Author Archives: wolferk

William E. Baxter, Sr. and William E. Baxter, Jr. Collection (Collection 265)

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Scope and Content

William Edgar Baxter, Sr. (Jun 29, 1881 to May 21, 1973) was one of the founders of the Inter-American Division. At the time the division was organized he became Caribbean Union president. Later he filled a similar post in Central America. In 1901 he entered the ministry in the Oklahoma Conference. He was president of the Arkansas Conference from 1913 to 1917. During his 37 years of overseas mission service he served in Jamaica, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Colombia, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. His trek with C. B. Sutton to Mount Roraima in search of the Davis Indians sparked the imagination fo Adventists around the world. (See Review and Herald, Aug 16, 1973).

William Edgar Baxter, Jr. (Jul 25, 1916 to May 28, 2006), the son of W. E. Baxter, Sr., is best remembered as a pioneer missionary pilot. Fluent in Spanish, the son of missionary parents also devoted his life to overseas mission service first in Colombia and Venezuela, and later in Mexico as head of the Theological Department at Montemorelos. For many years he had a dream of being a flying missionary. In 1953, with the financial assistance of private organizations such as The Quiet Hour, Liga, Missions Unlimited, and Amistad, he pioneered flying missionary work in the Huichol regions of Mexico to meet humanitarian needs there.

This collection contains the personal papers of William Edgar Baxter, Sr. and Jr. A large portion of the collection are diaries of both father and son.

Arrangement

The arrangement is generally chronological for the diaries. This collection was arranged by the Center for Adventist Research.

Provenance

This collection was donated to the Center for Adventist Research by the Adventist Aviation Association in 2007.

Use

All users of this collection will complete the “Application to Use Unpublished Records,” and observe the regulation specified in the “Patron’s Agreement” and “Researcher’s Code of Conduct.” All records in this collection are open and available for research. Suggested citation for this collection:
Box ___, Fld ___, William E. Baxter (Collection 265), Center for Adventist Research, James White Library, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI.

INVENTORY

I. William E. Baxter, Sr.

Personal Documents

Biographical Information

Bx 1 Fld 1 Personal Identification Cards: 1925, 1933, 1934.
Passports issued 1949, 1957.
Sustentation Fund Application
Diary

Bx 1 Fld Davis Indians Diary: Trip to Mt. Roraima, 1925.
Attached also, “Davis Indians of Guyana.”

Bx 1 Envelope 1: Diary 1923
Envelope 2: Diary 1924
Envelope 3: Diary 1925
Envelope 4: Diary 1926
Envelope 5: Diary 1928
Envelope 6: Diary 1929
Envelope 7: Diary 1930
Envelope 8: Diary 1931
Envelope 9: Diary 1932
Envelope 10: Diary 1933
Envelope 11: Diary 1934
Envelope 12: Diary 1935
Envelope 13: Diary 1936
Envelope 14: Diary 1937
Envelope 15: Diary 1938
Envelope 16: Diary 1939
Envelope 17: Diary 1940
Envelope 18: Diary 1941
Envelope 19: Diary 1942
Envelope 20: Diary 1943
Envelope 21: Diary 1944
Envelope 22: Diary 1945

Bx 2 Envelope 1: Diary 1946
Envelope 2: Diary 1947
Envelope 3: Diary 1948
Envelope 4: Diary 1950
Envelope 5: Diary 1957
Envelope 6: Diary 1958
Envelope 7: Diary 1959
Envelope 8: Diary 1960
Envelope 9: Diary 1961
Envelope 10: Diary 1963
Envelope 11: Diary 1964
Envelope 12: Diary 1966
Envelope 13: Diary 1967
Envelope 14: Diary 1968
Envelope 15: Diary 1969
Envelope 16: Diary 1970
Envelope 17: Diary 1971
II. William E. Baxter, Jr.

Personal Documents

Biographical Information

Bx 2 Fld 1 “In Memory of William E. Baxter, July 25, 1916 – May 28,
2006. Born to Serve,” Sonona Seventh-day Adventist
Church, July 8, 2006.” A biography of W. E. Baxter,
Jr. is included in the program sheet.

Bx 2 Fld 2 Photocopies of Personal Identification Card, Jan 1948.
Photocopies of Medical Certificate, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1972,
1974, 1977, 1979.

Diary

Bx 2 Envelope 1: Diary 1938
Envelope 2: Diary 1939
Envelope 3: Diary 1940
Envelope 4: Diary 1941
Envelope 5: Diary 1942
Envelope 6: Diary 1943
Bx 3 Envelope 1: Diary 1945
Envelope 2: Diary 1950
Envelope 3: Diary 1952
Envelope 4: Diary 1953
Envelope 5: Diary 1954
Envelope 6: Diary 1955
Envelope 7: Diary 1956
Envelope 8: Diary 1957
Envelope 9: Diary 1958
Envelope 10: Diary 1959
Envelope 11: Diary 1960
Envelope 12: Diary 1961
Envelope 13: Diary 1962
Envelope 14: Diary 1964
Envelope 15: Diary 1965
Envelope 16: Diary 1966
Envelope 17: Diary 1967
Envelope 18: Diary 1968
Envelope 19: Diary 1969
Envelope 20: Diary 1970
Envelope 21: Diary 1971
Envelope 22: Diary 1972

Bx 4 Envelope 1: Diary 1973
Envelope 2: Diary 1974
Envelope 3: Diary 1983
Envelope 4: Diary 1984
Envelope 5: Diary 1987
Envelope 6: Diary 1989
Envelope 7: Diary 1991
Envelope 8: Diary 1992
Envelope 9: Diary 1993
Envelope 10: Diary 1994
Envelope 11: Diary 1995
Envelope 12: Diary 1996
Envelope 13: Diary 1997
Envelope 14: Diary 1998

Topical Files

Bx 4 Fld 1 Aviation. Materials includes
2 Photographs of Convair XFY-1.
4 Pictures of Air Force One published by the Ronald
Reagan Presidential Library Foundation, Simi
Valley, California.
Some Newspaper Clippings on Aviation.
Bx 4 Fld 2 Flight Log, 1978.

Bx 4 Fld 3 Flight Plans, 1978 to 1980 (Spanish).

Photography

Bx 4 Fld 4 Description from the back of the photographs:
“Foto taken 1/29/53. Original (and first) landing strip
among Huichols. This one 800′ long ending at
thatched “govt.bldg” seen at end of strip.”
“Foto taken 2/17/53. I’m on the wing of the Navion.
Gov. Pascual Pinopde la Cruz profile mid-win. I
negotiated 2 rolls of bar bed wire in exchange for
‘juanita.’”
“Foto taken 2/20/53 in Ryan Navion 205.
Student nurse Esther Aguila accompanied me on this
rescue flight.”
Photocopies of Photographs
“Photograph taken Jan. 30, 1953. On the left in white
shirt and suspenders, Pastor Juan Plenc North Mexican Mission President & also a graduate nurse. In pith helmet, Dr. Mario Mendoza, M. D. Huichols in native garb observe. Pastor Pedro Rascon stands behind horse. Bill Baxter is the photographer.”
“Photograph taken Feb. 17, 1953 of Juanita Cruz the
burn victim in a hut at Tuxpan de Bolanos. Dr. Mario Mendoza is attending her.”
“Photograph of the three surviving members of the
original ‘foursome’ who flew into Tuxpan de
Bolanos on Jan. 29, 1953. This picture was
taken March 12, 1998 when at the invitation of 6 Huichol Indian chiefs Pastor Pedro Rascon, Pastor/Pilot Bill Baxter & Dr. Mario Mendoza, M.D. convenned near the same spot where they had landed 45 years before!”

Audio-Visual

DVDs

Bx 4 Fld 5 “Saved to Serve: William E. Baxter (July 25, 1916-May 28,
2006) and His Works Follow Him!”

Ben Shoun giving the devotional talk at the Ellen White Issues Symposium on March 25, 2013.

Successful Ellen White Issues Symposium on March 25, 2013

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The purpose of this symposium is to break new ground in understanding Ellen White and issues relating to her life, ministry, and prophetic gift that have current importance. The structure of the symposium had some elements of academic formality. Papers were presented with a prepared response followed by a brief responses from the presenters. The papers presented will later be published in a journal that will be available at a reasonable cost. At the symposium were available the published presentations from the previous symposiums. Forms were provided to attendees to give them an opportunity to submit questions. These questions were later discussed as part of the Current Issues Discussion at end of the afternoon.

The first speaker of the morning was Benjamin Schoun, general vice-president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists; he gave the devotional talk. James R. Nix, director of the Ellen G. White Estate, was unable to participate due to travel inconveniences, and Nicholas Miller, Professor of Church History, read Nix’s paper, “‘Sickly, Slobbering, Idiots’ and the Story of Albert E. Horsley,” in his place. This inspiring story received a good response despite the author not being present. Theodore Levterov, director of the Ellen G. White Estate Branch Office at Loma Linda University and Assistant Professor of Religion and Theological Studies, his paper was entitled “The Development of the Seventh-day Adventist Understanding of Ellen G. White’s Prophetic Gift, 1844-1889.” Alberto Timm, Associate Director of the Ellen G. White Estate, is a specialist in the development of Seventh-day Adventist doctrines and theology. He presented a paper entitled “Development of Contemporary Issues Related to Ellen G. White.” The final paper presented that afternoon was from Jiří Moskala, and his paper was entitled “Can a Prophet Err?” The last event of the afternoon was the Current Issues Discussion facilitated by Dr. Merlin D. Burt, professor of Church History.

Current Issues Discussion facilitated by Dr. Merlin D. Burt.

Current Issues Discussion facilitated by Dr. Merlin D. Burt.

We look forward to seeing you at the next Ellen White Issues Symposium. Though this will be an academic symposium it is our intention that it also provide spiritual encouragement and inspiration for those who attend.

Tapestry found at the Center for Adventist Research.

A peek into the Archives

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In preparation for the 75th anniversary of the James White Library the Center for Adventist Research has been sifting through our artifacts to find items from our collection that don’t often get displayed because of the logistics of doing so securely and in a way that will preserve the item.

One such item is a tapestry that was donated to the Center some time ago. It is fragile condition and would require special care to display.

Detail from tapestry found at the Center for Adventist Research. It is a close-up of a man in armor looking up intently.

Detail from tapestry found at the Center for Adventist Research.

The centuries old cloth fibers have faded over time. As we opened up the tapestry we could smell the dust and decay. The muted colors of yellows, browns and greens blended together at first glance the central artwork with its border.

Detail of tapestry at Center for Adventist Research

Detail of tapestry at Center for Adventist Research

Then details soon called for attention. The intricately woven leaves in the border embraced musical instruments and flowers. Each graphic element representing some idea or thought. With an experts review we could learn their significance. The workmanship was evidenced in the nuanced expressions on the faces of the people featured in the tapestry. Scene is a moment of action frozen in time. One man is about to mount his horse.

Detail of tapestry at Center for Adventist Research

Detail of tapestry at Center for Adventist Research

Art Dmytriyev, a graduate student at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, digitizes rare and fragile books on the Indus book scanner.

Digitization Projects at the Center

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What do the Monterey, Michigan SDA Church record book, the Advent Shield and Review from 1844-45, and A Sketch of the Christian Experience and Views of Ellen G. White with Hiram Edson’s signature on the cover have in common? All these items were digitized last month by the CAR digitization team! Things have really changed and we are excited to see the results.

At the beginning of the year, we purchased a Kodak sheet-fed scanner that has allowed us to scan loose pages and cut books at a rate of 30 pages a minute (front and back)! We are using this machine to scan the books that we can cut and to digitize the White Document Files (see insert). The software allows for each scan to render two images, one in color for archiving, and one in black and white to compile into a format that will enable it to be read online.

To date this machine has produced over 2,500 files that have been subsequently attached to our library catalog. We are currently working to scan the entire collection of 2,700 White Document Files.

In May 2012, we purchased a flatbed camera scanner that allows us to digitize items that are more fragile, such as our vault books and other rare manuscripts. An item, such as a book, is placed on the platform and a sheet of glass is lowered over it. The scanner then makes a pass over the item with bright LED lights and takes a picture. The software is then able to crop out the borders and render a perfect scan of the item. We spent a few months testing and getting the kinks out, and we are now in full production with the goal of digitizing the entire vault collection of books. It takes about 10 seconds to scan a two-page spread, with the post-processing of compiling the images into a format to be read online taking about 10 minutes for the average size book. Last month we produced 210 items to attach to the catalog, comprising 6,000 images, most of which were vault materials.

Our goal has always been to preserve our precious materials, but with the advent of the new equipment, we are now able to make the materials we scan quickly available to our patrons. While not all of the items we scan will be attached to our catalog due to copyright laws, we hope to provide our patrons with a much wider selection of digital materials within the next year.

To browse our growing collection of digital titles, visit our library catalog at http://andrews.edu/library and type “Andrews Digital Library” in the search box.