THE HISTORIOGRAPHER of

THE NATIONAL EPISCOPAL HISTORIANS AND ARCHIVISTS and

THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH published to promote the preserving

of church records and the writing of parochial and diocesan history

Spring 2011 Vol. XLIX No.2

Editor: Deborah B. Crall, Trinity Cathedral, 100 West Roosevelt Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003 TheHistoriographer@gmail.com

A Diocese, a Sovereign Nation and a Government: It's Whose Land?

Developing a land history is usually as straight­

forward as adding 2 + 2. But when the operands in­

elude a congregation, a diocese, a state government,

the federal government, a sovereign nation, treaties

and legislative modifications, the operation is more

like calculus than addition. This piece is not about

math (isn't that a relief), but is a story of the impor­

tance of record keeping in determining the answer to

the question, whose land is it.

Where it Began

The Episcopal Church's oldest Indian mission is with

the Oneida people. The Oneida were part of the Iro­

quois League, also known as the Five Nations, based

in what is now upstate New York, west of the Hudson

River and through the Finger Lakes region. As early as

1700, Anglican clergy, including missionaries from

the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, fol­

lowed on the heels of French Jesuits in ministering

among the Oneida.

The first Episcopal missionary in what would become

Wisconsin, was the famous (or perhaps, infamous)

Eleazer Williams. Williams was sent to the Oneida by

John Henry Hobart, third Bishop of New York, and

played a major role in their removal from land in New

York to land in Wisconsin. By 1 825, a migration of

the Oneida had begun through the Great Lakes to the

vicinity of Duck Creek, ten miles southwest of Green

Bay. This area had been selected due to its similarity

to land the Oneida left in New York. A log church

building was built for worship by the Episcopal, or

Christian party of Oneida, led by Williams.

Jackson Kemper performed his first official act as

Missionary Bishop of the Episcopal Church on this

land in 1 83 7: the consecration of a new church build­

ing. The first ordinations in what became Wisconsin

were held on this land in 1842. Those ordained: Wil­

liam Adams and James Lloyd Breck who helped estab­

lish Nashotah House Seminary.

Development of Ownership

Fifty-three acres of this land, originally claimed by the

Menomonee and Winnebago Indians, were set aside

by the United States in 183 8 with the Treaty of Buf­

falo Creek for an Episcopal Mission (see inset on page

4). While serving a religious function, this land was

held by the United States until an Act of Congress in

1909 transferred title by patent deed to the Trustees of

the Diocese of Fond du Lac. In the first century of the

mission's presence, the land was used for church

buildings, cemetery, parish hall, convent, farm, cream­

ery, hospital, and a day school.

The next century saw changes reflective of the altering

relationships among the church, the government and

the Oneida. The church's need for this land diminished

while the Oneida's grew. In the 1960's at their request,

the Diocese transferred twenty-five acres to the

Oneida Tribe for building housing. In the I 970's at

their request, five more acres were transferred for ath­

letic fields. In the I 990's, two acres and the Parish

Hall were transferred to the Tribe in exchange for their

commitment to restore the dilapidated Parish Hall, a

building often used for Oneida community activities.

Continued on page 2

NATIONAL EPISCOPAL HISTORIANS AND ARCHIVISTS

509 Yale Avenue Swarthmore, PA 19081

Phone/Fax 610-544-1886 E-mail: nehahqs@aol.com

www. episcopal historians. org

The Rev. Christopher M. Agnew, President 12433 Richards Ride King George, VA 22485 540-775-6245

Ms. Susan Witt, Vice-President 3 I Central A venue

Hamburg, NY 14075 716-881-0660

Ms. Elizabeth Allison, Secretary 18 First Street Vergennes, VT 05491 802-877-3895

Ms. Sarah Hockings, Treasurer 200 Library Place Princeton, NJ 08540 609-921-6284

The Rev. Philip Ayers 3232 NE 12th Avenue Portland, OR 97212 503-281-9610

Ms. Susan Rehkopf Diocese of Missouri

1210 Locust Street St. Louis, MO 63103 314-231-1220

The Rev. Bindy Snyder 539 Cherry Road Memphis, TN 38117 901-682-0438

Ms. Barbara S. Turner 5119 Horseshoe Trai I Dallas, TX 75209-3324 214-366-4436

Ms. Mamre Marsh Wilson 302 Moore Street Beaufort, NC 28516 252-728-5442

Mr. Mark J. Duffy, Canonical Archivist & Director of The Archives of the Episcopal Church 606 Rathervue Place P.O. Box 2247 Austin, TX 78768 512-472-6816

HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Ms. Susan Ann Johnson, Director of Operations PO Box 1749

Harlingen, TX 78551 Phone: 866-989-5851

Fax: 956-412-8780 E-mail: administrator@hsec.us

www.hsec.us

The Rev. Dr. Roberi W. Prichard, President 3737 Seminary Road Alexandria, VA 22304 703-461-1737

The Rt. Rev. Carol Gallagher, !st Vice-President 288 Harrison Avenue Harrison, NY I 0528 914-835-4716

Prof. J. Michael Utzinger, Secretary 842 Graham Hall Hampden-Sydney College Hampden-Sydney, VA 23943 434-223-6313

Mr. George DeFilippi, Treasurer 3417 Barger Drive Falls Church, VA 22044 703-414-5302

Dr. Edward Bond, Editor, An­glican and Episcopal History 902 State Street Natchez, MS 39120 601-445-9366

The Rev. Dr. Alfred Moss, Cl�irman, African American Historical Collection Committee i".soo N. Lancaster Street Arlington, VA 22205 301-405-43 17

The Rev. Canon J. Robert Wright, Historiographer of the Episcopal Church & St Mark's Professor of Ecclesiastical His­tory, General Theological Semi­nary 175 Ninth Ave New York, NY 10011 212-741-3544

2

Whose Land?, continued from page 1

As the s aying goes, never assume

In 2009 the Oneida Tribe sought funding from the

State of Wisconsin to develop a recreational trail con­

necting the two shores of Duck Creek for pedestrian

traffic and bikers. A state highway spanned the creek,

but was designed only for automobile traffic. In doing

their due diligence, they were surprised to discover

that the Tribe did not hold title to five acres of adja­

cent land that was at the core of the project. For over

four decades, the Tribe believed these five acres had

been part of the housing transfer, and had even built a

lagoon and well on the site (both since abandoned).

The land records were clear: the deed registered with

the county four decades earlier did not include this

"Duck Creek Semi-Circle. " Its title remained with the

Diocese. Because there was a need, the Tribe ap­

proached the Diocese as they had in the past with the

request to acquire the land. The Diocese was also un­

aware that this was the situation.

What to Do?

To begin consideration of this request, the Diocese had

to determine what had taken place forty years earlier.

The Trustees charged the Diocesan Archivist to re­

search the records held in the repository regarding this

Duck Creek Semi-Circle.

The first question was simple: did the Diocese legally

hold title to this land? Establishing title was complex

because of various treaties and changes in federal land

policies relating to Indians over almost 200 years. Due

to the diligence of many bishops, missionaries, dioce­

san staff and volunteers who recorded and maintained

an archival record for over a century, it was clearly

determined that the Diocese held title to the Duck

Creek Semi-Circle. Continued on page 3

For information on Book Reviews, contact Dr. Carl Stock­ton at cr.stockton@comcast.net.

Deadlines for 2011:

Issue

Summer Fall

Submission Deadline

15 June 1 September

Bulk Mail Date

18 July 3 October

Whose Land?, continued/ram page 2

The second question was simple, but the answer was

not: Did the Diocese approve transfer of the Duck

Creek Semi-Circle as part of the housing project? Cor­

respondence and other documents held in the diocesan

archives from the time period were reviewed. They

were sadly silent. Official minutes and records of the

Trustees and Executive Board were reviewed. Thank­

fully, they told a different story.

The May 1964 Trustees minutes showed approval of

the conveyance, but lacked the details to determine if

the Duck Creek Semi-Circle was included:

Mr. Steiger moved that the property at Oneida

as described in the specifications to be used

for Federal Housing be conveyed to the Tribal

Council of the Oneidas and that it be used for

the purposes as stated in the government

specifications for the housing project for the

Duck Creek

Cemetery

3

Oneida people . . . Mr. Hudson seconded the

motion. Carried.

The February 1965 Executive Board minutes showed

approval of the conveyance, and provided some details

allowing us to form some conclusions:

It was moved by William J. Spicer and sec­

onded by Harold M. Keyes that the Trus­

tees . . . grant to the United States in trust for the

Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin, as a

gift, the following described property: A por­

tion of Claims No. 14 1 and 147 in Section 3 '

T. 23 N., R. 19 E. of the 4th Prin. Meridian, 25

acres, more or less . [emphasis added]. Mo­

tion Carried.

The legal description provided is incomplete (a

"portion" isn't very precise), but "25 Acres, more or

less" allows comparison to real measurements. The

land now holding the housing is 25.23 9 acres. The Continued on page 4

2009 Episcopal Mission

at Oneida, Wisconsin

for an Episcopal Mission by the United States

Be Careful What You Pray For (or the Saga of the Bell)

In 1 85 1 , the first two Episcopal clergy in the Oregon

Territory, the Rev. Richmond and the Rev. Fackler,

organized Grace Church at Champoeg. This was the

Inspecting the bell. Photo courtesy Archives, Diocese of Oregon.

third Episcopal parish in the Pacific Northwest. The

following year, Mr. Robert Newell, a prominent early

Mountain Man and a devout Episcopalian, gave a

small building for use as a church, where Fr. Fackler

continued regular services. Grace Church even had a

bell tower and bell. Grace Church had the honor of '

providing the first candidate for Holy Orders in the

Pacific Northwest when James Daily was ordained

deacon by Bishop Scott on 1 8 May 1 856.

On 4 October 1 858, Fr. Fackler purchased two lots in

the Town of Butteville, three miles down the Wil­

lamette River from Champoeg. During 1 860-6 1 , Fr.

Fackler built the Church of the Incarnation "mostly

with his own hands. " This would be the sixth estab­

lished parish in the Pacific Northwest. The Butteville

church was 40 feet long, 21 feet wide, and 1 4 feet

high, having an octagonal tower with a small cross on

top. It cost $800. 00 and a Mr. Barnum furnished the

lumber from his mill at Cedar Creek. The Church of

the Incarnation was consecrated on 23 June 1 86 1 by

Bishop Scott assisted by Fr. Fackler. The story is told

that when the Church of the Incarnation was finished

there were no funds left for a bell. The parishioners

Continued on page 5

Whose Land?, continued/ram page 3

Duck Creek Semi-Circle is 5. 697 acres. Put them to­

gether and you get over 3 0 acres. This 20% variance

from "25 acres, more or less" is pretty strong evidence

that the Duck Creek Semi-Circle was not to be in­

cluded with what was conveyed l 960's.

After determining from the records that the Diocese

held the property and that there was not some sort of

error or oversight in the original decision, moving

ahead was straightforward. Working with the congre­

gation's leadership, the Diocese and the Oneida Tribe

came to an agreement to convey the property that was

beneficial to all parties involved.

What C an We Learn?

Archiving church documents is important, but archiv­

ing church land records is vital. The act of one person

(maybe that's you! ) copying a deed or land agreement

and filing it appropriately is an act of responsibility,

diligence and ministry to the future. Those who follow

you decades or centuries later wi 11 be thankfu I for your

thoughtfulness. Many records are left in the "to file"

pile for weeks, months, and even years. It is essential

4

that documents related to church land should be filed

appropriately as soon as possible.

This story had a happy ending with an agreement

reached with no controversy. We are all too aware of

contemporary disputes, but through our diligence we

can assist their resolution by seeing that the records

needed are available and accessible. All too often, one

missing piece of paper can throw the whole equation

out of balance.

Sources

Laurence M. Hauptman and L. Gordon McLester III, editors, The Oneida Indian Journey From New York to Wisconsin, 1784-1860, [Madison, WI: Universityof Wisconsin Press], 1999.

Harold Ezra Wagner, The Episcopal Church in Wis­consin, 1847-1947: A History of the Diocese of Mil­waukee, [Milwaukee, Wl: Diocese of Milwaukee], 1947.

Matthew P. Payne, Lay Canon for Administration, Diocese of Fond du Lac, and Archivist; pro-tem from

2003-2010, appointed Archivist in 201 O;Webmaster, NEHA website

matt42@aol.com

The Saga of the Bell, continued from page 4

were exhorted, maybe by Fr. Fackler, to pray for one

and 'God would provide in His own time. '

Fr. Fackler's daughter, "Little Libby" died on 19 No­

vember 1861 at age 1 1. The announcement of her

death appeared in the Oregon Argus, Oregon City, 14

December 1861. The same page containing her obitu­

ary carried the story of the "Great Flood of 186 1"

along with a very extensive article that informed the

people of Oregon that, "Rebel forces along the Poto­

mac are falling back before advancing Federal

forces. " The great flood of the week of 3 December

186 1 destroyed the community of Champoeg, includ­

ing Grace Church. This is still the largest flood in re­

corded history on the Willamette River. Neither the

church nor the town was to be rebuilt.

When the flood carried away Grace Church, the bell

became lodged in some debris in a nearby creek and

was later retrieved and hung in the Butteville belfry of

the Church of the Incarnation. So, one could say their

prayers had been answered. An undated report pub-

lished years later, states: "The only church building in

this village is the neat and comfortable Church of the

lncarnation ... lt is beautifully situated along the bank

of the river ... its cross-topped tower, the story of the

Crucified One. "

The last Convocation Report from the Butteville par­

ish is dated 1884. The site was sold by the Diocese of

Oregon in 1889. Oral history indicates that the church

was moved up the hill to the site of the present day

Butteville Community Church which in turn was de­

stroyed by a fire at some later time. After the fire, pur­

portedly this same bell was hung on a concrete plat­

form in front of the present day community church.

[Note: The author has recently viewed the bell and

seriously doubts that it is old enough to be the same

bell that floated down the river. It appears to be from

about the turn of the last century. ]

Richard L. Van Orman, Historiographer and Archivist,

Episcopal Diocese of Oregon,

historian@diocese-oregon.org

Parish Photograph Preservation:

A Project of the Archives, Diocese of Fort Worth

In fulfillment of the scriptures and both the national

and diocesan canons, the Historiographer of the Epis­

copal Diocese of Fort Worth envisioned a project to

tively, in Fort Worth still active in the diocese.

Why Do It Now ?

preserve the photographs in each parish and faith com- Our diocese is in a unique position to begin this pro-

munity. We hope that this project will lead to the im- ject. We include two of the oldest churches in Fort

plementation of archival practices for ==;-:;;:----..---.,,....------,,,,,-----, Worth with a rich wealth of historical

other materials such as documents, materials. Older photographs are begin-

publications and artifacts. Another ob- ' ning to deteriorate and the contents of

ject of preservation is that these parish many are not identified. As time goes

photographs may be shared digitally on, it will become even more difficult

with the diocese. to determine which buildings and peo­

A small team of volunteers from four

different parishes answered the call to 1-�----��.-.1 brainstorm the idea, visit various

church and public archives and do the

ground work for the project to be pre­

sented to churches and faith communi­

ties for their consideration. It was de­

termined to begin at Trinity Church and

All Saints Episcopal Church, the oldest

church and the largest church, respec-

\.----"---""-'E..:.1""=.-..L. Trinity Church on Lipscomb,

1924. �-----------_J

5

ple are shown. Even a photograph that

is not faded has little value if we do not

know who or what it represents.

ln addition, we are presently at an ex­

tremely i_mportant time. We are literally

making history today in each of our

parishes and faith communities as the

diocese reorganizes following the con­

vention of November 2008, and we

move into the future.

Continued on page 6

Photo Preservation, continued from page 5

What is Archiving ?

In the course of doing business, churches collect many

forms of words-from bank statements to personnel

files, to emails, to Vestry minutes to the official regis­

ters (new members, births, baptisms, marriages, funer­

als, etc. ) In some cases, these documents must legally

be retained for a number of years. Essential informa­

tion regarding doing records management for congre­

gations may be obtained by downloading from the na­

tional church website:

http://www. episcopalarchives. org/Records_Manual_fo

r _Congregations. pdf.

Archivists concern themselves with records which are

no longer considered legally current. We are here

speaking of those "things" which are kept by churches

to establish an historical record of parish life. In this

particular project, we have limited ourselves to making

plans to preserve photographs, assuming that the prin­

ciples we set down can be used by parishes to preserve

Vestry minutes, blueprints, Rectors' sermons, newslet­

ters, and other pieces of history deemed important to

individual parishes.

Why Archive?

Preservation of the past is in many ways a key to the

future. Parish archives and records give parishioners

the opportunity to see how those who came before

them met the challenges and opportunities of main­

taining a building and a membership. Knowing the

congregation's history can

strengthen a sense of commu­

nity within the parish. In addi­

tion, vital statistical records

(baptisms, marriages, births,

deaths) are often used by people

wanting to know more about

their own family h istory.

Doing the Archiving

Obviously, the clergy of each

parish or faith community are

ultimately respons ible for re-

actual work of parish archiving falls to faithful and

hardworking volunteers, often a small group

(appointed by the clergy) who are willing to take on a

regular and on-going task.

A principle that is often,noted in the literature is that it

is essential for these archivists to keep in mind that

history begins now. In other words, the joys of rooting

through dusty boxes of photos of the Sunday School in

the l 920's must be accompanied by a conscious effort

to collect current photos of parish events, clip newspa­

per photos and articles and otherwise keep up the re­

cord of on-going history.

A second important principle is that whatever system

is adopted to establish and maintain parish archives

must be easily understood, written down and kept

available for use by clergy and future volunteers.

From what we have come to understand from those

who are now archiving, a visible effort to preserve and

make available pieces of a church's history (like a dis­

play in the parish hall or an article in the newsletter)

will interest parishioners and stimulate them to join the

effort by searching their attics and basements for pho­

tos of past events with which they have been involved.

How to Archive Photos

The archiving process has two goals-to establish a

record of the collection and to store it in a secure loca­

tion where it will be free from environmental damage.

The following is a brief overview of the process:

Assess what you have. Search the church from top to

bottom and inside drawers and closets. Enlist the aid

of clergy and office staff. Write

· to former clergy. Check with

archivists at your local newspa­

per and/or public library. Enlist

members of the parish i nto

checking the ir own closets and

attics for forgotten events for

. which they were the photogra-

phers. Prepare a Deed of Gift

Agreement form which acts as a

quit claim for donated materi ­

als.

cords management and arch iv- Categorize what you have. Al-The Rev. Dr. Frederick Barber and newest member

ing. In our research, however, tl10L1gh there does not appear to of Trinity Church, ca. 1990.

we have discovered that the be one set way to choose how Continued on page 7

6

Photo Preservation, continued from page 6

you must file your photos, archivists use what they call

the "provenance principle," in which each item can be

traced to the organization (e.g. Chancel Choir) or of­

fice (e.g. Rector) which created it or from which it

naturally came. We suggest major categories and sub­

categories such as the following:

• Art

• Buildings

• Clergy

Associates

Deacons

Rectors

• Parish Celebrations

Anniversaries Annual Picnics Mardi Gras

• Parish Organizations Choir EYC Folk Mass Guilds

• Vestry

Create an Accession Record • also called a Finding

Aid. Basically, this gives each of your "finds" an ac­

cession number (often a combination of the year the

item is officially recorded and a number in sequential

order), a notice that the church now owns the item and

how or from whom it was acquired (notice of prove­

nance), a brief description, including the date, the size

of the item and where it is being stored (in which

folder and in which place). It is imperative that it be

clearly written and kept up to date. Of course, this can

be done by hand, using cards or a three-ring binder

and a pencil-but we suggest trying the software pro­

gram that is described below.

Store the collection in conditions which are secure and

free from environmental damage. There is a good deal

of information available about proper storage condi­

tions.

Create a Loan Form to be put in the file if and when a

photo is removed.

Using Software

As part of the photo project, we did a limited survey of

software to find a database program that wou Id assist

7

in the building of the accession record, or finding aid.

We wished to locate a program that was easy to use,

had a reasonable search engine and would allow

thumbnail views of the images. We hoped to find

something that might be made available to all mem­

bers of the diocese, and maybe to the general public

(web enabled), and would also be available at a rea­

sonable cost.

We discovered Museum Archive Software by Jim Hal­

pin. It meets most of our requirements and is FREE!

We have been in contact with Mr. Halpin, and we

think, in time, he will modify the program to meet

most if not all of the missing needs.

Below is some information taken from the excellent

program Help material.

. .. There are two versions of the software. One ver­

sion is a completely free download that has all of

the basic features you'll need to start recording

and tracking all of the objects in your archive. The

second feature is also free, but you only get it if

you purchase the accompanying book. [We have

been given permission to use the Premium version

by the developer.}

I decided to create the Museum Archive software

package after working with a local nonprofit or­

ganization. This local historical society has a col­

lection of papers, books, photographs, oral histo­

ries, and other artifacts, but they have no compre­

hensive catalog of what those items are and where

those items are stored. Commercial software pack­

ages are available to record this information, but

they tend to be very costly. Why not build one my­

self?

The result is this project. Now every organization

has the ability to record and track their collections

without spending valuable resources on the soft­

ware necessary to do it. The software is free--no

ads, no hidden spyware, no hidden agenda-just a

solid database program that does its job. Jim Hal­

pin, Museum Archive.Software, www.musarc.com .

The Museum Archive software package uses a simple

interface to help you enter, locate and maintain your

information. Information is presented to you in a list

box format, enabling you to browse through the infor-

Continued on page 9

Library Resources . . . A Capital Idea:

44th Annual Church & Synagogue Library Association Conference

The conference this year for the Church & Synagogue

Library Association (CSLA) is on 19-22 July 20 11 at

the Hilton Embassy Row Hotel, 20 15 Massachusetts

Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 2003 6.

On Tuesday, 19 July, CSLA's unique continuing edu­

cation program-The Pre-Conference Library School

provides congregational librarians, who are not profes­

sionally trained, to obtain an excellent body of course

work in this intense four hour program. Taught by

Mrs. Arlene Hall, one of the most experienced congre­

gational librarians in the field, this is an opportunity, at

a price that should not be missed.

Following the training session is a dynamic tour-de­

force visiting four great Washington congregational

libraries. This year's offerings include something for

everyone, small, medium and large. Historic Foundry

Methodist Church has a compact library adjacent to a

developing archive room and a book program for

prison fellowship. Saint Columba's Episcopal Church

boasts a well run library, fully automated and with a

special book exchange concept. The Washington He­

brew Congregation operates a library used- -by their

parochial school in a unique setting. The National

Presbyterian Church & Center (national church of the

Presbyterian denomination) has two libraries as well

as an archive of over a half a million documents. The

tour ends with a delightful dinner at the church with a

special program.

Beginning on Wednesday, each of the three mornings

of the conference will include a full range of activities

at one of three off-site locations: The National Ar­

chives, The Library of Congress, and Wesley Theo­

logical Seminary. We hope this will provide an excel­

lent opportunity to learn firsthand from the profession­

als at each of these venues. Included in the basic con­

ference registration is a continental breakfast at the

hotel and transportation to and from these great sites.

Special programming will be presented at each loca­

tion. These visits will be far and above just a tour of

the various facilities we will visit. Professional staff

members in the various departments will provide us

with a wide range of valuable information_

The National Archives is the site of the first Morning

8

Tour/Seminar and Exhibition location. This year will

be a full morning of activities behind the scenes at the '

National Archives where hands-on activities will take

place with specialists from the facility, providing a

unique opportunity to experience library and archival

programs first-hand.

The Library of Congress is the site of the Second

Morning Tour/Seminar and Exhibition location. We

will visit and explore another full morning of activities

behind the scenes at two of the buildings of the Li­

brary of Congress. Rare book exhibits including the

Gutenberg Bible, as well as demonstrations from spe­

cialists who evaluate, accept, and process thousands of

books each year will be included.

Wesley Theological Seminary is the Third Morning

Tour/Seminar location_ We will be the guests of the

Director of the Library, Dr. William A Faupel, who

will provide us with information concerning the opera­

tion of a religious library within the context of our

changing technology-all of which effects our work

with our congregations. We will receive information

about book selections, cataloguing, preservation, and

promotions.

The final day of the conference provides two great

events to end the formal activities of this program. The

first event is an afternoon tour of the magnificent

gothic architecture and stained glass of the world fa­

mous Washington National Cathedral, the 2nd largest

in the U. S.

The concluding event of the conference is a three-hour

Potomac River Cruise to see the sights of the Nation's

Capital at night. Together with a full dinner, entertain­

ment and dancing on the cruise ship the Spirit of

Washington.

And that leaves the weekend to stay over and tour the

city-with conference hotel convention prices!

Full conference registration is $495 before 1 5 June and

$570 after 1 5 June. Single day options range from

$170 to $240. Hotel room rate is $ 1 20 per night.

For more information and to download a conference

brochure with the registration form, visit the associa­

tion's website at http://cslainfo. org/index. php

The Martyrs of Memphis-A Perpetual Parade of Brave Souls

Each year, the feast of Constance and Her Compan­

ions is commemorated at St. Mary's Cathedral, Mem­

phis, with a series of events relating to their heroic

ministry during the Memphis Yellow Fever Epidemic

of 1878. This year's theme is "Martyrs Then and

Now, " with special regard to the 40th

anniversary of the assassination of the

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Memphis experienced epidemics of yel­

low fever, a mosquito-borne viral infec­

tion, throughout the Nineteenth Century.

The worst occurred in the summer of

1878, when 5, 150 persons perished. Dur­

ing this time, the Cathedral became known

as the "religious center of the city,'' the

doors remaining open, the Sacraments al­

ways available, and the "little band" who

lived and worked there devoted themselves

to service to the afflicted.

When in 1878 most persons fled the city, a

number of priests and nuns (Protestant and

Catholic), doctors, and even prostitutes stayed

behind. The more celebrated four sisters and two

priests who died from the fever, giving their lives to

serve those in need, are Constance, Ruth, Thecla and

Frances; and the Rev. Louis S. Schuyler and the Rev.

Charles C. Parsons. But there are many others who

ministered during the Plague, who have not been rec­

ognized. Among them are Dr. Paul Hooker Otey and

Dr. William James Armstrong.

Dr. Paul Hooker Otey, the oldest son of Bishop James

Hervey Otey, Tennessee's first Bishop, has not been

Parish Photograph Project, continued/rampage 7

mation on file quickly and easily. Once you locate the

specific information you are looking for, you can eas­

ily view or edit the details in another window contain­

ing a form.

Volunteers from four different parishes in the Diocese of Fort Worth assisted with this project:

Jeanie Brandon, Christ the King

Judy Coberly, All Saints

Connie Marks, St. Albans

9

recognized by the Episcopal Church for his selfless

care of yellow fever victims during the 1878 epidemic

which cost his life.

the physician for the Church Home

Orphanage and the Canfield Orphan­

age in the 1870s. The Church Home

was organized by the Episcopal

"Constance and Her Companions" depicts four Episcopal nuns and two priests who died caring for Yellow Fever victims at St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral in Memphis, Tennessee, 1878.

This icon was painted in 1999 by Br. Tobias Stanislas Haller, BSG. It is owned by Fessenden House, Brotherhood of St. Gregory, Yonkers, New York.

women of Memphis in 1865 to

care for widows and orphans

after the war. When Bishop

Quintard asked Mother Har­

S isters to come to Memphis, he

wanted them to take charge of �!1e Church Home in

addition to establishing a school for girls. Sister Con­

stance was interim director in 1877. The Sisters cared

for hundreds of children at both orphanages during the

1878 yellow fever epidemic.

As the yellow fever epidemic gained momentum, Dr.

Otey urged city officials to contact the national gov­

ernment for tents, food, medicines and other supplies.

Based on his war experience in setting up field hospi­

tals, Otey was one of the doctors who directed the es-Continued on page 10

Karen Shepherd, Trinity

David Leedy, Diocese of Fort Worth

Article reprinted with permission from "Parish Photo­graph Preservation: A Project of the Diocesan Ar­

chives, 2010, "a brochure created by the Archives of ' the Diocese of Forth Worth.

All photos courtesy Archives of the Diocese of Fort Worth

Martyrs of Memphis, continued from page 9

tablishment of large tent camps outside Memphis to

house refugees who fled the city thinking thereby to

escape yellow fever.

Paul Otey died 28 September 1878 and was buried

from St. Mary's Cathedral and interred in Elmwood

Cemetery in a lot purchased by a friend.

Dr. William James Armstrong, a Howard physician,

sent his wife and eight children to Columbia, Tennes­

see, when yellow fever was declared epidemic in

Memphis. From his office on Alabama Street near St.

Mary's Cathedral, Dr. Armstrong assisted the Sisters

and nurses at the Cathedral in caring for fever cases in

the 8th ward, which suffered the heaviest mortality. He

was also attending physician at the two orphanages

managed by the Sisters.

Armstrong was armed only with the physician's empa­

thy that says "I am here, and will help you in any way

l can. " His knowledge of the disease allowed him only

to estimate how long his patients would live, and

which might survive. Because of his despair he felt

compelled to leave Memphis, and yet he could not.

The letter gives a vivid insight into the scene in Mem­

phis during the darkest days of the epidemic when the

city and its inhabitants endured the full impact of the

disease, and the only recourse was to hope for an early

frost that would signal an end to the epidemic. Arm-

10

strong was a physician in the finest tradition of prac­

ticing medicine as exemplified by his willingness to

help the suffering even under the most adverse condi­

tions.

A collection of letters' written to his wife, Louisa

Haima Armstrong, reveals a sense of helpless frustra­

tion because of his inability to treat the yellow fever,

as well as his fear as the death toll mounted daily. On

September first he wrote:

Gloom impenetrable, through which there is no

view to mortal eyes, overhangs our dear Memphis.

The sights that now greet me every hour in the day

are beyond the . . . 1873 [epidemic]. Our best citi­

zens are going by the dozens, and we poor doctors

stand by abashed at the perfect uselessness of our

remedies. It is appalling, and makes the very brav­

est quake. I never was, in all my life, so full of

"Constance and the Martyrs of Memphis," pictured

left, was commissioned by the 2010 commemorative

committee of the Martyrs Weekend at St. Mary's Ca­

thedral, and was used on bulletins and posters.

The original painting was donated to the Community

of St. Mary's in Sewanee, Tennessee, and now has a

permanent home in the community's Chapter Room.

About the Artist: Bill Branch is a Memphis artist working in the medium of watercolor. Bill Branch is an award winning artist whose works are in museum and private collections. Bill Branch teaches annual watercolor workshops at the Dixon Gallery and Gar­dens. Bill Branch is president of Artists' Link­Memphis Area Visual Artists.

sympathy and sorrow for suffering humanity. I

feel sometimes that l must run away [but]. . . I see

that anyone who runs away is taken sick and

dies-so that if I remain someone will be near to

attend me. God grant that l may be able to admin­

ister to the sick throughout.

Worn from his labors tending the sick, Dr. William

Armstrong died on 20 September. His nurse said even

in his delirium, Armstrong expressed concern for his

patients.

Even with the remembrances of grief and hardship, the

saga of the Martyrs of Memphis is an Easter story.

Their witness shines brighter than ever in the hearts of

the Cathedral and the Community. The Memphis

medical center, which developed eventually in re-

Continued on page 11

Martyrs of Memphis, continued from page J O

sponse to the Yellow Fever is a legacy. St. Mary's

Episcopal School for Girls continues as a distin­

guished and thriving institution with pre-kindergarten

through high school classes. The Sisters of St. Mary,

(CSM) the spiritual descendants of Constance and Her

Companions, continue their work at the Convent at

Sewanee. Works of art, music and drama have been

created on the theme. The General Convention of

1986, meeting in Anaheim, added The Martyrs of

Memphis to the Episcopal Calendar of Lesser Feasts

and Fasts. And every year, as the summer comes to an

end, Memphis gratefully remembers her heroes.

This year's commemoration will be held September

9th through 1 1 th, beginning with a lively musical trib­

ute at the Cathedral. A quiet day will take place on

Saturday, led by the Sisters. And on Sunday, 1 1 Sep­

tember, there will be a parade from the Cathedral to

Elmwood Cemetery, where the Martyrs are buried.

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The observance concludes with a pilgrimage to the

gravesites and a picnic-no doubt featuring Southern

fried chicken.

The Co llect

We give you thanks and praise, 0 God of compassion,

for the heroic witness of Constance and her compan­

ions, who, in a time of plague and pestilence, were

steadfast in their care for the sick and dying, and loved

not their own lives, even unto death: Inspire in us a

like love and commitment to those in need, following

the example of our Savior Jesus Christ; who with you

and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and

forever. Amen.

Patricia L. McFarland, Archivist and Historiographer of the Diocese of West Tennessee

pamcf arland@hellsouth. net and

The Rev. Bindy Snyder, NEHA Board Member revbindy@hellso uth. net

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The National Episcopal Historians and Archivists c/o Trinity Cathedral 1 00 West Roosevelt Street Phoenix, AZ 85003

NONPROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE

PAID PHOENIX, AZ PERMIT NO. I

Lynndale WI

Church of the Ascension, Riddle, Oregon

Nearly 1 00 years ago Bishop Benjamin Wistar Morris he l d the fi rst recorded Episcopal services in the smal l community of Riddle, Oregon. One of its earl iest settlers, arriving in 1 852, I srael Boyd Nichols was an Episcopal ian whose home was the site of services from time to time.

By 1 9 1 6 , regular servi ces were he l d in the Masonic Temple . The pending marriage of Magdal ene Speer to Stil l ey Nichols in Apri I 1 922, prompted the father of the bride, A. 0. Speer, to erect a church for the wedding. The attractive, but rustic verti-

. ..

cal board church was located at 1 3 5 , D Street, and i s occupied today. The congregation became an organized mission on I 0 April 1 95 1 . The church was consecrated on 6 December 1 95 9 1 2by Bishop James W . F. Cann an.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

• A Diocese, A Sovereign Nation and A Government:

It 's Whose Land?, pages 1-4• Be Careful What You Pray For (or the Saga of the

Bell) , pages 4-5• Church & Synagogue L ibrary Association Confer­

ence: Library Resources . . . A Capital Idea, page 8• The Martyrs of Memphis-A Perpetual Parade of

Brave Souls, pages 9-11• Parish Photograph Preservation: A Project of the

Archives, Diocese of Fort Worth, pages 5- 7, 9

Upcoming Events

NEHA Conference:

Eden: Th.e End of the Oregon Trai l

Trinity Cathedral

Portland, OR

1 4- 1 7 June 2 0 1 1 www.episcopa l h istorians .org/activit ies/20 1 1 - n eha-con fe re n c�