Finding Aid Round Up

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!


Theophilus Brown Larimore Papers, 1907-1935, MS#6 [Revised Finding Aid]
Theophilus Brown Larimore was among the most widely-known and successful evangelists among Disciples and Churches of Christ from the latter decades of the nineteenth century until his death in 1929. This collection includes professional and business correspondence.

Letter from Emma Larimore to B. R. Colson dated 6 July 1915, Dixieland College Materials (1), Theophilus Brown Larimore Papers, 1907-1935. Center for Restoration Studies MS #6. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

Reuel Gordon Lemmons Papers, 1908-1989, MS#11 [Revised Finding Aid]
Reuel Gordon Lemmons served Churches of Christ as a minister, writer, editor, and publisher. These papers are arranged by subject and include minutes, academic papers, broadcast transcripts, pictures, correspondence, and sermons materials.

John Parham Lewis Papers, 1926-1985, MS#12 [Revised Finding Aid]
John Parham Lewis was a Church of Christ preacher and teacher. These papers include his handwritten Bible notes and class notes, correspondence, assorted literary materials, and a scrapbook.

James Shannon Papers, 1849-1857, MS#505 [New Finding Aid]
James Shannon was president of Bacon College (Kentucky) from 1856-1859 and then president at Christian University (Missouri). He was an ardent defender of slavery and frequent contributor to church papers such as Alexander Campbell’s Millennial Harbinger. These papers include six issues of the Millennial Harbinger dating from 1849-1857 that were owned by James Shannon.

Front cover, Millennial Harbinger, March 1849, owned by James Shannon

George Phillip Holt, Sr. Papers, 1971-1972, MS#506 [New Finding Aid]
George Phillip Holt, Sr. was an evangelist and education advocate in the Church of Christ. These papers include one folder of photocopies of sermon outlines written and preached by Holt.


Stay tuned for more installments of Finding Aid Round Ups!

Foldered & Finished: V. Aubrey Hallum

The V. Aubrey Hallum Papers (1962-2011) are processed and ready for researchers. The finding aid for the papers and digitized selections are now available on DigitalCommons@ACU. These papers include 30 linear feet (80 boxes) of architectural drawings, papers, and memorabilia.

Architectural Drawing of Garland Road / Highland Oaks Church of Christ, Dallas, TX, Box 17, Vernon Aubrey Hallum Papers, 1962-2011. Center for Restoration Studies MS#485 . Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

V. Aubrey Hallum is an architect in Ft. Worth, Texas. He was born August 16, 1930 in Seymour, Texas, to Dixie Jewell (nee Bryant) Hallum (1912-2004) and Vernon D. Hallum (1904-1992). He holds the Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Texas (1956). After an architectural internship in 1957 in Washington, D.C., Hallum opened an architectural office in Highland Park (Dallas, Texas) in 1961. He retired from practice after 53 years in 2014. Hallum married Yvonne Bevil in 1955. They have two sons, David and Jeffrey.

“Guide for Planning Church Buildings for the Churches of Christ, Box 80, Folder 1, Item 10, Vernon Aubrey Hallum Papers, 1962-2011. Center for Restoration Studies MS#485 . Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

This collection consists of rolled sets of drawings of churches, mainly Churches of Christ in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, as well as of a few church-related buildings. Included are designs, master plans, construction drawings, and blueprints. In addition to the drawings, there are one complete set of contract administration files for one church building; about fifty clippings, articles, and letters; and a few memorabilia.

Architectural Drawing of Riverside Church of Christ, Coppell, TX, Box 40, Vernon Aubrey Hallum Papers, 1962-2011. Center for Restoration Studies MS#485 . Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

Foldered & Finished: Robert Lynn Anderson Papers

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!