This collection contains the papers of L. Dorothy Green Lester and her Husband Rev. John P. Lester. L. Dorothy Green was born July 18, 1902 in Rolfe, Iowa. She graduated magna cum laude from Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa in 1926, where she later served as Director of Religious Activities. L. Dorothy later received an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Buena Vista. She moved to Mena, Polk County, Arkansas in 1937 in order to help her mother and the Reverend and Mrs. John P. Lester establish retirement quarters for themselves. Shortly thereafter, L. Dorothy and Rev. Lester were asked to temporarily fill the position of minister and assistant at Old Potter Presbyterian Church near Mena. L. Dorothy was also asked to supervise missionary work in Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma; her main job was caring for the spiritual needs of the Choctaw Indians and African Americans who comprised these small Presbyterian missions. For this and other religious activities L. Dorothy was named “Arkansas Woman of the Year” in 1954. Soon after this she married the widower Rev. John P. Lester. He died in 1958.
In 1963, L. Dorothy became the first woman ordained into Presbyterian ministry in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. In 1970, after many years writing sermons and instructional materials, L Dorothy’s first book, The Grand Perhaps was published. Numerous other writings for devotional magazines soon followed. All this was accomplished while L. Dorothy was serving in the capacity of minister at the Old Potter Church, taking over after her husband died. She retired in the early 1980’s and on December 6, 1989 L. Dorothy Green Lester died in Mena.
NOTE: When requesting materials from this collection, please specify collection number (M90-7), box number, and file number.
Arrangement: This collection contains two series: (I) Personal Papers and (II) Professional Papers. Series II includes the bulk of the collection, embracing both L. Dorothy’s and her husband’s religious notes.
Series I – Personal Papers: Biographical materials; Personal correspondence; Business correspondence; Personal business papers; Newspaper clippings; Photographs
Series II – Professional Papers: Literary publication correspondence; Contracts; Literary noted; Rough drafts; Literary publications; Literary works; Book & Religious Papers: Religious correspondence and information; Vacation Bible School Materials; Pamphlets; Religious Catalogs and materials; Sermons and notes; Appointment books; Sermon Notes (books); Summer Camp Booklets; General materials
Box 1
File 1 – Biographical Materials
File 2 – Personal Correspondence, 1932-1963
File 3 – Personal Business Correspondence, 1922-1933
File 4 – Personal Business Papers
File 5 – Check Stubs, February 16, 1955- October 23, 1955
File 6 – Check Stubs, October 25, 1955- May 18, 1956
File 7 – Check Stubs, June 1, 1956- November 24, 1956
File 8 – Newspaper Clippings
File 9 – Photographs
Env 1 – Dorothy Lester at Elliot, Iowa c. 1920
Env 2 – Dorothy Lester c. 1930
Env 3 – Dorothy Lester c. 1930
Env 4 – Dr. John P. and L. Dorothy Lester Oct. 2, 1939
Env 5 – Presbyterian Church, Rolf, Iowa c. 1930
Env 6 – Dr. John P. Lester
Env 7 – Dorothy Lester and Previous Mrs. Lester
Env 8 – Dr. John P. Lester (fishing)
Env 9 – Dorothy Lester in Estherville, Iowa c. 1930
Env 10- Dorothy Lester in Estherville, Iowa c. 1931
Env 11- Dorothy (fishing) c. 1940
Env 12- Dorothy Lester
Env 13- Church scenes
Env 14- Landscapes
Env 15- Houses
Env 16- Buildings
Env 17- Lake Scenes
Env 18- Mr. J. T. Duggar and Dorothy in Fayetteville, Arkansas c. 1950
File 10- Photographs Youth conference at Camp Gordon Gray, 1946 and many unidentified persons and friends
End of Box 1
End of Series I
Series II – Professional Papers
Box 1
File 1 – Correspondence, Literary Publications
File 2 – Literary Contracts
File 3 – Literary Notes
File 4 – Rough Draft- Unidentified
File 5 – Rough Draft, The Grand Perhaps
File 6 – Literary Works
File 7 – Literary Publications
File 8 – Literary Publications
File 9 – Literary Work, Tho’ Sundered For
File 10- Literary Work Were You There?
File 11- Book The Grand Perhaps
File 12- Religious Correspondence and Informational Materials
File 13- Religious Correspondence
File 14- Vacation Bible School Materials, 1952
File 15- Religious Pamphlets
File 16- Religious Catalogs and Materials
End of Box 1
Series II – Professional Papers
Box 2
File 1 – Sermons and Notes
File 2 – Sermons and Notes
File 3 – Sermons and Notes
File 4 – Sermons and Notes
File 5 – Sermons and Notes
File 6 – Sermons and Notes
File 7 – Sermons and Notes
File 8 – Sermons and Notes
File 9 – Sermons and Notes
File 10- Sermons and Notes
File 11- Sermons and Notes
File 12- Sermons and Notes
File 13- Incomplete Sermons
File 14- Appointment Books, 1953-1954
End of Box 2
Series II – Professional Papers
Box 3
File 1 – Sermon Notes (Books), 1914-1915
File 2 – Sermon Notes (Books), 1915-1922
File 3 – Sermon Notes (Books), 1922-1923
File 4 – Sermon Notes (Books), 1923-1925
File 5 – Sermon Notes (Books), 1930-1940
File 6 – Sermon Notes (Books), 1940
File 7 – Sermon Notes (Books), 1940
File 8 – Sermon Notes (Books), Undated
File 9 – Booklets, Summer Camp
File 10- Booklets, Summer Camp
File 11- Booklets, Summer Camp
File 12- Booklets, Summer Camp
File 13- Booklets, Summer Camp
File 14- Booklets and Materials, Summer Camp
File 15- General Materials
File 16- General Materials
End of Box 3
End of Series II
End of Collection