Unlocking the History of Unity with the Digital Archive and Museum

A few years ago, my 92-year-old uncle found a long-forgotten trunk while cleaning his house. It was full of letters and photos that his brother (my father) had given him for safekeeping before serving overseas in the military during the 1950s.

As an archivist I was excited by the discovery. Because the items had been important enough for my father to keep, I wanted to read every word. Those letters became treasured to me as I gained deeper insight into my father’s life. I wanted to digitally preserve them for generations to come, sharing them with family so they, too, could know my father.

As manager of the Unity Archives, I feel the same excitement about the collections at Unity Village. The archive includes thousands of original manuscripts, letters, photographs, booklets, pamphlets, magazines, and artifacts. Each item tells a story about the people, places, and events that have shaped the history of the Unity movement.

Unity Digital Archive and Museum

Among the archive collections are the personal papers of Unity founders Charles and Myrtle Fillmore. Until recently, it would have been necessary to make a trip to Unity Village to see the collection, and one visit would not be enough time to look at everything. With the launch of the Unity Digital Archive and Museum, you can discover the rich history of the Unity movement from your own home. Digitizing the original papers not only makes them accessible to all but helps each person discover the spiritual legacy of the Fillmores and other Unity leaders through the online exhibits. Preserving records helps tell the story of a person or organization; digitizing those materials helps share that story with the world.

The digital history project, in partnership with HistoryIT, has been an enormous undertaking. Unity Archives has about 2,000 linear feet of archival material. So far more than a million documents have been digitized in a format that should be compatible with any technology in the future, but they represent only a small portion of the physical collection. The online collection will continue to grow as more archival items are digitally preserved.

The website is organized like a museum. Each exhibit is based on a theme, and the items in the display are organized to create a visual story. The digital museum so far includes exhibits on Unity Farm, Myrtle Fillmore, Charles Fillmore and Eric Butterworth.

If you want to dive deeper, the website allows you to view original documents, read letters, listen to recordings, or look at old photographs. Accessing words from the past can help you find the spiritual power you need for today. You can nourish your soul, find strength before facing the world, or find healing after you have had a hard day. You can find a connection through their words that will help you on your spiritual journey.

Myrtle’s Legacy

Just as I found a kinship to my father through his letters, I have been able to connect to Myrtle Fillmore through hers. One of my favorites was written from her desk in the office that is next to my office now. The letter caught my attention because she described the details of her office including the back staircase that I often use. I could picture Myrtle sitting at her desk writing the letter almost 100 years ago. She writes about the beauty of the area: “I can see so far, I feel one with all the world.”

I appreciate most the joy for life and her work that Myrtle expresses as she writes. I often get so caught up in the things that need to be done in life that I forget to take time to find joy in the journey. As I read her words, I feel the “quiet reverence in my heart, a holy joy. I want to shout one minute and be very still the next.” Her words are simple, but as I read them, I find peace.

I encourage you to come see Myrtle’s letters and explore the wealth of information in the new Digital Archive and Museum. In Myrtle’s words, “I could never begin to tell you how it really is. I know that when you come and see for yourself, you too will feel the glory of it, and feel the great love that goes out continuously in blessing upon all God’s people.”