Ernest A. Bell papers

  • Creator Names Bell, Ernest A. (Ernest Albert), 1865-1928.
  • Title Ernest A. Bell papers [manuscript], 1876-1934.
  • Physical description
    • 3.5 linear ft. (9 boxes)
    • 1 oversize folder.
  • Collection summary
    • Correspondence, minutes, newsclippings, and publications produced or received by Ernest A. Bell relating to his career as a Methodist clergyman, missionary to India in 1892-1894, and anti-prostitution crusader in Chicago from 1902 onward. Topics include various Protestant missionary societies in India; Bell's efforts to aid India from the U.S. (promoting famine relief and an effort to establish a Christian university); Bell's Midnight Mission in the 22nd Street levee district in Chicago; and the successful efforts of Bell and others to eliminate segregated vice districts. Much of this material is composed of correspondence between Bell and various laymen and clergymen who shared Bell's interest in foreign missions and in anti-vice work, although some correspondence between Bell and his wife and his brothers is present in the collection also.
    • Collection includes additional correspondence about Bell in the years immediately after his death, between Bell's daughter Olive Bell Daniels and family friends. Also included are records of the Midnight Mission and the Night Church, such as board of directors meeting minutes and Bell's correspondence in his capacity as superintendent and pastor, respectively, of these institutions. Finally, the collection contains publications by Bell's Midnight Mission in Chicago as well as a number of books and leaflets generated by the anti-vice movement in the United States and Great Britain.
  • Acquisition information Gift of Harold P. Bell in December 1989 (1989.0775).
  • Finding Aids Note Descriptive inventory available online.
  • Location of Other Archival Materials Note Related material at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include the Rev. Ernest Bell photograph collection (1989.0775); the Glover family photographs (2016.0059); the published biography of Bell written by his daughter Olive Bell Daniels; and publications by Bell against prostitution, all cataloged separately.
  • Names
    • Bell, Ernest A. (Ernest Albert), 1865-1928 Archives.
    • Harper, William Rainey, 1856-1906.
    • Allegheny College (Meadville, Pa.)
    • Boston University.
    • Chicago Gospel Mission to the Jews.
    • Church of England Missions.
    • Illinois Vigilance Association (Chicago, Ill.)
    • India Famine-Relief Committee.
    • Midnight Mission (Chicago, Ill.)
    • Neighborhood Church (Maywood, Ill.)
    • Night Church (Chicago, Ill.)
    • Bonney, Charles Carroll, 1831-1903.
    • Boynton, Melbourne P.
    • Burgess, William, 1843-1922.
    • Daniels, Olive Bell, 1891-1984.
    • Farwell, Arthur Burrage, 1852-1936.
    • Hallam, Wirt W.
    • Howland, S. W.
    • Huckel, Oliver, 1864-1940.
    • Lawson, Victor Freemont, 1850-1925.
    • Taylor, Graham, 1851-1938.
    • Thoburn, J. M. (James Mills), 1836-1922.
    • Allegheny College (Meadville, Pa.)
    • Boston University.
    • Chicago Gospel Mission to the Jews.
    • Illinois Vigilance Association (Chicago, Ill.)
    • India Famine-Relief Committee.
    • Midnight Mission (Chicago, Ill.)
    • Neighborhood Church (Maywood, Ill.)
    • Night Church (Chicago, Ill.)
  • Subjects
    • Bishops India.
    • Christian communities Illinois Chicago.
    • Church work with prostitutes Illinois Chicago.
    • Clergy Illinois Chicago.
    • Congregationalists Massachusetts Boston.
    • Families Illinois Chicago.
    • Famines India.
    • Fathers Illinois Chicago.
    • Jewish Christians Illinois Chicago.
    • Methodist Church Clergy.
    • Methodist Church Missions.
    • Missionaries India.
    • Missions to Hindus.
    • Prayers.
    • Preaching Illinois Chicago.
    • Procuresses Illinois Chicago.
    • Prostitution Illinois Chicago.
    • Protestant churches Missions India.
    • Religion.
    • Temperance United States Societies, etc.
    • Vice control Illinois Chicago.
    • Viceroys' spouses India.
  • Geographic coverage
    • Chicago (Ill.) Religious life and customs 19th century.
    • Chicago (Ill.) Religious life and customs 20th century.
    • Chicago (Ill.) Social conditions 19th century.
    • Chicago (Ill.) Social conditions 20th century.
    • Chicago (Ill.) Social life and customs 19th century.
    • Chicago (Ill.) Social life and customs 20th century.
    • Near South Side (Chicago, Ill.)
    • Great Britain Colonies Asia.
    • Great Britain Description and travel 19th century.
    • India History British occupation, 1765-1947.
    • Sri Lanka Civilization Christian influences.
  • Genre
    • Correspondence. aat
    • Minutes. aat
    • Newspaper clippings. aat
  • Geographic name
    • Great Britain England Oxfordshire Oxford.
    • India.
    • Sri Lanka.
    • United States Illinois Cook County Chicago.
  • Finding aid URL Finding aid available online http://chsmedia.org/media/fa/fa/M-B/BellErnest-inv.htm