The Reverend William Madison Mayfield Collection is housed in LaBudde Special Collections, UMKC Miller Nichols Library. The collection consists of log books and other miscellaneous material related to Rev. Mayfield and his ministries in Kansas City, Missouri; Butler, Missouri; Soldier, Kansas; and Oneida, Kansas. Material is divided into two series to reflect two separate acquisitions: Series I, which was purchased from Dan Casavant Rare Books, and Series II, which was a gift of Rev. Mayfield’s son, William A. Mayfield, in May 2005.

The first series contains five log books recording the activities of Rev. Mayfield at the Disciples of Christ Church in Butler, Missouri, 1911; West Side Church, Kansas City, Missouri, 1912-1916; Roanoke Christian Church, Kansas City, Missouri, 1917-1923; and Soldier Christian Church, Soldier, Kansas, 1923-1941. Among the records are listings of sermons, special addresses, funerals, marriages, member additions, member losses, special offerings and special meetings. These journals are rich in genealogical history and speak to the cultural aspects of the period in which they were created.

The second series is a small, yet significant, collection of memorabilia that complements the original acquisition of Mayfield church records. It contains biographical sketches and tributes in booklet form, a marriage announcement, a commencement program, a church directory and a news clipping. This addition to the Mayfield collection brings life and purpose to the importance of these church records. It gives insight and substance into the man who penned these documents, putting a face and a soul on an important piece of history.

NOTE: Additional resources on the Reverend William Mayfield can be located at Disciples of Christ Historical Society in Nashville, Tennessee. Inventory includes sermons and sermon notes, biographical notes and sketches used in funerals and scrapbooks.