Horace Coffman Collection Finding
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Abilene Christian University Brown Library Center for Restoration Studies The Horace and Dott Coffman Collection Finding Aid Compiled by Matthew Stephens October, 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS Series Page Historical Note 1 Introduction 2 Photographic Material 4 Maps and Charts 4 Scrapbooks and Scrapbook Materials 4 Diaries Minutes and Proceedings 5 Legal Documents 5 Audio Recordings 5 Financial Documents 7 Correspondence 8 Printed Materials 10 Literary Productions 38 Total Archival Boxes 93 Total Linear Feet 38.75 HISTORICAL NOTE Horace Coffman was born on February 27, 1915, near Potosi, Texas. He attended Abilene High and then went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in religion and music from George Pepperdine College in Los Angeles. Coffman graduated in 1944. While he was there he met and became friends with M. Norvel Young. While there he met and married Dott Forsythe in 1943. He worked for five different congregations throughout Southern California for seven years. In 1946 M. Norvel Young, who was now the Preaching Minister for the Broadway Church of Christ in Lubbock, Texas, wrote Coffman asking if he would be interested in the Associate Minister position there at the Broadway Church. Coffman accepted and he and Dott moved to Lubbock in October of 1946. During his work at Broadway Coffman served under many different ministers. M. Norvel Young, Bill Banowsky, and Joe Barnett are only a few of the preachers and evangelists he assisted with the work in Lubbock. Horace was involved in all phases of the work at Broadway including counseling, personal work, visitation, benevolent case studies, Bible school teaching, funerals, weddings, and all music activities. The wedding chorus he organized in 1947 sang for over 60 weddings a year and about 70 funerals a year. He led many singing schools throughout Texas and other states at various churches and taught at every Lubbock Christian College music camp since its inception in 1957. He also appeared as a speaker at various lectureships and gospel meetings. Coffman’s legacy at Broadway is one of a healer. The innumerable lives he touched and counseled through times of grief and pain as well as joy and life are a testimony to his work both in the church and in the city of Lubbock. He and Dott had three daughters and one son. They served the Broadway church until 1999, a total of 53 years of continuous service at one Church of Christ. This is the longest known relationship of a single minister with the same church in the Church of Christ fellowship. 1 Late in life Horace was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. He suffered with it for several years before finally passing away on December 8th. 2006. Joe Barnett performed the funeral Coffman is buried in Resthaven Cemetery in Lubbock, TX. INTRODUCTION The Horace and Dott Coffman Collection consists of 38.25 linear feet. The documents are divided into 10 series. I. Photographic Material II. Maps and Charts III. Scrapbooks and Scrapbook Materials IV. Diaries, Minutes and Proceedings V. Legal Documents VI. Audio Recordings VII. Financial Documents VIII. Correspondence IX. Printed Materials X. Literary Productions These documents provide a valuable look into both the life and work of an associate minister in the Churches of Christ as well as providing information about the life of the Broadway church. The correspondence also provides valuable insight into what Coffman personally did as well as what he meant to the people at Broadway. Series I, PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL, contains photographs and slides, mainly of the Broadway Church and the ministry engaged in there. These have been arranged chronologically, but several photos do not have a date associated with them. Series II, MAPS AND CHARTS, contains blueprints of the Broadway Church as well as other miscellaneous charts. A chronological chart of the Old Testament is also included. Series III, SCRAPBOOKS AND SCRAPBOOK MATERIALS, contains the scrapbooks related the Coffman’s continued presence at the Broadway Church and other events, such as Glyn Coffman Johnson’s death. 2 Series IV, DIARIES, MINUTES AND PROCEEDINGS, contains the records of meetings that Coffman attended. These include elder’s meetings, Broadway committee meetings, and Rotary meetings Series V, LEGAL DOCUMENTS, contains mainly insurance and tax information related to the Broadway church. There are individual personal documents for both the Coffmans and other members of Broadway within this series. Series VI, AUDIO RECORDINGS, contains music and sermons done by Coffman and other speakers. There are many weddings recorded here and several tapes of the Broadway Wedding Chorus, both practicing and performing. Series VII, FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS, contains mostly financial information related to the Broadway church. There are several personal financial statements related to the Coffmans within this subseries. Series VIII, CORRESPONDENCE, contains many letters specifically to Coffman. Although there are some copies of letters that Coffman wrote most of the letters are incoming correspondence. There are also a significant amount of thank you and sympathy cards within this series. This series has been arranged chronologically but there are many letters without a date. Series IX, PRINTED MATERIAL, contains books, periodicals, bulletins, tracts, programs, awards, certificates, pamphlets, brochures, clippings, songbooks, song sheets, church directories, LCU and ACU materials and Broadway ministry material. Most significant in this series is the Broadway material which contains all the information related to specific Broadway ministries, Sunday school, and Bible classes. Series X, LITERARY PRODUCTIONS, contains all material personally produced by both Horace and Dott Coffman. This includes class notes, sermons, wedding notes, funeral notes, research notes and speeches. Most significant here is the number and detail of the wedding and funeral notes that Horace kept. 3 Series 1 Photographic Material Subseries Photographs Box 1 Folder 1 Negatives of New Building at Broadway 7/20/49 Box 1 Folder 2 Photo of New Building at Broadway 1949 Box 1 Folder 3 8"x10" Photographs 1949-1956 Box 1 Folder 4 Broadway Photos 1949-1961 Box 1 Folder 5 Broadway Photos 1953-1954 Box 1 Folder 6 Broadway Photos 1954-1961 # 1 Box 1 Folder 7 Broadway Photos 1954-1961 # 2 Box 1 Folder 8 Photographs from an Event at Broadway March 1957 Box 1 Folder 9 Photo of Youth at Broadway 1957? Box 1 Folder 10 Horace Coffman Headshots (Half of these are from 1973 Box 1 Folder 11 Broadway Tornado Photos and Slide of Horace 1973 Box 1 Folder 12 Photo of Broadway Staff April 1982 Box 1 Folder 13 Photos developed March 1984 of a Wedding and One Slide Box 1 Folder 14 Pictures of Horace and Dott 1991 Box 1 Folder 15 Christian Service Award 2001 Photograph Box 1 Folder 16 39th Anniversary at Broadway # 1 Box 1 Folder 17 39th Anniversary at Broadway # 2 Box 1 Folder 18 Coffman 40 years 1986 Box 1 Folder 19 Horace and Dott 45th Anniversary at Broadway Box 1 Folder 20 Coffman 50th Year at Broadway # 1 Box 1 Folder 21 Coffman 50th Year at Broadway # 2 Box 2 Folder 1 Early Broadway Photos of Members and Ministers (Some dated to the 1920's) Box 2 Folder 2 Photographs of Broadway Events, Broadway Staff, and One slide (1946-1954) Box 2 Folder 3 Construction of Broadway Church of Christ Building (Negatives and Prints) Box 2 Folder 4 Broadway Photos - Varying Dates Box 2 Folder 5 Broadway Photos - Varying Dates Box 2 Folder 6 Photo of Sue Johnson, Terry Brown, and F.W. Mattox Date Unknown Box 2 Folder 7 Photographs of Broadway Member and Events - Varying Dates Box 2 Folder 8 Photographs of Broadway Members - Varying Dates Box 2 Folder 9 Manhattan Church of Christ Photographs - Varying Dates Series 2 Maps and Charts Subseries Maps Box 3 Folder 1 Rand McNally Roadmaps Series 3 Scrapbooks and Scrapbook Materials Subseries Personal Scrapbooks Box 3 Folder 2 Info, Programs and Clippings for Norvel Young's Funeral Subseries Glynn Johnson Memorials Box 3 Folder 3 Glynn Johnson - Philos Article by Kay Flemming Box 3 Folder 4 Glynn Johnson - Gifts in Memory Box 3 Folder 5 Gifts in Memory of Glyn Johnson Subseries Broadway Box 3 Folder 5 Horace and Dott Coffman Day # 1 Box 3 Folder 6 Horace and Dott Coffman Day # 2 Box 3 Folder 7 Horace and Dott Coffman Day # 3 4 Box 3 Folder 8 Centennial Newsletters Box 3 Folder 9 Materials Relating to Broadway C of C Centennial (1991) Series 3 Diaries Minutes and Proceedings No Subseries Box 4 Broadway Church of Christ Church Family Planner Box 4 Folder 1 Lubbock Rotary Club 1948-1951 Box 4 Folder 2 Coliseum Meeting 1964 Box 4 Folder 3 Dinner Meeting August 21, 1964: Attendance, Reservations and Notes Box 4 Folder 4 Broadway Committee Documents - 1966 Box 4 Folder 5 Broadway Committee Documents - 1969 Box 4 Folder 6 Pulpit Committee Minutes - 1970 Box 4 Folder 7 Advertising Committee - September 15, 1971 Box 4 Folder 8 Broadway Committee Documents - 1971 Box 4 Folder 9 Jack Paul Meeting December 7th 1972 Box 4 Folder 10 Broadway Committee Documents 1974 Box 4 Folder 11 1976 Committees Box 4 Folder 12 Report from Elders Meeting February 8th, 1987 Box 4 Folder 13 1989 Broadway Staff Manual & Meeting Minutes Box 4 Folder 14 Memos, Minutes, etc 1989 Box 4 Folder 15 Horace Coffman 1994 Minister Self-Evaluation Box 4 Folder 16 Broadway Church of Christ Staff Birthday Box 4 Folder 17 Staff Meeting Reports Box 4 Folder 18 Elders Meeting Notes and Correspondence (varying dates) Series 4 Legal Documents Subseries Certificates and Quotes Box 5 Folder 1 Broadway Insurance Needs and Quotes for Building January and February 1969 Box 5 Folder 2 Broadway Property Exemption Request 1971 Box 5 Folder 3 Cities Service Oil Company Contract, January 1975 Box 5 Folder 4 Tax Exemption Certificate Box 5 Folder 5 Union Central Life Insurance Co.