There are a lot of Adventist History ephemera, photographs, manuscripts, and books that are in archives, libraries, research centers, and vaults of entities that index and catalog. These places can be categorized as “the zoo.” Other items are “in the wild” and are unknown to researchers as of yet. Church basements, family member’s attics, and dusty boxes in used books stores, contain treasures waiting for researchers exploring Adventist history.

Diane Fickett, a church member in the Northern New England Conference, from Friendship, Maine, talked with Merlin Burt and decided to give Adventist historical items in her possession to the Center for Adventist Research. She gave the book “Beautiful Living,” which is signed by S. N. Haskell; a photograph of Charlotte Bourdeau, wife of A. C. Bourdeau; and also a photograph of six unidentified men, possibly related to the Bourdeau family.

Augustin (A. C.) Bourdeau (1834-1916) was a pioneer French language evangelist, conference president, and missionary to Europe. In his early ministry he was closely associated with James and Ellen White.

Stephen (S. N.) Haskell (1833-1922) was an evangelist and an administrator having an impact on many areas including church organization, missions, and education.

“It is exciting to see how many important Adventist historical materials are out in people’s hands. They don’t always appreciate the significance of what they have. I hope that they give thought so that things don’t get lost to posterity,” said Merlin D. Burt, director of the Center for Adventist Research.

Katy Wolfer, Special Projects Manager / Katy enjoys traveling and contemplates in her spare time where she’d go if she had her own sailboat.