Sims, Earle D. Papers

File

Identifier: RG-1624

Staff Only

Dates

Creation: 1919-1928

Language of Materials

All materials within this collection are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research. Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and copyright holder. Staff may refuse copying of fragile or at-risk materials.

Materials may be accessed by request at the American Baptist Historical Society. For more information on accessing collections or obtaining copies, visit http://abhsarchives.org.

Biographical / Historical

Earle Sims, Church Invigorator

His reports are well organized, detailed, and include 'before' and' after' photos. The Rev. Earle D. Sims, who served from 1910-1941 as a 'church invigorator' for the American Baptist Home Mission Society, was energized by his work.

Sims did it all; renovating churches and parsonages, holding revivals, working with congregations on a stewardship campaign so they could raise enough money to support a pastor. His wife, Vivia, painted scenes of the Jordan River in baptisteries. And he did it in months, staying usually only three to nine months, before moving on.

Known as "the minister with a tool chest," this former missionary to China and state evangelist traveled from Illinois to California, Iowa to Washington helping communities whose Baptist congregations were small, poor, struggling, or had abandoned its building for years, like in the case of the Dewitt, Iowa church, pictured here, which hadn't been used for 12 years. His industry produced news, with headlines in Portland, OR announcing "From Shingles to Sermons" and "From Broadcloth to Blue Denim".

Taken from PrimarySource, October 2006

Extent

.2 Linear Feet (15 folders)

Additional Description

File Plan

Reports to ABHMS-text with many photographs

History of Early Baptists Madison County and Edwardsville, Illinois 1928; Sacramento California Shiloh BC; Saguache Colorado Revival meetings 1919; Dewitt Iowa FBC 1922; Edwardsville Illinois FBC history; Halsey Michigan FBC 1926; International Falls Minnesota FBC 1925 including parsonage; Fairmount North Dakota parsonage 1923; Portland Oregon Italian mission 1921; Clear Lake South Dakota FBC and Elk Point FBC; Wessington Springs South Dakota FBC and Ebenezer German BC 1923; Concrete Washington – Skagit Valley Labors; Kelso Washington FBC 1920; Lyman Washington FBC; photograph and note with no identification