Guide to the Elder Family Papers

Descriptive Summary

Title

Elder Family Papers

Inclusive Dates

circa 1920-1979

Call Number

RG 189

Creator(s)

Elder family.

Quantity

0.50 cubic feet (1 box)

Restrictions on Access

Collection open for research

Digital Content

To browse this collection's digitized content visit Pearl.

Materials marked "Digital" in the Collection Inventory may not have been digitized in their entirety.

Repository

Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147-1516 USA

Biographical Note / Administrative History

Biographical Note

John Elder (1894-1983) and Ruth Roche Elder (1899-1992) were appointed by the Board of Foreign Missions to the East Persia Mission in 1921 and arrived on the field in 1923. Throughout their 42 years of service, they were engaged in evangelistic missionary work, initially in Kermanshah (1923-1934), the Hamadan (1934-1937) and finally in Tehran (1938-1964). Dr. Elder served as the pastor of the Persian speaking congregations in each city. In 1935, he was Moderator of the newly formed Eastern Presbytery of Iran and was elected Moderator of the Synod of Iran in 1947 and 1960. In addition to numerous other activities, Dr. Elder wrote diverse articles, pamphlets and books that were published in both English and Persian. The Elders retired from missionary service in 1964.

Collection Overview

This collection consists mainly of John and Ruth Elders's correspondence, reports, photographs and other miscellaneous items, 1925-1979. The correspondence represents "home letters" and annual newsletters that are primarily outgoing. The reports include annual missionary labor reports for both John and Ruth Elder. The photos, most of which are identified, reflect the Elder's missionary service in Persia.

Organization and Arrangement

SERIES I: John Elder, 1925-1979 (Box 1 Folders 2-4)

SERIES II: Ruth Roche Elder, 1927-1960 (Box 1 Folders 5-6)

SERIES III: Miscellany, circa 1920s-1970s (Box 1 Folders 7-8)

SERIES IV: Photographs, circa 1920s-1970s (Box 1 Folders 9-15)

Alternative Formats

To browse this collection's digitized content visit Pearl.

Materials marked "Digital" in the Collection Inventory may not have been digitized in their entirety.

Related Material

Administrative Information

Processing Information

Additional photographic material was received in September 1987 and to accommodate that addition the photographic series was revised.

Collection processed and finding aid prepared: 1984
Frederick J. Heuser, Archivist.

Finding aid revised: September 1987
Kristin L. Gleeson, Assistant Archivist.

Catalog Headings

The following headings have been used to index the description of this collection in the society’s electronic catalog.

Personal Name Subject

Elder, John, 1894-1981.

Elder, Ruth Roche, 1899-1992.

Elder family.

Corporate Subject

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. East Persia Mission.

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Persia Mission.

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Iran Mission.

United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Iran Mission.

Topical Subject

Missionaries--Iran.

Women missionaries--Iran.

Missions--Iran.

Presbyterian Church--Missions--Iran.

Geographic Subject

Iran--Missions.

Kirmānshāh (Kirmānshāh, Iran)--Church history.

Hamadān (Iran)--Church history.

Tehran (Iran)--Church history.

Genre-form

Correspondence. aat

Newsletters. aat

Photographs. aat

Reports. aat

Slides (photographs) aat

Clippings (information artifacts) aat

Personal Added Name

Elder, John, 1894-1981.

Elder, Ruth Roche, 1899-1992.

Corporate Added Name

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Board of Foreign Missions.

United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations.

Collection Inventory

Box	Folder	Description	Alternative Formats

1	1	Finding Aid to Record Group 189

		SERIES I: John Elder, 1925-1979

1	2	Correspondence/reports, 1925-1979
1	3	Newsletters, 1948-1963
1	4	Newsletters, 1955-1958

		SERIES II: Ruth Elder, 1927-1960

1	5	Correspondence, 1942-1957
1	6	Reports, 1927-1960

		SERIES III: Miscellany, circa 1920s-1970s

1	7	Clippings, 1950s?
1	8	Miscellaneous items, circa 1920s-1970s

		SERIES IV: Photographs, circa 1920s-1970s

1	9	Mission/Workers Conferences, 1923-1935	Digital
1	10	Mission/Workers Conferences, 1937-1960
1	11	Interchurch Christian Literature Bldg. & Staff, 1938-1963
1	12	Harsin/Palestine, 1920s-1970s, 1923
1	13	Kermanshah/Hamadan/Tehran, 1920s-1970s
1	14	Iran Mission Slides, 1932, 1951-1952, 1958
1	15	Miscellaneous Photos, 1920s-1970s

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Guide to the Elder Family Papers

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