Guide to the Elder Family Papers

Descriptive Summary

Title

Elder Family Papers

Inclusive Dates

1925-1979

Call Number

RG 189

Creator(s)

Elder family.

Quantity

0.50 cubic feet

Restrictions on Access

Collection open for research

Digital Content

To browse this collection's digitized content visit Pearl.

Materials marked "Digital" in the Collection Inventory may not have been digitized in their entirety.

Repository

Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147-1516 USA

Biographical Note / Administrative History

Biographical Note

John Elder (1894-1983) and Ruth Roche Elder (1899-1992) were appointed by the Board of Foreign Missions to the East Persia Mission in 1921 and arrived on the field in 1923. Throughout their 42 years of service, they were engaged in evangelistic missionary work, initially in Kermanshah (1923-1934), the Hamadan (1934-1937) and finally in Tehran (1938-1964). Dr. Elder served as the pastor of the Persian speaking congregations in each city. In 1935, he was Moderator of the newly formed Eastern Presbytery of Iran and was elected Moderator of the Synod of Iran in 1947 and 1960. In addition to numerous other activities, Dr. Elder wrote diverse articles, pamphlets and books that were published in both English and Persian. The Elders retired from missionary service in 1964.

Collection Overview

This collection consists mainly of John and Ruth Elders's correspondence, reports, photographs and other miscellaneous items, 1925-1979. The correspondence represents "home letters" and annual newsletters that are primarily outgoing. The reports include annual missionary labor reports for both John and Ruth Elder. The photos, most of which are identified, reflect the Elder's missionary service in Persia.

Organization and Arrangement

SERIES I: John Elder, 1925-1979 Box 1 Folders 2-4

SERIES II: Ruth Roche Elder, 1927-1960 Box 1 Folders 5-6

SERIES III: Miscellany, c.1920's-1970's Box 1 Folders 7-8

SERIES IV: Photographs, 1923-1970's Box 1 Folders 9-15

Alternative Formats

To browse this collection's digitized content visit Pearl.

Materials marked "Digital" in the Collection Inventory may not have been digitized in their entirety.

Related Material

Administrative Information

Processing Information

Additional photographic material was received in September 1987 and to accommodate that addition the photographic series was revised.

Collection processed and finding aid prepared: 1984
Frederick J. Heuser, Archivist.

Finding aid revised: September 1987
Kristin L. Gleeson, Assistant Archivist.

Catalog Headings

The following headings have been used to index the description of this collection in the society’s electronic catalog.

Corporate Subject

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. East Persia Mission.

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Persia Mission.

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Iran Mission.

United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Iran Mission.

Topical Subject

Missions, American Iran.

Presbyterian Church Missions Iran.

Missionaries Iran.

Geographic Subject

Kermanshah (Kermanshahan, Iran) Church history.

Hamadan (Iran) Church history.

Tehran (Iran) Church history.

Genre-form

Newsletters. aat

Photographs. aat

Slides (photographs). aat

Clippings. aat

Personal Added Name

Elder, John, 1894-1981.

Elder, Ruth Roche, 1899-1992.

Corporate Added Name

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Board of Foreign Missions.

United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations.

Collection Inventory

Box	Folder	Description	Alternative Formats

1	1	Finding Aid to Record Group 189

		SERIES I: John Elder, 1925-1979

1	2	Correspondence/reports, 1925-1979
	3	Newsletters, 1948-1963
	4	Newsletters, 1955-1958

		SERIES II: Ruth Elder, 1927-1960

1	5	Correspondence, 1942-1957
	6	Reports, 1927-1960

		SERIES III: Miscellany, 1920's-1970's

1	7	Clippings, 1950's(?)
	8	Miscellaneous items, 1920's-1970's

		SERIES IV: Photographs, 1920's-1970's

1	9	Mission/Workers Conferences, 1923-1935	Digital
	10	Mission/Workers Conferences, 1937-1960
	11	Interchurch Christian Literature Bldg. & Staff, 1938-63
	12	Harsin/Palestine, 1920's-1970's;1923
	13	Kermanshah/Hamadan/Tehran, 1920's-1970s
	14	Iran Mission Slides, 1932;1951-52;1958
	15	Miscellaneous Photos, 1920s-1970s

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Guide to the Elder Family Papers

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