Collection ID: LMC 2646
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Collection context

Summary

Creator:
Claxon, Neville, 1915-1998
Abstract:
The Claxon mss. II, 1937-2004, consists of the personal papers of Baptist missionaries William Neville and Emma (Osborne) Claxon.
Extent:
7 Boxes
Language:
Materials are in English and French .
Preferred citation:

Claxon mss. II, Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.

Background

Biographical / Historical:

Emma (Osborne) Claxon, 1912-2008, and her husband (William) Neville Claxon, 1915-1998, were first posted to the Gold Coast (now Ghana) in 1948 and were later stationed in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Dahomey (now Benin). Upon their original departure from the United States, the Claxons were accompanied by their then three-year-old daughter, Carol Ann; son William Neville, Jr. was born while the family was stationed in Nigeria. In the 1970s the Claxons studied French in France before moving to French-speaking Benin. After retirement in 1981, Emma and Neville spent their first few months in their original home town of Russellville, Kentucky, did some mission work in Florida, and then moved to Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, where they lived for eleven years. In 1992 they sold their home in Kentucky and moved to Bloomington, Indiana, where daughter Carol was a faculty member in Indiana University's School of Journalism.

Scope and Content:

The Biographical series includes biographical writings, educational information, passports, and other personal documents, which provide background information about the Claxons themselves. The Correspondence series contains some letters from the Claxons and many by acquaintances and colleagues affiliated with the Baptist church and mission. (Most family letters are contained within the first Claxon mss collection.) There is also a topical file of correspondence related to the effects of the United States' Civil Rights movement on African nations. Frequent correspondents include T. A. Akande, Edgar H. Burks, Bob Couts, Edna Frances Dawkins, Gaines S. Dobbins, Cornell Goerner, I. N. Patterson, M. Theron Rankin, George W. Sadler, and Carl F. Whirley.

The third series, Subject Files, contains materials related to the Claxons' professional endeavors as Baptist missionaries in various African countries, as well as their daily life, travels, and activities within the United States. Subject files are divided into four subseries: Nigerian Baptist Training Union, Nigeria Mission, Benin Mission, and General. The Nigerian Baptist Training Union subseries provides a record of Neville's role as secretary—the highest position in the training union—through which he helped to improve religious education and maintained active communication with churches throughout Nigeria. The Nigeria Mission subseries documents the Claxons' general mission work in Nigeria. The Benin Mission subseries documents the Claxon's role in establishing and advancing the Baptist mission in Benin. The General subseries contains subject files documenting the Claxons' other undertakings; these include files related to shorter mission appointments outside of Nigeria and Benin, jobs and activities pursued in the United States while on furlough, travel documents, materials from various churches (including Neville's home church in Switzer, KY), and documentation of mission-like endeavors pursued after retirement to the United States, including work with Haitian immigrants in Florida.

The fourth series, Writings, is divided into two subseries: Sermons and additional religious materials; and Additional writings. The first subseries includes a large number of sermons, religious messages, talks, and notes for speaking engagements composed and used by Neville Claxon. (Most of these materials are in English; however, there is also a group of French sermons used during the Claxon's work in Benin. Some of the French-language materials may have been reused during mission work with Haitian immigrants.) The second subseries contains articles, datebooks, memoirs, meeting notes, and documents written for radio and television work in Nigeria.

A series on Conferences includes pamphlets, programs, notes, travel documents, and other materials related to various Baptist conferences attended by the Claxons. The final series, Photographs, contains photographs taken by and of the Claxons; almost all photographs depict mission work and life in Africa.

Acquisition information:
Acquired: 2006
Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into the following series: I. Biographical; II. Correspondence; III. Subject Files; IV. Writings; V. Conferences; VI. Photographs.

Physical location:
ALF (Auxiliary Library Facility)

Access

RESTRICTIONS:

This collection is open for research.

Many collections are housed offsite; retrieval requires advance notice. Please make an appointment a minimum of one week in advance of your visit.

TERMS OF ACCESS:

Photography and digitization may be restricted for some collections. Copyright restrictions may apply. Before publishing, researchers are responsible for securing permission from all applicable rights holders, then filling out the Permission to Publish form.

PREFERRED CITATION:

Claxon mss. II, Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.

CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
1200 East Seventh Street
Bloomington, Indiana 47405-5500, USA
CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
CONTACT:
(812) 855-2452
liblilly@indiana.edu