Archival Collections
Collection Descriptions
Morgan Memorial-Goodwill Industries
This important service organization was founded by Rev. Edgar J. Helms (School of Theology 1895) and has grown to become an international model for social agencies. Annual reports, board minutes, and news clippings from its 100-year history report its activities during the years. Files are arranged chronologically, with a general inventory.
New England Conference Commission on Archives and History
The Commission collection focuses on the history of the United Methodist Church in New England, with Conference Journals, church records, and archived records of conference boards and agencies, along with Methodist-related social and service organization records. Commission materials, especially journals and church records, are listed online. The listing in these pages is complete except for information notes on parish history.
New England United Methodist Historical Society
All materials dealing with the Methodist church in New England, including conference journals and records, church records, records of organizations and social groups, books and papers, were tranferred to the New England Conference Commission on Archives and History. Included are manuscript letters and memoirs collected by the Historical Society and books by or about New England Methodism. General histories of the Methodist Episcopal Church recording the evangelization of New England, and national-level publications, such as General Conference materials, the Book of Discipline, and the General Minutes were also transferred to the Commission. All other published materials dealing with Methodism or other topics were transferred to Boston University School of Theology Library, including the Society’s collection of 18th and 19th century publications by or about John and Charles Wesley.
Early Printed Bible Pages
This is a collection of sample leaves from early and important Bible editions.
Missionary Bible Collection
One of the side-effects of our early missionary training was a collection of Bibles in various languages, previously in the Reading Room at 72 Mt. Vernon Street. The collection supplements the Massachusetts Bible Society Collection, but is not cataloged on-line.
William E. Barton Collection of Samaritan Materials
Barton was active in the Samaritan community in the early twentieth century and has a substantial collection of scrolls and studies of the Samaritans covering 1903-1926.
James D. Purvis Samaritana Collection
Dr. Purvis wrote his dissertation at Harvard on the Samaritans and had a life-long interest in researches and studies on the sect. His collection, covering 1956-2002, includes late twentieth century worship books as well as extensive files of published articles on the Samaritans. An exhibit of selected materials was on display in the Fall of 2001.
Taize Collection
The Theresa Scherf research collection on Taize has extensive photocopy resources on early writings of Brother Roger and founding philosophy behind the Taize Movement.
Dr. Theresa Scherf collected these photocopies and translations of source materials while writing her dissertation, “Monasticism as Church: The Taizé Rule in the Light of Western Monastic Tradition” (Ph.D. Marquette University, 1988)
J. Allen Broyles Collection on the John Birch Society
This contains primary source materials on the John Birch Society, including the Blue Book, the White Book, and the Bulletin.
Anna Howard Shaw Center Collection
A center at Boston University School of Theology committed to the embodiment of the Christian Gospel as witnessed through the ministry of Anna Howard Shaw.
Anna Howard Shaw graduated from Boston University Theological School in 1878. As an ordained Methodist minister, a medical doctor, and president of the National American Women’s Suffrage Association, she was an important religious leader and an active worker for women’s rights.
This center provides resources for research, skill development, and support for all in mission in ministry – laity and clergy. It is dedicated to and dependent upon the active participation of women and men who are struggling for a future of justice and love – bread and roses for all God’s people.
The collection includes transcripts from an oral history program on clergywomen. It also includes the center’s old subject files filled with articles on a variety of women’s related topics. Copies of the Anna Howard Shaw Center newsletter and Sojourner are also part of this collection.