Overview of the Collection
Access
Administrative Information
Cataloger's Notes
Biographical Note
Scope and Content
Arrangement
Indexing: Added Entries
Indexing: Subject Entries
Indexing Terms
Overview of the Collection
Title: Annie C. Bill Collection
Dates (inclusive): 1842-1937
Bulk dates: 1910-1936
Collection Number: mssBill collection
Creator:
Bill, Annie C.
Extent: 17,349 pieces in 48 boxes
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: This collection contains the papers of English religious
leader Annie C. Bill (1861-1936), first of the Church of Christ, Science, and then
her own denomination, the Church of Universal Design.
Language: English.
Access
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services
Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.
Administrative Information
Publication Rights
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to
quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such
activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is
one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item]. Annie C. Bill Collection, The Huntington Library, San
Marino, California.
Provenance
Purchased from Edward Morrill & Sons, 1959-1961.
Cataloger's Notes
1. The item count on each folder indicates individual pieces.
2. Annie C. Bill's notes, annotations, and revisions appear throughout the
collection, including ephemera and printed works.
3. The majority of the collection is about Christian Science, so the subject index
does not exhaust every instance of the subject.
4. Oversize boxes of manuscripts, correspondence, and ephemera are integrated
throughout the collection.
Biographical Note
Annie Cecelia Bulmer Bill (1861-1936) was born on November 20, 1861 in Sheffield,
England. She was the daughter of Reverend Richard W. Bulmer and the wife of Major
Robert William Bill. The couple had four children.
Annie C. Bill became interested in Christian Science in the early 1900s after being
introduced to the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science. She
later joined the Third Church of Christ, Scientist, London, which was an additional
branch of the Christian Science Mother Church, the First Church of Christ, Scientist
located in Boston, Massachusetts. During her time at the Third Church of Christ,
Bill became acquainted with Frederick Lawrence Rawson, an engineer and influential
leader during the New Thought movement. Rawson was a member of the First Church of
Christ, Scientist, London; however, his knowledge and teachings of Christian Science
were divergent from Eddy's orthodox doctrines. He was soon expulsed from the
domination for his deviating influence within the church. Having the same adoptions
as Rawson, Bill resigned from the Third Church of Christ, Scientist, London and
First Church, Boston after six years of service on December 11, 1909.
The death of Mary Baker Eddy on December 3, 1910, left the Mother Church in much
disorder, specifically between the Board of Directors and the Trustees of the
Publishing Society over who had authoritative control over Eddy's church. As Bill
watched the litigation unfold between both sides, she saw this as an opportunity to
interpret and adopt Eddy's manual herself. Seeing herself as Eddy's rightful
successor, she labored for years to reform the movement but failed to make much
headway.
The course of Bill's religious movement could be tricky to follow because she
changed the name of her religious organization numerous times to avoid confusion and
legal action from the Mother Church. On December 31, 1922, Bill and her followers of
“The New Community of Christian Scientists” dissolved and re-united under the title,
“The Church, In the Beginning of a New Scientific Generation.” Nearly a year later,
Bill arrived in Boston, Massachusetts, in the fall of 1923 to extend and promote the
development of “The Parent Church of the New Scientific Generation.” In 1928, Bill
severed all ties with Christian Science and transformed her reform movement into a
new denomination, “The Church of Universal Design,” which taught her version of
Christian Science after having discovered Eddy plagiarized and used drugs. This
church, never large, disappeared after the death of Bill and other leaders in the
late 1930s.
Scope and Content
This collection contains the papers of English religious leader and author Annie C.
Bill and consists of manuscripts, correspondence, and ephemera, chiefly dating from
1910-1936.
Manuscripts
There are 8,002 pieces of manuscripts,
6,044 of which are by Annie C. Bill. The manuscripts comprise of articles, drafts,
essays, excerpts, notebooks, proofs, speeches, statements, and miscellaneous notes.
The manuscripts with titles are arranged alphabetically by author and title;
however, the majority of Bill's manuscripts that do not have titles so they are
arranged alphabetically by the first line of the manuscript. In addition, the bulk
of Bill's manuscripts are fragments that are drafts of her books and religious
manuals. An item of interest is an unpublished manuscript contained in two volumes
written by Daniel H. Spofford titled, “The First Six Lessons of Christian Science”
and “The Last Six Lessons of Christian Science.” In addition, there is a handwritten
transcript of Mary Baker Eddy's private directions for treating the disease
metaphysically. The subjects covered in the manuscripts section are: Christian
Science, First Church of Christ, Scientist, (Boston, Mass.)., First Church of
Christ, Scientist, (Boston, Mass.). Board of Directors, Fellowship of the Universal
Design of Life, Mary Baker Eddy, 1821-1910, prohibition, religion and science, and
signs and symbols.
Correspondence
There are 7,218 pieces of
correspondence, 1,629 of which are by Annie C. Bill; most of her correspondence
comprises of incomplete drafts of letters. The majority of the correspondence
includes letters by her publisher, A.A. Beauchamp, Deputy Advisor, John V.
Dittemore, officers, and students relating to her religious movement. Some of the
correspondence includes reply letters from the addressee in the same folder, which
is also indicated on the folder front. Also, integrated within the correspondence
are letters addressed to and from A.A. Beauchamp, before he was associated with
Annie C. Bill. In addition, there are also carbon copies of letters written by
astronomers, economist, engineers, inventors, physicists, and a steel magnet to
Walter Russell that appear to have no relation to Annie C. Bill. Notable authors
include: George W. Baker, Frederick Dixon, Wellesley Tudor Pole, Frederick Lawrence
Rawson, and Walter Russell.
Ephemera
There are 2,129 pieces of ephemera, the
majority being related to Annie C. Bill. The first part of the ephemera is
applications, brochures, fliers, and tracts that are arranged according to Bill's
religious organization that she joined or led. Some of the listed periodicals are
only fragments. The remaining ephemera consists of an appointment book, British
Museum copyright receipts, Bill's British passport, calling cards, circular letters,
empty envelopes, financial records, a greeting card, Kelly's Directories LTD., legal
documents, miscellaneous ephemera, newspaper clippings, periodicals, photographs,
postcards, and reprints.
The two oversize green ephemera boxes contain a notebook, photographs, a poster,
rubber stamps, and reprinted articles from the Christian Science Sentinel.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in the following order: Manuscripts (Boxes 1-17);
Correspondence (Boxes 18-37); and Ephemera (Boxes 38-48). Each section is arranged
alphabetically by author and title.
Indexing: Added Entries
Beauchamp, A.A.
- Addressee and publisher of Annie C. Bill.
Dittemore, John V.
- Addressee and Deputy Leader of Annie C. Bill.
First Church of Christ, Scientist (Boston, Mass.).
- Addressee of Annie C. Bill.
First Church of Christ, Scientist (Boston, Mass.). Board of Directors.
- Addressee of Annie C. Bill.
Mott, Francis J.
- Addressee and student of Annie C. Bill.
Rawson, (F.L.) Frederick Lawrence, 1859-1923.
- Addressee of Annie C. Bill.
Indexing: Subject Entries
Christian Science
- Subject in [Bill, Annie C.] “On Christian Science:” [manuscript, draft],
[before 1937]. Box 3 (11).
- Subject in Eddy, Mary Baker, 1821-1910. “Science and Health with Key to
the Scriptures:” [book], [before 1905]. Box 46 (5).
- Subject in Spofford, Daniel H. “First Six Lessons in Christian Science:”
[manuscript], (1893). Box 17 (4).
- Subject in Spofford, Daniel H. “Last Six Lessons in Christian Science:”
[manuscript], [1893]. Box 17 (5).
Christian Science Parent Church
- Subject in Aller, Catherine. “The Christian Science Parent Church: A Brief
Statement of its History and Purpose:” [galley proofs], (1929). Box 11
(1).
- Subject in Bill, Annie C. “Manual of the Parent Church: First Edition:”
[manuscript, drafts], (1923, July). Included: Six drafts. Box 8 (15).
- Subject in Bill, Annie C. “Manual of the Christian Science Parent Church
of the New Generation: Fourth Edition:” [manuscript, drafts], (1924).
Included: Four drafts. Box 8 (16).
- Subject in Bill, Annie C. “Manual of the Parent Church:” [manuscript,
fourth draft], (1924). Box 2 (18).
- Subject in Bill, Annie C. “Manual of the Christian Science Parent Church
of the New Generation: Ninth Edition:” [proofs], (1927). Box 11 (4).
- Subject in Bill, Annie C. “Manual of the Christian Science Parent Church:
The Church of the Transforming Covenant: Ninth Edition:” [galley proofs],
(1927). Included: Five copies and notes. Box 11 (5).
Christian Science – Controversial literature
- Subject in Bill, Annie C. “The Church: In the Beginning of a New
Scientific Generation, The Mother Church, in London, Presentation of Claim
to the Legal Title:” [manuscript], (1923, July 24). Included: Copy. Box 8
(8).
- Subject in Bill, Annie C. “The Mother Church Organization Dissolved in
1910?: 2nd Edition:” [book], (1924). Box 45 (9).
- Subject in Bill, Annie C. “Mrs. Eddy's Place in History:” [essay, drafts],
[approx. 1929]. Includes: Three drafts. Box 3 (4).
- Subject in Bill, Annie C. “Proved Discovery in Christian Science:” [book],
(1914). Box 45 (10).
- Subject in The Christian Science Watchman. “The Christian Science Case:
The Christian Science Parent Church versus the Boston „Mother‟
Organization:” [manuscript, drafts], (1926). Included: Two drafts. Box 10
(1).
Eddy, Mary Baker, 1821-1910
- Subject in Bill, Annie C. “Mrs. Eddy's Place in History:” [essay, drafts],
[approx. 1929]. Includes: Three drafts. Box 3 (4).
- Subject in [Bill, Annie C.] “The Position:” [manuscript], [approx. 1923].
Box 3 (16).
- Subject in Bill, Annie C. Untitled manuscript beginning, “Mrs. Eddy's
utilization of the rotary movement…” (1922, Aug.). Box 9 (21).
- Subject in The Christian Science Monitor. “Establish Trust to Carry Out
the Will of Mrs. Eddy:” [article], (1912, Oct. 9). Box 6 (9).
- Subject in First Church of Christ, Scientist, (Boston, Mass.). Board of
Directors. Untitled excerpt beginning, “So far as the contents of Mrs.
Eddy's letters…” (1917, Aug. 15). Box 6 (31).
- Subject in Fitzpatrick, Lida. “Notes on the Divinity Courses:”
[manuscript], (1933). Box 6 (32).
- Subject in Frye, Calvin A. (Calvin Augustine), 1845-1917. “Extracts from
Calvin A. Frye's Diaries:” [excerpts], [before 1913]. Box 6 (33).
- Subject in [Mott, Francis J.] “Mrs. Eddy- A Straw in the Wind:”
[manuscript, draft], [after 1910]. Included: Copy. Box 10 (14).
- Subject in Peabody and Lynn Newspaper. “Historical Data:” [manuscript],
(1876-1882). Box 10 (17).
- Subject in ----. Miscellaneous Notes: Re: Mary Baker Eddy, 1821-1910
[before 1936]. Box 7 (41).
- Subject in ----. Miscellaneous Excerpts: Regarding Mary Baker Eddy,
1821-1910 (1913). Box 17 (8).
- Subject in ----. “What Mary Baker Eddy Found „Hid‟ in Three Measures of
Meal and Left to the World:” [essay], [after 1910]. Box 10 (24).
Fellowship of the Universal Design of Life
- Subject in Applications, Brochures, Fliers, and Tracts: The Fellowship of
the Universal Design of Life (1931). 7 items. Box 38 (7).
- Subject in Beauchamp, A.A. 2 letters (1931-1935) to the Board of Directors
of the Fellowship of the Universal Design of Life. Box 19 (5).
- Subject in Bill, Annie C. “The Fellowship of the Universal Design of Life:
Manual Covenant of the Parent Centre: Thirteenth Edition: [manuscript,
draft], (1931). Box 1 (56).
- Subject in Bill, Annie C. “The Fellowship of the Universal Design of Life:
Manual Covenant of the Parent Centre: Thirteenth Edition:” [galley proofs],
(1931). Included: Two copies. Box 12 (7).
- Subject in Kelly, Mabel 2 letters (1931-1935) to the Board of Directors,
the Fellowship of the Universal Design of Life. Included: Copy and
enclosure. Box 30 (32).
- Subject in Bill, Annie C. “Letter for inquirers for class who are other
than members of our Fellowship:” [manuscript], [after 1930]. Box 2
(10).
- Subject in [Bill, Annie C.] “The Manual Covenant: The Fellowship of the
Universal Design of Life:” [manuscript, drafts], [approx. 1930]. Included:
Seven drafts. Incomplete. Box 2 (16).
- Subject in Bill, Annie C. “Message to the Fellowship of the Universal
Design of Life:” [page proofs], (1931, Oct. 5). Included: Copy. Box 11
(6).
- Subject in [Bill, Annie C.] “What is the Universal Design?:” [statement],
[approx. 1931]. Box 5 (49).
- Subject in O., H. 1 letter (1931, July 30) to the Fellowship of the
Universal Design of Life. Box 32 (51).
- Subject in Taylor, [Maude Sawyer]. “What is the Universal Design?:”
[manuscript], [after 1920]. Box 7 (20).
First Church of Christ, Scientist (Boston, Mass.).
- Subject in Applications, Brochures, Fliers, and Tracts: The First Church
of Christ, Scientist (1903-1911). 16 items. Box 38 (8).
- Subject in Bill, Annie C. 2 letters (1921) to the Acting Directors of the
First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston. Included: Copies. Box 20
(1).
- Subject in Bill, Annie C. 5 letters (1918-1922) to the First Church of
Christ, Scientist. Incomplete. Box 21 (25).
First Church of Christ, Scientist (Boston, Mass.). Board of Directors
- Subject in Beauchamp, A.A. 1 letter (1929, Aug. 13) to the Board of
Directors, the Christian Science Society. Box 19 (4).
- Subject in Bill, Annie C. 16 letters (1907-1914) to First Church of
Christ, Scientist, (Boston, Mass.). Board of Directors. Included: Copies,
enclosures, and reply letters. Box 21 (26).
- Subject in Bill, Annie C. 15 letters (1918-1929) to First Church of
Christ, Scientist, (Boston, Mass.). Board of Directors. Included: Copies and
enclosures. Box 21 (27).
- Subject in Bill, Annie C. 2 letters (1910-1921) to Bicknell Young.
Incomplete. Box 23 (69).
- Subject in Burges, Cyril T. 3 letters (1924) to the Board of Directors,
Third Church of Christ, Scientist. Box 24 (36).
- Subject in Fellowes, John F. 1 letter (1928, Jan. 14) to the Board of
Directors, Third Church of Christ, Scientist. Box 28 (49).
- Subject in First Church of Christ, Scientist, (Boston, Mass.). Board of
Directors. Untitled excerpt beginning, “So far as the contents of Mrs.
Eddy's letters…” (1917, Aug. 15). Box 6 (31).
- Subject in Mackay, Janet Turner 1 letter [approx. 1921] to First Church of
Christ, Scientist (Boston, Mass.). Board of Directors. Box 31 (28).
- Subject in Young, Bicknell 2 letters (1910) to Annie C. Bill. Box 35
(73).
Marriage
- Subject in [Bill, Annie C.] “Church and State Balance in Marriage Divorce
and Evolution:” [essay], [before 1937]. Box 1 (39).
- Subject in Bill, Annie C. “Marriage, Divorce, and the New Testament:”
[essay], [after 1930]. Box 2 (19).
- Subject in Brittain, Verra. “Will there be a Marriage Revolution?:”
[excerpt], [undated]. Box 6 (1).
Plagiarism
- Subject in Bailey, L.M. 1 letter (1929) to [Annie C.] Bill. Included:
Reply letter. Box 18 (46).
- Subject in Beauchamp, A.A. 2 letters (1929) to “the Editor of the Hull
Evening News.” Included: Enclosures. Box 19 (12).
- Subject in Bill, Annie C. (1918-1929) to First Church of Christ,
Scientist, (Boston, Mass.). Board of Directors. Included: Copies and
enclosures. Box 21 (27).
- Subject in Gronen, Taylor M. 8 letters (1927-1929) to Annie C. Bill.
Included: Enclosures. Box 29 (39).
- Subject in Harding, James 1 letter (1929, July 14) to [Annie C.] Bill.
Included: Reply letter. Box 29 (56).
- Subject in Moore, [Kate?] E. 1 letter (1929, July 22) to [Annie C.] Bill.
Box 37 (15).
- Subject in Plummer, George Winslow, 1876-1944 1 letter (1929, July 29) to
John V. Dittemore. Box 33 (17).
- Subject in Smith, A.W. 2 letters (1929) to [Annie C.] Bill. Included:
Reply letter. Box 34 (28).
- Subject in Talbot, Edith A. 1 letter (1929, June 3) to Annie C. Bill. Box
34 (57).
Prohibition
- Subject in [Bill, Annie C.] “The Advancing Movement of Christian Science
and Prohibition:” [manuscript], [approx. 1924]. Box 1 (20).
- Subject in [Bill, Annie C.] “Mistaken Prohibition and Obedient Atonement:”
[essay], (1926, May 18). Box 3 (3).
- Subject in Bill, Annie C. “Temperance or Prohibition:” [statement, draft],
[after 1920]. Box 5 (21).
- Subject in The Christian Science Watchman. “Prohibition:” [reprints],
(1926, May). Note: Various annotations and notes. Box 10 (2).
- Subject in Leacock, Stephen, 1869-1944. “Based Upon a Lie, It Cannot
Endure:” [essay], [approx. 1920]. Box 6 (41).
- Subject in ----. “After Prohibition, What?:” (1931, Sep.). Box 7
(27).
Religion and Science
- Subject in Bill, Annie C. “An English Women's Reply to Einstein:” [page
proofs], (1930). Included: Envelope. Box 11 (2).
- Subject in [Bill, Annie C.] “Science and Religion unite on One Universal
Basis of Mind:” [manuscript, draft], [before 1937]. Incomplete. Box 5
(1).
Signs and Symbols
- Subject in Bill, Annie C. “Figures and Symbols of the Universal Design:”
[book], (1925). Box 45 (4).
- Subject in Bill, Annie C. “Figures and Symbols of the Universal Design:”
[printers‟ proofs], (1925). Included: Correspondence and drawings. Box 12
(8).
- Subject in Bill, Annie C. Miscellaneous Notes: Drawings and sketches
[before 1937]. Box 2 (28).
- Subject in Bill, Annie C. “The Symbol of Day and Night in the Christian
Science System of Organization:” [essay, draft], (1922, Dec. 14). Box 9
(5).
- Subject in Mott, Francis J. “Symbols:” [manuscript], (1925). Box 17
(3).
- Subject in [Pole, Wellesley Tudor]. “Colour + Number Symbolism:”
[manuscript], [approx. 1908]. Box 6 (74).
- Subject in [Pole, Wellesley Tudor]. “Tarot:” [manuscript], [approx. 1908].
Box 7 (1).
- Subject in [Pole, Wellesley Tudor]. “The Tarot; What is it?:”
[manuscript], [approx. 1908]. Incomplete. Box 7 (2).
- Subject in [Pole, Wellesley Tudor]. Untitled manuscript beginning, “I.
Aleph N…” [approx. 1908]. Box 7 (4).
- Subject in Pole, Wellesley Tudor]. Untitled manuscript beginning, “Number
Symbolism in its…” [approx. 1908]. Box 7 (5).
Indexing Terms
Subjects
Bill, Annie
C.
Eddy, Mary Baker,
1821-1910.
Christian Science
Parent Church.
Fellowship of the
Universal Design of Life.
First Church of
Christ, Scientist (Boston, Mass.).
First Church of
Christ, Scientist (Boston, Mass.). Board of Directors.
Christian Science -- Controversial
literature.
Christian Science -- History -- 20th
century.
Christian Science -- Great
Britain.
Christian Science -- United
States.
Marriage -- United States -- 20th
century.
Plagiarism -- United States -- 20th
century.
Prohibition -- United States -- 20th
century.
Religion and science -- United States
-- 20th century.
Signs and symbols -- United States --
20th century.
Forms/Genres
Articles -- United States.
Essays -- United States.
Excerpts -- United States.
Galley proofs -- United States.
Legal documents -- United States.
Letters (correspondence) -- United
States.
Manuscripts -- United States.
Notebooks -- United States.
Notes -- United States.
Page proofs -- United States.
Pamphlets -- United States.
Periodicals -- United States.
Photographs -- United States.
Plays -- United States.
Poems -- United States.
Printers' proofs -- United States.
Reprints -- United States.
Speeches Untied States.
Tracts (documents) -- United States.
Additional Contributors
Beauchamp, A.A.
Dittemore, John V.
Mott, Francis J.
Rawson, F.L. (Frederick Lawrence),
1859-1923.