Guide to the Elder Family Papers
Open for research.
To browse this collection's digitized content visit Pearl.
Materials marked "Digital" in the Collection Inventory may not have been digitized in their entirety.
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.
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.
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, circa 1920s-1970s (Box 1 Folders 7-8)
SERIES IV: Photographs, circa 1920s-1970s (Box 1 Folders 9-15)
To browse this collection's digitized content visit Pearl.
Materials marked "Digital" in the Collection Inventory may not have been digitized in their entirety.
The Presbyterian Historical Society holds additional resources related to this collection:
Researchers should also consult accession 15 0923 SPP 124 (Elder Family Photographs) for additional materials related to the Elder family. Catalog record.
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.
| 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 | |
| 1 | 3 | Newsletters, 1948-1963 | |
| 1 | 4 | Newsletters, 1955-1958 | |
| SERIES II: Ruth Elder, 1927-1960 | |||
| 1 | 5 | Correspondence, 1942-1957 | |
| 1 | 6 | Reports, 1927-1960 | |
| SERIES III: Miscellany, circa 1920s-1970s | |||
| 1 | 7 | Clippings, 1950s? | |
| 1 | 8 | Miscellaneous items, circa 1920s-1970s | |
| SERIES IV: Photographs, circa 1920s-1970s | |||
| 1 | 9 | Mission/Workers Conferences, 1923-1935 | Digital |
| 1 | 10 | Mission/Workers Conferences, 1937-1960 | |
| 1 | 11 | Interchurch Christian Literature Bldg. & Staff, 1938-1963 | |
| 1 | 12 | Harsin/Palestine, 1920s-1970s, 1923 | |
| 1 | 13 | Kermanshah/Hamadan/Tehran, 1920s-1970s | |
| 1 | 14 | Iran Mission Slides, 1932, 1951-1952, 1958 | |
| 1 | 15 | Miscellaneous Photos, 1920s-1970s |