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Donating Material to the Library

 

Items of history are most meaningful to those who are most closely connected to them. Books, articles, letters, and other items of historical value have been preserved by congregations, families, or individuals because of that connection. 

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As time continues, that connection often becomes less important to succeeding generations, and things of historical value can too easily be discarded or forgotten. Also, important historical material that is kept within a family can only be appreciated by a small group of people although it deserves much wider notice.  

For these and the following reasons, it is encouraged that items of history be donated or loaned to the Historical Reference Library: 

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  • They will be housed in as secure a place as possible so they will not be lost or destroyed.

  • They will able to be enjoyed and appreciated by many more interested people. 

  • They will not be discarded as unimportant by succeeding generations.

Please note that items can also be loaned to the library, remaining the property of the owners and they can be reclaimed at any time.       

​What to Donate?

 

Not everything that is donated has lasting historical value. Just because a book or other item is old does not necessarily mean it fits into the criteria of the church history that is being collected.  However, there is often something of unique historical value in a box that a family has saved from their parents' personal belongings. Also, as ministers reach the time of retirement and reflect on their years of service, they have many minutes, articles, and records that they have collected through the years.  Likely, many of them are already filed in the library, but in those collections there is often something that has not yet been received. So, do not hesitate to bring those things to the library and do not readily conclude that they are unimportant.

 

There are also historical books or records that, even though the library already has a copy, should not be destroyed because of their rarity. 

 

There are sufficient copies of past issues of the Messenger of Truth already in the library and archive. However, there are numerous other Church publication collections that are incomplete:

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  • Chalk Talk
  • Gospel Tract Newsletter
  • Mensageiro (Portuguese Messenger)
  • Mensajero (Spanish Messenger)
  • La Voz Mexicana (an early newsletter from Mexico)
  • Public Service Reporter (newsletter from alternative service units in the 1950s)
  • Roseburg Times (newsletter from the Roseburg, Oregon CPS unit)
  • The Children's Echo (a paper for children published in the 1940s and 1950s)
  • Sunchild News (an early newsletter from Alberta)
  • The Christian Missionary (an early newsletter from Mexico)
  • The Navajo Missionary (an early newsletter from Arizona)
  • Voice of Christians Fellowship (Nigerian "Messenger")
  • Youth Service Reporter (newsletter from youth groups and alternative service units in the 1960s)

Also, any of the following items are desired:
  • Minutes from early Conference-wide school meetings as well as minutes from district school meetings
  • Old Conference committee minutes

  • Personal effects or papers from conscientious objectors' service, particularly in World Wars 1 and 2

  • Items of family or congregational history
  • Old doctrinal or church history books
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