Collection 123 Ephemera of William M. Branham

Collection

Identifier: CN 123

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Photographs, films, video tapes, and over 1,200 audio tapes containing sermons preached by charismatic-healing evangelist William Marrion Branham, including the healing portion of services.

This collection contains primarily audio tapes, but also films, photographs, and books relating to William Branham's ministry as a healing evangelist. One of Branham's meetings (Washington, DC, 1953) was recorded on film, providing a visual example of his preaching style and healing work. Photographs in the collection are of Branham preaching and of supernatural phenomena that occurred during his meetings.

The bulk of the collection is twelve hundred cassette tapes of Branham's sermons, which date from 1947 until 1965. Also included are Branham's funeral service and messages by his son, Billy Paul. Due to the recording quality on some of the tapes, especially the older ones, some words are intelligible.

Some of the places Branham preached for which recordings are available include: Jeffersonville, IN; Phoenix, AZ; Chicago, IL; Los Angles, CA; Houston, TX; Shreveport, LA; New York, NY; Columbus, OH; Dallas, TX; Indianapolis, IN; Little Rock, AR; Minneapolis, MN; Southern Pines, NC; Tampa, FL; Tempe, AZ; Tulsa, OK; and Zion, IL.

Dates

Created: 1947-1967

Conditions Governing Access

All of the materials in this collection can only be viewed, listened to, or otherwise used in the Manuscripts Reading Room in the Billy Graham Center Archives at Wheaton, Illinois.

Biographical Information

William Marrion Branham was born April 6, 1909, on a small farm near Berksville, KY. His parents were poor, did not attend church and made their living by farming and logging. During Branham's early childhood, the family moved several times, finally settling in Jeffersonville, IN, where he attended public schools through eighth grade.

Branham tells of being called by God to the ministry at the age of seven by a voice high up in a tree which said, "Do not drink or smoke or defile your body in any way, for when you get older I'll have a work for you to do." He reports being very terrified and bewildered. Nonetheless, he was not converted until the age of nineteen. At the age of twenty-four, he began preaching in a tent in his home town.

According to Branahm, two major things occured during his first year of ministry. The first was a series of seven visions he said he received on Sunday morning in 1933 just before church. The firstthree visions showed the rise of Mussolini in Italy, the rise of Hitler in Germany, and the rise of communism. Next they showed a soon-coming rapid rise in technology, then a tragic falling of morality of women, the rise of a powerful but cruel woman in America, and finally the destruction of the United States. The second major event he described occurred on the Ohio River. Branham's ministry had prospered, with many conversions, and he was in the process of baptizing about five hundred converts when at the seventeenth person he said a bright light or fire appeared over him and a voice spoke, "As John the Baptist foreran the first coming of Christ, your ministry shall forerun the second coming." Approximately five thousand people were on the river banks observing. Many screamed; many fainted.

During this period, Branham met and married Hope Brumback. The couple had two children, Sharon Rose and Billy Paul, Jr. Hope and Sharon died in 1937 when the Ohio River flooded. Branham later married Meda Broy, with whom he had three children: Rebekah, born in 1946; Sarah, 1951; and Joseph, 1955.

Branham began his healing ministry after having a visit from an angel in May, 1946. St. Louis was the site of his first meeting, followed by the trips to Texas, Louisiana, Florida, California, and eventually all over the United States. Soon he was traveling extensively into Canada, Mexico, Europe, Africa, and India.

As his ministry grew, Branham enlisted assistants such as Gordon Lindsay and Jack Moore. His popularity blossomed as Branham emerged as the undisputed founder-leader of the healing revival movement. Lindsay and Moore began a magazine called The Voice of Healing. The publication was designed to recount the activities of Branham's meetings past and planned. Soon after the men began the publication, Branham announced he was retiring from the healing revival circuit. Although later, in 1948, Branham resumed his activities, The Voice of Healing was altered to cover meetings of many healing evangelists and not just Branham.

By 1955, Branham's teaching and preaching ministry came under severe attacks over doctrinal disagreement with the pentecostal denominations that had previously supported him. Also at this time, the IRS accused him of evasion of taxes on gifts he had been receiving, although he had not kept the money for himself. Eventually, the case was settled out of court. However, Branham continued his work despite the criticism until 1965, using a blend of preaching and healing services. In one year alone, he reported over a half-million conversions -- thirty thousand in one meeting in Durban, South Africa. Thousands of supporters believed in his ability to heal, foretell the future, and even raise the dead.

In December 1965, he was fatally injured in a car accident. He died on December 24, 1965, but was not buried until Easter of 1966, because his wife, who had also been in the accident, was unable to decide where to bury him.

Extent

1270 Audio Tapes

2 Films

1 Oversize File

1 Photograph File

3 Video Tapes

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Accruals and Additions

The materials in this collection were received by the Billy Graham Center Archives in October 1978 and January, April and September 1979, May 1996 and June 1998

Accession 78-39, 79-36, 79-106, 81-137, 82-18, 96-36, 98-32 June 12, 1980

Mary Ann Buffington

R. Shuster

S. Kouns

Revised, May 17, 1983

Robert Shuster

J. Nasgowitz

Revised, June 8, 1998

Wayne D. Weber

Related Materials

The following items have been given to the EVANGELISM AND MISSIONS COLLECTION OF BUSWELL LIBRARY unless otherwise noted:

Branham, William Marrion. As The Eagle Stirreth Her Nest. Spoken Word Publications. (Jeffersonville, IN; n.d.)

______. The Autobiography of William Marrion Branham. Spoken Word Publications. (Jeffersonville, IN; 1976)

______. The Church. Spoken Word Publications. (n.p.; n.d.)

______. Conduct, Order, Doctrine of the Church. Vol. 1 & 2. Tucson Tabernacle Books. (Tucson, AZ; n.d.)

______. Daniel, Demology, Adoption. Tucson Tabernacle Books. (Tucson, AZ; n.d.)

______. An Exposition on the Book of Hebrews. Tucson Tabernacle Books. (Tucson, AZ; n.d.)

______. An Exposition on the Seven Church Ages. Privately printed. (Tucson, AZ; n.d.)

______. God Is Identified By His Characteristics. Spoken Word Publications. (Jeffer sonville, IN; n.d.)

______. Handwriting on the Wall. True Vine Library International. (Hendersonville, NC; 1958)

______. Led By the Spirit. True Vine Library International. (Hendersonville, NC; 1951)

______. The Message of Grace. Spoken Word Publications. (Jeffersonville, IN; n.d.)

______. Remembering the Lord. Spoken Word Publications. (Jeffersonville, IN: n.d.

______. Respect to God's Servants. True Vine Memorial Library. (Hendersonville, NC; 1962)

______. Respects. Spoken Word Publications. (Jeffersonville, IN; n.d)

______. Revelation. Spoken Word Publications. (Jeffersonville, IN; n.d.)

______. The Revelation of Jesus Christ. Tucson Tabernacle Books. (Tucson, AZ; n.d.)

______. The Revelation of the Seven Seals as Given to Our Precious Brother William Mar rion Branham. Spoken Word Publications. (Tucson, AZ; 1967)

______. Shalom. Spoken Word Publications. (Jeffersonville, IN; n.d.)

______. The Voice of the Prophet. Volumes I, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. Tucson Tabernacle Books. (Tucson, AZ; n.d.)

Green, Pearry. The Acts of the Prophet. Tucson Tabernacle Books. (Tucson, AZ; n.d.)

Lindsay, Gordon. A Man Sent From God. n.p. (Jeffersonville, IN; 1950)

Mamlis, A. David. Index and Classifications of Sermons by Rev. W. M. Branham. n.p. (Scottsdale, AZ; 1969)

Moore, Robert, ed. Quotations of William M. Branham. n.p. (Phoenix, AZ; n.d.)

Stadsklev, Julius, ed. A Prophet Brings His Message: Sermons by Rev. William Branham. Book 3. (Tucson, AZ, 1972)

______. William Branham, a Prophet, Visits South Africa. Julius Stadsklev. (Minneapo lis, MN 1952)

Vayle, Lee. The Messenger to the Laodicean Church Age. Lee Wayle. (n.p.; n.d.)

Chronology of Branham Meetings and Appearances

PARTIAL LISTING OF WILLIAM BRANHAM MEETINGS AND APPEARANCES

St. Louis, MO June 25, 1946

Jonesboro, AR Summer, 1946

Los Angeles, CA 1946

Long Beach, CA 1946

Santa Rosa, CA 1946

Fresno, CA 1946

Canada 1946

Shreveport, LA June, 1947

Jonesboro, AR June 1947

Albertan, Canada August, 1947

Saskatoon, Canada August, 1947

Camden, AR Fall, 1947

Phoenix, AZ November 23 - December 21, 1947

Miami, FL January, 1948

Phoenix, AZ March 4-5, 1948

Pensacola, FL April, 1948

Kansas City, KS April 13, 1948

Tacoma, WA May 12-17, 1948

Seattle, WA November, 1948

Zion, IL July 1, 1949

Minneapolis, MN July 11-16, 1949

Dallas, TX October 28, 1949

Jeffersonville, IN December 25, 1949 - January, 1950

Louisville, KY January, 1950

Houston, TX January 10-February 16, 1950

Beaumont, TX February, 1950

Jeffersonville, IN February 22, 1950

Little Rock, AR February 27, 1950

El Dorado, AR March, 1950

Camden, AR March, 1950

New York, NY April 5, 1950

European Tour April-May, 1950

Minneapolis, MN July, 1950

Cleveland, OH August 8-27, 1950

Minneapolis, MN 1951

Jeffersonville, IN March 19, 1951

Houston, TX March, 1951

Phoenix, AZ April 13-15, 1951

Los Angeles, CA May 2-18, 1951

Ft. Wayne, IN July, 1951

Toledo, OH July 17-22, 1951

Zion, IL July 24-25, 1951

Erie, PA July 27-31, 1951

Jeffersonville, IN August 26, 1951

New York, NY September 21 - October 1, 1951

Johannesburg, South Africa October, 1951

Durban, South Africa October, 1951

Klerksdorp, South Africa October 14-16, 1951

Kimberly, South Africa October 17-21, 1951

Bloemfontein, South Africa October 24-28, 1951

Capetown, South Africa October 29 - November 6, 1951

Port Elizabeth, South Africa November 7-11, 1951

Grahamstown, South Africa November 12-13, 1951

East London, South Africa November 12-13, 1951

Durban, South Africa November 21-25, 1951

Salisbury, Rhodesia November 28-19, 1951

Pretoria, South Africa December 2, 1951

Johannesburg, South Africa December, 1951

Jeffersonville, IN January 30 - February 25, 1952

Phoenix, AZ April 13-15, 1952

Hammond, IN July 13-20, 1952

Chicago, IL August 9, 1952

Battle Creek, MI August 16-18, 1952

Jeffersonville, IN March 25 - April 5, 1953

Jonesboro, AR May 6-12, 1953

Connersville, IN June 6-14, 1953

West Palm Beach, FL July 15, 1953

Jeffersonville, IN July 19-29, 1953

Chicago, IL August 29 - September 7, 1953

Zion, IL September, 1953

Owensboro, KY November 6-15, 1953

Evansville, IN November 22, 1953

West Palm Beach, FL November 29 - December 12, 1953

Chicago, IL December 13, 1953

Jeffersonville, IN January 3, 1954

Woodriver, IL February 16-17, 1954

Phoenix, AZ February 28 - March 7, 1954

Columbus, OH March 14, 1954

Chicago, IL March 20, 1954

Louisville, KY March 29 - April 12, 1954

Jeffersonville, KY May 9-15, 1954

Chicago, IL July 14-25, 1954

Washington, DC July, 1954

Phoenix, AZ August 2-8, 1954

Los Angeles, CA August 9-11, 1954

Washington, DC August, 1954

New York, NY August 24 - September 2, 1954

Bombay, India September 19, 1954

Jeffersonville, IN October 3-24, 1954

Binghamton, NY December 3-7, 1954

Jeffersonville, IN December 12 - January 9, 1955

Chicago, IL January 10-23, 1955

Phoenix, AZ February 20 - March 2, 1955

Los Angeles, CA March 11-12, 1955

Jeffersonville, IN April 3, 1955

Chicago, IL April 5, 1955

Jeffersonville, IN April 10, 1955

Chicago, IL May 1, 1955

Lausanne, Switzerland May, 1955

Jeffersonville, IN May 19-22, 1955

Macon, GA June 3-12, 1955

Karsruhe, Germany July 18-21, 1955

Shawano, WI July, 1955

Jeffersonville, IN July 24-31, 1955

Campbellsville, KY August 6-8, 1955

Jeffersonville, IN September 11, 1955

Chicago, IL October 2-9, 1955

San Fernando, CA November 10-11, 14, 1955

North Hollywood, CA November 13, 15-20, 1955

Jeffersonville, IN January 1, 1956

Chicago, IL January 4, 1956

Jeffersonville, IN January 8-15, 1956

Chicago, IL January 16, 1956

Sturgis, MI January 20-22, 1956

Owensboro, KY January 28-29, 1956

Georgetown, IL February, 1956

Minneapolis, MN February, 1956

Sioux Falls, SD February 23-25, 1956

Jeffersonville, IN March 5 - April 1, 1956

Chicago, IL April 3-8, 1956

Columbia, SC April 14-15, 1956

Spindale, NC April 17, 1956

Southern Pines, NC April 18-20, 1956

Charlotte, NC April 25-29, 1956

Jeffersonville, IN May 13 - June 10, 1956

Indianapolis, IN June 13, 1956

Jeffersonville, IN June 17, 1956

Chicago, IL June 21, 1956

Minneapolis, MN July, 1956

Jeffersonville, IN July 15, 1956

Shreveport, LA July 26-29, 1956

Jeffersonville, IN August 5, 1956

Prince Albert, Canada August 14-16, 1956

Jeffersonville, IN August 26 - September 2, 1956

Los Angeles, CA September 15, 1956

Jeffersonville, IN September 16, 1956

Chicago, IL September 30 - October 10, 1956

Jeffersonville, IN November 25, 1956

New York, NY December 6, 1956

Brooklyn, NY December 7-9, 1956

Parkersburg, WV December 15, 1956

Jeffersonville, IN December 28-29, 1956

Chicago, IL January 13, 1957

Sturgis, MI January 14-15, 1957

Jeffersonville, IN January 20, 1957

Lima, OH January 26-27, 1957

Phoenix, AZ February 23 - March 10, 1957

Los Angeles, CA March, 1957

Oakland, CA March 22-26, 1957

Jeffersonville, IN April 7-21, 1957

Saskatoon, Canada May 15-20, 1957

Jeffersonville, IN June 2, 1957

Indianapolis, IN June 11-14, 1957

Jeffersonville, IN June 23, 1957

Chicago, IL June 29 - July 7, 1957

Tacoma, WA July 27-28, 1957

Edmonton, Canada August 4-12, 1957

Jeffersonville, IN August 15 - October 6, 1957

Newark, NJ December, 1957

Brooklyn, NY December 8-15, 1957

Parkersburg, WV December 15, 1957

Jeffersonville, IN December 28-29, 1957

Los Angeles, CA 1958

Prescott, AZ 1958

Macon, GA 1958

Charlotte, NC 1958

Jeffersonville, IN January, 1958

Chicago, IL January 5-12, 1958

Waterloo, IA January 26 - February 2, 1958

South Bend, IN February 7-8, 1958

Terre Haute, IN February 14, 1958

Chattanooga, TN February 25 - March 3, 1958

Jeffersonville, IN March 9, 1958

Harrisonburg, VA March 16, 1958

Middletown, OH March 26-30, 1958

Jeffersonville, IN April 6, 1958

Burlington, VT April 8, 1958

Spindale, NC April 27, 1958

New York, NY May 1, 1958

Hartford, CT May 3, 1958

Burlington, CT May 8, 1958

Pittsfield, MA May 10, 1958

Everett, ME May 12, 1958

Bangor, ME May, 1958

Fairfield, ME May, 1958

Concord, NH May 23, 1958

New York, NY May 24-28, 1958

Shreveport, LA June, 1958

Dallas, TX June 9-13, 1958

Greenville, SC June 17-22, 1958

Southern Pines, NC June 24-25, 1958

Jeffersonville, IN July 20 - December 28, 1958

Tifton, GA January 8, 1959

Jeffersonville, IN January 20-25, 1959

Owensboro, KY January 29, 1959

San Juan, Puerto Rico February 9-11, 1959

Jeffersonville, IN March 1-19, 1959

Cleveland, TN March 30-31, 1959

Los Angeles, CA April 4-19, 1959

San Jose, CA April 22-24, 1959

Jeffersonville, IN April 26 - May 25, 1959

Kentucky June, 1959

Chicago, IL June 9-15, 1959

Jeffersonville, IN June 25-28, 1959

Cleveland, TN July 5-8, 1959

Jeffersonville, IN July 11 - August 3, 1959

Chatauqua, OH August 8-15, 1959

Jeffersonville, IN August 23 - September 20, 1959

Utica, IN October 1, 1959

Clarkville, IN October 2-5, 1959

Depauw, IN November, 1959

Jeffersonville, IN November 8, 1959

Tifton, GA November 9, 1959

Jeffersonville, IN November 15, 1959

San Jose, CA November 20-29, 1959

Jeffersonville, IN December 16, 1959 - January 6, 1960

Tifton, GA January 8-10, 1960

Puerto Rico February 11, 1960

Jeffersonville, IN February 21, 1960

Phoenix, AZ February 28 - March 13, 1960

Tulsa, OK March 28 - April 2, 1960

Jeffersonville, IN April 17 - June 4, 1960

Chatauqua, OH June 6-12, 1960

Middletown, OH June 11, 1960

Klamath Falls, OR July 8-17, 1960

Lakeport, CA July 19-24, 1960

Yakima, WA July 29-August 8, 1960

Chicago, IL August 30, 1960

Jeffersonville, IN September 11 - November 13, 1960

Shreveport, LA November 19-27, 1960

Jeffersonville, IN December 4, 1960 - January 12, 1961

Shreveport, LA January 17, 1961

Beaumont, TX January 18-24, 1961

Phoenix, AZ January 29-31, 1961

Tucson, AZ February 5, 1961

Long Beach, CA February 13-19, 1961

Tulare, CA February 24, 1961

Visalia, Ca February 26, 1961

Jeffersonville, IN March 5, 1961

Richmond, CA March 8, 1961

Los Angeles, CA March 12, 1961

Middletown, OH March 15-19, 1961

Jeffersonville, IN April 2, 1961

Bloomington, IL April 9-16, 1961

Chicago, IL April 23-30, 1961

Grand Prairie, Canada May 15-17, 1961

Dawson Creek, Canada May 20-22, 1961

Jeffersonville, IN June 11 - August 6, 1961

Tifton, GA August 8, 1961

Jeffersonville, IN August 13 - December 31, 1961

Phoenix, AZ January 17 - 21, 1962

Tempe, AZ January 22, 1962

Phoenix, AZ January 23-29, 1962

Jeffersonville, IN February 4 - March 18, 1962

Tifton, GA March 19, 1962

Jeffersonville, IN April 1, 1962

Cleveland, TN April 7-8, 1962

Jeffersonville, IN April 22 - May 13, 1962

Green Lake, WI May 18-19, 1962

Chicago, IL May 20-21, 1962

Jeffersonville, IN May 27, 1962

Clarksville, IN May 31, 1962

Jeffersonville, N June 1-3, 1962

Southern Pines, NC June 7-10, 1962

Columbia, SC June 11-12, 1962

South Gate, CA June 20-24, 1962

Santa Maria, CA June 27 - July 1, 1962

Grass Valley, CA July 4-8, 1962

Spokane, WA July 11-15, 1962

Salem, OR July 18-22, 1962

Port Alberni, Canada July 24-26, 1962

Victoria, Canada July 27-29, 1962

Jeffersonville, IN September 8 - November 4, 1962

Elizabethtown, KY November 11, 1962

Jeffersonville, IN November 11, 1962

Shreveport, LA November 22-25, 1962

Jeffersonville, IN December 9-31, 1962

Sabino Canyon, AZ January, 1963

Phoenix, AZ January 12-15, 1963

Mesa, AZ January 16, 1963

Tempe, AZ January 17, 1963

Phoenix, AZ January 18-29, 1963

Tucson, AZ January 21, 1963

Phoenix, AZ January 22-27, 1963

Tucson, AZ February 23-27, 1963

Sunset Mountain, AZ February 28, 1963

Houston, TX March 4, 1963

Jeffersonville, IN March 17-24, 1963

Albuquerque, NM April 12, 1963

Sierra Vista, AZ April 21, 1963

Phoenix, AZ April 28, 1963

Tucson, AZ June 4-8, 1963

Jeffersonville, IN June 23, 1963

Hot Springs, AR June 26-28, 1963

Jeffersonville, IN June 30 - July 28, 1963

Chicago, IL July 31 - August 4, 1963

Jeffersonville, IN August 18 - September 1, 1963

Colorado October 24 1963

Tucson, AZ October 28 - November 3, 1963

Jeffersonville, IN November 10, 1963

New York, NY November 12-17, 1963

Campbellsville, KY November 18, 1963

Jeffersonville, IN November 24, 1963

Tucson, AZ November 27, 1963

Shreveport, LA November 27 - December 1, 1963

Phoenix, AZ December 14, 1963

Tucson, AZ December 16, 1963

Jeffersonville, IN December 22-29, 1963

Sierra Vista, AZ January 12, 1964

Phoenix, AZ January 19-26, 1964

Bakersfield, CA February 5-9, 1964

Tulare, CA February 12-16, 1964

Dallas, TX March 11-15, 1964

Beaumont, TX March 11-15, 1964

Denham Springs, LA March 18-22, 1964

Louisville, MS April 1-5, 1964

Birmingham, AL April 9-12, 1964

Tampa, FL April 15-19, 1964

Tucson, AZ April 27, 1964

Prescott, AZ May 31, 1964

Jeffersonville, IN June 14-17, 1964

Topeka, KS June 18-21, 1964

Philadelphia, PA June 29, 1964

Jeffersonville, IN July 5 - August 30, 1964

Yuma, AZ December 5, 1964

Phoenix, AZ December 12, 1964

Tucson, AZ December 21, 1964

Phoenix, AZ December 27, 1964

Phoenix, AZ January 17-25, 1965

Flagstaff, AZ February 6, 1965

Jeffersonville, IN February 17-21, 1965

Phoenix, AZ April 10, 1965

Jeffersonville, IN April 18, 1965

Los Angeles, CA April 24-29, 1965

Johannesburg, Africa May 27, 1965

Jeffersonville, IN July 11 - August 29, 1965

Phoenix, AZ September 11, 1965

Tucson, AZ September 19, 1965

Prescott, AZ October 31, 1965

Tucson, AZ November 21, 1965

Shreveport, LA November 25-28, 1965

Yuma, AZ December 4, 1965

Rialto, CA December 5, 1965

San Bernadino, CA December 6, 1965

Covina, CA December 7, 1965

Tucson, AZ December 12, 1965

Amarillo, TX December 18-24, 1965 *****