Unity Library and Archives Myrtle Fillmore Papers 3033 Summary Description The papers of Myrtle Fillmore document primarily her work as correspondent for the Silent Unity Department of Unity School of Christianity. Myrtle Fillmore and her husband, Charles S. Fillmore, co-founded Unity School of Christianity, a New Thought, Christian, healing ministry based on affirmative prayer. Most of the collection consists of incoming prayer request letters and typewritten carbon copies of Fillmore's outgoing correspondence between January 1928 and October 1931. They include some handwritten postscripts and drafts of letters. A much smaller portion of the collection contains incoming prayer request letters and typewritten carbon copies of Fillmore's outgoing correspondence between 1890 and 1927. Of particular interest is a series of lessons from 1890 relating to the nature of God and humanity. Fillmore delivered some. Others may be notes from lectures, but all reveal the Christian Science influence of Emma Curtis Hopkins, a teacher of the Fillmores. A small assortment of notes and papers is related to Wee Wisdom, the children’s magazine founded and edited by Myrtle Fillmore. Personal correspondence and ephemera comprise the remainder of the collection dating from 1853. Quantity: 9 linear feet Donor: Probably Lowell Fillmore and the Silent Unity Department, c. 1936 Access: The collection is open with this note of caution regarding the Silent Unity Department File: researchers should note that Silent Unity correspondence was considered confidential between 1928 and 1931, as is current Silent Unity correspondence. Confidentiality was emphasized in each Silent Unity column in Unity magazine during the period. The Silent Unity Department File was likely saved only because it includes examples of Myrtle Fillmore’s writing. Although most of the correspondents are no longer living, researchers are requested to use discretion regarding the use of personal portions of incoming and outgoing correspondence. Copyright Copyright interests and literary property rights relative to the papers of Myrtle Page Fillmore belong to Unity School of Christianity. Copies of material may be obtained for personal use only. Any other reproduction or publication of materials is not allowed without the expressed permission of Unity School of Christianity. Researchers are directed to secure permission to publish beyond fair use when copying and citing sources to materials obtained from the Archives' holdings. Processing Initial processing by David W. Jackson, Assistant Archivist and Fern I. Hunt, volunteer (1996); Further processing by Eric Eugene Page, Assistant Archivist and Mary Vincent, volunteer (1996 - 1999); Collection description and research by Eric Eugene Page (1999). Microfilming of the collection was completed in 2001 under the direction of Carolyn Stewart and Walter LeConte. Some sections of the collection – letter fragments, books, and photographs – were not filmed. 2 THE PAPERS OF MYRTLE FILLMORE Table of Contents Myrtle Page Fillmore Timeline……………………………………………………………………4 Scope and Content Note…………………………………………………………………………..9 Christian Science Lessons Section Description…………………………………………………..10 Wee Wisdom Department Section Description………. ……………………………………….11 Silent Unity Department Section Description...………………………………………………….12 Personal and Posthumous Files Section Description…………………………………………..18 Archivist’s Notes…………………………………………………………………………………20 The Papers of Myrtle Fillmore Inventory ………………………………………………………..22 Christian Science Lessons (folders 1-20) ………………………………………..22 Wee Wisdom Department (folders 21-28)...…… ……………………………..22 Silent Unity Department (folders 29-237)… ……………………………………23 Personal and Posthumous Files (folders 238-366)…………………………….30 Items Received after Microfilming Project (folders 367-374)...…………….…35 3 MYRTLE PAGE FILLMORE TIMELINE 1845 AUG 06 Mary Caroline Page born near Delaware (now Pagetown), Morrow County, Ohio; daughter of Marcus and Lucy (Wheeler) Page who used “Myrtle” as a nickname for their daughter 1866 Enrolled in the one year program at Oberlin College 1867 Graduated from the "Literary Course for Ladies" and received a teaching certificate 1868 Accepted a position in public school in Clinton, Henry County, Missouri (spent 13 years there except for the one year 1877 - 1878) 1877 Secured a position as a teacher in Denison, Texas and met Charles S. Fillmore, a clerk in the freight office of the M.K. & T. Railroad 1878 Left Texas to resume teaching; stayed with her brother in Clinton, Missouri 1881 MAR 29 Married to Charles S. Fillmore in Clinton, Missouri; they moved to Gunnison City, Colorado where they made their home for a season; moved to Pueblo, Colorado when mining boom broke; Charles, a notary public, started the real estate and insurance business "Charles Fillmore & Co." which was succeeded by "Small, Fillmore & Co." 1882 JAN 04 Son, Lowell Page Fillmore born in Pueblo, Colorado 1884 JUN 01 Son, Waldo Rickert Fillmore born in Pueblo, Colorado; broke up their home in Pueblo and spent the winter in Omaha, Nebraska 1885 Settled permanently in Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri; Charles spent his time in real estate "plunging" 1886 Learned "spiritual healing" ideas from lecture by Dr. E. B. Weeks; began blessing and praying with friends 1887 JUL Received a certificate after taking a course instruction in the principles of Christian Science from Joseph Adams, a Normal Class Graduate of the Massachusetts Metaphysical College in Boston, Massachusetts 1888 Myrtle healed of tubercular condition 1889 Christian Science Society study group started APR Modern Thought Publishing Company founded and located at 1 Journal Building; premier issue of Modern Thought magazine JUL 16 Son, John Royal Fillmore born AUG Modern Thought Publishing Company relocated to 32 Deardorff Building at the corner of 11th and Main Streets 1890 Society of Silent Help formed (name changed to the Society of Silent Unity; now called Silent Unity) Moved residence to 415 Landis Court OCT Moved headquarters to the Hall Building located at 820 Walnut 4 DEC 01 Delivered "Third Lesson in Christian Science" at the Christian Science Theological Seminary, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois DEC 10 Received an ordination certificate from the Christian Science Theological Seminary signed by Emma Curtis Hopkins, Annie E. Rix, and F.S. Vann Eps 1891 Moved residence to 4802 E. 6th Street NOV Thought Publishing Company succeeded by Unity Book Company 1892 Moved residence to 422 Cypress 1893 Moved residence to 424 Cypress Attended, with her husband Charles, the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago during the World’s Columbian Exposition AUG Unity begins publishing Wee Wisdom, a children’s magazine, with Myrtle Fillmore as editor 1894 Moved residence to 4213 E. 6th Street Unity Book Company moved to 537 Hall Building at 820 Walnut Street Unity publishes Wee Wisdom’s Way, a children’s book, by Myrtle Fillmore 1895 Moved residence to 4113 E. 6th Street Unity Book Company moved to 511 Hall Building Society of Silent Unity located at 510 Hall Building 1896 Moved residence to 4213 E. 6th Street Unity Book Company moved to 512 Hall Building 1898 Unity headquarters moved to a house at 1315 McGee Street 1901 Healing Revival engagement at Manitou, Colorado 1903 JUL 29 Unity Society of Practical Christianity incorporated 1905 SEP 01 Moved headquarters to 913-917 Tracy Avenue DEC 10 Received a Certificate of Membership from the Unity Society of Practical Christianity signed by Lowell Fillmore, Secretary 1906 AUG 31 Ordained by the Unity Society of Practical Christianity 1909 AUG Traveled alone to Manitou, Colorado to teach and visit friends 1910 APR Enumerated in the 1910 Federal Population Census with her husband, his mother, and three sons at 428 Elmwood Avenue 1914 Unity School of Christianity incorporated 1916 Administration Building built 5 1918 AUG 03 Declaration of Trust created, Unity School of Christianity Received a Certificate of Ordination from Unity School of Christianity 1919 AUG 04 Son, Rickert married Harriet Collins (by Charles S. Fillmore) First acreage purchased at Unity Farm, Lee's Summit, Jackson County, Missouri 1920 JAN 09 Enumerated in the 1920 Federal Population Census with her husband, his mother and sons, Lowell and Royal, at 438 Elmwood NOV 27 son, Royal married Frances Sleater in New Jersey; David Walter Pye was Royal's best man (or 9 DEC) Unity Inn began 1921 JAN 21 Grandson, Charles Rickert Fillmore born (son of Rickert/Harriet) Charles S. Fillmore has an engagement in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois 1921 OCT 01 Granddaughter, Myrtle Innocencia "Frances" Fillmore born (daughter of Royal/Frances; raised by her Uncle, Lowell Fillmore) Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of Unity School of Christianity 1922 WOQ first radio broadcast DEC Imelda O. Shanklin succeeds Myrtle Fillmore as editor of Wee Wisdom magazine 1923 SEP 09 Son, Royal made his transition in Battle Creek, Calhoun County, Minnesota 1925 OCT 21 Granddaughter, Rosemary Fillmore born (daughter of Rickert/Harriet) 1926 FEB 14 Son, Lowell, married Alice Lee (by Charles S. Fillmore) Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of Unity School of Christianity 1929 MAY 10 Silent Unity Department moved temporarily to Unity Farm 1930 FEB Jane Palmer succeeded Imelda O. Shanklin as editor of Wee Wisdom JUL 11 Due to economic considerations the Silent Unity Department returns to 917 Tracy Avenue 1931 MAR 12 Mother-in-law, Mary G. Fillmore made her transition at Unity Farm, Jackson County, Missouri