BMH Editor's Blog

Scanning Work to Begin Soon on Brethren Publications

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on March 28, 2011  |  No Comments

On online archives of Brethren publications from the mid-19th century to the year 2000 is nearing reality as the Brethren Digital Archives committee met on Monday, March 28 at Winona Lake, Ind. With more than $15,000 in hand the group is ready to begin scanning the first set of old documents, many of which are crumbling on library shelves.

At today’s meeting, the group made plans to begin delivering publications to scanning centers by early summer. They have partnered with Lyrasis, the nation’s largest regional membership organization for libraries and information professionals, to see the venture completed. It is hoped to scan 22 periodicals and 10 almanacs that are attributed to the Brethren movement as part of this first phase. The final documents will be available at no charge on the Internet Archive.

Included in this project are publications attributed to the Grace Brethren movement: the Brethren Missionary Herald magazine, which published from 1939 to 1996 and two academic journals published by Grace Theological Seminary, Grace Journal (1960-1973), and Grace Theological Journal (1980-1991).

The Brethren Digital Archives committee met today at CE National in Winona Lake, Ind.

A second phase will begin as soon as funds are raised. This will include oversized publications and ones that are not bound, which is a requirement of the grant under which the first phase is being done.

If you would like to donate to the archives project, donations may be sent to the Brethren Missionary Herald Company, Box 544, Winona Lake, Ind., 46590, or the Brethren Heritage Center, 428 Wolf Creek St. Suite No. H1, Brookville, OH 45309-1297. Be sure to designate Brethren Digital Archives with your gift.

Volunteers are also needed to check the accuracy of the documents once they are scanned. If you would like to help, call the Brethren Heritage Center at (937) 833-5222 or email mail@brethrenheritagecenter.org.

Brethren Digital Archives Meets

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on November 9, 2010  |  No Comments

Lyrasis representative Laurie Gimmell (left, in white jacket) explains the digitization process to members of the Brethren Digital Archives committee.

The Brethren Digital Archives committee is one step closer to creating an online archive of Brethren publications. The group met Monday, November 8, at the Brethren Heritage Center in Brookville, Ohio. They spent much of the morning learning more about the digitization process with Laurie Gimmell, a representative of Lyrasis. (The Archives is partnering with Lyrasis to complete the project.)

The Archives committee hopes to create a digital record of documents produced by the various Brethren groups that trace their spiritual heritage to Alexander Mack. Publications slated to be digitized include periodicals from the mid- to late-1800’s as well as theological journals, such as the Grace Seminary Journal, which was published from 1980-1991, and denominational magazines, such as the Brethren Missionary Herald, which was published from 1940 until the mid-1990’s. (For a complete list, click here.)

On Monday, they reviewed the publications that will be included in the project, determined what libraries would be the likely sources for the items to be scanned, and cared for other details such as copyright releases and cooperating organizations.

The committee is working to raise the approximate $50,000 needed to complete the project. Gifts to the project may be made through the Brethren Missionary Herald Company, Box 544, Winona Lake, Ind., or the Brethren Heritage Center, 428 Wolf Creek St., Suite No. H1, Brookville, OH 45309-1297. (Be sure to specify Brethren Digital Archives with your gift.)

Volunteers are needed to help check the accuracy of the documents once they are scanned. If you would like to participate in this way, contact the Brethren Heritage Center at 937-833-5222.

The committee also requests prayer for the project, asking that the work would be completed well and in a timely fashion. They also want to be good stewards of the funds that have been provided for the work that is to be done.

Digital Archives Project Moves Ahead

Posted by Liz Cutler Gates on September 15, 2010  |  No Comments

Eric Bradley, coordinator of the digitization project for the Brethren Digital Archives, measures a book to ensure that it meets requirements for scanning.

Availability of old Grace Brethren publications such as the Brethren Missionary Herald magazine, Grace Theological Journal, and the Grace Journal is closer to reality as the Brethren Digital Archives moves toward accomplishing its mission.

The Archives committee hopes to create a digital record of documents produced by the various Brethren groups that trace their spiritual heritage to Alexander Mack.

Meeting Monday, September 13, at the Brethren Heritage Center in Brookville, Ohio, the committee made further plans to partner to Lyrasis to create an online archive of documents printed in the mid-1800s to 2000. Grant funds make it possible to scan these publications at a rate far below the original $150,000 estimate. Now it is hoped to complete the project, including oversized documents, for approximately $50,000.

Much of this funding needs to be raised before the end of the year, to ensure the project gets underway. The grant which makes the costs so attractive runs out at the end of 2010 and while there is hope the grant will be extended, there is no promise. Gifts to the project may be made through the Brethren Missionary Herald Company, Box 544, Winona Lake, Ind., or the Brethren Heritage Center, 428 Wolf Creek St., Suite No. H1, Brookville, OH 45309-1297. (Be sure to specify Brethren Digital Archives with your gift.)

There are also volunteer opportunities for individuals to help check the accuracy of the documents once they are scanned. If you are able to help, contact the Brethren Heritage Center at 937-833-5222.

The committee requests prayer for the project, as well, asking that the work would be completed well and in a timely fashion. They also want to be good stewards of the funds that have been provided for the work that is to be done.

Plans are being made to scan the following documents and make them available on the Web:

• Ashland Theological Journal
• Bible Monitor (1922-2000)
• Christian Family Companion (1865-1873)
• Christian Family Companion and Gospel Visitor (1874-1875)
• Der Brüderbote (1875-1877)
• Der Brüderbote (1880-1892)
• Der Evangelische Besuch (1852-1861)
• Grace Journal (1960-1973)
• Grace Theological Journal (1980-1991)
• Messenger (1965-2000)
• Schwarzenau (1939-1942)
• The Brethren at Work (1876-1883)
• The Brethren Evangelist (1885-2000) and The Brethren’s Evangelist (1883-1884)
• The Brethren Missionary Herald (1939-1996)
• The Brethren’s Missionary Visitor (1894-1896)
• The Gospel Messenger (1883-1964)
• The Gospel Preacher (1879-1882)
• The Gospel Visitor (1857-1873) and The Monthly Gospel-Visiter (1851-1856)
• The Inglenook (1900-1913)
• The Missionary Visitor (1902-1930)
• The Pilgrim (1870-1871 & 1875-1876) and The Weekly Pilgrim (1872-1874)
• The Pilgrim (1954-2000)
• The Primitive Christian (1876 & 1880-1883) and The Primitive Christian and Pilgrim (1876-1879)
• The Progressive Christian (1878-1882)

In addition, almanacs published by Brethren groups in the late 19th century will be included. So far, this includes:

• The Brethren’s Almanac (Holsinger, 1871-1874)
• Pilgrim Almanac (Brumbaughs, 1873-1874)
• The Brethren Family Almanac (Brumbaughs & Quinter who had purchased Holsinger, 1875)
• Brethren’s Almanac (Brumbaugh’s & Quinter, 1876-1879)
• The Brethren’s Family Almanac (1880-1917, ‘s dropped in 1903)
• Brethren Annual (started by Holsinger about 1884 with almanac format until 1915-1924)
• The Brethren’s Family Almanac, 1875, J. Quinter
• The Brethren’s Annual For the Year of Grace 1885 (Holsinger)
• Our Almanac and Annual Register, 1880, 1883, 1885 (Kurtz)
• The Brethren at Work, Almanac and Annual Register for All The People, 1882, Brethren At Work Steam Printing House

Some of the Brethren Digital Archives committee (left to right): Liz Cutler Gates, Brethren Missionary Herald; Darryl Filbrun, Old German Baptist Brethren, New Conference; Gary Kochheiser, Conservative Grace Brethren; Steve Bayer, Old German Baptist Brethren; Paul Stump, Brethren Heritage Center; Eric Bradley, Morgan Library, Grace College & Seminary; Larry Heisey, Brethren Heritage Center. Seated, Shirley Frick, Bible Moniter.

The Brethren Digital Archives is a collaborative effort of publishers, libraries, and archives affiliated with the various branches of the Brethren movement. Partners in the project are:

• Bethany Theological Seminary/Lilly Library
• Ashland University/Library/Brethren Church/Archives
• Brethren Church/The Brethren Evangelist
• Brethren Heritage Center
• Brethren Historical Library and Archives
• Brethren Journal Association/Brethren Life & Thought
• Bridgewater College/Alexander Mack Library
• Grace College and Seminary/Morgan Library
• Church of the Brethren/Messenger
• Conservative Grace Brethren/The Voice Newsletter
• Dunkard Brethren/Bible Monitor
• Elizabethtown College/High Library/Young Center for Anabaptist & Pietist Studies
• Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches/Brethren Missionary Herald
• Juniata College/Beeghly Library
• Manchester College Archives and Brethren Historical Collection/Funderburg Library
• McPherson College/Miller Library
• Old German Baptist Brethren Church New Conference/The Testimony
• Old German Baptist Brethren Church/The Vindicator
• Old Brethren/The Pilgrim

For more information, see Brethren Digital Archives.