richard Hughes, Ethelyn Mitchall, John Stevens and William Teague and was filmed on location at historic sites across Texas.

The film is now available online for free streaming and download.

Challenges – The Restoration Movement in Texas from ACU Library on Vimeo.

Mixed Up in History, Part 1: Recipes from the Archives

We will participate in Preservation Week 2019 by hosting three preservation-themed webinars in the Special Collections and Archives reading room on the lower level of the ACU Brown Library from 1-2 pm on April 23, 25, and 26.

The one-hour webinars will focus on very practical strategies anyone can employ to preserve their family history.  At each webinar we will feature three different recipes from the archives, primarily drawing on the 1974 Women of ACC Cookbook. If you’re in Abilene please come join us, and if you can’t make it in person we’ll share links so you can watch the webinars online.  We will also share the recipes and some additional historical context about their authors. Below are the first three recipes we’re trying out– stay tuned for more!

Below are the recipes we’ll feature on Tuesday, April 23. Join us from 1-2 pm to learn about preserving your family history.

Fudge, Can't Miss
From the kitchen of Marie Wilmeth and Mrs. J. P. (Maxie) Sewell

Abilene Christian College. Prickly Pear, Yearbook of Abilene Christian College, 1948, yearbook, 1948, University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.

Thank you to Librarian Shan Martinez for sharing her research on Dr. Wilmeth.

[Portrait of Mrs. Jesse P. Sewell], photograph, 198u, University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.

Page 158, Women of ACC. 1974. Women of ACC cookbook: recipes from members, ex-students and friends, and ACC specialities. Abilene Tex: Abilene Christian College.

Cheezies 
From the kitchen of Mrs. Ernest (Opal) Walls

Opal Kathleen Sloan Walls contributed this recipe shortly after she and her husband, Ernest Walls, moved to Abilene in retirement to be near family and friends.

Abilene Christian College. Catalog of Abilene Christian College, 1938, book, February 1938; Abilene, Texas, University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.

Opal (Sloan) Walls taught children’s literature and art methods at Abilene Christian College for several summers during the 1930s.

The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 78, No. 48, Ed. 1, Friday, March 30, 1990, newspaper, March 30, 1990; Abilene, Texas, University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.

Mrs. Walls was active in the Abilene community, including serving as the vice president for publicity for the Friends of the ACU Library board for the 1990-1991 school year.

Page 7, Women of ACC. 1974. Women of ACC cookbook: recipes from members, ex-students and friends, and ACC specialities. Abilene Tex: Abilene Christian College.

Hot Cherry Punch
From the kitchen of Mrs. Lefty (Blanche) Walker

Blanche Walker was a member of Ko Jo Kai during her time at Abilene Christian College. She married Lefty Walker, pictured below.

Abilene Christian College. Prickly Pear, Yearbook of Abilene Christian College, 1932, yearbook, 1932; Abilene, Texas, University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.


Page 18, Women of ACC. 1974. Women of ACC cookbook: recipes from members, ex-students and friends, and ACC specialities. Abilene Tex: Abilene Christian College.

Check back soon for more recipes and history!