Collection Details:

Collection Name and Number: Edwin William Ford Ministerial Record (Z/2152).
Creator/Collector: Edwin William Ford.
Date(s): 1887-1920.
Size: 0.30 cubic feet.
Language(s): English.
Processed by: MDAH staff.
Provenance: Gift of Donor, of Place, State, on Date; Z/U/XXXX.XXX.
Repository: Archives & Records Services Division, Mississippi Department of Archives & History.

 

Rights and Access:

Access restrictions:  Original volume is extremely fragile and is restricted for preservation purposes. Microfilm copy must be used instead (Microfilm Roll 36604).

Publication rights: Copyright assigned to the MDAH. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to Reference Services. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the MDAH as the owner of the physical items and as the owner of the copyright in items created by the donor. Although the copyright was transferred by the donor, the respective creator may still hold copyright in some items in the collection. For further information, contact Reference Services.

Copyright notice: This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code).

Preferred citation: Edwin William Ford Ministerial Record (Z/2152), Mississippi Department of Archives & History.

 

Biography/History:

Edwin William Ford

Edwin William Ford married Annie Graham Mecklin of French Camp, Choctaw County, Mississippi, on January 14, 1892. The couple had seven children: Edwin G. (b. ca. 1894), Bessie M. (b. ca. 1897), Gus H. (b. ca. 1900), Mary J. (b. ca. 1902), Annie R. (b. ca. 1905), Edwina L. (b. ca. 1907), and Mahalah (b. ca. 1911). The Ford family was living in Winona, Montgomery County, Mississippi, by 1920.

During his fifty-year career as a Presbyterian minister, Ford preached in churches across Mississippi, primarily in Adams, Carroll, Holmes, Newton, and Smith counties. He also served as president of the board of trustees of French Camp Academy, and he was the stated clerk of the Central Mississippi Presbytery. Ford died at the age of 80 in Goodman, Montgomery County, Mississippi, on January 7, 1945. He was interred at Goodman Cemetery.

 

Scope and Content Note:

The sermons section (1887-1920) lists sermon topics, biblical texts cited therein, and places where they were delivered. Ford also remarks on the size of congregations and how sermons were received. The funerals section (1888-1920) lists the name and age of the deceased, funeral date, place of interment, and remarks on the character of the deceased. The marriages section (1893-1918) lists the names, ages, and occupations of the betrothed, wedding date and place, wedding fees, and remarks on the parents and religious upbringing of the betrothed. The presbyteries, synods, and assemblies section (1891-1918) lists the date, place, and moderator of various religious meetings and includes remarks on individual meetings. The baptisms section (1891-1916) lists the name and age of the baptized child and the date and place of the baptism. Included are parents names and remarks on the health of the child.

There are annotations throughout the volume on the ministerial career of Ford, including those supplied by his daughter, Judith Ford. Also included are letters inviting Ford to be the minister at Fayette Presbyterian Church in 1898 and at Canton Presbyterian Church in 1911.

 

Series Identification:

Series 1: Original Ministerial Record. 1887-1920. 0.13 cubic ft. 
This collection consists of a bound Presbyterian ministerial record and accompanying materials of Edwin William Ford of Goodman, Montgomery County, Mississippi. The indexed volume contains sections for sermon topics, as well as records of funerals; marriages; presbyteries, synods, and assemblies; and baptisms.

Box 1: original (restricted).

 

Series 2: One 35 mm. positive microfilm roll of Edwin William Ford Ministerial Record.  
Microfilm Roll Number 36604.