Rev. Lester Nathaniel Abel, 1898 - 1956

Archives of DePauw University

and Indiana United Methodism

Rev. Lester Nathaniel Abel, 1898 - 1956

Size: 1.2 linear feet

Restrictions: none

Accession: M997.065

Provenance: donor, Mary L. Van Allen

Processed by: Rachael Wagner, August 2002

Biographical Background

Lester Nathaniel Abel was born in Whiteland, Indiana, November 13, 1898 to Nathaniel and Mary Abel. He attended Whiteland High School, and later was graduated from Los Angeles Extension School of Law and was a member of the Indiana Bar Association. He later graduated from Franklin College with an A.B. degree after having entered the ministry in 1924. This followed six years as a teacher in the public schools of Indiana. He also took additional university courses from Indiana and Purdue Universities.

Rev. Abel married Katherine Pearson in 1920, and the couple had two sons, Bill and Russell, and two daughters, Mary and Vera.

While a minister of the Indiana Conference, Rev. Abel served at Acton, Switz City, Clarks Hill, Whitcomb, Westport, Milton, North Vincennes, New Albany, Shelburn, and Indianapolis. He was also assistant to the president of Taylor University at Upland from 1940 until enlisting in the military in the capacity of chaplain in 1943. During his military service, Rev. Abel served in Australia through March of 1944 when he was sent home to the states for medical reasons. He served out the remainder of his commission at stateside military bases in Maryland and Virginia, and left the war with the rank of Captain.

Rev. Abel was known statewide as a lecturer and commencement speaker, often delivering as many as 30 high school commencement addresses per year. He was the minister at Michigan Street Methodist Church in Indianapolis at the time of his death on September 10, 1956.Collection Statement

This collection is divided into three series: 1) Biographical, which includes newspaper clippings, letters, and other materials from the churches in which Rev. Abel served, as well as numerous obituaries and sympathy cards to his family. This series also includes a few brief genealogical notes. 2) Military, which contains all Rev. Abel=s official military papers such as appointments, hospital records, and promotion information. This series also contains personal materials from his time of military service, such as letters to and from family and photographs from the Harvard Chaplain=s School and his station in Australia. 3) Sermons & Service, which includes his lifetime service record with the Methodist Church, as well as nine books of sermons, ranging in date from 1943 - 1956.

Series I: Biographical

MC 319

Folder 1: Law / Indiana Bar Association (1920-1924)

2: Certificates from Methodist Episcopal Church (1927-1932)

3: North Methodist Church, Vincennes, IN (1936-1938)

4: Wesley Chapel Methodist Church, New Albany, IN (1939-1940)

5: Taylor University, Upland, IN (1940-1942)

6: Shelburn Methodist Church, Shelburn, IN (1946-1947)

7: Trinity Methdosit Church, Indianapolis, IN (1948-1951)

8: Michigan Street Methodist Church, Indianapolis, IN (1952-1956)

9: Obituaries (1956)

10: Sympathy / Remembrance Cards to Abel Family (1956)

11: Genealogy / Family History Information

Series II: Military

MC 319

Folder 12: Military Papers, 1942-1943 (appointment, assignments, leave requests)

13: Military Papers, 1944 (promotion, hospitalization, reassignment)

14: Military Papers, 1945 (health reassessment, leave requests)

15: Military Papers, 1946 (discharge from active duty, reserve officers= corps)

16: Military Papers, 1947-1953 (reserve corps, honorable discharge)

17: Chaplain=s Monthly Reports, Jan. 1943 - Mar. 1944

18: Letters from Lester N. Abel to Family, 1943-1944

19: Letters to Lester N. Abel from Family, 1943-1944

20: Photographs of Lester N. Abel, 1943-1944 (Harvard Chaplain=s School, Australia)

Series III: Sermons & Service

MC 319

Folder 21: Pastors Life Record

22: Sermons, Book 1 (1955-1956)

MC 320

Folder 1: Sermons, Book 2 (1950-1951)

2: Sermons, Book 3 (Sermons for Special Days)

3: Sermons, Book 4 (1951-1952)

4: Sermons, Book 5 (n.d.)

MC 321

Folder 1: Sermons, Book 6 (1949-1950)

2: Sermons, Book 7 (1954-1955)

3: Sermons, Book 8 (1943-1956 (?)

4: Sermons, Book 9 (n.d., some from Purdue, Military)