Finding Aid Round Up

Posted on May 13, 2020 by Amanda Dietz

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!

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: Claude Adrian Guild Papers

Posted on July 12, 2019 by Amanda Dietz

The Claude Adrian Guild Papers (1939-1992) are processed and ready for researchers. The finding aid for the papers and digitized selections are now available on DigitalCommons@ACU.

The Unity of the Spirit sermon, Box 1, Folder 9, Claude Adrian Guild Papers, 1939-1992. Center for Restoration Studies MS #60. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

Claude Adrian Guild was born in Buffalo, Montana, in 1916. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Abilene Christian College in 1939 and a Master of Arts in Religion from Pepperdine University in 1978. Guild was raised as member of the Lutheran Church but later converted and began serving as an evangelist for the Churches of Christ. He was baptized by J. C. Bailey in Radville, Saskatchewan. Guild preached for a number of Churches of Christ in Texas including Springtown Church of Christ in Springtown, and Riverside Church of Christ in Fort Worth. In Oregon Guild served at Southwest Church of Christ in Tigard and also held evangelistic meeting across the Western United States and Canada. Additionally, he spent time as a missionary in Australia, and served as the Vice President of Columbia Christian College (Portland, Oregon) and as the President of Fort Worth Christian College (Fort Worth, Texas). Guild died in 1996.

The “Tas-Dil” News, 24 May 1981, Series II, Box 1, Folder 7, Claude Adrian Guild Papers, 1939-1992. Center for Restoration Studies MS #60. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

This collection includes sermons, scrapbooks, biographical information, notes from graduate studies, and a number of awards. The Australia – Bulletins and Advertisements folder and the red scrapbook provide insight into Guild’s work as a missionary in Australia. The scrapbooks provide the most biographical information and the most substantive correspondence.