The Bruner Collection consists chiefly of materials relating to the period of Mrs. Bruner's education (1914-1925). It includes: publications of the San Francisco National Training School; a scrapbook (1913-1920; biographical materials on Rev. Bruner (1918); Mrs. Bruner's correspondence (1914-1956); and, scattered clippings, programs and Methodist missionary periodicals.

Clara Isabel Raynor Bruner studied at the San Francisco National Training School (1913-1915) with the intention of becoming a medical missionary. The School was operated under the auspices of the Women's Home Missionary Society of the Mehtodist Episcopal Church. It began in 1890 to train deaconesses and in 1901 it undertook to train women for other Christian work. After graduating from the School Miss Raynor took nursing coursework in Southern California (1915-1917). There she married Rev. Joseph W. Bruner, minister at Lakeside Methodist Church near Hanford, Calif. (1917). The following year Mr. Bruner began training for military chaplaincy, caught the Spanish Influenza and died. Mrs. Bruner continued in Christian work, participating in such groups as the Epworth League and the YWCA. She also supported missionary work in China and in India.

Collection is open for research.