The entire collection is subdivided into the following series:

Series: Historical Files. There are brief descriptions of each of these subseries below:

Arrangement: The arrangement of the collection has remained in the order as it was received from the donor; the actual ordering of the subseries largely remains as it was received, but the archivist made some adjustments. Original file folders were replaced with acid-free folders. Folder titles have also been retained as they were received on the microfilm targets, except that inconsistencies have been made to conform with the predominant labeling by the archivist. Spanish folder headings are retained on the targets; English translations have been used in the Container List. All targets have been retained in their folders. For undetermined reasons, the date ranges on the targets for numerous files do not coincide with their corresponding folder contents; as the discrepancies frequently extend beyond a year or two, possibly files were added to or subtracted from files following their being microfilmed. While the files in each subseries are arranged alphabetically, exceptions to this do occur; the files have been retained in the order in which they were received in order to coincide with the microfilming order. Duplicates were removed from the Historical Files series. Documents were stamped with sequential numbering in preparation for filming; gaps in the numbering also suggest the weeding of the files prior to their transfer to the Archives. The files are arranged by subject, and then alphabetically within that subject, although there are many variations.

Date Range: 1920-1985; most of the documents are pre1974

Volume: 36.25 linear feet

Boxes: 1-77

Geographic coverage: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Panama and Peru

Type of documents: Administrative correspondence, minutes, reports, internal memos, financial reports, policy statements, planning documents, promotional material, "Blue Books" (divisional organizational manuals)

Subjects: the origins, activity (primarily in Colombia and Costa Rica) and administrative restructuring of Latin America Mission.

Notes: All of Series I consists of the original accession of files to the Archives from LAM, as described when the collection was first processed and document the mission’s history up to about 1973. The other series document the mission’s history largely after 1973.

The Archives has both many original documents and a microfilm copy made of them, although there are originals not on the film and many documents on the film which were not sent to the Archives. The records are arranged in the following subseries:

LAM's operation and ministry were most focused in Costa Rica. The records reflect this in that various series distinguish between institutions operating in Costa Rica, while the records for institutions operating in Colombia were consolidated under the Colombia series. The researcher should be aware that the majority of the documents in the series I document an organization undergoing structural change, and division titles may therefore change. The Historical Background of this guide illuminates some of these changes.

Microfilm. Latin America Mission began microfilming its records in 1982. During that year, LAM sorted and filmed those records which comprise the first accession of this series (reels 7-26), as well as the records which were filmed and then disposed of or retained by the donor (reels 1-6). Staff continued to sort, arrange and weed out records in 1983 and 1984. During 1984 and 1985, the filming of the second set of materials was carried out, comprising those records sent to the Archives in 1984 (reels 27-42). The third filming of documents occurred in 1986 (reels 43-49). The forty-nine reels of master negative microfilm which resulted from this total project were given to the Archives in December 1990. A positive user copy of the first 28 reels was produced by the Archives in 1991; a positive copy of the remaining reels was produced in December 1992.

Some file folders were annotated with the sorting or culling date, as well as filming date, and the position on a specified reel, i.e. Reel 32:7 meaning the seventh file on Reel 32; in some cases, the actual location of the file on the reel differs from the number assigned during the filming, i.e., file 32:7 is noted on the filmed target as 32:9, suggesting that two files which were in the original order were numbered but not filmed. There is no indication on the film about these missing files. In some cases, the range of filming frames was also noted on the file folder. Notes on file folders indicated that the material in them had been "culled" in 1982 and 1983, suggesting they had been weeded prior to microfilming. Most of the paper documents were stamped with a number prior to filming; the gaps in the sequential numbering suggest that not all documents filmed were transferred to the Archives.

The contents of the records on microfilm replicate the contents of the paper documents, with the following exceptions: 1) Reels 1-6 consist largely of the records of the Field Executive Bodies and the Early Administrative Files subseries. These records were filmed and then apparently discarded prior to the transfer of paper records to the Archives. 2) The Colegio Monterrey subseries, Evangelical Alliance of Costa Rica subseries, and Seminario Biblico subseries are minimal in the paper records, but significantly more extensive on the microfilm version of the records.

The researcher should also be aware that the filming order does not always follow the order in which the files were received. Supplementary files were filmed together and appear consecutively on the film. However, the files of documents of supplementary records, however, were integrated into the various subseries and therefore do not correspond with the order of the filming.

The quality of some of the first microfilming was somewhat suspect, or the record was incomplete; therefore some supplementary filming was done in 1985 which appears on reels 39 through 42. Reels 43 through 49 consist of documents (primarily from the other subseries) identified as confidential. These documents were removed from the other subseries for separate filming; these confidential documents do not exist in paper form in the Historical Files series.

Subseries: Historical Files | Field Executive bodies (1941-1971) (folders 1-1 through 20; reels 1:1 through 4:7, 40:1 through 40:21, 43:1)

These records consist primarily of meeting minutes of LAM's executive bodies on the mission field: the Inter-Field Council (IFC); the IFC's executive committee called the Quorum Inter-Field Conference (Q IFC), whose full title was the Quorum Resident in Costa Rica of the Executive Committee of the Inter-Field Conference of the LAM, later named the Inter-Field Council Executive (IFC X); and the Colombia and Costa Rican Field Councils, and the Colombian and Costa Rican annual mission meetings. In a hierarchical arrangement, the bodies related to one another as follows:

Subseries: Historical Files | Association of Bible Churches of Costa Rica (AIBC, 1939-1972, bulk 1950-1972) (folders 1-21 through 4-7; reels 7:1 through 9:14 40:44 through 40:46, 43:3)

This series records the development and activity of the organization founded in 1945 by those congregations which developed from LAM's church planting work in Costa Rica, documenting both the at the overall level and that of individual congregations. Subjects covered include administration, finances, outreach, pastoral assignments, publication of the Association's periodical, Vocero, obstacles to establishing healthy independent churches, Evangelism-in-Depth, building projects, role of the laity, policies, church-mission relationships, and reorganization of the AIBC. Key LAM figures identified in the meetings and correspondence are Mike Berg, Bill Brown, Franklin Cabezas, Horace Fenton, Wilton M. Nelson, Paul Pretiz, and R.K. Strachan. The documents in this subseries are written predominantly in Spanish. Exceptions are the English minutes from Council meetings in folders 1-23,24, and most of the contents of folders 4-1,2,3,4,5.

Subseries: Historical Files | Editorial Caribe (1944-1973, bulk 1952-1972) (folders 4-8 through 10-6; reels 10:1 through 11:21, 40:47 through 40:55, 43:4)

This subseries thoroughly covers the planning, finances, production and distribution, business, and ministry areas of activity of LAM's literature division. Policy and decision-making is particularly prominent in the Advisory Board's minutes (folder 4-8). Folder 4-11 includes a 1960 version of the division's history. "Blue Books" were divisional organizational manuals; a draft of and discussions about the development of the Editorial Caribe's "blue book" is included in folder 4-11, as are another history of the division and several organizational charts. The ministry and business of the division's bookstores in Costa Rica, Panama, and Spanish-speaking New York, are widely documented. The production of major Bible study tools drew on the resources of Eugene Nida and the American Bible Society (folder 6-6). Other correspondence with Nida is located in folder 7-1. The evaluation process utilized from Christian Service Fellowship is documented through the application and intermediate correspondence in folder 9-1. An actual copy of the evaluation is not available, but a detailed summary of its findings and recommendations is. Files which record analysis of function and restructuring of the division are folders 9-7,8,9,10. The cooperative efforts of Editorial Caribe with a number of evangelical agencies in publishing Christian literature in Spanish is documented in folders 10-1,2,3,4,5,6. The following were either major correspondents or participants in Editorial Caribe planning and activity: Clayton L. Berg, Hal Cocanower, Horace Fenton, W. Dayton Roberts, and R. Kenneth Strachan.

Subseries: Historical Files | Escuadron (1946-1970) (folders 10-7 through 11-4; reels 12:1 through 12:12, 40:56 through 40:58, 43:5)

The Escuadron documents consist of reports, minutes, correspondence, curriculum, financial records, organizational charts, evaluations, and promotional materials related to LAM's ministry among high school students. Folders 10-7, 8 provide a summary of decisions and actions made between 1948 and 1958, along with documentation of the relationship between the mission and Escuadron; discussion of this issue is covered in this and other Escuadron files. There are some documents in Spanish, particularly among items produced for use with the boys or in training leaders, and following the nationalization of the program in 1958. The major correspondents and in Escuadron were Joseph Coughlin, Horace L. Fenton, W. Dayton Roberts, Bob Sabean, R. Kenneth Strachan, and Charles Troutman.

Subseries: Historical Files | Pre-Minamundo and Minamundo (1946-1972, bulk 1962-1970) (folders 11-5 through 12 10; reels 12:13 through 12:33, 40:59 through 40:60, 43:6)

This subseries includes correspondence, reports, financial records, organizational charts, documenting LAM planning and philosophy for ministry among university students, chiefly from 1961 to 1971. MINAMUNDO was the title given to ministry among high school and university students. Pre-Minamundo was an internal term developed to identify ministry among students during the 1940s and '50s. While a few documents record activity during the 1940s and '50s, the subseries is principally focused on the origins and early life of Minamundo in the 1960s. Joe Coughlin's reports are among the pre-Minamundo files, also including information on the Escuadron program. A concentrated summary of the planning phase is available in folder 12-10. Extensive correspondence, both within LAM and between the mission and Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) and Inter-national Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES), document these organizations' efforts at cooperation (folders 11-8,9,10). Because LAM's upgraded program among university students overlapped work carried out by IFES, issues of cooperation, loans of staff and areas of responsibility had to be discussed in order to minimize ambiguity and conflict. These very comprehensive files detail cooperation among evangelical agencies carrying on ministry with students. The restructuring of the mission which occurred in 1971 also had an impact on the mission's work among students as well, documented in Folder 11-11. Folder 12-4 includes correspondence on relationships with these and other organizations, including Campus Crusade for Christ, Youth for Christ, and MEC (Movimiento Estudiantil Cristiano, Latin American version of the Student Volunteer Movement). While the bulk of the material in this subseries relates to ministry among students in Costa Rica, a geographical contrast is provided by material on work in Colombia (Folder 12-9). Spanish documents are sprinkled throughout the subseries, but English documents predominate. Folder 11-12 includes a letter from Francis Schaeffer expressing his concern about theological trends in the evangelical community, specifically as expressed in an article by LAM administrator Horace Fenton. LAM correspondents in the subseries include Lester Burton, Joseph Coughlin, Horace Fenton, Tom Hanks, Leon Headington, David Howard, Juan Isais, Benton J. Melbourne, W. Dayton Roberts, Bob Sabean, R. Kenneth Strachan, and Charles Troutman. Among the IVCF correspondents are C. Stacey Woods, and mission secretaries David Adeney and Eric Fife; IFES correspondents include Woods, Wayne Bragg, and Rene Padilla.

Subseries: Historical Files | Roblealto (1949-1972) (folders 11-11 through 13-22; reels 12:34 through 13:22, 40:61 through 40:65, 43:8)

This subseries consists of correspondence, reports, promotional material, minutes, organizational charts which document the planning and operation of the mission's camp, orphanage and farm. The subseries is divided among the camp, orphanage and farm, yet as the history of Roblealto suggests, these are all progressively more interrelated. Only in 1966 were the administration of the camp, orphanage and farm brought together under the heading "Roblealto," but because they were consolidated, they are formed as a subseries.

Several Spanish terms are used in the documents. As noted in a promotional brochure, "'finca' means 'farm' and may refer to anything from the orphanage alone to our 200 acres of cows, coffee, bananas and children." "Granja" is translated "farm," but appears to refer only to the poultry farm.

Administrative issues covered include personnel, development of property and facilities, relationships with LAM, the Association of Bible Churches of Costa Rica, other evangelical agencies, and funding. The two periods of restructuring (1962-1963 and 1966-1968) are focal points for the records. Folder 13-14 includes documents which make clear the organizational transition in 1966, when the incorporation of the various ministries under the title Roblealto occurred. In addition to operating camps for Latin American young people, Roblealto also provided an occasional English-speaking camp for children of missionaries and others; a report by Wayne Bragg describes these in 1957 (folder 12-16). As an aid to development and fund raising, several memorial projects were established, including one in 1960 in memory of Christian Service Brigade staff worker Les Burton, who died in 1956 (folder 13-8). As with other subseries, the Roblealto documents have Spanish documents interspersed through it. Key correspondents in the subseries include Dorothy Andrews, Joseph Coughlin, Horace Fenton, David Howard, Donald Longworth, Benton Melbourne, Paul Pretiz, W. Dayton Roberts, Bob Sabean, R. Kenneth Strachan, and Charles Troutman.

Subseries: Historical Files | Colegio Monterrey (1955-1971) (folders 14-1 through 14:5; reels 16:1 through 17:1, 40:82 through 40:85)

The subseries contains correspondence, minutes of board meetings, reports, financial records, statistics, an organizational chart, by-laws, program evaluations, promotional materials, graduation programs and forms, which cover the administration, staffing, students and enrollment, board membership, fiscal operation and facilities development of the high school in Costa Rica. Reviews and newspaper articles criticizing the school are included, along with subsequent response and program changes. Many of the documents in this subseries are in Spanish. The majority of this subseries exists only on microfilm; the exposure quality varies within the subseries. The predominant correspondents include: Clayton L. Berg, Horace L. Fenton, Kenneth G. Hood, Victor Monterroso, Wilton M. Nelson, Paul Pretiz, and W. Dayton Roberts.

Subseries: Historical Files | Alianza Evangelica Costarricense (1944-1972) (folders 14-6 through 14-9; reels 16:18 through 17:2, 40:86 through 40:88)

As with the preceding subseries, the majority of the Alliance records are only preserved on the microfilm copy of the LAM records. The documents which comprise the subseries include correspondence, reports, incorporation documents, historical summaries, minutes, statistics, assembly programs, and lists. Among the subjects covered are Alliance activities, planning, cooperation, administration, and the Goodwill Caravans. The materials in the folders 14-6, 7 include information on the joint administration of the Alliance, attitudes toward ecumenism (particularly in reference to a World Council of Churches offer to supply materials and funds for Cuban refugees), and cooperation with the Christian Action Committee and the Alliance's Rural Work Committee (assist pastors and congregations increase their effectiveness in an agricultural country). Included in the file are promotional pieces for the Good Will Caravans and the Hogar Biblico (Bible Home), and a history of the Caravans project.

Principal correspondents in the subseries include Horace Fenton, Paul Pretiz, W. Dayton Roberts, R. Kenneth Strachan, and various Association members. Most documents are in Spanish.

Subseries: Historical Files | Good Will Caravans (1962-1973) (folders 14-10 through 15-4; reels 17:3 through 17:9, 40:89 and 40:90)

This subseries, predominantly in Spanish, includes correspondence, reports, statistical and financial reports, promotional materials, and organizational charts for the mobile medical and education units. Folder 14-14 includes a recommendation report, "Suggestions for a Working Relationship with Missions and Indigenous Churches in Latin America." LAM's cooperation with FARMS Inc. related to agricultural projects, while that with MAP International was of a medical nature. Folder 14-15 includes an extensive report, "Agriculture and Rural Church Work in Costa Rica," prepared by a Fuller Seminary student. Folder 15-1 includes the script for a slide presentation on the caravans. The principle correspondents in the subseries are Horace Fenton, David Howard, Gareth Miller of FARMS Inc., Paul Pretiz, Grace Roberts, and W. Dayton Roberts.

Subseries: Historical Files | Clinica Biblica (1929-1971) (folders 15-5 through 17-6; reels 17:10 through 17:27, 40:91 through 41:4, 43:13))

This subseries consists of correspondence, memos, reports, minutes, statistics, organizational charts and financial records, documenting the administration, operation, funding and public relations aspects of the hospital, for the most part between the years 1955 and 1968. As in the other subseries, the Bible Clinic files record the mission's attempts to nationalize the administration and work of the hospital. Folder 15-5 contains several statements of mission rationale for the medical ministry. The focus of the subseries tends to be toward the period of reevaluation and transition to the hospital's oversight by Servicios Medicos. Folder 16-7 documents a visit by MAP personnel (Medical Assistance Program) in order to evaluate the program and make recommendations. Folders 17-1,2,3,4,5 document this process directly. In addition, an entire file is devoted to the history of the Clinic (See folder 15-10). The subseries contains some Spanish documents. Principle correspondents are: Marie Cameron (hospital doctor since 1930), Thomas Cherry (LAM Costa Rican Field Administrator), Horace Fenton, David Howard, Benton J. Melbourne, Paul Pretiz, W. Dayton Roberts, Ladison Saylor, and R. Kenneth Strachan.

Subseries: Historical Files | Seminario Biblico (1927-1972) (folders 17-7 through 19-13; reels 27:1 through 29:??, 41:54 through 29:42, 41:54 through 42:18, 43:19)

The Seminary subseries is made up of correspondence, minutes, curriculum materials, schedules, accreditation materials, reports, incorporation documents, promotional material, financial records, press releases, the seminary prospectus, publications, lists, etc. The topics covered include the Seminary's history, academic affairs, administration, faculty, students and enrollment, curriculum development, accreditation, association memberships, planning, cooperation with other institutions, activities, its correspondence course, board membership, fiscal operation and facilities development of the school. One third of the subseries is available in a hard copy; the other two-thirds are available only on microfilm. Several items of interest: the subseries includes correspondence with Ralph Winter about the Training Union of Greater Colombia (TUG, folder 17-13). Folder 17-16 includes the paper, "The Relationship of Correspondence Courses to Evangelism-in-Depth." The Harry Strachan Lectures featured guest speakers at the Seminary. Correspondence and arrangements with those participating as lecturers included John Mackay (and accompanying questions about his theological liberalism), Eugene Nida, Vernon Grounds and Jose Miguez-Bonino (reel 29:8 and folder 19-6).

Records included only on microfilm greatly expand the documentation of the Seminary's operation and activity, covering academic affairs, administration, its correspondence course and other programs, promotion, publications, student affairs and faculty.

The major correspondents in the subseries are Clayton Berg, Plutarco Bonilla, Horace L. Fenton, Richard Foulkes, David Howard, Ruben Lores, Wilton Nelson, W. Dayton Roberts, and Charles Troutman.

Subseries: Historical Files | Colombia (1932-1972) (folders 19-14 through 25-6; reels 18:1 through 19:21, 41:5 through 41:10, 43:14)

Unlike the previous subseries which distinguish between various aspects of ministry in Costa Rica, the Colombia subseries brings together the records documenting the various ministries in the country. The subseries contains correspondence, reports, memos, financial reports, church membership and financial statistics, all documenting the work of LAM and its affiliated congregations in the country, principally between 1949 and 1972. The files record administration of the mission's work, evangelistic outreach, finances, relationships with national Christians and their integration into the mission, personnel matters, etc. The files offer a thorough view of mission internal communication and decision-making related to the demanding work of establishing thriving congregations with committed trained leadership. Folders 19-14, 15 and 20-1, 2, 3 cover the complete range of mission business in the country, including the host of routine details and documentation on personnel issues, local churches, country-wide trends, finances, and the administrative restructuring occurring during the last half of the 1960s. The breadth of the subseries enables the researcher to view some of these issues from a variety of perspectives and levels.

The minutes of the Association of Evangelical Churches of the Caribbean (folders 20-4,5,6,7,8) are almost exclusively in Spanish. The folders of AIEC correspondence and reports (21-1,2), largely in English and covering the same time period, shed some light on the workings and decisions of this body. An occasional letter from David Howard and later Dick Boss to a senior mission administrator can be found, containing a report of issues addressed by the Association; these become somewhat more frequent during the 1960s. The issues discussed in these files relate to conditions and problems in local congregations, personnel problems, association leadership, the Evangelism-in-Depth program, church property, and the licensing of lay ministers. Folder 21-1 includes a 10/31/60 letter from David Howard on appropriate attitudes toward converted men who have relationships with more than one woman, particularly with regard to church leadership and participating in the sacraments. Several subjects are addressed in concentrated doses, such as Pentecostalism (or the charismatic movement) and the relationship between the mission and the national church. In 1963 and 1964, and again in October 1967, incidents of Pentecostal manifestations were occurring in congregations. Discussion of the situation, which involved mission leadership and supporters, is documented in folders 19-15 and 20-6, 7. As these manifestations were occurring within the context of local congregations, folder 21-3 provides additional background. Folder 23-2 further documents the mission's consideration of this matter. The subject of church/mission relations was being widely discussed in 1962 and 1963 (folders 19-15 and 20-6).

The operation of the Evangelical Missions Officers Council (EMOC), and the somewhat broader Evangelical Confederation of Colombia established in 1950 are documented in folders 22-1,2,3,4. These bodies were dedicated to coordinating efforts and minimizing overlap and competition among mission agencies in the country; the group also formed to address in a unified way the persecution of Protestants. Clyde Taylor, General Director of the National Association of Evangelicals (U.S.) and Executive Secretary of the Evangelical Foreign Missions Association (EFMA) is among the correspondents whose writing is in these files. In the late 1960s, the issue addressed in the file (folder 22-4) is the influence of the communists in Colombia. The files touch on a variety of matters from mission agency perspective at a country-wide level, including education, politics, and services. Among the items in this group of files is a statement of the recommendations of EMOC's Comity Committee with a variety of clauses agreed upon by the members. Also included is a record of discussion about LAM's membership in EMOC and CEDEC, focusing on issues of ecumenism and separatism, since CEDEC's membership included a suspect mainline denomination. The status of Protestants in the predominantly Roman Catholic country was an issue of growing concern. Included in folder 22-1 are the Spanish text and English translation of "The Concordat," an agreement between a Colombian president and Pope Leo XIII in 1887, which was ratified by a Colombian legislative body in 1888, establishing Roman Catholicism as the national religion of the country. The files also include numerous bulletins prepared by CEDEC on persecution in Colombia. The 1953 "Convention of Missions," an agreement between Colombia's president and Pope Pius XII, further strengthened Catholic dominance in the country; an additional twist in the situation involves US support of the Colombian school system through aid funding. There is limited reference throughout the subseries to the persecution Protestants were facing in the country; the most consolidated documentation of this can be found in folder 24-9. With the conclusion of widespread persecution in the early 1960s, other issues received CEDEC attention, including the United Biblical Seminary of Colombia in Medellin. A subject of discussion in 1967 was the participation of CEDEC members in the Evangelism-in-Depth program. Folder 22-4 contains a 1968 "Census of Protestant Church Members in Colombia." The files are primarily in English, although the minutes from meetings are entirely in Spanish.

Relationships with other missions working in the country is covered in folder 23-10, including those with non-evangelical or ecumenical groups, Southern Baptists, Mission Aviation Fellowship, Presbyterian Church USA and several other interdenominational agencies. Folder 23-14 contains a 1967 edition of "History of the Latin America Mission in Colombia, 1937-1967." A similar report, "A History of Primary Schools in Colombia, 1937-1967," in folder 25-3 documents the emergence of LAM's provision of Christian education for children.

Key correspondents in the Colombia subseries include: Marian Chapman, Horace L. Fenton, Ernie Fowler, Pedro Gutierrez, David Howard, William Lester, Robert Reed, W. Dayton Roberts, Helen E. Shute, R. Kenneth Strachan, Pearl M. Thompson, and Charles Troutman.

Subseries: Historical Files | Mexico (1962-1973) (folders 25-7 through 25-10; reels 13:23 through 13:25, 40:66)

This brief subseries (correspondence, minutes, reports, financial reports) documents the origins and early development of LAM's ministry in Mexico. Juan Isais, Dave Howard, R. Kenneth Strachan, Charles Troutman, Horace Fenton, W. Dayton Roberts, and Harry D. Burke ("Spearhead" director) were the primary correspondents in this subseries. There are an approximately equal number of English and Spanish documents in the files.

Subseries: Historical Files | Panama (1952-1971) (folders 25-11 through 26-4; reels 13:26 through 13:32, 40:67)

As in the Mexico subseries, the documents (correspondence, minutes, reports, financial reports) in this subseries record the incorporation of LAM's work in Panama (both in the forms of its bookstore and radio station HOXO), and development of the ministry there. The subseries includes one letter from Clarence Jones, co-founder of World Radio Missionary Fellowship and radio station HCJB (folder 25-11) and discussion of legal issues. Folder 25-13 records the findings of the 1958 meeting, and consolidates information on mission activity in the country carried out by various Christian agencies and denominations; attention was given to the history of mission work on the isthmus, existing LAM work at the bookstore, radio station and among West Indians, and recommendations for further development of the work there. Folder 26-4 should not be overlooked because of its title "Miscellaneous". Included in it are documents on partnership vs. "Latinization" models of integrating indigenous leadership into LAM's ministry, lessons the mission could learn from the relationship between Panama and the United States, and the legal status of expatriates in the country. As with other subseries, Spanish documents are included here as well, although they do not predominate. Key correspondents in the subseries are: Bob Beukema, Fred Denton, Horace Fenton, John A. Mawhinney, Paul Pretiz, W. Dayton Roberts, R. Kenneth Strachan.

Subseries: Historical Files | New York [City] Project (1954-1968) (folders 26-5 through 26-10; reels 13:33 through 13:37, 40:68)

This subseries (correspondence, minutes, reports, financial reports) documents the beginning and growth of ministry among Hispanic Americans, including reports on meetings with Hispanic pastors and status reports on the various components of the project. The series predominantly covers the time period up to 1960. Spanish documents are included in this subseries. The key correspondents are: Horace Fenton, Leon Headington, Juan Isais, John A. Mawhinney, W. Dayton Roberts, and R. Kenneth Strachan.

Subseries: Historical Files | Communications (1945-1972) (folders 26-11 through 32-6; reels 14-1 through 15:27, 40:69 through 40:81, 43:9 through 43:12)

The Communications Division subseries consists of correspondence, reports, memos, organizational charts, statistics, financial records, press releases, meeting minutes and promotional material, documenting LAM's planning and activity in the operation of radio stations TIFC, HOXO, YNOL and YSHQ, radio broadcasting cooperation as part of CCP and DIA, involvement in television outreach, cooperation in literature production through LEAL, and magazine publishing in VERBO. An historical summary of the division as of 1966 is available in folder 26-13. Each of the subseries contains some documents in Spanish. The following individuals were key participants in discussion documented in most or all of the subseries: Horace Fenton, Paul Pretiz, W. Dayton Roberts, and R. Kenneth Strachan.

General. An initial general subseries contains materials which broadly document the Division's activity. The expansion of radio ministry into various countries between 1955 and 1969 is recorded in folders 26-15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23. A number of special projects coordinated by the Division requiring cooperation with other organizations and/or fund raising are documented in folders 26-27,28,29,30,31,32. Particularly noteworthy is the Division "Blue Book" or organizational manual, which includes goals, policies and an historical summary (folder 26-13). Also of particular interest is material in folder 26-28, documenting the planning and implementation with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of the short-lived Hour of Decision radio program in Spanish, including correspondence with Cliff Barrows; some additional internal evaluation is also located in folder 32-6, written several years after the program was discontinued. Correspondence about availability of an inter-field communication system was carried on with Jim Vaus, an ex-convict who was later converted during Billy Graham's 1949 Los Angeles Crusade (folder 26-24). A single folder (27-2) documents consideration of and opportunities to enter TV broadcasting by the mission. Key correspondents in this subseries in addition to those noted above include: Bill Herzog, David Solt, and William Wortman.

TIFC. Materials in this subseries document the planning and operation of LAM's Costa Rican radio station, including discussion of programming, technical matters, listener response, promotion, personnel, relationships with other organizations, expansion into television broadcasting, and funding. For historical perspective, folder 27-4 includes a mid-1960s historical overview of the entire division, while folder 28-3 includes a short history on the station. Notables: folder 27-4 contains a 1962 report on the potential for commercial operation of radio station TIFC; folder 27-7 includes the division "blue book;" folder 27-13 contains an analytical report by International Christian Broadcasters in 1966 on the market in which TIFC was broadcasting, TIFC's effectiveness within that market, and recommendations for implementation. Some documents in the TIFC subseries are in Spanish. Key figures in the operation of TIFC reflected in the records are Franklin Cabezas, Federico Picardo, and David Solt.

HOXO. Like the TIFC subseries, the HOXO subseries documents the planning and operation of the radio station in Panama, with additional emphasis on the joint sponsorship of the station which emerged between LAM and World Radio Missionary Fellowship in 1954, and LAM's transfer of responsibility entirely to WRMF in 1963. Reflecting the rise of anti-American sentiment during the early 1960s, the status of missionaries in the country is also treated. A copy of a creative project on the history of HOXO, located in folder 28-8, draws together a great deal of information on the origins, development and key participants in the station's operation, during and beyond the period of LAM's sponsorship of the station. The subseries contains some documents in Spanish. The key participants reflected in the subseries are: Bob Beukema, William Bibee, Fred Denton, Howard Erickson, Bill Herzog, and Clarence Jones.

YNOL. While this subseries is less substantive than the two previous ones, it nonetheless records the origins and operation of the radio station in Nicaragua. Documentation of the planning phase with its feasibility studies and reports predominates. There are Spanish documents in the subseries. In addition to the key correspondents for the entire subseries, David Solt was a key participant in YNOL operations.

YSHQ. This subseries is also brief, beginning and focusing on the record of the station's history during the planning stage, but including some information on the radio station's early operation in El Salvador.

DIA. This subseries includes documentation on Difusiones Inter-Americanas (translated Inter-American Communications) and its predecessor, Cadena Cultural Panamericana (CCP, translated Panamerican Christian Network). The files generally address the administration of CCP/DIA, LAM's membership in it and organizational support of and contribution to it. Among the materials in folder 29-5 are notes from the conference at which CCP was organized and its initial "code of regulations" and a report, "The Challenge of Gospel Broadcasting in Latin America," prepared for the Congress at which DIA emerged. "Facts About DIA" is a helpful booklet in folder 30-2, containing a statement of faith, staff, membership, services, and constitution. Folder 29-13 contains correspondence from Donald Grey Barnhouse. The 1959 Congress is documented, along with two subsequent meetings in Huampani, Peru (1962 and 1967); these files document both planning and Congress proceedings and decisions. The key participants in CCP and DIA as reflected in the records were Clarence Jones, Robert Remington, Robert Savage, and Hugh Worsfold.

LEAL. This subseries records the emergence of Literatura Evangelica para America Latina (translated Evangelical Literature for Latin America), its administration and LAM's participation in its operation. Discussion of LEAL's health and value of continuation appear throughout the subseries, particularly in folder 30-11. The LEAL subseries includes records from the 1955 conference called by Evangelical Literature Overseas at which the LEAL-concept was born, and the constitutional convention a year later at which LEAL was formally organized. The key participants as reflected in the LEAL subseries were Vergil Gerber (LEAL executive secretary) and James Johnson (Evangelical Literature Overseas or ELO).

VERBO. This subseries documents the origin, short life and suspended publication of the magazine during which time LAM was a co-sponsor with Conservative Baptist Foreign Mission Society. There is interesting interchange on cooperation with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Firstly, consideration was given to featuring Billy Graham in VERBO at the time of his Caribbean Crusade in 1958 (See folder 32-4). Consultation with LAM on the feasibility of launching a Spanish version of DECISION magazine is documented in folder 32-6, as well as developing a distribution network for the publication; an internal memo exploring alternatives targeted for a general non-Christian audience is included in folder 31-13. Key correspondents include Jose Bongarra, Alec Clifford, Vergil Gerber, Rufus Jones (CBFMS), Paul Sheetz, and Kenneth Taylor.

Subseries: Historical Files | Public Relations (1946-1972) (folders 32-7 through 43-9; reels 20:1 through 23:27, 41:11 through 41:22, 43:15)

This subseries consists of correspondence, memos, reports, financial records, annual reports, stationary, news releases, brochures and other promotional materials, newsletters, prayer letters, scripts, advertisements, related to LAM's efforts at the mission-wide level to develop and maintain support for its work among American evangelicals. Documented in the subseries are the philosophical discussions of what methods the mission wanted to use and how it wanted to be perceived, the role of deputation in presenting the mission to the evangelical public, and the actual planning and production of various means to accomplish its public relations goals. The groups identified to be targets of these projects include prayer and financial supporters, the general evangelical public and press, and potential missionary candidates. The subseries provides a record of criticism the mission received (folder 43-6), often related to issues of theological conservatism or liberalism.

Folder 32-7 includes annual programs for public relations, detailing proposed publications and projects. In addition to information distributed through its own publications, LAM also coordinated information on its activities in other publications (see folder 32-8). Folder 34-4 contains a copy of "You and Your Deputation Work," from 1952. LAM's philosophy and practice of using audio-visual media is documented in the files on films, filmstrips, etc. (folders 34-8 through 35-13. The production of films required LAM to work with other evangelical agencies, including the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's World Wide Pictures on Caribbean Crusade, and Westminster Films on Unfinished Business and Colombia Conflict. In some cases, scripts and viewer survey results are included for the corresponding film. Folder 36-4 includes an evaluation of LAM's donors and fund-raising methodology. Folder 37-4 brings together promotional pieces which also outline LAM history. 39-3 includes a detailed summary outlining the history of Latin America Evangelist. Folder 39-13 consists of books created to involve children in understanding LAM's missionary work, incorporating stories, cartoons and questions. The principal correspondents in this subseries are: Horace Fenton, David Howard, John Kenyon, Mary Anne Klein, Jane Pain, Paul Pretiz, W. Dayton Roberts, and R. Kenneth Strachan.

Subseries: Historical Files | Evangelism (1944-1972)

The breadth of this subseries provides the opportunity to observe LAM's evangelistic efforts over twenty-five years. The ssuberies contains several general background files (folders 43-10 through 43-18, and 55-5 through 57-5) which span the duration of entire evangelistic effort of the mission, as well as files documenting outreach in particular countries, giving the researcher both broad and narrow views of LAM efforts. LAM's thorough planning in preparing for campaigns and Evangelism-in-Depth programs throughout the region is well recorded, including planning proposals, statements of philosophy, materials used, reports on meetings, and plans for follow-up. The subseries is divided into two subseries: Pre-Evangelism-in-Depth Campaigns and Evangelism-in-Depth. The subseries includes many documents in Spanish, a much higher proportion of which will be found in the Evangelism-in-Depth subseries.

Pre-Evangelism-in-Depth Campaigns (1944-1958) (folders 43-10 through 44-31; reels 24:1 through 24:29, 41:23 through 41:40, 43:16). This subseries consists of correspondence, reports, minutes, financial records, public relations materials related to the mission's evangelistic program from the late 1940s through 1958, at which time individual campaigns with a professional evangelist were discontinued and the Evangelism-in-Depth program (E/D) was begun.

During the pre-E/D campaign phase of LAM's history, professional evangelists were enlisted, including opera performer Anton Marco (see particularly folder 43-13). Communication with other individuals who participated (E.S. Alphonse, Rogelio Archilla, Alfredo Colom, Israel Garcia, Mariano Gonzalez, Eliseo Hernandez, Ernesto Leon, Jose Morales, Roberto Navarro, J. Edwin Orr, Ben Saint, and Phil Saint) is documented in folder 43-16. Use of these and other individuals is documented in specific countries throughout the Campaigns subseries. Examples of tracts can be found in folder 43-14. Each of the country files includes correspondence and reports on individual meetings. Folder 44-5 contains correspondence from Abe Van Der Puy and Clarence Jones.

The culmination of the campaign phase was Billy Graham's early-1958 tour of the Caribbean and Central America, during which Graham held meetings in Costa Rica, Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Venezuela, Trinidad, Barbados, Jamaica and Puerto Rico. The record of the campaign (folders 44-29, 30, 31) extends back to the early planning phase, which began in mid-1952. BGEA correspondents include Jerry Beaven and Joe Blinco, with letters written to Billy Graham and Grady Wilson.

Principal correspondents in the subseries include: Iner Basinger, Horace Fenton, Jonas Gonzalez, Juan Isais, Ruben Lores, W. Dayton Roberts, R. Kenneth Strachan, William L. Thompson (Campaign Division Director). David Howard coordinated Billy Graham's crusade in Mexico. Correspondence with other LAM staff in each of the countries is also included. Correspondence with representatives of other missions active in South and Central America is also included in the files for campaigns for particular countries.

Evangelism-in-Depth (E/D, 1948-1972) (folders 44-32 through 57-16; reels 24:30 through 26:19, 30:1 through 32:27, 37:3,9 through 37:14, 39:12 through 39:15,22, 43:30). This subseries, like the campaign subseries, includes records at both the entire program and country by country levels.

Country level. The files at the country level may include correspondence, financial records, committee minutes, press releases, publicity materials, press coverage, follow-up evaluation, copies of the official national Spanish language newspaper, in most cases called En Marcha (in Ecuador, it was called Impacto), and in several cases, an English-language report to American supporters called Postmarked Colombia or Postmarked Peru. Most of the files include material prior to and following the formal program implementation, with the predominance of documentation during the period of the program. Copies of training manuals can be found in folder 51-3 (Bolivia), 52-12 (Ecuador), 53-2 (Guatemala), and 53-9 (Mexico).

Thinking. The general files document the transition, at both practical and theoretical levels, from the campaign to the E\D phase, covering the program, planning, philosophy, structure, materials, and international development. R. Kenneth Strachan's memo, "Implementing the Concept of Evangelism in Depth," is included in folder 55-5, along with responses received from senior LAM administrators. These files document an initial fertile period of reflection and planning, followed by implementation and refinement of the idea as LAM leaders surveyed opportunities in the region. E\D was an innovative program, and the subseries reflects the analysis and strategy and evaluation characteristic of such a period. One by-product of this was the publication of books. Folder 46-7 relates to the publication of four books on evangelism by LAM staff: Evangelism-in-Depth by various authors, Revolution in Evangelism by W. Dayton Roberts, The Other Revolution by Juan M. Isais, and The Inescapable Calling by R. Kenneth Strachan. Folder 49-2 gathers together various writings, particularly on topics relevant to E/D, such as "E/D in Relation to Theological Training," "E/D as a Theological Revolution," "Mobilization of Believers and Churches for Evangelism," "Theological Foundations of E/D," "Revolution and Evangelization in the Latin American Context," "From E/D to In-Depth Evangelism," "What Does it Mean to Evangelize Today?" and "In-Depth Evangelism: Method or Strategy?"

Evaluation. The debate referred to in folder 47-4 refers to the discussion carried on between a proposed published description of E\D by Strachan, and a response by Rev. Victor E. Hayward, providing a World Council of Churches view of evangelism with greater emphasis on the "ethical and social implications of the Gospel." The file includes a copy of Strachan's article, Hayward's response, and the correspondence related to International Review of Missions' attempts to publish the two pieces simultaneously. Also included is internal discussion of the publishing possibilities and the issues addressed in the debate. A copy of Strachan's reply to Hayward is also included. The process is well documented from a variety of angles.

A project solicited by LAM was an evaluation of E\D by author and missiologist, George Peters. The file includes pre-evaluation reports and correspondence, and Peters' report delivered at the 1968 IFMA-EFMA Winona Lake meeting, a post-evaluation internal analysis of Peters' report, correspondence with Peters on his findings, a record of the process of Peters' work of publishing his work in book form, and responses to the book. The file provides insight into not only the E\D program, but external and internal evaluations and feelings about it and relationships in evangelical mission/missiological circles. Also included is a copy of a paper on New Life for All, an indigenous Nigerian evangelistic movement.

The subseries helpfully provides an outside look at E/D as well as that from within LAM. An example of this is a thesis written on E/D, titled A Description and Evaluation of the Evangelism in Depth Program of the Latin American Mission (folder 57-1).

Training and implementation. Building support for and participation in E\D was a major component of the program. Folders 46-1 and 2 document the program developed to involve congregations in E\D and the impact of the program on congregations. The process of training pastors and lay leaders in the principles of E/D and helping them plan implementation in their countries and congregations is documented in folder 49-7 and 8, which contain a record of specific training and planning programs held in Costa Rica. Records for two workshops held in 1963 and 1966 provide some measure of comparison of workshops over time. Along with discussion among mission administrators about goals and implementation of the project, the LAM records also include the materials actually used in training pastors and their congregations to become practicing evangelists. These include the flip charts in English and Spanish for visualizing the instruction, along with an instruction workbook on the use of the flip chart.

Promotion. Folder 46-6 describes the development of a promotional book built around illustrations and brief narrative description of the program. The book itself is filed separately and described more fully in the Photograph Location Record of this guide. Included in the events described in folder 47-1 (almost entirely in Spanish) is a visit by Donald McGavran to a seminary in Mexico planned by Juan Isais, and discussion of the timing of the E\D program in Mexico, where Isais was based and served as LAM representative. One of the tools used in the program, both for training and promotion, was audio-visual production, such as filmstrips; scripts for these are available in folders 45-14,15.

Details of administration. Folder 47-7 offers an interesting glimpse into the identity and ownership of a program and its name. Because the E\D program had grown and "Evangelism-in-Depth" was a catchy phrase which was subsequently adopted by other groups for programs unrelated to LAM's E\D, the mission registered the name with the US Patent Office in 1966. The file documents both the registration process and communication between LAM and parties using the E\D name. A related interesting item is a 1961 memo from Horace Fenton to W. Dayton Roberts suggesting abbreviating "Evangelism-in-Depth" from "E-in-D" to "E/D", the abbreviation which became standard. (Folder 49-4).

Cooperation. The growth of the program was built on cooperation, and that interaction with numerous other evangelical and non-evangelical agencies is documented in folders 47-8,9. While some of the correspondence per organization is limited to one or two pieces, the range covers forty different institutions.

Folders 47-10,11,12,13,14 record the work of the committee established to coordinate evangelistic programs on a national scale in Latin American countries, Comite Latinoamericana al Servicio de la Evangelizacion (CLASE). Ruben Lores of LAM was CLASE's Secretary/Treasurer. Evangelical Foreign Missions Association (EFMA) was one of the meeting's sponsors, and correspondence in the CLASE files includes that with EFMA Executive Secretary, Clyde Taylor, and Assistant Executive Secretary, Wade Coggins.

OWED. With the development and experience with E/D in Latin America and subsequent interest throughout the world, LAM established the Office of Worldwide Evangelism in Depth (OWED). Folders 49-9 through 51-1 document the origins of the office, preliminary goals and organization, administrative and financial relationship to LAM, financial difficulties, and its operation. A 1967 theological consultation (folder 49-12) on evangelism included presentations on topics related to evangelism, such as conversion, the church, and cooperation vs. separation. This set of files contains a considerable record of the process of implementing of E/D in Africa, Europe, Asia, North America, Latin America, and Oceania, and with the emergence of OWED, how the efforts throughout the world were coordinated through the office. In the United States, E/D projects were established in Eastern Kentucky (referred to as the Appalachian region, includes On the March), Eastern Pennsylvania, New England, and DuPage County, Illinois. The files related to these programs also record the intersection with and contribution of OWED to these.

Other information on worldwide promotion and application is available in the international travel of Ruben Lores and Horace Fenton (folders 45-9, 10 and 11). Folder 48-3 contains reports on trips to oversee E\D projects in both South America (Chile, Brazil, Paraguay), Asia, Africa, North America, and various papers exploring the philosophical aspects of E\D, including its relationship to the church growth movement. A number of these papers were prepared by Orlando Costas. Folders 48-1,2 contain similar material, although they are mostly in Spanish.

A final portion of the evangelism subseries covers meetings, consultations and congresses with relevance for E\D and OWED (folders 57-6 through 57-16). Among these are the 1968 Asian-South Pacific Congress on Evangelism, Consultation of Evangelistic Strategy (COES), a series of meetings between 1968 and 1972, a Wheaton College Graduate School course in 1969, the 1969 Consultation on Saturation Evangelism in Montreaux, Switzerland, the 1969 U.S. Congress on Evangelism, the CLADE I and II meetings in 1969 and 1970, and an assortment of other meetings in which LAM had representation, including several Youth for Christ congresses, EFMA/IFMA joint conferences, the 1968 West African Congress on Evangelism, the 1969 Congo Congress on Evangelism, the 1970 Elburn Congress on Latin America sponsored by ECLA (the Evangelical Committee on Latin America, jointly established by EFMA and IFMA), and the 9th Urbana Missionary Convention in 1970.

Key correspondents in the subseries include: W. Dayton Roberts, Horace Fenton, David Howard, Charles Troutman, Ruben Lores, Scott Nyborg, and Charles Koch.

Subseries: Historical Files | Education (1960-1971) (folders 58-1 through 58:9; reels 29:43, 42:19 through 42:27)

This slim subseries brings together materials on the Training and Education divisions of LAM, the Education Division having developed from the Training Division, and including under its administration the Seminario Biblico, lay training, and other educational ministries of LAM. A more detailed record of these operations are available under their own subseries elsewhere in the Hisorical Files subseries. Correspondence, memos, blue books, statements of goals and philosophy, and reports comprise the subseries, which documents the transition from one to the other division during the restructuring period of LAM. A 10/12/71 memo (folder 58-8) documents the dissolution of the Education Department (as distinguished from the Education Division) in Colombia due to diminished work with primary schools and increasing independence by the Colegio Monterrey. Key correspondents in the subseries are Clayton L. Berg, David Howard, Wilton Nelson, and W. Dayton Roberts.

Subseries: Historical Files | Early Administrative Files (1920-1951) (folders 58:12 through 59:3; reels 5:1 through 6:32, 40:23 through 40:43)

This subseries consists of files of the early days of LAM and which had been maintained separately from the main body of records by LAM. Among the records are correspondence, lists, promotional materials, brochures, prayer letters, publications, memos, reports, constitutions and by-laws, and reports, etc. About two-thirds of this subseries is only on the microfilm, not the documents donated to the Archives. The topics covered include personnel issues, public relations, finances, relationships, programs in Costa Rica (seminary, Bible Home, clinic, radio station TICF, youth department, etc.), Colombia, and Panama.

Folder 58-16 includes a copy of the periodical Latin America Evangelization Campaign. Folder 59-2 included the program from the 1936 Primer Congreso Evangelico and the 1948 Congreso Evangelico del Caribe. An interesting set of letters is contained in folder 59-3 in which a supporting church questions the mission about the suspected theological liberalism of a LAM missionary.

Among the microfilm files are lists of missionaries and a notebook (folder "Personnel: Missionaries and national workers; 1924-1948," reel 6:1) arranged alphabetically listing station assignments, field absences, furloughs, vacations, illnesses and deaths. The LAEC/LAM public relations files (folder "Publicity materials; 1920-1948," reel 5:7) include prayer letters of Harry and Susan Strachan among others. A table arranged by missionary records information on supporters, receipts, salary and shortages (folder "Finances: Missionary support, student and orphan support; 1946-1948," reel 5:16). The launches referred to in several folder titles were a part of a river ministry project (Folder "Launches...," reel 6:14,15,16). The Youth Department section of the subseries refers only to Camp Roblealto (folder "Costa Rica: Ministries - Youth Department; 1948," reel 6:28). The "Historical Sidelights" file contains a 1955 version of LAM's history, written by W. Dayton Roberts (reel 6:30). Correspondence recording LAM's interaction with other agencies includes communication with Central American Mission, Christian Airmen's Missionary Fellowship (later Missionary Aviation Fellowship) and with C. Stacey Woods on behalf of Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship (folder "Inter-Mission relationships: Correspondence; 1931-1948," reel 6:32).

The primary correspondents in the subseries are R. Kenneth Strachan, William L. Thompson, Susan Strachan, Horace Fenton, and W. Dayton Roberts.

Subseries: Historical Files | Personnel and Field Administration (1932-1972) (folders 59-4 through 66-14; reels 33:1 through 35:42, 39:16 through 39:20, 43:23 through 43:27)

This subseries consists of correspondence, reports, memos, etc. documenting the administration of the mission as a whole, primarily from the United States office when based in New Jersey, and of the Costa Rica office in San Juan. The subseries includes several subseries: Candidates, Field, Annual Meetings, New Missionaries, Personnel, Finances, Affiliations and Relationships. A parallel subseries for both the New Jersey office and field office follows, addressing policy-level considerations, as contrasted with the operational ones of the present subseries.

Candidates. The candidates’ subseries documents the processing of applications to join the mission and the mission's search for prospective workers. Among the subjects covered are specific personnel needs, individual applications, candidate screening and consideration of psychological aspects, orientation, and candidate procedure and philosophy in general.

Field. This subseries documents the operation, maintenance and development of LAM's ministry, principally from its San Juan office. The files also document the function of the Field Committee within the broader LAM context. Among the committees documented in folder 60-5 are: Spiritual Life Committee, Committee on Housekeeping Budget, Committee on Hospitality, Planning and Review Committee, Policy Committee, Action Committee, LAM Communications Committee and Comisiones Para La Consulta. Folder 60-1 includes a 1963 organizational chart detailing the distribution of responsibilities in Costa Rica.

New missionaries. The New Missionary subseries (folders 61-3 through 61-16) documents the program of educating and preparing newly appointed missionaries for life within the mission and at their respective assignments. Included among the files are duplicated information provided to new missionaries and outlines from orientation sessions. The information on the orientation sessions provides an extended view of how the mission prepared its new workers for their missionary service, from the perspectives of language, culture, etc., and how the program changed to provide more thorough training.

Personnel. This subseries documents a variety of personnel concerns, primarily through correspondence and memos of policy, addressing issues including benefits, insurance, tax and social security, pastoral and psychological care, retirement and resignation, care and education of the children of missionaries, and similar related issues. Folder 62-25 contains a 1952 vintage booklet outlining expectations and responsibilities for missionaries doing deputation during their furloughs. Folder 62-1 contains various lists of LAM's members and their children. Several files (folders 63-3,4,5) address a concern to more thoroughly involve missionaries and support staff in evangelism; running parallel to this is a concern to be sensitive to the authority of the national church.

A number of files include information which address different aspects of relationships in the mission setting: between the mission and national church, missionaries and nationals, etc. Folder 61-14 documents the mission's attitude toward the Costa Rican church and its leadership, illustrating what it hopes to be their working relationship. Information on relationships with nationals in general is addressed in folder 62-6. Folders 62-17,18 document the Partnership Project, which addressed the issue of incorporating Latin Americans into the mission staff. The Partnership Project was developed in Costa Rica to Latinize the special ministries related to publishing, education, etc., with a long term goal of securing national financial support for these programs and the national church. Objections were raised based on the need to avoid mission support of national leadership and the national church. The file includes a 1960 evaluation of the program and a 1969 statement by Charles Troutman on the philosophy and practice of the idea.

Folder 63-14 details the development of plans for response by missionaries to various types of situations in Costa Rica, ranging from natural disaster to war. Folders 63-18,19,20,21 relate primarily to buildings, land and equipment owned by the mission. Although these are routine files, documents from the late-1960s and early '70s deal with the disposition of those things owned by the mission in view of the restructuring of the mission into CLAME.

Finances. This subseries documents the financial aspects of the operation of the mission, ranging from policy statements (folder 64-9) to practical matters, particularly in relation to avoiding soliciting of funds, fiscal reports, handling of gifts and donations.

Affiliations. The Affiliations subseries documents LAM's membership in several mission-related associations, primarily the Evangelical Foreign Missions Association (EFMA) and the Interdenominational Foreign Mission Association (IFMA). The process of growing cooperation between these two associations is also documented.

Relationships. This subseries contains documentation on the activities of other organizations. Because these represent evangelical, fundamentalist or ecumenical perspectives, they offer diverse positions on the value of cooperation in a mission environment. The files also record interaction LAM had with other agencies, particularly those more ecumenically-minded organizations. The interdenominational agencies referred to in folders 66-6,7,8,9,10 are principally those operating in the Central and South American sphere. Among them are: Bible societies, Bolivian Indian Mission, Central American Mission, Christian Literature Crusade, Evangelical Union of South America, Institute of Church Growth, Inter-American Missionary Society, International Christian Leadership, Medical Assistance Programs (MAP), Missionary Aviation Fellowship (MAF), Missions Advanced Research and Communication Center (MARC), Navigators, New Tribes Mission, Overseas Missionary Fellowship, Pocket Testament League, Scripture Union, Sudan Interior Mission, United World Mission, West Indies Mission, World Vision, and Youth for Christ. This discussion is often related to the sharing of ideas, requests for advice based on experience, and efforts toward cooperation and collaboration. Among the denominational groups are Brethren, Episcopalians, Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians. Included among the local ministries is the Costa Rica-based Spanish Language Institute. Mention is made of relations with other agencies elsewhere in this guide, including Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Evangelical Foreign Missions Association and Interdenominational Foreign Mission Association, Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship and International Fellowship of Evangelical Students, and World Radio Missionary Fellowship.

Principal correspondents in this subseries include: David Howard, Mary Anne Klein (Candidate Secretary), Horace L. Fenton, R. Kenneth Strachan, W. Dayton Roberts, Charles Troutman, and Paul Pretiz.

Subseries: Historical Files | New Jersey Office and Field Administration (1921-1973) (folders 66-15 through 70-8; reels 37:15 through 38:21, 39:23 through 39:28, 43:31 through 44:3)

This subseries continues the documentation of the administration of the mission, addressed to policy-level considerations, planning and decision-making, as opposed to the operational ones of the previous subseries. Correspondence, reports, memos, agendas, manuals, legal documents, etc. make up the subseries. Areas covered include philosophy of ministry, doctrine, regulations, legal matters, organizational structure and restructuring, and the Inter-Field Council and Inter-Field Council Executive.

Folders 66-15 and 67-1,2 contain various editions of what amounts to a statement of philosophy and practice, outlining objectives, activities, doctrine, administration and organizational hierarchy, personnel, and finances; some correspondence related to revisions of the statement is included. Parallels of the previous two policy statements can be found in folder 67-10; in addition to the consolidation of these, the file includes the division blue books, which were organizational manuals developed for each division. Missionary handbooks for both the Colombia and Costa Rica fields can be found in folder 67-9. The legal documents contained in folder 67-11,12,13,14,15,16 include those prepared at the time of Harold Strachan's death and document the transfer of authority and the subsequent reorganization of the mission. Extensive record of the discussion on the restructuring of the mission is documented in folders 68-1,2,3 beginning at the time of Strachan's death in 1945 through 1970. Folder 68-4 depicts in visual form the process of transition the mission was undergoing between 1958 and 1970.

Folders 68-5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 consist of communication among LAM administrators and staff. The subjects of the correspondence run from routine office and financial matters to policy related issues. Generally, the correspondence tends to become progressively more substantive. Included among the correspondents are Mrs. Harry Strachan (mission co-founder and co-director), Clarence E. Mason (mission president), William Thompson (Home Director), Mabel Gamewell (mission headquarters secretary), Margaret Neely (Costa Rica headquarters staff), R. Kenneth Strachan (appointed director with his mother following the death of Harry Strachan in 1945, later general director), Christine L. Thor (based in Costa Rica, possibly C.R. headquarters staff), Betty Helgesen (American Home Office worker), Helen Shute (furloughing missionary reallocated to American Home Office for secretarial duties pending appointment of Gamewell's successor), Edna Lionberger (temporary replacement pending appointment of Gamewell's successor), Pearl (Mrs. William) Thompson (apparently the permanent replacement for Gamewell as secretary), W. Dayton Roberts, Horace L. Fenton (Costa Rica field director), Jacob Stam (board member and formerly mission president), Charles Troutman, David Howard, Kenneth Hood (Home Director).

The Lay Missionary Fellowship files (69-12,13) record the thinking among LAM executives about encouraging lay witness by Christian professionals in Latin America, which later became commonly known as "tent makers". The "proposed projects" of folder 69-14 were various programs which were developed to some stage but discarded, including those in education, publishing, outreach to Chinese, relief and community development, and Bible distribution.

The restructuring of LAM which occurred in 1971 was part of ongoing exploration by the mission as to how to effectively spread the Gospel in Latin America while also working within the context of the Latin American evangelical church. The Restructuring subseries (folders 69-15,16 and 70-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8) records various aspects of LAM's reconfiguration into CLAME (Community of Latin American Ministries for Evangelism) in 1971. These files extensively document both the theoretical discussion of issues and the practical details of making the transition at the time of the reorganization.

Subseries: Historical Files | North American Councils and Boards (1933-1972) (folders 70-9 through 73-16; reels 36:1 through 37:8, 43:28 and 29)

This subseries consists of correspondence, minutes, financial and annual reports, internal memos, and incorporation documents for the United States and Canadian bodies of the mission. While the majority of Historical Files series documents the work of the mission from its headquarters and in Costa Rica and Colombia, this subseries focuses on the mission's administration in the United States and Canada and contribution to mission planning and decision-making.

The US General Council subseries (folders 70-9,,10,11,12,13,14) includes lists of those individuals who served as members, a record of the deliberations on developing the Council, and communication with members on issues vital to their duties. Among the documents in the Board of Trustees subseries (folders 71-2 through 72-3) are those which record the work of several of the Board's special committees (finance, the return of furloughed missionaries, and retirement; each of which had a financial component) and correspondence with Board members, including Horace Fenton, Philip Gammon, David Howard, Philip Howard, Ruben Lores, Clarence Mason, Robert C. McQuilkin, James Reapsome, Jacob Stam, William L. Thompson and others. The Canadian subseries includes incorporation records, correspondence, minutes and reports, recording the deliberations and activity of Canadians. Although LAM's fund-raising, public relations and candidate work in Canada preceded its incorporation in 1961, the majority of records document the work of the Canadian corporation or the Council's work during the transitional period from a divisional council to an autonomous corporation.

Subseries: Historical Files | Subject File (1927-1982) (folders 73-17 through 74-18; reels 38:22 through 39:11,30, 44:4 and 5)

This subseries appears to have been developed as a reference file, gathering together material on key issues affecting the work of the mission. These included the charismatic movement, ecumenism, church-state relations, cooperation, organizational mergers, missionary casualties, racism on the mission field, relations with Roman Catholics and other evangelical agencies, and histories of the mission. Also in this subseries are manuscripts of two papers (folder 74-18), one by R. Kenneth Strachan ("New Emphasis in Missions: What adjustment must the fundamentalist missionary movement make to adapt to the new world situation?” 1954) and Charles Troutman (Evangelicals and the Middle Classes in Latin America, 1970).

The subseries also includes the record on reel 44:5 of a small-scale history project carried out in 1980. Various people, largely LAM retirees or former staff were asked to respond to a series of open-ended questions about the mission, colleagues, and their personal role. The following were those who responded:

Subseries: Historical Files | R. Kenneth Strachan and Family Papers (1949-1975) (reels 45:1 through 46:8)

The papers in this subseries include those of R. Kenneth Strachan, his wife Elizabeth, and their children. R. Kenneth Strachan's correspondence includes routine communication, reviews of potential candidates and their applications to join the mission, interaction on events on the field, evangelism campaigns during the 1950s and the Evangelism-in-Depth program, and the planning for restructuring of the mission during the 1960s. Strachan's illness with Hodgkin's disease and subsequent death is recorded in his papers, as well as in the funeral notices and letters of condolence to either his family or the mission. Also included are notebooks of sermon outlines, sermon texts, and articles, largely on mission-related themes.

Elizabeth Strachan's papers are largely her correspondence with the US headquarters, much of it with Mary Anne Klein, but also include arrangements for her continued work with the mission following her husband's death. The childrens' papers consist of communication to and from mission executives, either of a personal nature or related to their education with which the mission was assisting. The file for Harry Strachan includes reference to his grad thesis on the mission titled Patterns.

Boxes 75 through 76 contain files related to the Strachan and Roberts’s family, including material about Harry and Susan's early ministry in Latin America predating the formation of LAM, the very early days of the mission, and the work of Kenneth Strachan, W. Dayton Roberts and Grace Strachan Roberts. Folders 75-6,7 contain some interesting diaries and letters from Harry and Susan's initial trips in 1920 to Costa Rica, Columbia, Honduras, Cuba, Venezuela and other countries.

Subseries: Historical Files | Individual Missionaries No Longer with LAM: Records and correspondence (1929-1985) (folders 58-10, 11; reels 40:22, 47:1 through 49:10)

The records comprising this subseries are for former LAM staff who were no longer affiliated with the mission at the time the records were transferred to the Archives, either due to resignation, retirement or death. The types of records found in the files may include pre-application and application forms, biographical essays, prayer cards and letters, administrative correspondence with headquarters, contracts with CLAME, inter-office correspondence, and letters of resignation and notices of death. The Container List of this guide identifies those individuals for whom a file was created. The subseries is divided into two similar parts: the first consists of paper copies (folders 58-10 and 11); the second exists exclusively on the microfilm. With the exception of one person, there are no individuals for whom there are files in both subseries.

Folders 58-10,11 are basically personnel files, containing correspondence with individual missionaries to and from the mission, a full list of which appears in the Container List of this guide. Much of the correspondence is with either William L. or Pearl L. Thompson, but also includes that from R. Kenneth Strachan, Horace Fenton and Jacob Stam. The nature of the correspondence is largely routine but ranges from expressions of interest in joining the mission, letters of recommendation written by those used as references by an applicant, letters of acceptance by the mission, travel and passport arrangements, policy violations, personnel problems, letters to a home church informing it of the reason for a candidates dismissal or rejection, an announcement of death, transfer of funds, arrangements while on deputation, offers of work, and letters of resignation. The subseries also includes a record of summer, short-term and temporary workers. Among these files are documents which record the internal communication and planning for and development of LAM's short-term program around 1960, a questionnaire from then-grad student Greg Livingstone completed by Mary Anne Klein about LAM's short-term program, evaluations and reports, blank and completed application forms, reactions from full-time missionaries about the program, guidelines for short-term workers, and lists of those who participated in the program. Also in the file are lists of former LAM volunteers, former LAMers on loan, and former full-time or part time employees.

Subseries: Historical Files | Confidential Files

The confidential documents microfilmed on reels 43 through 49 do not themselves make up a subseries, but were instead removed by LAM from other subseries in the Historical Files series for purposes of microfilming and confidentiality. These files have therefore been integrated into their respective subseries and identified with an "R" as a restricted file. This description is to identify the general nature of the those documents, many of which appear to be those that would be routinely marked "confidential" in order to temporarily limit their circulation. However, interspersed with these are documents describing specific personnel problems, ranging from interpersonal to financial to work-related in nature. These include correspondence with individuals and detailed consideration of the individuals, organizations, and dynamics of the situation. Since the nature of these documents is similar to that of personnel files, they are closed to researcher use for a considerable period of time.

Subseries: Historical Files | Miscellaneous Historical Files (1944-2007) (Boxes 147-149)

These files were not part of the microfilm project described above but rather were received as an accession in 2014 from LAM. They are a varied group of materials with no connection to each other, except that they were generated by LAM staff over a period of six decades. They were divided into categories (Correspondence, Journal, Manuals, News Service Releases, Papers) by the archivist. The papers seem to be items keep in the office library for reference.

Many of the documents are from senior leaders of the mission such as Mike Berg, Horace Fenton, Juan Isais, and W. Dayton Roberts (folders 147-2,3,4, 148-2,4,6,8, and 149-3). There is also a manuscript by Kenneth Strachan and Roberts on the founders of the LAM, Harry and Susan Strachan in folder 149-4. (A much shortened version of this appeared in The International Bulletin of Missionary Research in the July 1, 1998 issue.) Other material on LAM history can be found in folders 148-6,7.

There is a good deal of information in these documents on general missiological trends, both in LAM and in the mission enterprise in general. Discussion and critiques of LAM policies and general principles can be found in folders 147-1, 148-4,5, and 149-1,2. Folder 147-5 contains an interesting exchange of letters between missionary nurse Aimee McQuilkin and Kenneth Strachan on the relationship between evangelism and Christian humanitarianism in medicine and education. The press releases in folder 148-1 give a good idea of the range in type and geography of LAM’s programs at the beginning of the 21st century. Folder 149-3 contains a paper analyzing the impact of short-term missions on the North American sending churches. A paper in folder 148-3 considers the distinctives of missionaries born between 1961 and 1975, the so-called Gen X.

LAM’s best known initiative was probably the Evangelism in Depth program. A manual for energizing the evangelism efforts of laypeople in local congregations can be found in folder 147-11. Addition information on EID can be found in folders 147-3,4 and 148-8. LAM’s outreach programs to children, including children with developmental challenges and street children, are described in folder 149-1.

Folders 147-6,7 contain bound copies of El Vocero 1951-52 and 1955, a newsletter for the “Costa Rican Biblical Churches,” the churches founded by LAM missionaries. These are in Spanish, as are the pastoral and camping manuals in folders 147-8,9,10.

Series: Administration

Subseries:

Subseries: Administration | Board of trustees

Arrangement: Roughly by type, then alphabetical

Date Range: 1921-1994

Volume: 5.5 linear feet

Boxes: 77-87

Type of documents: Minutes of meetings, reports and appendices attached to minutes, correspondence with trustees

Notes: Virtually complete set of minutes and reports of the trustees of the mission for the first seventy years of its existence, covering all its major activities and changes. For more recent years (the mid-1970s on) there are the reports of the president of the mission to the board and the minutes and reports of the various subcommittees of the board. The files of the individual board members in boxes 86 -87 are mostly from the very end of the time period covered and are mostly concerned with individuals joining or leaving the board or their attendance at particular meetings, although occasionally there is more about their personal involvement in various aspects of the mission's work.

Subseries: Administration | General Council and General Administration

Arrangement: Alphabetical

Date Range: 1951-1989

Volume: 3.0 linear feet

Boxes: 87-92

Geographic coverage: United States, Colombia, Costa Rica

Type of documents: Memos, correspondence, lists

Notes: The General Council (boxes 87-90) was formed to provide a source of advice for the leaders of the mission. It contained ministers, leaders of other ministries, large donors and other supporters of the mission. Often potential trustees first served on the General Council or may serve on it after resigning from the board. At their meetings they discussed the matters put before them by the mission's general director and other executives; dealing with suggested policies, current problems and opportunities, long range plans. The files in boxes 90,91,92 cover a wide range of policies, plans, problems, criticisms relating to LAM's work, some of which were referred to the General Council for their advice. But mainly these materials show the administrators of the mission dealing with both long range planning and day-to-day issues.

Exceptional items: Folder 87-15 contains several memos on the role of the Council in the mission. Folder 92-18 contains some of the early discussion of the transformation of the mission into CLAME (in English, the Community of Latin American Evangelical Ministries) in order to give more representation and autonomy to its Latin American ministries. (See also folders 91-10 and 92-3).

Subseries: Administration | President’s office

Arrangement: Appears to be topically, although the order is not completely clear

Date Range: 1974-1990

Volume: 2.5 linear feet

Boxes: 93-97

Geographic coverage: Columbia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, United States

Type of documents: Planning documents, reports, correspondence

Subjects: Long range and short plans for the mission and the planning process; administration of the florida, New Jersey and Costa Rica offices of the mission, reaction to President Reagan’s Latin American policies

Notes: Files showing the issues that came through the office of the president of the mission, dealing with both internal administration, future planning, relations with the church in Latin America, and the impact of political, and social events on the work of the mission, including American foreign policy.

Exceptional Items: Folder 96-11 has several brief histories of the mission prepared by staff over a thirty year period. Folder 96-24 to 97-2 contain newsletters from the President’s office to staff and supporters, briefly relating current news about the mission’s work in different countries.

Subseries: Administration | Business/Finance

Arrangement: Generally alphabetical; the public relations materials are grouped together in boxes 99-100

Date Range: 1955-1988

Volume: 2.0 linear foot

Boxes: 97-100

Geographic coverage: United States, Colombia, Costa Rica

Type of documents: Budgets, audits, financial statements, minutes, surveys, comic books

Notes: Files relating to the financial management of the mission, including budgets and financial statements; also includes material on public relation activities, largely within the United States, including the publication of the magazine Evangelist

Exceptional Items: Folder 100-3 contains books of cartoons intended to explain missions and Latin American culture to young people.

Subseries: Administration | Development

Arrangement: Appears to be mainly topical, although arrangement is not clear

Date Range: 1976-1999

Volume: 1.5 linear feet

Boxes: 101-103

Geographic coverage: Colombia, Costa Rica, United States

Type of documents: Correspondence, receipts, memos, newsletters, reports

Correspondents: Clayton L. Berg, Hal Cocanower

Subjects: Fund raising and financial support for the mission

Notes: Documents about efforts to maintain contact with the missions’ supporters, expand the base of support, and raise fund for special projects.

Subseries: Administration | Church ministries/Relations

Arrangement:

Date Range: 1970-1989

Volume: 1.5 linear feet

Boxes: 104-106

Geographic coverage: Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua, United States

Type of documents: Reports, minutes, lecture notes, correspondence

Notes: Documents in this section are concerned with the missions efforts to raise the understanding of North American churches, ministries and individuals, including mission supporters, of the Latin American culture in general and Protestantism in Latin America and the work of LAM there in particular. There is material from the various seminars the department held for different groups of ministers, professors, young people, and church leaders on a variety of related topics.

Subseries: Administration | Personnel

Arrangement: Roughly alphabetical by keyword

Date Range: 1971-1989

Volume: 1.5 linear feet

Boxes: 106-108

Geographic coverage: Colombia, Costa Rica, United States

Type of documents: Memos, lists, manuals, reports

Notes: Materials concern the setting of the personal policies of the mission, the ramifications and policies relating to the restructuring of the mission in 1971 and again in 1984, the attempts to facilitate greater communication and understanding between North and South American members of the staff; information on the work of individual staff members

Series: Affiliations

Arrangement: Chronologically, then alphabetically, for the most part. Boxes 108-112 roughly cover the years 1966-1979; boxes 112-119 cover the years 1980-1989. Boxes 119-120 contain material on mission and governmental seminars and conferences and staff publications on topics relevant to Latin America

Date Range: 1955-1989

Volume: 6.5 linear feet

Boxes: 108-120

Geographic coverage: United States, Colombia, Costa Rica

Type of documents: Articles, manuscripts, histories, minutes, correspondence, curriculum, statistics, newsletters

Subjects: Cooperation between Evangelical denominations and agencies; LAM’s relationship with its various affiliates, Protestant Evangelicalism in Latin America, including evangelistic ministries

Notes: LAM was affiliated with a variety of other North American and Latin American Christian organizations. These files detail the mission’s relationship with a wide range of different organizations and its involvement in evangelistic, educational, church planting, projects and ministries. The series also documents the mission’s involvement in organizations and meetings concerned with the support of Christian ministry in general, such as the Evangelical Foreign Mission Association (EFMA, later the Evangelical fellowship of Ministry Agencies) and the Interdenominational Foreign Mission Agencies, and the Overseas Ministry Study Center, among many others. Boxes 119 and 120 also contain articles and other publications by LAM executives and missionaries on a wide range of topics.

Series: Programs

Arrangement: By subseries as follows:

Subseries: Programs | Direct Ministries

Arrangement: Alphabetical

Date Range: 1976-1989

Volume: 2.5 linear feet

Boxes: 121-125

Geographic coverage: Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, United States, Venezuela

Type of documents: Reports, manuals, memos, correspondence

Subjects: Evangelism efforts in several North and South American countries

Notes: Files deal mainly with planning and evaluating of direct ministries, primarily Christ in the City (urban evangelistic campaigns), Promesa (outreach to Hispanic peoples in the United States) and Spearhead (sending of shirt-term missionaries to Mexico)

Subseries: Programs | Entities of Service

Arrangement: Alphabetical

Date Range: 1966-1991

Volume: 11.0 linear feet

Boxes: 125-146

Geographic coverage: Brazil, Canada, Columbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, United States

Type of documents: Minutes, reports, poetry records, correspondence, financial reports, membership lists

Notes: Files primarily about LAM’s relations with the various other Christian ministries in the Americas with which it worked closely, usually by seconding staff to these ministries and/or helping to raise funds for them in the United States. In 1984, many LAM departments or programs became independent organizations and that transition is covered in some of these files. CLAME was created in 1971 and dissolved in 1984 and boxes 121 through 131 contain information both on the history of the Community and it coordinated different activities and ministries internally and how it worked with other Christian ministries. Folder 139-13 contains a report written by Paul Pretiz for the 1974 International Congress of World Evangelization titled AIn-Depth Evangelistic Movements Around the World.

Series: Audio-Visual materials

Arrangement: By topic, following an arrangement by the donor

Date Range: 1917-1993

Geographic coverage: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Trinidad, Venezuela, United States Type of documents: Photographs, oral history interviews

Subjects: Personnel of mission: staff, officers, trustees; LAM activities, mainly in Costa Rica and Columbia, but also in many other parts of South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and the United States.

Notes: The photos in this series show the leadership, personal, facilities, evangelistic campaigns, radio and literature work, theological education activities and student work. For more information, see the photo location record or the inventory mentioned below. The audio tapes are of oral history interviews done in 1993 of Horace Fenton (T1 and T2) and W. Dayton Roberts (T3 and T4). Below are the topics covered on each tape.