Olin W. Nail Papers
Scope and Contents
Correspondence, sermons, church publications, printed materials, and photographs, 1888-1969 (2.9 linear feet). The majority of the materials are sermons that Nail delivered at Texas churches between 1915 and 1964. Among the places he preached were China Springs, Smiley, Lavernia, Kempner, Harlandale, Pearsall, Travis Park Church, Elgin, Weslaco, Lampassas, Sterling City, Carrizo Springs, Mathis, Donna, Denver Heights, Aldersgate, Falfurrias, Cordele, SMU, and St. John’s Baptist Church. Each sermon has on its top right corner the date and the name of the city in which it was preached. The biographical information on Olin Nail within the collection is divided between his own life and family (with several photographs and a statement of insurance), and his wife, Mrs. Nail. Relating to his education is a copy of his dissertation. Church related papers abound within the collection including pamphlets from churches where he preached, the number of members for each church, and Sunday service programs. Other publications include articles he wrote for The Southwestern Advocate, History of the West Texas Conference, and Methodism Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow. The collection also includes an original recorded tape of a sermon entitled “Why the Light Failed” which Nail delivered at a dinner in Falfurrias.
Dates
- 1888 - 1970
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Southwestern University Distinctive Collections and Archives is the owner of the physical materials in the collections and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from SU Distinctive Collections and Archives before any publication use. Distinctive Collections does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners. Consult repository for more details.
Biographical / Historical
Rev. Olin W. Nail was born to Daniel and Martha Jane Nail in China Springs, Texas, near Waco, on June 12, 1890. He volunteered for the ministry on March 14, 1909, was licensed to preach in May that same year and delivered his first sermon at Coon Creek on July 11, 1909. He was made a deacon in 1913 and an elder in 1917. Nail received four degrees from Methodist schools, including a doctorate of Theology. He joined the West Texas Conference in 1924, and served Texas churches for forty years.
Dr. Nail wrote numerous articles on Texas Methodism and prepared a short history of the Methodist church in Texas that dealt especially with church accomplishments after 1900. This history appeared in the Handbook of Texas issued in 1958. He married Mary Crowson on September 30, 1915, and they had two children. Rev. Olin Nail died in 1970 at age 80.
Extent
2.9 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the SU Special Collections & Archives Repository