Historical Committee

Hist Mss 1-117
Jacob Andrews, 1867-1936, and Lina Zook Ressler,1869-1948, Collection
Papers, 1887-1932
18 boxes (13 green, 5 long green)

Biographical Sketch

J. A. Ressler (1867-1936) was a pioneer Mennonite missionary serving in India from 1899 to 1908. He worked at the Mennonite Publishing House from 1911 to 1936 as an editor of the Gospel Herald. He also served as an evangelist, Bible instructor, a bishop in the Southwestern Pennsylvania Conference, a member of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Mission Board, and as a member of many General Conference committees.

Lina Zook Ressler (1869-1848) was a worker in the Chicago Mennonite Mission, a missionary in India 1903-1908, and a writer and editor of materials especially for children's papers.

Administrative Information

Collection processed by Sharon Klingelsmith, September 19, 1977. Update by Monica Zimmerman, July 26, 2001. Previously typed into computer and posted on web. Inventory listing typed by Helen Hostetler, August 2, 2005. Web update by Israel Ditzler, March 9, 2006.

Series Headings

Box Listing

Correspondence Boxes 1-9

This includes 1 box of Lina's correspondence from 1887-1903 and 2 boxes of J. A.'s from 1901-1910. These are listed below. Boxes 4-8 contain the correspondence of both arranged chronologically from 1919-1937. Box 9 contains 1 folder of travel correspondence and 2 folders of undated and/or unsigned correspondence.

Box 1 (Green)

Lina Zook Correspondence

• 1887-1898 from various friends and relatives
• 1880-90 D. H. Kurtz
• 1894 Lina to Anna Yoder
• 1897-98 while at Chicago Home Mission
• 1900-1901
• 1902 from J. A. Ressler
• 1903 from J. A. Ressler

Box 2 (Green)

J. A. Ressler Correspondence

• 1901-1902, mostly with Lina, also with Board
• 1902-Jan. 1903, Lina Zook
• Feb.-May 1903 Lina Zook

Box 3 (Green)

J. A. Ressler Correspondence (Continued)

• 1902-1903 Mennonite Evangelizing and Benevolent Board
• 1903-1904, MBMC
• 1905-1907, MBMC
• 1904-1908, D. H. Bender
• 1902-1910, General

Boxes 4-8 (Green)

Correspondence of both arranged chronologically from 1909-1937

Box 9 (Long Green)

• Travel correspondence (1 folder)
• Undated and/or unsigned correspondence (2 folders)
• Lina's journal while at the Chicago Home Mission, 1897-99
• Lina 1906 diary

Box 10 (Long Green)

Diaries for the following years:

• 1892-1901
• 1903-1925
• 1928-1931
• 1934
• 1935

Box 11 (Long Green)

Articles

• Manuscript of India Story
• Articles
• Articles, 1902-1907
• Articles for Church papers
• Articles and outlines
• Poems, stories, essays
• India Mission Materials
• India Mission Materials
• J. A. Ressler documents

Box 12 (Long Green)

Educational Materials

• S. S. Normal Outlines
• School Notebooks
• Course outlines and teaching aids
• Class record books
• Teacher's certificates
• Braille system materials
• Lina Zook Elkhart Institute Records, 1901

Boxes 13-15

Miscellaneous

Box 13 (Green)

Various notebooks:

• A beekeeping record
• An account book
• A book of minutes of the Committee on the Workers Manual
• 9 notebooks of sermon notes
• 7 miscellaneous small notebooks

Box 14 (Green)

• Biographical materials
• Conference reports
• Goshen college documents
• Home Mission Membership certificate
• India materials, misc.
• Johnstown Bible School - Constitution
• Masontown Mennonite Church - Constitution
• MBM - Constitution
• MGC - records and reports
• MPB - Constitution
• Mission Study Course materials
• Passport
• Programs, 1908-1935
• Scottdale Mennonite Church problems
• Sermon outlines
• Sewing Circle plan
• Southwestern PA Conference - reports, Constitution, etc.

Box 15 (Green)

• The Beautitudes by J. A. Ressler
• Letter from Mrs. Amos Steffen, June 14, 1948
• Misc. booklets, clippings
• Papers found in books of J. A. Ressler
• Papers found in book probably belonging to Ruth Ressler
• Bible, annotated
• Ministers manual
• Two miscellaneous books
• Gravestone Photos - Jacob & Lina Z. Ressler

Box 16 (Green)

Business Records

• Editor's chart
• Business forms and financial statements
• Financial records
• Financial records
• Legal Agreements

Box 17 (Green)

Correspondence, Miscellaneous

• Lina Zook Ressler correspondence, letters from her, 1888-1892
• Lina Zook Ressler correspondence, from Chicago Mission to her family, 1896-99
• Lina Zook Ressler correspondence, letters to Lina, 1897-99
• Lina Zook Ressler correspondence. 1893-1913
• Lina Zook Ressler correspondence, to family on way to India, 1903
• Lina Zook Ressler correspondence, 1925-1929
• Lina Zook Ressler correspondence, undated
• J. A. Ressler correspondence, 1902
• J. A. Ressler correspondence, 1904
• J. A. Ressler correspondence, 1919-11, regarding George Lambert
• J. A. Ressler correspondence. 1923-24
• J. A. Ressler correspondence, 1925
• J. A. Ressler correspondence. 1927-1932
• Bible Institute certificates
• Diary - church meetings
• Diary - notebook
• Miscellaneous
• Mission certificates
• J. A. Ressler - obituaries, memorials
• Sermons and Addresses record book
• First Pennsylvania State Normal School - Catalogue 1900-1901

Box 18 (Green)

Correspondence

• Correspondence from Lina
• Letters to Lina, 1889-1895
• Letters to Lina, 1897
• Letters to Lina, 1898
• Letters to Lina, 1899, and undated
• Letter fragments
• Miscellaneous correspondence
• Miscellaneous
• Notebook - Account of Chicago work, lecture notes
• Reminiscence of a motor trip - Joseph A. and Martha Ressler
• Book - Lammerweide Erzahlungen fur die Jugenb

Hist Mss 12-12

A quilt made for Lina and J. A. Ressler as a wedding gift just before they went to India as missionaries in 1903.

Name and Subject Tracings

March 9, 2006 / Web update by Israel Ditzer
August 2, 2005 / Updated by Helen Hostetler
April 30, 2004 / Reformatted by Kathryn Yoder 
July 26, 2001 / Update by Monica Zimmerman
Previously typed into computer and posted on web
September 19, 1977 / Processed by Sharon Klingelsmith

File "Hm1-117 Jacob A. and Lina Ressler.doc"
Mennonite Church USA Archives - Goshen, 1700 S. Main St., Goshen, IN 46526

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