Document Type

Finding Aid

Publication Date

5-20-2022

Inclusive Dates--Span

1935-1962

Inclusive Dates--Bulk

1951-1952

Scope and Content Note

Materials from the life and ministry of Paul Felix Edwards including correspondence, church materials, and biographical items from Edwards and his family. There is a series of items related to a nine-month international trip that the Edwards took in 1952. There are also two reels.

Biographical Note

The following biographical note is excerpted from the History of the Restoration Movement website page on Edwards:

“On October 10, the life of Paul F. Edwards, well-known gospel preacher, came to an end. Brother Edwards died of cancer after a six-month illness, during which he suffered intense pain much of the time. During his illness hundreds of Christian friends sent messages of encouragement and cheer, as well as unsolicited contributions to help defray the heavy expenses which were incurred in his long hospitalization. Few members of the church in modern times have had so many prayers offered on their behalf during periods of illness.

A funeral service for Brother Edwards was held on Sunday afternoon, October 11, at Central church of Christ in Miami, where he had been preaching during the last three years of his life. This service was conducted by the elders of Central Church. On the following Wednesday a second funeral service was conducted at the Hillsboro church of Christ in Nashville, with Athens Clay Pullias, Willard Collins and the writer speaking. Burial was in Woodlawn Memorial Park in Nashville.

Brother Edwards was born in Petersburg, Tenn., May 16, 1911, and was baptized by T. Q. Martin, in June, 1926. He began preaching in Goodlettsville, Tenn., in 1933. He attended David Lipscomb College for two years, and was graduated from Abilene Christian College in 1936. He later served as minister of churches in Orlando, Fla., Anniston, Ala., and Dearborn, Mich., before going to Central Church in Miami in 1950.

Brother Edwards had carried on an active program of radio preaching over the past fifteen years, making daily radio talks while he was in Anniston and Dearborn and weekly talks after going to Miami. In 1952, he and his wife made a two months' trip to Europe, Egypt, and the Bible lands, visiting members of the churches of Christ in many areas. He took numerous colored moving pictures and still slides which he showed frequently as Illustrated lectures before church groups. In January and February of this year he showed these outstanding colored pictures to thousands attending the annual lectureships at David Lipscomb College and Abilene Christian College.

On August 17, 1937, Brother Edwards was married to Miss Mildred Finley, the daughter of I. C. Finley, an elder of the Reid Avenue Church in Nashville. They had four sons, all of whom, along with Sister Edwards, survive: Clark, age fifteen, David, age thirteen, Donald, age nine, and Howard, age two. Brother Edwards is also survived by a sister, Mrs. Garnet Johnson, of Hendersonville, Tenn.; and two brothers, J. B. Edwards, of Minor Hill, Tenn., and J. H. Edwards, of Benton Harbor, Mich.”

History of the Restoration Movement website, Paul Felix Edwards, https://www.therestorationmovement.com/_states/tennessee/edwards.htm

Donor Note

Clint Holloway

Arrangement

The processors retained the original order as received as much as possible. The papers are arranged into five series:
Series I: Correspondence
Series II: Church materials
Series III: Travel print materials
Series IV: Biographical materials
Series V: Audio-visual materials

Content List

See PDF finding aid for inventory

Language

ENGLISH

Extent of Collection

3 linear feet (2 boxes)

Manuscript Number

Center for Restoration Studies Manuscripts #551

Physical Location

Center for Restoration Studies

Use Restrictions

Open to researchers. Contact Abilene Christian University Special Collections and Archives to make an appointment.

Processing Status

Processed

Finding Aid created by

Amanda Dietz and Mac Ice

Comments

Please contact us with questions about our holdings or to schedule a research visit.

Creative Commons License

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

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