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!
Pecos River Family Encampment Papers, 1944-1996, MS#22 [Revised Finding Aid]
The Pecos River Family Encampment began meeting in 1940, when James Frank Black, preacher, and Charlie Chandler, rancher, decided that Chandler’s land would be the ideal location for a camp. After a short hiatus during the World War II years, the camp began meeting again in 1944. The campground is located on Hwy. 349 between Iraan and Sheffield, Texas, on the bank of the Pecos River. The camp is supported by the local churches of Christ. This collection contains some of the financial papers, history, and photographs from the Pecos River Family Encampment.
From the Pecos River Family Encampment Papers, (1944-1996). Center for Restoration Studies MS#22.
Andy Thomas Ritchie, Jr. Papers, 1930-1970, MS#23 [Revised Finding Aid]
Son of Andy T. Ritchie, Sr., Andy Thomas Ritchie, Jr. was best known for his service as the choral director of Harding College and David Lipscomb College. This collection consists of 32 boxes and includes radio sermons, class notes, notes for a book, personal papers, materials relating to the Abilene Christian College lectureship, correspondence, sermons, poems, Harding College choir recordings, Frater Sodalis papers, funeral outlines, papers pertaining to Harding College, David Lipscomb College, Michigan Christian College lectureship, Oklahoma Christian College, Pepperdine College, and University of Arkansas.
William Webb Freeman Papers, 1912-1954, MS#24 [Revised Finding Aid]
This collection contains personal and professional papers of William Webb Freeman, including correspondence, research materials, thesis material, photographs, and ephemera. The collection is housed in 4 boxes.
Christine “Chris” Kyker Papers, 1946-2017, MS#487 [New Finding Aid]
This collection consists of documents created by Chris Kyker in her career as a professor of speech, communication, and theater at Abilene Christian University and a member of Women of ACU; as an advocate for public policy respecting aging, mental health, and disability; and as an executive in nonprofit agencies and in Texas state agencies for the benefit of older persons, persons with disabilities, and persons with mental illness. The collection includes correspondence, academic papers, policy documents she developed in a variety of nonprofit and state leadership positions, religious studies, fundraising materials, pamphlets, programs, and memorabilia from advocacy campaigns and conferences, photographs and awards. Also in the collection are papers of Chris Kyker’s husband, Rex Paxton Kyker (1912-1996), professor of speech at ACU; and of their colleagues in the speech and theater department, Lewis and Jerilyn “Jerry” Fulks.
Bill Love Papers, MS#490
The Bill R. Love Papers contain 1.8 linear feet of materials including book manuscripts, sermons, seminar notes, and general research files. [The following biographical note is excerpted from Bill R. Love’s obituary, which ran in the Houston Chronicle from May 1-2, 2004]. Bill R. Love was born in Tucumcari, New Mexico, February 10, 1938, and passed away at home in Houston on April 30, 2004. Bill’s family moved to Abilene, Texas, when he was in third grade. He completed his early schooling on the campus of Abilene Christian College where he went on to receive B.A. and M.A. degrees in Speech Communication. Bill married Deanna Bussie in December of 1960. From 1962 to 1967 they lived in Winnipeg, Canada where Bill served as minister for the Erin Street Church of Christ. Bill earned a Ph.D. in Speech Communication from Louisiana State University in 1972 while serving as minister for the LSU Church of Christ Student Center. In 1974, Bill became the preaching minister at Bering Drive Church of Christ in Houston where he served until 1996. At that time Bill began his work as the Director of Development for Lifeline Chaplaincy, a position he held until suffering a stroke in November of 1998. Although disabled, Bill spent the last five years of his life as an encouragement and inspiration to all who knew him.
Stay tuned for more installments of Finding Aid Round Ups!