In 1888, the Methodist Episcopal Church created the office of Deaconess. Later, in 1902, the Methodist Episcopal Church South also created the office of Deaconess. The Chicago Training School, which merged with Garrett Biblical Institute (now Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary) in 1934, was instrumental in training deaconesses for their work serving the poor, the widowed, the orphaned, immigrants, and other marginalized people. This page contains primary and secondary texts about deaconesses and their work. These resources are available in the library and/or freely online.
The Early History of Deaconess Work and Training Schools for Women in American Methodism by 
My Calling to Fulfill: Deaconesses in the United Methodist Tradition by 
Where My Deaconess Went: A Story Describing Real Scenes, Real People, Real Work by Freely available online resources are indicated by an asterisk at the end.
Articles
Paper
Methodist Deaconesses
