The arrangement of the collection has remained as it was received from Alford with only minor modifications. The division titles have in some instances been the creation of the archivist. Some of the files include notes added by Alford prior to her giving these files to the Archives consisting of recollections Alford noted at the time these materials were given to the Archives and offering context to the documents. Although these notes are included with the folders they were received in, the dates noted on the folder do not reflect the dates of the notes' creation.

Series 1: Audio Tapes

Zoe Anne Alford was interviewed by Galen R. Wilson on May 22, 1981 at the Billy Graham Center Archives at Wheaton College. Topics covered include her conversion, Christian education from both a philosophical standpoint and in the East Indian context, the Evangelical Fellowship of India and Christian Education Evangelical Fellowship of India, Union Biblical Seminary, the education of missionaries' children, the church and missions in India, ministry among children, orphans, women and families in India, and other mission-related topics.The time period covered by the interview is 1928 to 1981.

Series 2: Oversize Materials

Maps, publicity pamphlets, and calendar, dating from 1960-1972.

Series 3: Photographs

All photos included in this collection have been arranged in 12 separate photo files by topic. Please see photo file descriptions in the Series 3 listing below.

Series 4: Paper Records (Box List)

[NOTE: The notation "Folder 2-5" means Box 2, Folder 5.]

The documents in this collection include curriculum materials and lecture notes, manuscripts of messages, correspondence, circular prayer letters, financial records, clippings, maps, promotional materials, minutes, photographs, newsletters, audio tapes, etc., related to Alford's work in India and among Navajo Indians in New Mexico. The collection provides a broad overview of her education, preparation and missionary career, extending from her grammar school education into her retirement. It provides an equally broad view of Christian work, both indigenous and foreign, in India. The arrangement of the collection has remained as it was received from Alford with only minor modifications. The division titles have in some instances been the creation of the archivist. Some of the files include notes added by Alford prior to her giving these files to the Archives consisting of recollections Alford noted at the time these materials were given to the Archives and offering context to the documents. Although these notes are included with the folders they were received in, the dates noted on the folder do not reflect the dates of the notes' creation.

The materials have been subdivided into three major sections: I. Alford's education and career, II. India, and III. TEAM. These sections have been further subdivided and the researcher should refer to the container list of this guide for further detail on these.

Sub-Series 1. Zoe Anne Alford (folders 1-1 through 7-5)

Folders 1-1 through 3-2 contain materials Alford used in teaching while in India, generally for courses divided between theology courses and Christian Education. Folders 1-1 through 2-7 consist of lessons plans, course syllabi, lecture notes, assignments, bibliographies, examinations, and resource materials Alford made available to her students. These files not only deal with the principles and practices of education but demonstrate Alford's application of them. Alford's notes for each course are filed separately; the researcher should therefore consult the container list for a full list of these. Notes on some documents identify them as coming from her teachers or from her own course work while a student at Wheaton College. However, the collection also includes many examples of materials prepared within, and referring to, the Indian context.

A number of items are of particular interest and worthy of brief mention:

Folder 1-5: Handout on the use of audio-visual aids in Christian education, including such headings as "The Place of Audio-visual aids in Presenting the Gospel," "Audio-visuals in India," and "Dangers and Disadvantages in the Use of Audio-visual Aids in India."

Folder 1-8: Script for a puppet drama on the parable of the prodigal son and scripts for three dramas, "Read and Rejoice" on the value of education, "The Conversion of Saul," and "The Outlaws" on the life of an Indian traveling evangelist.

Folder 1-9: Small book, Training Voluntary Workers, including curriculum outlines and teaching suggestions, ranging from sessions on worship to village community sanitation. Other items are related to the training of volunteer lay workers: a small booklet on a lay leaders' institute; the booklet, Findings of the Conference on Training of Voluntary Leaders; rules and regulations for village leaders' training institutes; and a health and hygiene handout.

Folder 2-2: Small booklet Alford advised the author on, The Sunday School Teacher and His Pupil.

Folder 2-4: Assignments turned in by students on preparing inductive Bible studies.

Folder 2-5: Examples from the Indian press of Indian stories. Also a draft of a paper on storytelling for a course Alford was taking in the Wheaton Grad School.

Folder 2-6: Manuscript of a article written by colleague Frank Kline on curriculum development at the Union Biblical Seminary. Also U.B.S.'s 1957 annual report.

Folder 2-8: Flannel graph kits for teaching children, including The Christian Home Yardstick, produced in India for use with Indian children.

Folder 2-9: Publicity packet produced by the Free Methodist Church on their work in India and Egypt and general information on the countries.

Folder 3-1: Mimeographed handouts for teacher training workshops; booklet, "Twenty-five Ways to Teach!"

Folder 3-2: Materials adapted from Scripture Press publications for use in India, including the handbook, How to Be A Youth Advisor.

Folders 3-3 through 3-13 contain items which document Alford's education from grade school through her graduate work at Wheaton. These consist of materials on both her academic work and extra-curricular activities. Among these are documents (folder 3-6) on Alford's involvement in Christian Endeavor and the Student Volunteer Movement (SVM) while at the University of Texas, including a 1934-35 annual report on the Texas Christian Endeavor Union in Dallas, of which Alford was the district officer, and several SVM pamphlets, "Shall the Tent-Makers Preach?" and "Jerusalem's Challenge and Student Response to World Needs."

Alford's involvement in teaching and curriculum development was nurtured while she studied at Moody Bible Institute. Folder 3-10 consists of several papers Alford wrote while at Moody, mostly for a course on curriculum development. Among these is a proposed curriculum for a ten-day vacation Bible school program that Alford and five other women collaborated on. Alford and several other women taught in a Moody Neighborhood Sunday School; her evaluation of the teaching methods and style of her fellow workers are also among the contents of folder 3-10. The file also includes a paper she wrote, "Evangelism of Youth."

While studying at Moody, Alford was also involved in ministry in the Chicago area. Folder 3-7 contains the text of a message she gave over the radio on the broadcast, "Radio Revival." Materials in folder 3-8 document Alford's participation in the Englewood Christian Church in Chicago, among them a pamphlet on the Chicago District Evangelistic Association (CDEA) and notes from a course that Alford taught at a camp in Indiana sponsored by the CDEA and the church. Folder 3-9 also contains similar material.

Material related to Alford's study at Wheaton, both as an undergraduate and graduate student include items on her academic work and recognition (folders 3-11 and 12) and the manuscript of a paper she wrote for a Philosophy of Christian Education course in which Alford outlined her personal philosophy of education folder 3-13).

Folders 3-14 through 4-2 document relationships Alford had with three of her students whom she characterized as "proteges." Bendang Shijung Ao came to the United States in 1972 to study at Asbury Theological Seminary with major financial support from Alford. The files related to Ao's coming to Asbury include information on Alford's financial responsibility for Ao's expenses, accounts of his experiences as an international student, arrangements for his travel, consideration of which graduate school to attend, and on his activities upon returning to India. Folder 3-16 contains a letter from Alford in which she strongly reacts to Ao's expressed intention to return to the US for doctoral studies.

In 1960 Alford befriended Skakuntila Khare, a worker with the Ramabai Mukti Mission. Included in folder 4-1 are a 1966-67 annual report with an article by Khare and several other short articles by or about Khare.

R. Premnath was affiliated with the Methodist Church in India and refers to Alford as "dear mother in the Lord." As in the case of Bendang Shijung, Alford appears to have provided financial support for his education at U.B.S. Among the materials in folder 4-2 is Alford's correspondence with Saphir Athyal, then principal at the Union Biblical Seminary, in which she argues for admission on behalf of Premnath, despite his lack of certain qualifications. Alford's intervention appears to have led to Premnath's admission and the modification of U.B.S.'s admission policy.

Folders 4-3 through 5-6 relate to Alford's membership in the Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM), documenting her application to and acceptance by the mission, as well as her financial status throughout her term of service. Folder 4-3 includes a copy of an article printed in TEAM's Missionary Broadcaster, which Alford wrote shortly before leaving for India, summarizing her pilgrimage to work as a missionary in India.

Folder 4-5 contains a complete set of Alford's circular prayer letters which were sent to her supporters throughout her career. Of interest is a one-page set of illustrations which a local printer was able to incorporate in the printing of her letters, examples of which appear occasionally in them. Of interest is an August 1947 letter describes Independence Day in India. A continuation of her letters written following her departure from India is also available in folder 6-7.

Alford's files (folders 4-7 though 4-13) on her status while a missionary include reports from TEAM on receipts for her support, a 1947 statement from the mission on "Missionaries' Allowances and Gifts," and occasional correspondence about her support status in light of increasing costs on the field. Some of the correspondence is also helpful in illuminating the administrative structure of TEAM and its dispersal of funds.

In the course of her career on the field and during furloughs, Alford made numerous presentations. Notes for some of these are included in folder 5-1, such as "Women's Work in the Seminary," and touch on life in India, her work, and missions.

Particularly interesting are annual reports which Alford wrote on her own work (folder 5-2). Also of interest is Alford's complete outfit list (folder 5-5) which she used in preparing to go to India.

Folders 5-7 through 6-7 specifically document Alford's three major assignments while working in India: principal at the Dharangaon Baby Home, Orphanage and Girl's School; principal at Sunrise School (for missionary children); and teaching at Union Biblical Seminary. The following are some highlights from these files:

Folder 5-7: Letter Alford sent to children in the United States describing a typical day and everyday life at Dharangaon. Folder 5-8 contains a similar letter describing life at the Sunrise School.

Folder 5-8: Letter from Charles and Betty Guth. Also materials related to Alford's attempts to develop the Sunrise School curriculum, a "Rules and Guiding Principles" booklet and a two-page formulation of the school's curriculum which Alford was proposing.

Folder 5-12: Texts of two messages Alford gave on the teaching methods of Jesus; manuscript on teacher training; text of a chapel message on social justice and the Christian; information on the building of the girl's hostel at UBS which Alford was deeply involved in.

Folder 5-13: Manuscript by colleague, Frank J. Kline, "The Scope of Christian Education (in India)."

Folder 5-14: Material on or by other UBS faculty: Christian Laws, a booklet for "young Christian preachers, pastors and teachers and Indian Christians," providing an overview of Indian law and how the Christian should function in relation to it, treating subjects such as the possession of land, criminal behavior, taxes, voting, representational bodies, money, marriage, wills, mortgages and legal rights; a letter from Bruce Nicholls regarding Theological Assistance Program (TAP), involved in theological education by extension; resume and tour schedule for Saphir Athyal as well as his article, "Israel Amid the Nations: A Confrontation of Faiths," dealing with the relationship between general history and salvation history.

Folder 5-17: Sketchy overview of the seminary's history in the form of: minutes of a 1950 meeting of the Evangelical-Holiness Theological Education Committee where the development of the seminary was considered; an undated incorporation document; document outlining the 1968 pay scale for UBS faculty and staff; minutes from the 1970 meeting of the board of governors; first draft of a feasibility study being conducted by UBS, considering relocation, expansion, and other management and long-range plans; scripts for two 1977 promotional audio tapes on the seminary; and a 1970-1971 financial report.

Folder 5-18: Items documenting local contacts as well as outreach of UBS students: a prospectus for a local liberal arts college, a report by a student on his evangelistic trip into Tibet, a collection of four reports by a student who traveled into Nepal, and a statistical report on work by local evangelistic teams.

Folder 5-19: Documents illustrating links to and assistance from North American agencies in support of educational work on the mission field.

Folder 6-1: Printed materials about or by U.B.S., including promotional brochures to enlist support by American Christians.

Folder 6-2: The 1966-67 issue of the Challenge featuring evangelism in India. Folder 6-4 contains miscellaneous items by or about UBS students.

Folders 6-5 through 6-16 document other aspects of Alford's life although not completely excluding her missionary career. Folder 6-5 contains a variety of autobiographical items such as a 1981 obituary Alford wrote about herself; a lengthy letter written just after she had applied to TEAM outlining the course of her decision to become a missionary; an overview of her life between 1922 and 1951; an article she wrote entitled "My First Year in India;" two TEAM news releases; newspaper clippings; and an article she wrote in 1981, "Memory Highlights of a Single Lady Missionary, 1948-1970."

Folder 6-9 contains the only record in the collection on the Navajo Methodist Mission School and Alford's work there as a relief matron from 1941 to 1944. The material includes short information articles on missions among the Navajos, numerous copies of the school's newsletter, Mission Echos, an article on Indian religion, articles about the school and American Indians, and the essay, "Impressions and Work of a Relief Matron," which Alford wrote at the completion of her service there.

Folders 7-3 and 4 relate to Alford's involvement in the adaptation of Marjorie Soderholm's book, Understanding the Pupil, for the Indian audience. Folder 7-3 contains correspondence on the editing of and securing permission to produce the adaptation. Folder 7-4 contains a copy of Soderholm's edition, an annotated manuscript of the adaptation and a copy of the published adaptation, under the title, Understanding Youth.

Sub-Series 2. India (folders 7-6 through 10-11)

Alford developed extensive files, both on India in general and Christian organizations, both indigenous and foreign, working in India. Folders 7-6 through 7-15 consist of background information on India. Among the materials on Christianity's history in Folder 7-10 are a paper Alford wrote, excerpts from publications, clippings, several booklets written by Indian Christians (in English) and a booklet in Indian script with illustrations. Folder 7-11 contains similar material on India's national history, such as the typed text of India's constitution. Folder 7-12 consists of maps of India, including several maps outlining all the rail lines in India, and a detailed map of the Indian state, Maharashtra. Materials on events and mission work in India's neighboring countries, Bangladesh, China, Nepal, Pakistan and Vietnam is also available (folder 7-8). The folder also contains a newspaper clipping with an article on Ray Buker and his work in Bangladesh and Ellsworth Bunker's "Impressions of India." Folder 7-15 contains information on the religions of India, among them Christianity, Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism.

Alford kept files on numerous Christian organizations at work in India, a full list of which is arranged alphabetically in the container list of this guide (folders 7-16 through 10-1). A number of items merit special mention:

Folder 7-17: Documents on the origins and work of the Christian Education Evangelical Fellowship of India (CEEFI), a department of the Evangelical Fellowship of India. CEEFI was formed following a meeting of EFI and Evangelical Literature Fellowship of India (ELFI) to consider the need for Sunday school literature and teacher training materials as well as the possibility of developing a Vacation Bible School movement in India.

Folder 8-1: Article from an African magazine by Indian, P.T. Chandapilla.

Folder 8-10: Reports on the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's 1956 crusades in India, testimonies of Indians converted there, and the text of Graham's message to Bombay churches.

Folder 8-12: Materials reflecting the desire of the Christian Home Committee to provide suggestions for practical application of Christian teaching about family life. The principle way this was accomplished was through Christian Home Festivals, week-long programs for churches. The file contains proposed church programs, a devotional outline, posters suggesting prayers to sanctify routine domestic tasks, and examples of Indian art depicting the crucifixion, family worship, and Christ's birth. The script to a dramatic play, "A Vision of Motherhood," is also included in the file.

Folder 8-13: Copies of The Christian Home, a magazine with articles to provide a Christian perspective on issues of family life such as child development, teaching children, the father's role in the home, and marriage.

Folder 8-14: Thesis by Vernon Middleton, "A Pattern of Church Growth for Tribal India."

Folder 9-5: Wascom Pickett's "The Church of Christ in India" in which he surveys Indian Methodism and church life.

Folder 9-6: A booklet describing work on the borders of Afghanistan and several items about the work of the Red Sea Mission.

Folders 9-8 through 9-11 document the work of Ray and Christa Eicher, who were Operation Mobilization workers in India. Eicher was one of the coordinators of OM's work in India, arranging for the distribution of literature, mass evangelism crusades, Bible studies, and ministry among students. OM's work was carried out by teams, and the materials include information about the various team members in India, as well as ministry among Hindus and Muslims there. The file also includes general information on OM's work in India and the numerous countries where OM also had work, and on its ministry through its ships. An example of the kind of outreach OM was involved in can be found in folder 9-10 on the Love Maharashtra Outreach.

Folder 9-14 is a gathering of biographical notes on the following individuals: J.D. Arulmani, Catherine DeVol Cattell, Everett Lewis Cattell, Bronell A. Greer, Paula Greer, Lester Hamilton, Mary E. Hamilton, Samuel T. Kamaleson, Lillian Merry, R.H. Smith, Esther Faulkner Williams and Theodore Williams.

Folder 10-5 contains several copies of a journal circulated in India and the surrounding countries, including titles such as "Guilt and Shame in Muslim Culture With Reference to Pastoral Care," "Sin and Salvation in Islam," and "Salvation/Liberation in Hinduism and Christianity."

Folders 10-7 through 10-12 relate to ministry in Nagaland, an Indian state. Folder 10-7 includes a centenniary celebration book with a photographic history of the Ao Naga Baptist Church, which was formed by the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society among the Ao tribe. Folders 10-8 and 9 relate to Clark Theological College, which was created to meet the need for Christian education in Nagaland, and of which Alford became a "founder member" and financial supporter. Folder 10-10 contains a statistical chart on Baptist churches among the Ao tribe, giving membership and leadership totals. Folders 10-11 and 12 contain material on several Ao students Alford had taught at UBS, Sen Nangshila and I. Ben Wati.

Sub-Series 3. TEAM (folders 10-13 through 11-10)

The concluding section of the foldered material relates primarily to TEAM's work in India, although there is material on its work elsewhere, too. These contain such items as:

Folder 10-13: Prayer letters of several of Alford's fellow missionaries. Folders 10-16, 11-1 and 11-4 contain similar documents.

Folder 10-14: Clippings from a TEAM publication on its work in various countries such as China, Portugal, Japan, the Philippines and South Africa. Of particular interest is an article on Malla Moe, a missionary in South Africa.

Folder 10-15: The pamphlet, "Holding a Missionary Conference in Your Church," as well as the 1941 edition of "The Constitution and Principles and Guiding Rules of the Scandinavian Alliance Mission of North America," and the text of the findings of an advisory committee's study on Roman Catholicism.

Folder 10-17: Documents on the work of a TEAM project in India, the Light of Life Bible correspondence course, including several copies of the 1958 editions of the materials. Continued through 10-18.

Folder 10-21: An article Alford wrote for publication on India and a booklet on the Dehli Bible Fellowship.

Folder 11-3: Various TEAM publications about its work in India. Among these are a number of annual booklets with reports from various missionaries.