Rev. Olin W. Nail was born to Daniel and Martha Jane Nail in China Springs, Texas, near Waco, on June 12, 1890. He volunteered for the ministry on March 14, 1909, was licensed to preach in May that same year and delivered his first sermon at Coon Creek on July 11, 1909. He was made a deacon in 1913 and an elder in 1917. Nail received four degrees from Methodist schools, including a doctorate of Theology. He joined the West Texas Conference in 1924, and served Texas churches for forty years.

Dr. Nail wrote numerous articles on Texas Methodism and prepared a short history of the Methodist church in Texas that dealt especially with church accomplishments after 1900. This history appeared in the Handbook of Texas issued in 1958. He married Mary Crowson on September 30, 1915, and they had two children. Rev. Olin Nail died in 1970 at age 80.

Correspondence, sermons, church publications, printed materials, and photographs, 1888-1969 (2.9 linear feet). The majority of the materials are sermons that Nail delivered at Texas churches between 1915 and 1964. Among the places he preached were China Springs, Smiley, Lavernia, Kempner, Harlandale, Pearsall, Travis Park Church, Elgin, Weslaco, Lampassas, Sterling City, Carrizo Springs, Mathis, Donna, Denver Heights, Aldersgate, Falfurrias, Cordele, SMU, and St. John’s Baptist Church. Each sermon has on its top right corner the date and the name of the city in which it was preached. The biographical information on Olin Nail within the collection is divided between his own life and family (with several photographs and a statement of insurance), and his wife, Mrs. Nail. Relating to his education is a copy of his dissertation. Church related papers abound within the collection including pamphlets from churches where he preached, the number of members for each church, and Sunday service programs. Other publications include articles he wrote for The Southwestern Advocate, History of the West Texas Conference, and Methodism Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow. The collection also includes an original recorded tape of a sermon entitled “Why the Light Failed” which Nail delivered at a dinner in Falfurrias.

Box.Folder

1.1 Personal: Biographical 1965
List of important dates in Nail’s life (1930-1951); insurance information; papers/documentation to license preaching.

1.2 Education (Dissertation) August, 1946

1.3 Personal: Photographs 1888-1955
Ministers of McAllen District, 1947, Weslaco; West Texas Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Cchruch, South, Victoria, Texas November 1888; Photos (2) “of site where first Methodist Society formed around 1815 in Red River County at what is now (1958) Davenport. This picture was taken in 1934 and used in The Texas Meth. Centennial Yearbook”; Texas Wesleyan College Academy, Austin; Misc photos of Nail, family, and various parsonages and churches (Cottonwood School, Kirkland Church, Ganada, Elgin). Photo of Gipsy Smith “the great evangelist” with Wesley Nail, age 8 months.

1.4 Correspondence: Jan. 8, 1929-Dec 9, 1969

1.5 Sermon: “China Springs” 1915

1.6 Sermon: “S.M.U.” 1920

1.7 Sermon: “Smiley” 1925

1.8 Sermon: “Lavernia” 1925-1926

1.9 Sermon: “Kempner” 1927, 1937, 1954, 1958, 1959

1.10 Sermon: “Harlandale” 1928-1931

1.11 Sermon: “Harlandale” 1928-1931, 1964

1.12 Sermon: “Pearsall” 1927-1928

1.13 Sermon: “Travis Park Church” 1930-1931, 1950

1.14 Sermon: “Elgin” 1932-1935

1.15 Sermon “Elgin” 1932-1935

2.1 Sermon “Weslaco” 1932, 1936, 1949.

2.2 Sermon “Lampassas” 1936-1937

2.3 Sermon “Sterling city” 1938

2.4 Sermon: “Carrizo Springs” 1939, 1940, 1941

2.5 Sermon “Mathis” 1942-1946

2.6 Sermon “Mathis” 1943-1945, 1965

2.7 Sermon: “Donna” 1946-1948

3.1 Sermon: “Donna” 1947-1949

3.2 Sermon: “Denver Heights” 1949-1950

3.3 Sermon: “Aldersgate” 1950-1951

3.4 Sermon: “Falfurrias” 1951-1954

3.5 Sermon: “Falfurrias” 1951-1954

3.6 Sermon: “Cordele” 1953

3.7 Sermon: “Ganado” 1953-1954

4.1 Sermon: “Ganado” 1953, 1956, 1957

4.2 Sermon: “Ganado” 1954, 1955, 1956, 1965

4.3 Sermon: “St. John’s Methodist Church” 1959, 1960, 1964, 1968

4.4 Sermon: “Haynie Chapel” 1961-62, 1964

4.5 Sermon: “Haynie Chapel” 1962-1964

4.6 Miscellaneous Guest Sermons 1922, 1926, 1929, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1950, 1952, 1959

5.1 Sermons: “Addresses given at a place not listed” 1949, 1958, 1961, 1957

5.2 Sermons: “Addresses given at a place not listed” 1933-1934, 1937, 1947, 1953

5.3 “Religious Songs” 1854

5.4 “Religious Addresses/ Papers not in sermon format” 1929, 1931 1932, 1943, 1947, 1948, 1951, 1952, 1962

5.5 “Sermon Notes” 1932, 1936, 1939

5.6 “Incomplete Sermons” 1920’s-1960’s

5.7 Church Papers: Religious Pamphlets; 1913

5.8 Church Papers: Recommendations for Olin Nail
May 5, 1915-April 19, 1958

5.9 Church Papers: Religious tracts; 1920’s

5.10 Church Papers: “Harlandale Methodist Church” 1926-Nov. 1932

5.11 Church Papers: “Church Membership and one list of M.A. graduates” 1928-1952

5.12 Church Papers: Directories, Yearbook, Pamphlets 1928-1959

5.13 VIP Correspondence: 1934, 1936
Franklin D. Roosevelt, congratulations on the 100th anniversary of Methodism; Secretary to King George

6.1 Church Papers: “Roman Catholicism and Protestantism,” 1928-1948

6.2 Church Papers: Harlandale Methodist Church “The Reminder,” 1929-1935

6.3 Church Papers: Elgin Methodist Church, 1931-1946

6.4 Church Papers: Miscellaneous Pamphlets, [1930’s]

6.5 Church Papers: Conference Related Papers, 1933-1952

6.6 Church Papers: Annual Church Conferences Sept. 4, 1934- Jun. 6, 1961

6.7 Church Papers: Carrizo Springs Methodist Church, Nov. 20, 1938-Nov. 6, 1939

6.8 Church Papers: First Methodist Church, 1941-1965

6.9 Church Papers: Methodist Schools [1950’s]

6.10 Church Papers: Ganado Methodist Church, 1955-1957

6.11 Church Papers: Miscellaneous Signs, Jan. 1955

6.12 Church Papers: St. John’s Methodist Church;, 1957-1960

6.13 Church Papers: “St. John’s Journal,” Sept. 13, 1968

6.14 Memorabilia: n.d.
Copy of coins: Romanov Ruble, Henry VII Groat, Louis XV Ecu.

6.15 “Webberville Charge” ledger, 1892-94
Quarterly Conference Record of MEC South.

7 Publications: printer’s plates for books, 1860’s

8 Printing plates: wood, zinc, and tin 1860’s, 1890-1937
Printing plates of individuals, monuments, and buildings used in the publication of The Texas Methodist Centennial Yearbook.

8 Olin’s King James Bible, 1909.