Hist. Mss. 1-85
Elizabeth
Showalter Collection
Papers, ca. 1933-94
5 Boxes (4 Large, 1 Oversize)
Restricted
(Certain files are restricted as marked)
Scope and Content
Teacher, Administrator,
Writer/Editor, Aunt to hundreds
Biographical
Sketch
1907
Born January 11 in Broadway, Virginia, 12th child
of George Branner and Elizabeth Ellen
(Blosser) Showalter.
1924-28 Attended and graduated from Eastern
Mennonite School
1920’s, Taught one and two room schools in the
United States as well as summer bible schools
30's, 40’s
1935 Graduate with B.S.
in Education from Harrisonburg State Teachers College: Major: English;
Minor: Art and
Geography
1940’s Editor for various Christian
literature, also wrote numerous Sunday School lessons and
helped to
develop S.S. curriculum
1960 Taught three months in
Africa and traveled a vast expanse of
Europe
1961 Started Books Abroad in
Scottdale, Pennsylvania
1961-63 Taught freshman English at Goshen College
1965 Received a M.A. in
Journalism from Syracuse University
1967-69 Taught at Eastern Mennonite College in the English
Department
1969 Retired
Source: From the collection itself, see Box 4 (Large) folder 4/1
entitled “Personal History / Pictures”
Administrative Information
These papers were deposited into the Archives
by Elizabeth Showalter, Harrisonburg, Virginia, in 1991-92, and in 1996.
A box inventory of this collection was completed by
Dennis Stoesz in 1996 and this was posted on the internet by Monica
Zimmerman in 2001. These papers were further processed and organized by
Ann Wenger, Goshen College, 1994-96. The materials have been
transferred into acid-free files and boxes, and have been organized
chronologically. Certain sections of the files have been marked
restricted, as indicated. An inventory of individual file folders was
completed by Krissy Moehling in 2004.
Inventory Listing
Box 1 (Large)
1/1 Autobiography
1/2 Photographs
1/3 Yake, C. F., Correspondence,1953
(Restricted)
Argye
Briggs, Correspondence, 1957-74 (Restricted)
1/4 Correspondence, 1987 (Elaine Sommers
Rich), 1992 (Elizabeth Showalter), regarding restrictions and
evaluation of correspondence between Showalter and Briggs (Restricted)
1/5 Argye Briggs Correspondence, 1957
(Restricted)
1/6 Correspondence, 1958
(January-September) (Restricted)
1/7 Correspondence, 1958 (October)
(Restricted)
1/8 Correspondence, 1958 (November)
(Restricted)
1/9 Correspondence, 1958 (December)
(Restricted)
1/10 Correspondence, 1959 (January) (Restricted)
1/11 Correspondence, 1959 (February) (Restricted)
1/12 Correspondence, 1959 (March-December)
(Restricted)
1/13 Correspondence, 1960-1965 (Restricted)
1/14 Correspondence, 1970-1975 (Restricted)
1/15 Various Correspondence, Praise/Prayer Journal
1956-1957 Scottdale, Statistics on entering College Freshman 1967,
Spiritual Autobiography written in 1966 (Showalter) (Restricted)
Personal
Papers (Continued)
1/16 Diaries 1948-1951, 1960
1/17 Notebook 1959-1963
1/18 Datebook 1960-1970
1/19 Diaries 1967-1969
1/20 Scrapbook
1/21 The Reverie (IMS Annual) 1948
1/22 The Reverie (IMS Annual) 1949
1/23 The Reverie (IMS Annual) 1950
1/24 The Reverie (IMS Annual) 1952
1/25 English Thesis: “Bird Study as a Hobby” December
13, 1934 (Showalter)
1/26 M. A. Thesis: “The Development of a Ladder of
Literacy based on the Communication of Information Relevant to the
Predisposition of a Specific Group” completed for an M.A. in
Journalism, Syracuse University, January, 1965 (Showalter)
1/27 Zion Mennonite Church Directory, 1974. Article
written by Showalter, “Our History: The Original Zion Church, 1885-1941”
1/28 Laubach Literacy Reports (Newsletters with
articles, editing by Showalter, circa 1965)
1/29 News for You,1969, 1972, published by
Laubach Literacy, articles written by Showalter
1/30 Lagos Scrapbook 1964, Syracuse University
(Showalter)
1/31 Eastern Mennonite School Journal,1928
1/32 Notebook, 1925
1/33 Literacy articles
1/34 English materials
1/35 “To Whom it may Concern” Form letters, 1947-1963
1/36 “To Whom it may Concern” Correspondence,
1951-1960 (Showalter) collected by Betty Springer
Box 2
(Large)
2/1
Published Stories and Articles, 1947-1965
2/2 Published Stories and Articles
continued, 1956-1984
2/3 Published Stories and Articles
continued
2/4 Personal Correspondence (some letters
touch on Charismatic practices)
2/5 Personal Correspondence, 1956-1978
2/6 Personal Documents (passport, airline
tickets, correspondence regarding her stay
in Africa), Diaries, 1960
2/7 Correspondence with Elaine Rich, 1964
2/8 Africa (letters, published bulletins,
lessons from her students), 1960
2/9 Haiti Correspondence, 1968 (Literacy
Work)
2/10 Haiti (fact sheets, history and nature of,
literature situation, correspondence), 1968
2/11 MPH Correspondence, 1948-1957
2/12 The Christian Writer, (Showalter, ed.), 1955-1961
2/13 Correspondence regarding Nigeria, Biafran War,
1960’s
2/14 Missionary Survey MPH
2/15 Summer Bibleschool “Concerning Juniors and
Intermediates…” 1950’s
2/16 Summer 1962 Correspondence regarding African
forms of writing, Syracuse
University
2/17 Syracuse Assignments, 1964-1972
2/18 Rejection Slips regarding various writings,
1970-1971
2/19 English for Students-Correspondence, EMC
1967-1969
2/20 English Literacy Program for Foreign Students
(course description, outlines,
evaluations, etc.), EMC 1967-1968
2/21 Teaching Materials, EMC 1967-1969
2/22 Correspondence with Gladys Bender-Books Abroad,
1978
2/23 Correspondence regarding Books Abroad, 1972-1991
2/24 Information on Books Abroad, Zion Mennonite
Church congregational minutes,
1979
2/25 National Affiliation for Literacy Advance
correspondence, 1974,1975
2/26 Volunteers in Technical Assistance
correspondence, 1982-1983
2/27 Addresses
2/28 “Dear Girls…” correspondence, 1955-1957
2/29 Correspondence, April 10, 1961-June 3, 1963
2/30 Correspondence, World Book Encyclopedia, 1981
2/31 Correspondence
2/32 Books Abroad correspondence and bulletins,
1971-1990
2/33 Books Abroad correspondence, 1980-1982
2/34 Various Article Clippings (Showalter)
2/35 Miscellaneous papers, Mennonite Writers’
Conference, 1951
2/36 Undated correspondence
Box 3
(Oversize)
Scrapbook of Showalter's writings, ca.
1933-48
Box 4 (Large)
4/1
Personal History/Pictures
4/2 Correspondence (regarding her stay in
Nigeria as well as her teaching at Goshen College)
4/3 Eastern Mission Board, MCC and Books
Abroad Correspondence (1970’s)
4/4 Books Abroad Correspondence 1963-85
4/5 Books Abroad Correspondence continued
4/6 Articles about Books Abroad
4/7 Names and addresses of those who are
in need of books (Nigeria)
4/8 Books Abroad Correspondence (airmail
from various countries re: book needs)
4/9 Books Abroad Correspondence (to Mary
Bender coordinator re: book needs and donations)
4/10 Books Abroad Correspondence (regarding aid and
book donations)
4/11 Correspondence with foreign students (including
letters from Showalter’s host daughter)
4/12 Correspondence regarding Nigeria
4/13 Correspondence from Germany, Africa, Khartaum,
England, Norway and the United States
4/14 Correspondence regarding Tanzania and the war in
Nigeria
4/15 Correspondence with Hannah O. Ita, 1969-91
4/16 Correspondence with Benjamin M. Masilo and
Rethabile Masilo, 1960-91
4/17 Correspondence with Liberia,1971-82
4/18 Correspondence from Africa and Europe, 1960
4/19 Compositions from African students:
MASS-Tanzania and Bedeno Nazareth-Ethiopia, 1960. Also MARA STAR,
Musoma Alliance Secondary School yearbook, 1964
4/20 Correspondence regarding tour in East and West
Africa, 1960
4/21 Correspondence concerning Ghana and Nigeria and
Early Books Abroad, 1961
4/22 Correspondence concerning Nigeria, 1963
4/23 Letters, 1966
4/24 Personal letters and correspondence re: Nigeria,
1966
4/25 Letters from Africa: Liberia and Nigeria, 1966
4/25 Letters from Africa continued, Nigeria 1966-1967
4/26 Personal letters, EMC and Goshen College, 1967
4/27 Personal letters, 1964-1975
4/28 Correspondence concerning Kitwe, N. Rhodesia,
Africa, 1960-1962
4/29 Personal letters and correspondence, Nigeria,
1963-1976 (Restricted Access)
4/30 Correspondence with various organizations
4/31 Correspondence with Indonesia, 1973-74
.
Box 5 (Large)
5/1
Personal letters, 1960-1971
5/2 Correspondence from Syracuse,
Indiana, 1964
5/3 Unsorted correspondence
5/4 Letters, church bulletins, and
articles written by and about Elizabeth
Showalter
5/5 Letters and correspondence re: Books
Abroad book needs and donations, 1961-62
5/6 Correspondence with Eastern Mennonite
College and the office of the president, 1966, 1969
5/7 Various letters and Sunday School
curriculum written by E. Showatler
5/8 Letters, 1952-1983
5/9 Miscellaneous letters
5/10 Miscellaneous personal letters, 1960-67
5/11 Correspondence with Koinonia Foundation,
1967-1970
5/12 Personal correspondence with Laubach Literary
International, 1965-76
5/13 Personal correspondence with the Laubach's
continued,
5/14 Words of Cheer correspondence and letters,
1949-57
5/15 Words of Cheer correspondence and letters
continued, 1951-56
5/16 Words of Cheer correspondence and letters
continued, 1957-75
5/17 Mennonite Board of Missions editing
5/18 Payments for writings
5/19 Correspondence re: payment for Showalter's
various writings and editings
5/20 Correspondence re: payment for Showalter's
various writings and editings continued
5/21 Letters from Showalter's four week stay in
Tanganyika, 1960 and other various correspondence
5/22 Letters to and from various missionary friends
and acquaintances
July 31, 2004/ Update by Krissy Moehling
File: "HM1-085.doc"
Mennonite Church USA Archives-Goshen, 1700 S. Main St., Goshen, IN 46526
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