Document Type
Finding Aid
Publication Date
11-9-2018
Inclusive Dates--Span
1942-2009
Inclusive Dates--Bulk
1962-1972
Scope and Content Note
This collection includes Gunselman’s correspondence (1962-1972), which provides unique insight into the struggles and successes of post-WWII Churches of Christ mission work. For example, the correspondence captures issues with fundraising, disagreements with the non-institutional Churches of Christ, and issues with other missionaries. The correspondence also captures the Filipino voice, as many Filipino preachers and ministers wrote to Gunselman with requests, questions, or complaints about his teaching. The collection also provides a broader context for post-WWII Churches of Christ mission work in the Philippines. There are meeting minutes, financial information, and student records from the Philippine Bible College in Quezon City (1965-1972), and a number of bulletins and newsletters concerning Churches of Christ mission work in the Philippines (1963-1972). Additionally, the collection includes research and edited drafts of materials related to Gunselman’s Ed.D. dissertation, “Status of the Ten Evangelical Bible Colleges in the Philippines with a Proposed Program for their Improvement” (1971).
Biographical Note
William Douglass Gunselman was born on March 9, 1920, in Shelbyville, TN. He received a B.A. from Harding College (Searcy, AR) in 1943, an M.A. from Peabody College for Teachers (Nashville, TN) in 1944, and an Ed.D. from Manuel L. Quezon University (Quezon City, Philippines) in 1971. Gunselman worked with many churches and educational institutions during his life. He helped start Churches of Christ in Florida, North Carolina, and New Mexico. He also created the Carolina Bible Camp, Central Florida Bible Camp, the Philippine Bible Camp, and assisted in the creation of Florida Bible Camp. Additionally, he worked with Churches of Christ in Arkansas, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina, and the Philippines. Gunselman served as an Executive for the Boy Scouts in Florida from 1948-1956, Director of the Reading Lab at Rollins College (Winter Park, FL) from 1957-1961, part-time instructor at Lake-Sumter Junior College (Leesburg, FL) in 1962, Vice President of the Christian Home and Bible School (Mount Dora, FL) from 1962-1963, professor at Northeastern Institute of Christian Education (Villanova, PA) from 1963-1964, and as a Churches of Christ missionary in the Philippines (1964-1971). While in the Philippines, Gunselman was instrumental in consolidating the educational efforts of the Churches of Christ in Manila into one school. Gunselman started the Philippine Bible College of Quezon City, and served as its director from 1965-1971. He led a fundraising effort in order to acquire land for the school and church in Quezon City. Gunselman returned to the U.S. near the end of 1971 due to frustrations with the mission work, and he died on August 29, 1972, due to a heart attack.
Donor Note
Charline F. Gunselman
Arrangement
The correspondence has been organized by person, church, and organization in chronological order. The material related to the Philippine Bible College in Quezon City has been placed together by topic, and the student records organized by person. Gunselman’s dissertation research has been organized by school, and the bulletins and mission newsletters have organized by title and placed in chronological order.
Content List
I. Correspondence II. Philippine Bible College of Quezon City III. Dissertation Materials IV. Bulletins, Newsletters, and Programs V. Awards VI. Unorganized Papers - Mainly notes in shorthand See finding aid for more details.
Language
ENGLISH, TAGALOG
Extent of Collection
9.3 linear feet (7 boxes)
Manuscript Number
Center for Restoration Studies Manuscript #389
Physical Location
Center for Restoration Studies
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], File or Folder Name, William Douglass & Charline F. Gunselman Papers, 1942-2009 Center for Restoration Studies MS #389. Milliken Special Collections, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.
Processing Status
Processed
Finding Aid created by
Brady Cox
Subjects--Personal Names
Gunselman, William Douglass (1920-1972)
Comments
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