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Overview

Biographical Note

Scope and Content

Arrangement

Preferred Citation

Restrictions on Access

Restrictions on Use

Subject Terms

Container List [ + ]

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Guide to the John Gordon Howard Papers

Prepared by Aaron C. Smith, Student Assistant and Mark C. Shenise, Associate Archivist

United Methodist Archives and History Center
General Commission on Archives and History, Madison, New Jersey

11/17/2003


Overview of Records

Record Creator: Howard, John Gordon
Title: John Gordon Howard Papers
Dates: 1830- 1972Click here to view the finding aid format suitable for requesting material at the Archives.
Abstract: John Gordon Howard (1899-1974), American bishop, college president and editor, was born to missionary parents in Tokyo. Howard served as Youth Director in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ for thirteen years (1927-1939). He then spent five years as editor of Sunday School literature. In 1945 he was elected president of Otterbein College. In 1957, Howard was elected a bishop of The Evangelical United Brethren Church and assigned to the East Central Area. After the merger with the Methodist Church he was assigned to the Philadelphia episcopal seat. Bishop Howard died on December 24, 1974.
Extent: 0.23 cu. feet



Biographical Note

John Gordon Howard (1899-1974), American bishop, college president and editor, was born to missionary parents in Tokyo on December 3, 1899. His father, Alfred Taylor Howard, was a bishop of the Evangelical United Brethren Church. He graduated from Otterbein College in 1922 with an A.B., Bonebrake Theological Seminary in 1925 with a B.D., and New York University in 1927 with an M.A. Licensed by the Miami Conference in 1924 and ordained in 1925, Howard served as Youth Director in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ for thirteen years (1927-1939).

Howard then spent five years as editor of Sunday School literature. In 1945 he was elected president of Otterbein College. During the next twelve years, he greatly strengthened that institution. On August 1, 1957, Howard was elected a bishop of The Evangelical United Brethren Church and assigned to the East Central Episcopal Area. After the merger with the Methodist Church he was assigned to the Philadelphia episcopal seat. He had two daughters with his first wife, Rhea McConaughy, who died in 1965. In 1967 he married Katherine Higgins Shannon. Howard died on December 24, 1974.


Scope Note

This collection contains much that is relevant to the history of the Evangelical United Brethren Church. Included are various essays, publications, clippings and reports related to the Church. These encompass many subjects, including the faith of the Church, the activities of the church in Howard's time, and the eventual union between the Evangelical United Brethren and the Methodist Churches to form the United Methodist Church in 1968. Related to this topic and of particular interest is an issue of The Evangelical Challenge which speaks vehemently against the merge. Howard. This includes speeches and articles about him.

There is some correspondence to and from Howard and his family. There is also some information about his father, A.T. Howard, who was also a bishop of the Evangelical United Brethren, including a poem and some quotations by him, and an essay and an article about him. There are a few photographs in the collection as well, and a few notes that seem to have been made by Howard. 1873. The writer of this diary is an unknown woman. There is also a manuscript entitled A Key to the Holy Scriptures and to the most essential Knowledge of the Christian Rules of Life printed in 1830. There are two documents relating to the one-hundreth anniversary of Benjamin Hanby's classic Christmas song, "Up On The Housetop."


Arrangement

Materials have been arranged in the following manner.

Series: Miscellanea
Series: Personal Life
Series: Professional Life

Preferred Citation

When citing material from this collection please use the following format: Direct reference to the item or its file folder, John Gordon Howard Papers, United Methodist Church Archives - GCAH, Madison, New Jersey. Do not make use of the item's call number as that is not a stable descriptor.


Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding this collection.


Restrictions on Use

Detailed use restrictions relating to our collections can be requested from the office of the archivist at the General Commission on Archives and History. Photocopying is handled by the staff and may be limited in certain instances. Before using any material for publication from this collection a formal request for permission to publish is expected and required.


Subject Terms

Subject Names - Personal
:Howard, Alfred T.
Subject Names - Corporate
Church of the United Brethren in Christ (New constitution)
Evangelical United Brethren Church
United Methodist Church (U.S.)
Subject Topics
Biography
Church history-20th century
Church union
Music.
Subject Geographic
Japan
Puerto Rico
United States.
Genre
Clippings
Correspondence.
Diaries
Manuscripts
Minutes
Pamphlets
Occupations
Bishop
College president
Editor.
Minister


Container List


Series: Miscellanea
Call Number Folder Title Date(s)
1552-2-1: 10 General File 1830-1964

Series: Personal Life
Call Number Folder Title Date(s)
1552-2-1: 5 Biographical Information 1925-1972
1552-2-1: 6 Alfred T. Taylor 1894-1946
1552-2-1: 7 Howard Family Correspondence 1912-1962
1552-2-1: 8 Photographs 1912-1965
1552-2-1: 9 Notes Undated

Series: Professional Life
Call Number Folder Title Date(s)
1552-2-1: 1 History 1959-1968
1552-2-1: 2 Scope 1942-1964
1552-2-1: 3 Union 1952-1966
1552-2-1: 4 Administration 1967