Archives of the PAOC

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Click on the "Featured Story" button above to read a new story about the Gospel Boats ministry taken from the Archives Vault.

The task of the Archives department is to preserve the records of the past for the benefit of the present and the future. Not only do we learn from the past, but we are inspired by what we learn.

The PAOC Archives was established in 1981 under the supervision of General Secretary Charles Yates. Dr. Ron Kydd was called upon to organize and lay out the guidelines. All our general officers have strongly advocated the cause of preserving the past. Extensive contributors to the Archives have been G.F. Atter, Earl Kulbeck, James Montgomery and a host of other Pentecostal leaders. Margaret Rogers was the able Director until her retirement in 1986. Douglas Rudd served as Director until 1998. Then James D. Craig, assisted by Dorothy Raymer, served as Director until February 2003. Since March 2003, Marilyn Stroud has served the Archives on a half-time basis to assist with the daily requests from researches from around the world as well as searching out important historical documents for the International Office. Under General Secretary-Treasurer David Ball, a committee was formed in 2000 to advise and facilitate in the expansion and upgrading of the PAOC Archives. One of the first major projects was the preservation process for all issues of The Pentecostal Testimony from 1920 to 2001. Because of the deterioration of the older copies, it was felt necessary to preserve the Testimony on a 12-set CD with a searchable format so every issue could be used for extensive research on topics relating to current issues, opinions and teachings of the PAOC.  These CDs are available for sale from the Order Desk of the PAOC for $149.95 plus shipping and handling.

Early Pioneers of the PAOC:

These photos show only a small example of the research opportiunites available to you when you want to find out more about the many early pioneers of the PAOC. We have extensive documentation, personal letters and writings available on many of these great men and women of God who led the way in the formation of what the PAOC is today.

 

  1. Andrew H Argue   2. Annie Cressman   3. C. E. Baker and Wife    4. "Daddy" Baker in his shop



What We Do:

We compile and preserve materials in our state of the art repository. As part of the work of the Archives, we ensure that details such as dates, names and events are correctly recorded. It has been said that our pioneers were so busy making history that they did not have time to record it! As a result, some of our history has been lost or is in sketchy forms. When it came time to record events years after the fact, accurate dates were lost and some of the details were forgotten. We are working hard to capture our history as it happens today. Any contributions you can make to the past would be greatly appreciated. Donations including early Pentecostal magazines, books, pictures of churches, people and events, biographies and outstanding testimonies can be of great value to the Archives. If you are able to donate any of the above or other material please contact our office to make arrangements for transfer to the Archives.

What we preserve

We preserve everything of historical value including conference minutes, important legal documents and correspondence, publications, church histories, biographies, personal papers, records of our missionary outreach and personnel, District Conferences, Bible Colleges, camp meetings, benevolent institutions, photos, books, manuscripts, theses, audio and visual tapes and films, artifacts, etc. They are then processed and placed in acid free containers and placed in the repository so they can be used for future research.

What Archival Resources are Available to You:

When you arrive at the Archives, you will have access to a reading room, a 12-disk set of CDs of The Pentecostal Testimony-1920-2001, the original charter of the PAOC from 1919, books and pamphlets written by PACO clergy and members, year books from PAOC Bible Colleges and Seminaries, photos of Conferences, camps and celebrations, significant artifacts, photos of credential holders, churches, missionaries, mission fields, Bible Colleges and Seminaries and a  900 sq. ft. climate-controlled repository which preserves the historical documents in acid-free cases on specially designed metal shelving.

Who Uses the Archives?

•  Researchers, students and others wanting information on the PAOC, the growth of Pentecostalism, or information on histroical individuals.
•  The General Officers and Staff of the International Office who are investigating PAOC history or current topics for discussion papers or needed statistics for reports.
•  Churches, pastors and lay people researching background information about the church and its former pastors.
•  Local churches and pastors who wish to preserve the history of the church by donating artifacts and materials foir safe-keeping.

Everyone is welcome! Visit our Website at <www.paoc.org/About Us/Archives>  Call us for an appointment or email your request. We would be very happy to assist you in any way we can. The Archives is open in the afternoons, Monday to Friday. Call us at 905-542-7400 to make an appointment.

INTERNATIONAL OFFICE ARCHIVES

2450 Milltower Court, Mississauga, Ontario L5N 5Z6

Telephone: (905) 542-7400

Fax: (905) 542-7313

E-mail: archives@paoc.org