Foldered & Finished: South Eleventh and Willis Church of Christ (Abilene, TX) Records

Today’s blogpost is by Sidney Irwin. Sidney is a Master’s of Library Science student at the University of North Texas who is getting a general studies degree and a graduate certificate in archival management. Sidney is an Abilene, TX native who earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Abilene Christian University.


The South Eleventh and Willis Church of Christ (Abilene, TX) Records are processed and ready for researchers. The finding aid is available at DigitalCommons@ACU. The records include 47 linear feet (33 boxes) of notes, correspondence, meeting minutes, financial papers, blueprints, teaching resources, distributed materials, and tapes.

Proposed budget for 1952, South Eleventh and Willis Church of Christ (Abilene, TX), 1952-2022. Center for Restoration Studies MS #600. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

South Eleventh and Willis Church of Christ was founded in 1952 and closed in 2024. The majority of the collection is from the 1990s to the 2010s. These records focus mainly on the day-to-day functions and actions of the church from a leadership perspective.

“11th and Willis and Vision” presentation slides, South Eleventh and Willis Church of Christ (Abilene, TX), 1952-2022. Center for Restoration Studies MS #600. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.


Stay tuned for future installments of Foldered & Finished!

Foldered & Finished: The West Berry Church of Christ (Fort Worth, TX) Records

The West Berry Church of Christ (Fort Worth, TX) Records (1940-2017) are processed and ready for researchers. The finding aid is available at DigitalCommons@ACU. The records include 8 linear feet (6 boxes) of church newsletters, directories, photos, and missions correspondence. 

The church started in 1924 as South Summit Church of Christ before moving to West Berry Street in 1949 and changing names in 1950. 

South Summit Sun, Box 2, Folder 1, West Berry Church of Christ (Fort Worth, TX) Records, 1940-2017. Center for Restoration Studies MS #596. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

The church supported missions projects both within the United States and in other countries, especially Mexico. The records contain extensive correspondence between the West Berry elders and Neil Massie, whom they supported at North Shore Church of Christ in Boston. 

Mission Report, Box 5, Correspondence with Neil Massie folder, West Berry Church of Christ (Fort Worth, TX) Records, 1940-2017. Center for Restoration Studies MS #596. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

The records also contain correspondence with ministers in Mexico and newsletters from Mexico. 

The Latin-American Christian, Box 3, Folder 5, West Berry Church of Christ (Fort Worth, TX) Records, 1940-2017. Center for Restoration Studies MS #596. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

To view this collection please schedule a research visit in advance by emailing Erica Pye at exp10a@acu.edu.


Guest post by Emily Thompson, who has been working as an intern in Special Collections and Archives since September 2024.  She is completing the Master of Library Science at the University of North Texas.



 

 

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.