Rees Odeil and Patti Mattox Bryant Papers, (1957-2007)

Creators

Rees Odeil Bryant
Patti Mattox Bryant

Document Type

Finding Aid

Publication Date

4-2-2019

Inclusive Dates--Span

1957-2007

Inclusive Dates--Bulk

1957-1984

Scope and Content Note

These papers document the Bryant’s involvement in missions in Nigeria through correspondence, newsletters, financial documents, and photographs. There are also board minutes and information about the African Christian Hospitals Foundation and other organizations the Bryants either founded or supported throughout Africa.

Biographical Note

Rees Odeil Bryant and Patti Mattox Bryant were missionaries in Nigeria from 1958-1967. Their involvement in Nigeria and other ministry continued long after they left the Nigerian mission field.

Rees Odeil Bryant was born to Emmett and Nell Bryant in 1930 in Memphis, Tennessee. Patti Mattox Bryant was born to F. W. and Mildred Mattox on 8 April 1933 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They both felt a call to world missions at an early age and met at Harding College in Searcy, Arkansas, and were married the day of graduation.

Rees was the first graduate of Mars Hill Bible School in Florence, Alabama and graduated from Harding College with Bachelors and Masters degrees. He earned another Masters degree and a doctorate from Fuller Theological Seminary.

After serving congregations in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Alabama the Bryant family arrived in Nigeria in early 1958 along with their two young children, Sara Jo and William. The Bryants quickly identified the need for healthcare and eventually started the Nigerian Christian Hospital near the Bible Training College. The couple had two other children, David and Rebecca, while serving as missionaries. The Bryant’s third tour of Nigeria ended in 1967 before the start of the Biafran Civil War. The couple continued to be involved with the Nigerian Christian Hospital Foundation which is now known as the International Health Care Foundation.

Rees taught at Lubbock Christian College, Pepperdine University, and Lincoln Christian College. Patti worked as a teacher and secretary and later in life went on to earn her Masters in Theology and Philosophy.

Donor Note

Patti Mattox Bryant

Arrangement

The materials have been kept in the order they were received and are arranged in three series: I. General Files, II. African Christian Hospitals Foundation, and III. Photographs.

Content List

Box 1
[First Folder] Finding Aid

Series I: General Files
1957
Tour 1, 1958
1959
Tour 2, 1960
1962
1963
Tour 3, 1964
“Conquest for Christ,” 1964-1965
Literary productions, 1964, 1967, 1977
1965
1966
1967
1968
Biafra newspaper reports, 1968
Biafra trip (Bryant-Massey), 1968-1969
Biafra trip (photographs), 1969
Biafra trip, 1969
Biafra trip: official papers, letters of introduction, etcetera, 1969
Biafra emergency fund
Contributions to Nigerian Christian Hospital, 1970-1973
Nashville Tennessean, 1970
atebooks, 1972-1974
Correspondence and newsletters, 1975-1979
1976
1977
1978

Box 2
1979
1980
1981
Teachers of Religious Knowledge, 1981
Financial records, 1981-1984
January-June 1982
July-December 1982
1983
Plateau state teaching, 1983-1984
1984
1987
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
Dr. Gilliland, 2000
2001
2007

Series II: African Christian Hospitals Foundation
African Christian Hospitals Foundation, binder 1, 1972-1981
African Christian Hospitals Foundation, binder 2 (1 of 2), 1973-1981
African Christian Hospitals Foundation, binder 2 (2 of 2), 1973-1981
African Christian Hospitals Foundation, binder 3 (1 of 2), 1976-1981
African Christian Hospitals Foundation, binder 3 (2 of 2), 1976-1981

Series III: Photographs
Photographs, (1 of 5)
Photographs, (2 of 5)
Photographs, (3 of 5)
Photographs, (4 of 5)
Photographs, (5 of 5)

Box 3, oversized materials
Financial ledgers, 1964-1965
Post war Nigerian letters, 1970-1978

Subjects

Churches of Christ -- History -- 20th century
Missions -- Churches of Christ
Nigeria
Medical missions
Nigerian Christian Hospital
Nigerian Christian Hospital Foundation
International Health Care Foundation

Language

ENGLISH

Extent of Collection

4 linear feet (3 boxes)

Manuscript Number

Center for Restoration Studies Manuscripts #486

Physical Location

Center for Restoration Studies

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], [file or folder name], Rees and Patti Mattox Bryant Papers, 1957-2007. Center for Restoration Studies MS #486. Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives, Brown Library. Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX.

Processing Status

Processed

Finding Aid created by

Amanda Dietz, Mac Ice

Description

Finding aid for the Rees Odeil and Patti Mattox Bryant Papers, (1957-2007).

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.