Finding Aid for the Mary Hay Ferguson Eller papers The Archives at Bridwell Library Perkins School of Theology Southern Methodist University Dallas, Texas Overview Creator: Eller, Mary Hay Ferguson. Title: Mary Hay Ferguson Eller papers nclusive Dates: 1897-1949 Bulk Dates: 1906-1930 Abstract: Mary Hay Ferguson Eller (1884-1964) was a Methodist laywoman from McKinney, Texas who served in positions of leadership within the North Texas Conference Epworth League and was founder of the Ruby Kendrick Council of Missions. This collection consists of pamphlets, programs, correspondence, minutes, photographs, newspaper and magazine articles, record books, frames, and a scrapbook created or collected by Mary Hay Ferguson Eller and reflecting her experiences in the Woman s Foreign Missionary Society, the Woman s Missionary Society, the Epworth League, and the Ruby Kendrick Council of Missions.
Mary Hay Ferguson Eller papers Page 2 Accession Number: BridArch 303.56 Extent: 3 boxes; 3 linear feet Language: Material is in English. Repository: Bridwell Library, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University Biographical Note Mary Hay Ferguson was born in McKinney, Texas in 1884, the daughter of Mary Phillips Ferguson and John Hay Ferguson. As a young adult, Mary Ferguson held leadership positions in the North Texas Conference Epworth League. Her work on behalf of the League included founding the Ruby Kendrick Council of Missions. The Council of Missions promoted missionary vocations and raised money in support of Methodist missions in memory of Ruby Rachel Kendrick (1883-1908). Ruby Kendrick was a young woman from Plano, Texas who died in Korea after serving less than one year in the mission field. In 1920 Mary Hay Ferguson married banker Horace P. Eller (1878-1965) of McKinney. The Ellers moved to Dallas and joined Grace Methodist Church. Mary Eller served as an officer in the Daughters of the American Revolution, Dallas Patriotic Association, Dallas Federation of Women s Clubs, Dallas Woman s Forum, and Women s Chamber of Commerce. In Dallas, H. P. Eller became a successful banker, attorney, and real estate broker. Sources: Deaths and Funerals. Dallas Morning News, July 21, 1964, 4. Dallas Social Affairs. Dallas Morning News, November 24, 1920, 10. Scope and Contents of the Collection Through publications, correspondence, minutes, photographs, record books, and a scrapbook this collection documents Mary Hay Ferguson Eller s participation in Methodist Episcopal Church, South-related organizations between 1900 and 1930. Items of special significance include early records of the McKinney District Epworth League and documents from the formation and work of the Ruby Kendrick Council of Missions.
Page 3 Mary Hay Ferguson Eller papers Arrangement of the Collection The collection has been arranged into four series: Series 1: Epworth League, 1899-1949 Series 2: Ruby Kendrick Council of Missions, 1897-1949 Series 3: North Texas Conference Missionary Societies, 1904-1914 Series 4: Picture Frames, circa 1908-1940 Restrictions Access to Collection: The collection is open for research use. Publication Rights: Permission to publish materials must be obtained from the Director of the Bridwell Library. Copyright Statement: It is the responsibility of the user to obtain copyright authorization. Access Terms This collection is indexed under the following terms in the Southern Methodist University Libraries online catalog. Researchers desiring related materials may search the catalog using these terms: Eller, Mary Hay Ferguson. Kendrick, Ruby. Women missionaries -- Korea. Methodists -- Texas. Epworth League (U.S.) Administrative Information Preferred Citation: [Identification of item], Mary Hay Ferguson Eller papers, Bridwell Library, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University.
Mary Hay Ferguson Eller papers Page 4 Acquisition Information: Acquired prior to 1994. Processing Information This collection was arranged and described in 2010 by Allison Osborn as the Ruby Kendrick Council of Missions records. The collection was reprocessed and renamed in 2012 by Timothy Binkley. Encoded by Ada Negraru, 2012. Related Collections For additional material pertaining to missionary work in Korea, see: Alfred W. Wasson papers (BridArch 105.18), Bridwell Library, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. For additional material pertaining to Epworth Leagues, see: Collection on the North Texas Epworth League (BridArch 302.23), Bridwell Library, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. Mrs. W. B. Wright scrapbook on Epworth League, 1888-1932 (A2006.0019c), DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University. Detailed Description of the Collection Series 1: Epworth League, 1899-1949 The first series consists of thirteen folders of publications, correspondence, photographs, newspaper and magazine articles, and record books produced by local, state, regional, and national chapters of the Epworth League.
Page 5 Mary Hay Ferguson Eller papers Box File Contents Dates 1556 01 Dallas District 1911-1913 02 McKinney District 1905-1928 03 McKinney District record books 1899-1904 04 Loose items from the McKinney District record books 1909 05 Sulphur Springs chapter account books 1925-1927 06 North Texas Conference Epworth League 1904-1921 07 North Texas Conf. Epworth League Yearbook & Journal 1921-1925 08 North Texas Conf. Epworth League Yearbook & Journal 1926-1928 09 Texas State Epworth League 1906-1912 10 Western Epworth League Assembly 1924 11 Epworth Era (four issues) 1914-1929 2010 04 Texas Christian Advocate May 15, 1913 05 McKinney Examiner May 16, 1929 Series 2: Ruby Kendrick Council of Missions, 1897-1949 The second series contains seventeen folders and a scrapbook focusing on the life of Ruby Rachel Kendrick and the ministries carried on in her memory by the North Texas Conference Epworth League. 1556 12 Ruby Kendrick biographical data 1928-1937 13 Cloth samples: burial dress and coffin lining 1908 14 Missionary work in Korea 1906-1916 15 Ruby Kendrick Memorial Church 1913-1916 16 Ruby Rachel Kendrick memorial exhibit 1908-1930 17 Ruby Kendrick Council of Missions 1908-1929 18 Ruby Kendrick Council of Missions publications 1910-1919 19 Ruby Kendrick Council of Missions publications 1920-1928 20 Memorial Fund financial records 1908-1917 21 Memorial Fund pledge cards 1912-1913 22 Missionary degree system 1914-1915 23 SMU Ruby Kendrick scholarship fund 1928-1949 24 J. P. Luton, Jr. missionary emblem 1929
Mary Hay Ferguson Eller papers Page 6 Box File Contents Dates 1556 25 Ansil Lynn Epworth League collaboration 1928-1930 2010 01 Ruby Kendrick Memorial Scrapbook 1897-1929 02 Printouts of Kendrick memorial scrapbook pages 1897-1929 03 Loose items from the Kendrick memorial scrapbook 1913-1924 Series 3: North Texas Conference Missionary Societies, 1904-1914 The third series includes two folders. The first holds an event ribbon from the North Texas Conference Woman s Foreign Missionary Society meeting of 1904. The second contains a program and group photograph of the North Texas Conference Woman s Missionary Society annual meeting of 1914. Both events were held in McKinney, Texas, Mary Hay Ferguson Eller s home town. 1556 26 Woman s Foreign Missionary Society 1904 27 Woman s Missionary Society 1914 Series 4: Picture Frames, circa 1908-1940 During processing, framed items were scanned and then removed from their frames. The four wooden frames in this series were retained for future exhibition purposes due to their aesthetic appeal. 1557 Four decorative picture frames circa 1908-1940