For a few years representatives from most Brethren libraries, archives, and currently published periodicals have been working as the Brethren Digital Archives to find a way to digitize all Brethren periodicals dating from 1851 and to post them on the internet for free public access.
Now, bound copies of the periodicals have been committed, funds have been raised (including a grant), and work on digitization is about to begin. On July 11, volumes from various Brethren institutions will be delivered for digitizing. Once complete, they will be posted on www.archives.org.
There will be about 30 days to check each page to make sure it is acceptable. If not it will be re-digitized. Volunteers are needed to help with this review. They will look for missing pages, make sure the pages are in the correct order, correct metadata, and check for image quality. Each volunteer will be assigned a periodical and date range to review. More specific review criteria will be available for each volunteer in the near future.
If you are interested, please visit www.brethrendigitalarchives.org or brethrendigitalarchives on Facebook and leave your contact information.
Plans are being made to scan the following documents and make them available on the Web:
- Ashland Theological Journal
- Bible Monitor (1922-2000)
- Christian Family Companion (1865-1873)
- Christian Family Companion and Gospel Visitor (1874-1875)
- Der Brüderbote (1875-1877)
- Der Brüderbote (1880-1892)
- Der Evangelische Besuch (1852-1861)
- Grace Journal (1960-1973)
- Grace Theological Journal (1980-1991)
- Messenger (1965-2000)
- Schwarzenau (1939-1942)
- The Brethren at Work (1876-1883)
- The Brethren Evangelist (1885-2000) and The Brethren’s Evangelist (1883-1884)
- The Brethren Missionary Herald (1939-1996)
- The Brethren’s Missionary Visitor (1894-1896)
- The Gospel Messenger (1883-1964)
- The Gospel Preacher (1879-1882)
- The Gospel Visitor (1857-1873) and The Monthly Gospel-Visiter (1851-1856)
- The Inglenook (1900-1913)
- The Missionary Visitor (1902-1930)
- The Pilgrim (1870-1871 & 1875-1876) and The Weekly Pilgrim (1872-1874)
- The Pilgrim (1954-2000)
- The Primitive Christian (1876 & 1880-1883) and The Primitive Christian and Pilgrim (1876-1879)
- The Progressive Christian (1878-1882)
In addition, almanacs published by Brethren groups in the late 19th century will be included. So far, this includes:
- The Brethren’s Almanac (Holsinger, 1871-1874)
- Pilgrim Almanac (Brumbaughs, 1873-1874)
- The Brethren Family Almanac (Brumbaughs & Quinter who had purchased Holsinger, 1875)
- Brethren’s Almanac (Brumbaugh’s & Quinter, 1876-1879)
- The Brethren’s Family Almanac (1880-1917, ‘s dropped in 1903)
- Brethren Annual (started by Holsinger about 1884 with almanac format until 1915-1924)
- The Brethren’s Family Almanac, 1875, J. Quinter
- The Brethren’s Annual For the Year of Grace 1885 (Holsinger)
- Our Almanac and Annual Register, 1880, 1883, 1885 (Kurtz)
- The Brethren at Work, Almanac and Annual Register for All The People, 1882, Brethren At Work Steam Printing House
The Brethren Digital Archives is a collaborative effort of publishers, libraries, and archives affiliated with the various branches of the Brethren movement. Partners in the project are:
- Bethany Theological Seminary/Lilly Library
- Ashland University/Library/Brethren Church/Archives
- Brethren Church/The Brethren Evangelist
- Brethren Heritage Center
- Brethren Historical Library and Archives
- Brethren Journal Association/Brethren Life & Thought
- Bridgewater College/Alexander Mack Library
- Grace College and Seminary/Morgan Library
- Church of the Brethren/Messenger
- Conservative Grace Brethren/The Voice Newsletter
- Dunkard Brethren/Bible Monitor
- Elizabethtown College/High Library/Young Center for Anabaptist & Pietist Studies
- Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches/Brethren Missionary Herald
- Juniata College/Beeghly Library
- Manchester College Archives and Brethren Historical Collection/Funderburg Library
- McPherson College/Miller Library
- Old German Baptist Brethren Church New Conference/The Testimony
- Old German Baptist Brethren Church/The Vindicator
- Old Brethren/The Pilgrim
For more information, see Brethren Digital Archives.