The new Billy Graham Archive & Research Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, opens today, Nov. 7, on what would have been the late evangelist’s 104th birthday.
Within walking distance of the Billy Graham Library, the center is open by appointment to students and researchers who want to know more about evangelism by studying the ministry of Billy Graham.
The state-of-the-art 30,000 square foot building is climate-controlled with four vaults/archival-protected rooms, holding more than a million pieces of history since Billy Graham started his ministry in the late 1940s.
These materials include historical records related to the long-term development of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA); artifacts, photographs, film and audio from the Billy Graham era; and documentation of his 400-plus Crusades. Never-before-seen negatives are still being developed from pictures taken by Russ Busby, Billy Graham’s longtime photographer.
“It’s a treasure trove,” said Dr. David Bruce, executive vice president of the Billy Graham Archive & Research Center and Billy Graham Library. “For the first time in all these decades, we now have everything related to the historical background of Mr. Graham in one location.”
Along with items from the Graham home, the center contains hundreds of awards, gifts, and pieces of artwork given to Billy Graham, including various keys to the city.
“It’s a real reflection of where he went,” Bruce added. “It’s a clear understanding of the worldwide impact of Mr. Graham by simply looking at the things he collected over time that were given to him.”
Researchers who come to the center can peruse a vast array of historical documents to see how God used one man’s life to impact millions.
Bruce cautioned: “It’s not really just to study Mr. Graham, it’s to study what God did in his life.”
Want to know how to craft a sermon? How to give an evangelistic invitation or build an evangelistic strategy in your church? How to reach people groups?
The difference between Billy Graham’s manuscripts and actual sermons? The evangelist’s correspondence with world leaders, like Queen Elizabeth II?
All of that information and more can be found at the new archive center.
“The backbone of all this is that Billy Graham wanted to encourage the next generation of leadership—men and women in sharing the Gospel,” Bruce said.
When scheduling an appointment online, you can explain your reason behind coming to the center, such as writing a dissertation or organizing an evangelistic event, and staff will select certain items to help begin your study. You can access those files, as well as others, during your appointment.
In addition, researchers will have access to a systematic database that allows you to do a keyword search and pull up everything the evangelist ever said on that topic, along with photos, audio, and videos from all of his Crusade