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1992 Duke University. All rights reserved.
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[Identification of item], The Papers of John Lakin Brasher, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
The papers of John Lakin Brasher (1868-1971), preacher, evangelist, and leader of the Holiness movement, were donated to the Rubenstein Library by The Brasher Heritage Corporation in 1981, with later additions in 1997, 1998 and 2004.
Processed by: Melissa J. Delbridge, Denise Dolan, Daniel Daily, Sandra Polaski, Chad Truelove, Randy Bryant
Completed September 30, 1992
Encoded by Stephen Douglas Miller
Finding aid updated to include unprocessed additions 1997-0187, 1998-0434, and 2008-0171 by Alice Poffinberger, August 3, 2009
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
The John Lakin Brasher Papers, 1857-1983 and undated (bulk 1917-1970) are comprised of church-related and personal correspondence; records of the Iowa Holiness Association; records of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Alabama Conference; religious writings and speeches (including sermons, diaries and manuscripts of published works); printed material (tracts, religious brochures, serials, and hymnals); photographs (including many of camp meetings); transcriptions of tape recordings; legal papers; financial papers; and miscellany. Most material concerns the religious career of John L. Brasher; the Holiness (Sanctification) movement in the Methodist Church, particularly in Alabama; Holiness education and the administration of John H. Snead Seminary in Boaz, Ala.; and Central Holiness University (later John Fletcher College) in University Park, Ia.; and camp meetings in the South, particularly Alabama, and the Midwest. Includes biographies of clergy and accounts of religious and family life in rural north Alabama. Among correspondents are Joseph P. Owens, F. D. Leete, John Paul, and missionaries in Egypt, India, China, and Japan. Contains letters and printed material concerning the separation and reunification of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
Brasher's activities as a minister are documented throughout the collection. The Correspondence and Transcriptions of Tape Recordings Series reveal Brasher's reflections on scripture and provide accounts of congregational reactions to his preaching. Transcripts of his sermons appear in the Writings and Speeches Series, Sermons Subseries as well as in the Transcriptions of Tape Recordings and in some of the published articles (Printed Material Series, Serials Subseries) and manuscripts of his books (Printed Material Series, The Way of Faith). His diaries and correspondence document his travels and his preaching engagements. Numerous invitations to preach and requests for guidance reflect Brasher's leadership role among ministers, missionaries, and church officials. Letters to and from converts regarding their religious experiences and responses to Brasher's preaching and writing are scattered throughout the Correspondence Series.
Brasher's administrative role in religious organizations and in church-affiliated educational facilities is well-represented in the Correspondence Series as well as in the Iowa Holiness Association Series and the Methodist Episcopal Church, Alabama Conference Series. Minutes, reports, and financial records are among the papers of these organizations, reflecting both Brasher's leadership and involvement and the activities of the organizations themselves. The Pictures Series includes some photographs of the schools with which Brasher was associated and of the attending students.
Brasher's career as an author is well-documented, not only in the Writings and Speeches Series, but throughout the collection. The Correspondence Series includes letters to and from his publishers and from editors of various religious serials to which Brasher contributed. The Printed Material Series contains many of these serials with articles by Brasher as well as tracts he wrote.
Throughout the collection, information on church history abounds. The Correspondence Series and the Methodist Episcopal Church, Alabama Conference Series in particular contain letters concerning the rivalry between the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South; and the eventual unification of the two organizations. Conflicts between Fundamentalist and Modernist ideas also appear in the correspondence and in the Printed Material Series.
As Historian of the Alabama Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Brasher wrote biographies of preachers, missionaries, and church officials involved in the Holiness Movement. These biographies appear in the Writings and Speeches Series, Biographical Sketches of Colleagues Subseries. Some of these biographies were published in
Correspondence, Pictures, Transcriptions of Tape Recordings, and the Family Biography Subseries of the Writings and Speeches Series document Brasher's life with his family. Brasher's biographical writings and other works in the Family Biography Subseries, and the Transcriptions of Tape Recordings Series also provide a small but rich glimpse into the traditional lore, customs, and folkways of the rural upland South.
Details of camp meetings are documented throughout the collection. The Transcripts of Tape Recordings Series contains transcripts of camp meetings. The Printed Material Series includes promotional literature for camp meetings; descriptions of facilities; and hymnals (some shape-note) used in these services. An unusual collection of copies of photographs of camp meetings from the early 1900's through the 1940's in Ohio, Iowa, Alabama, Michigan, Texas and Pennsylvania can be found in the Pictures Series.
The Boatman Family Papers, also housed in the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, contains correspondence from John Lakin Brasher and other members of the Brasher family.
Unprocessed addition (97-187)(1500 items, dated [192-]-[197-]) to the collection consists primarily of correspondence between Brasher's son, James Hendricks Brasher, and his parents, including numerous letters and postcards written by Brasher. There is also correspondence with other family members and correspondents outside the family.
Unprocessed addition (98-434) (30 items, dated 1923-1969) includes primarily letters between Brasher and his son.
Unprocessed addition (08-171) (3 items, .1 lin. ft.; dated 1911-1924 and undated) includes one clipping, a postcard, and James Brasher's "daylogue" for 1923-1924.
These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.
Handwritten and typed letters to and from
Papers of the
Reports from local auxiliaries to the
Original letters and copies to and from
Monthly financial reports, contracts for advertising, and invoices for materials purchased. Arranged chronologically.
Includes advertisement for camp meeting, list of camp meetings, a Statement of Doctrine for the
Records of the activities of the
Typed copies of the proceedings of the
Biographies, varying in length and detail, of ministers and church officers within the
Church histories, chiefly handwritten, of individual Methodist churches in
Statistical information regarding membership, baptism, property, and collections for Methodist churches in
Documents, chiefly issued to
Works generally on religious and church-related topics, chiefly written by
Speeches and addresses chiefly delivered by Brasher to the General Conference of the
Sermons and notes for sermons, typed and handwritten, by
Bound, handwritten diaries in which
Short biographies of ministers, church members, and religious educators, chiefly written by
Biographies of
Fragments of drafts and notes for Brasher's biographical work,
Editorials and Sunday school lessons handwritten by
Published volume of memorial writings by
Poetry and articles written by people other than
Printed material, chiefly concerning religious topics, collected by Brasher. Divided into the following subseries: Serials; Pamphlets; Tracts; Hymnals; Yearbooks; Clippings; Camp Meetings; Promotional Literature; Programs; Reports and Newsletters; Railway Timetables; and Miscellaneous Printed Material.
Religious serials. Arranged by title, then chronologically for each publication. Issues are not sequential for all titles.
Pamphlets, chiefly concerning religious topics. Pamphlets are divided into five categories (Biographical, Doctrinal, Methodist, Nazarene, and Miscellaneous) and arranged chronologically within each category.
313 religious tracts concerning a wide variety of topics. Tracts are grouped according to author or publisher when a significant body of work by one author or publisher is represented in the collection. One envelope contains tracts on Pentecostal and Holiness topics. Most items are undated.
Bound shape-note and round note hymnals. Covers and pages missing from some items. Arranged chronologically.
Yearbooks from
Photocopies of clippings about Brasher and the organizations with which he was affiliated. Arranged chronologically.
Programs, invitations, promotional literature, and certificates from camp meetings. Arranged chronologically.
Literature advertising church services, institutions, organizations, and a variety of merchandise, both religious and secular. Arranged chronologically.
Programs for commencements, performances, and ceremonies at church-affiliated schools; programs for Holiness and Methodist conferences and ceremonies; and church bulletins. Arranged chronologically.
Conference reports; reports by churches and church agencies regarding projects or missions. Arranged chronologically.
Six timetables from railways including the
Postcards, maps, applications, instruction sheets. Arranged chronologically.
Transcriptions of tape recordings, chiefly of
Receipts and accounts for personal and church-related expenses; insurance policies; property assessment; financial reports for churches and religious organizations. Some photocopies. Arranged chronologically. A separate folder contains financial papers relating to
Documents granting power of attorney; indenture records; land records; record of postal appointment; contracts; records concerning the contribution of land to establish
Chiefly copies of original photographs of
Volumes containing membership rolls of churches and church organizations; salary and financial records; birth and baptismal records; funeral records; and personal memoranda. Some volumes concern churches where Brasher preached, while many are unidentified. A few notebooks kept by
Six bound volumes, most unidentified, listing names and addresses. Arranged chronologically.
53 pocket-sized datebooks in which Brasher recorded appointments, travels, and speaking engagements. Some entries record sermon texts. Arranged chronologically.
Questionnaires, notes, lists of names, seating charts, subscription forms, etc. Most items undated.
Addition (1997-0187) (dated 1920s-1970s) contains correspondence between Brasher's son, James Hendricks Brasher, and his parents, including numerous letters and postcards written by Brasher. There is also correspondence with other family members and correspondents outside the family. Addition (1998-0434) (dated 1923-1969) is primarily letters between Brasher and his son. Addition (2008-0171) (dated 1911-1924) has one clipping, a postcard, and James Brasher's "daylogue" for 1923-1924.