Foldered & Finished: James Walton Shepherd Papers

The James Walton Shepherd Papers (1827-2003) are processed and ready for researchers. The finding aid for the papers and digitized selections are now available on DigitalCommons@ACU.

Page one of letter from James A. Harding to James Walton Shepherd dated 5 June 1895, Box 1, Folder Harding, James A., James Walton Shepherd Papers, 1827-2002. Center for Restoration Studies MS #230. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

James Walton Shepherd was born near Lexington, Kentucky, on August 18, 1861. He was converted under the teaching of James A. Harding and attended the College of the Bible (Lexington, Kentucky) where he studied under J. W. McGarvey, I. B. Grubbs, and Robert Graham. Shepherd preached in the U.S. and engaged in mission work in Australia and New Zealand (c. 1888-1892). He later served as the librarian at Nashville Bible School, office manager of the Gospel Advocate, and editor of the Christian Leader. He published multiple books, and edited five volumes of David Lipscomb’s notes on the New Testament. He died at age 86 on July 27, 1948, in Detroit, Michigan.

First page of letter from John Moody McCaleb to V M Metcalfe dated 31 January 1896, Box 1, Folder McCaleb, John Moody, James Walton Shepherd Papers, 1827-2002. Center for Restoration Studies MS #230. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

This collection includes correspondence to and from Shepherd, and personal journals he  kept for several years. Two of these journals (1889 and 1891) describe Shepherd’s time as a missionary in Australia and New Zealand. There are also notes from his time as a student at the College of the Bible and biographical information. The collection also includes correspondence between Mary (Shepherd’s daughter) and Claude French, and correspondence to and from Mary concerning her father in his older age.  The two letters featured here, and several more, are now available for browsing and download at DigitalCommons@ACU.