Boston, Massachusetts. Park Street Church. Records, 1804-1976.
Records, 1804 - 1976
49 linear feet
Top of pageIntroduction
The beginnings of Park Street Church date to 1804 when a "Religious Improvement Society" began holding weekly lectures and prayer meetings in Boston. After meeting for 6 years, the society formed the Park Street Church in February 1809 with 26 charter members. Less than a year later, in January 1810, the church dedicated its newly constructed meetinghouse on the corner of Park and Tremont Streets. A plaque on the building's façade states that the church has been Trinitarian, Evangelical and Congregational since its inception.
Park Street Church quickly became the site of significant historical events including the founding of the Handel and Haydn Society in 1815, the American Temperance Society in 1826, the Animal Rescue League in 1889, and the NAACP in 1910. It also served to host William Lloyd Garrison's first anti - slavery speech in 1829, the first public performance of the hymn " America" in 1831, and Charles Sumner's famous address, "The War System of Nations," in 1849.
In the late 1800s, Park Street's membership declined sharply, and the resultant monetary loss led to a reconstruction of the church building: the meetinghouse was raised to the second floor so that the basement and front of the church could be rented to commercial stores. Financial distress continued and the Park Street property was nearly sold to the Boston Herald in the early 1900s. Membership began to recover during the following decades, and in the mid - 1940s, the stores were dismantled and the basement was returned to religious uses. In 1954 the Church purchased the adjoining property at No. 1 Park Street. The church continued to expand in 1993 when it acquired No. 2 and No. 3 Park Street.
The Park Street records were transferred to the Congregational Archives in the late 1970s.
Top of pageMinisters
- Edward D. Griffin - 1811 - 1815
- Sereno E. Dwight - 1817 - 1826
- Edward Beecher - 1826 - 1830
- Joel H. Linsley - 1832 - 1835
- Silas Aiken - 1837 - 1848
- Andrew Leete Stone - 1849 - 1866
- William H.H. Murray - 1868 - 1874
- John L. Withrow - 1876 - 1887; 1898 - 1907
- David Gregg - 1887 - 1890
- Isaac J. Lansing - 1893 - 1897
- Arcturus Z. Conrad - 1905 - 1937
- Harold J. Ockenga - 1936 - 1969
- Paul E. Toms - 1969 - 1989
- David C. Fisher - 1989 - 1995
- Gordon P. Hugenberger - 1997 - present
Scope and Content
Series I: Vital Statistics, 1809 - 1976
This series includes member directories and registers; confessions of faith; baptism, marriage, and death records; examining committee minutes; and records of admissions and dismissals.
Series II: Church Records, 1804 - 1966
This series includes minutes from the Society for Religious Improvement Society (the precursor to PSC) and the church clerk, annual meetings, deacons, and cabinet.
Series III: Park Street Society & Financial Records, 1809 - 1963
This series includes Park Street Society minutes; trustee correspondence; Prudential Committee minutes; pew sales, deeds, taxes, rental index, and journals. The series also contains Park Street Society collections and contributions, society and trustee cash books, Benevolence account books, Vouchers , receipts, bills, and financial reports.
Series IV: Voluntary Organizations, 1816 - 1968
This series includes minutes for the Maternal Association, the Women's Board of Foreign Missions, the Benevolent Sewing Circle, the Women's Benevolent Society, the Women's Club, the Men's Club, and the Singing Society. The series also includes Social Assembly menus and finances, radio program pledges and bulletins, and a women's club scrapbook.
Series V: Historical Materials, 1809 - 1974
Included in the series are files regarding pastors; missions; music; bylaws; church facilities and maintenance; anniversary celebrations; and histories of the church. The series also includes newspaper clippings and photographs of various events.
Series VI: Shawmut Church,
Please note: MF# indicates the microfilm reel for that particular box/folder/ledger.
| Description | Years | Microfilm Reel |
|
|
|
Box 1 |
|
|
Member Directories |
|
|
|
1809-1850 |
MF1 |
|
1850-1878 |
MF1 |
|
1814-1901 |
MF1 |
|
1834 (Folder 01) |
|
|
1835 (Folder 01) |
|
|
1901-1910 |
MF1 |
|
Early 1930s (Folder 02) |
|
|
|
|
Box 2 |
|
|
Member Registers |
1877-1966 |
MF1 |
|
|
|
Box 3 |
|
|
Confession of Faith Signers |
1809-1976 |
MF2 |
|
|
|
Box 4 |
|
|
Baptisms, Marriages, Deaths |
|
|
|
1810-1921 |
MF2 |
|
1921-1949 |
MF3 |
|
|
|
Box 5 |
|
|
Examining/Conference Committee Minutes |
1828-1854 |
MF3 |
|
|
|
Box 6 |
|
|
Examining/Conference Committee Minutes |
1854-1899 |
MF4 |
|
|
|
Box 7 |
|
|
Admissions & Dismissals |
1809-1929 |
|
|
|
|
| Box 8 | ||
| Admissions & Dismissals | 1830-1839 | |
Box 9 |
||
| Admissions & Dismissals | 1840-1849 | |
| Box 10 | ||
| Admissions & Dismissals | 1850-1859 | |
Box 11 |
||
| Admissions & Dismissals | 1860-1869 | |
Box 12 |
||
| Admissions & Dismissals | 1870-1879 | |
| Box 13 | ||
| Admissions & Dismissals | 1880-1889 | |
| Box 14 | ||
| Admissions & Dismissals | 1890-1891 | |
| Box 15 | ||
| Admissions & Dismissals | 1944-1949 | |
Box 16 |
|
|
Admissions & Dismissals |
1950-1952 |
|
|
|
|
| Box 17 | ||
| Admissions & Dismissals | 1953-1954 | |
| Box 18 | ||
| Admissions & Dismissals | 1955-1956 | |
| Box 19 | ||
| Membership Discipline | 1813-1943 | |
| Disputes Between Members | 1833-1848 | |
| Clerk Reports of Membership Numbers | 1842-1903 | |
| Members Participating in Civil War | ||
| Non-pastoral Appointments and Resignations | 1824-1952 | |
| Benevolent Societies Committee Lists | 1843-1857 | |
| Official Staff and Committee Member Lists | 1953-1980 | |
Box 20 |
|
|
Members Marriages |
1837-1849 |
|
Members Deaths |
1813-1842, 1907-1953 |
|
Series II. Church Records |
|
|
Box 21 |
|
|
Society for Religious Improvement Minutes |
1804-1808 |
MF4 |
|
|
|
Box 22 |
|
|
Church Clerk Minutes/Annual Meeting Minutes & Reports |
1809-1834 |
MF4 |
|
1834-1899 |
MF5 |
|
|
|
Box 23 |
|
|
Church Clerk Minutes/Annual Meeting Minutes & Reports |
1899-1922 |
MF6 |
|
|
|
Box 24 |
|
|
Church Clerk Minutes/Annual Meeting Minutes & Reports |
1922-1938 |
MF6 |
|
|
|
Box 25 |
|
|
Church Clerk Minutes/Annual Meeting Minutes & Reports |
1939-1946 |
MF7 |
|
|
|
Box 26 |
|
|
Church Clerk Minutes/Annual Meeting Minutes & Reports |
1946-1952 |
MF7 |
|
|
|
Box 27 |
|
|
Church Clerk Minutes/Annual Meeting Minutes & Reports |
1952-1966 |
|
|
|
|
Box 28 |
|
|
Annual Meeting Notices, Minutes & Reports |
1853-1973 |
|
|
|
|
Box 29 |
|
|
Board of Deacons' Meeting Minutes & Reports |
1914-1970 |
|
Certificate of Appreciation for Deacon William McKay |
1936 |
|
|
|
|
Box 30 |
|
|
Deacons' Fund Ledgers |
1918-1963 |
|
|
|
|
Box 31 |
|
|
Cabinet Minutes |
1921-1926 |
|
|
|
|
Box 32 |
|
|
Pulpit Supply Committee Records |
1866-1968 |
|
PSC's "Local Church Report" for Annual Yearbook of Congregational Christian Churches |
1924-1937 |
|
| Box 33 | ||
| Joint Council Minutes | 1964-1965 | |
Series III. Park Street Society & Financial Records |
|
|
Box 34 |
|
|
Society Minutes |
1810-1886 |
MF8 |
|
|
|
Box 35 |
|
|
Society Minutes |
1887-1939 |
MF8 |
|
|
|
Box 36 |
|
|
Society Minutes |
1951-1963 |
MF9 |
|
|
|
Box 37 --EMPTY |
|
|
|
|
|
Box 38 |
|
|
Prudential Committee Minutes |
1824-1898 |
MF10 |
|
1898-1911 |
MF11 |
|
|
|
Box 39 |
|
|
Prudential Committee Minutes |
1911-1937 |
MF11 |
|
|
|
Box 40 |
|
|
Pew Rental Reports & Correspondence |
1817-1881 |
|
|
|
|
Box 41 |
|
|
Pew Journals |
1881-1916 |
|
|
|
|
Box 42-46 |
|
|
Pew Sales & Deeds |
1809-1913 |
|
|
|
|
Box 47-49 |
|
|
Pew Rents & Taxes |
1810-1925 |
|
|
|
|
Box 50 |
|
|
Pew Deeds |
1810-1829 |
|
|
|
|
| Box 51 | ||
| Pew Deeds | 1830-1859 | |
| Box 52 | ||
| Pew Deeds | 1850-1919 | |
| Box 53 | ||
| Receipts for Pew Tax Payments | 1843-1873 | |
Box 54 |
|
|
Seating |
1830-1952 |
|
|
|
|
Box 55 |
|
|
Tomb Deeds & Policies |
1823-1914 |
|
|
|
|
Box 56-58 |
|
|
Society Collections & Contributions |
1841-1943 |
|
|
|
|
Box 59 |
|
|
Society & Trustee Cash Books |
1843-1933 |
|
|
|
|
Box 60 |
|
|
Benevolence Account Books |
1919-1944 |
|
|
|
|
| Box 61 | ||
| Subscriptions for Erecting Meeting House, Hiring Rev. Griffin, Furniture | 1809-1811 | |
Box 62 |
|
|
Vouchers |
1818-1867 |
|
|
|
|
| Box 63 | ||
| Vouchers | 1868-1876 | |
Box 64 |
|
|
Receipts & Bills |
1809-1830 |
|
|
|
|
| Box 65 | ||
| Receipts & Bills | 1833-1856 | |
Box 66 |
|
|
Receipts & Bills |
1857-1910 |
|
|
|
|
| Box 67 | ||
| Tax Abatements, Investments, Endowment | 1921-1964 | |
Box 68 |
|
|
Mercantile Agency Reports |
1857 |
|
|
|
|
Box 69 |
|
|
Financial Reports: Inventories, Audits, Collections for Charity and Missions |
1811-1899 |
|
|
|
|
Box 70 |
|
|
Financial Reports |
20th Century |
|
|
|
|
Box 71 |
|
|
Receipts |
20th Century |
|
|
|
|
Box 72 |
|
|
Bills |
20th Century |
|
|
|
|
Box 73 |
|
|
Bills, Receipts, & Vouchers |
20th Century |
|
|
|
|
Series IV: Voluntary Organizations |
|
|
Box 74 |
|
|
Maternal Association Minutes |
1816-1891 |
|
|
|
|
Box 75 |
|
|
Women's Board of Foreign Missions Minutes |
1879-1917 |
|
|
|
|
Box 76 |
|
|
Benevolent Sewing Circle Minutes |
1856-1872 |
|
|
|
|
Box 77 |
|
|
Benevolent Homeland Circle |
1883-1917 |
|
|
|
|
Box 78-79 |
|
|
Women's Benevolent Society |
1917-1968 |
|
|
|
|
Box 80 |
|
|
Women's Club Minutes & Scrapbook |
1899-1942 |
|
|
|
|
Box 81 |
|
|
Men's Club Minutes |
1890-1939 |
|
|
|
|
Box 82 |
|
|
Men's & Women's Group Pamphlets |
|
|
|
|
|
Box 83 |
|
|
Singing Society Minutes |
1810-1827 |
|
Social Assembly Menus & Finances |
1920-1941 |
|
Radio Program Pledges & Bulletins |
1938-1942 |
|
|
|
|
Box 84-86 |
|
|
Missionary Work |
1845-1974 |
|
|
|
|
Series V: Historical Materials |
|
|
| Box 87 | ||
| Pastoral Installations, Dismissals & Resignations | 1815-1869 | |
| Box 88 | ||
| Edward Dorr Griffin | undated | |
| Edward Beecher | 1828 | |
Silas Aiken Papers |
1838 |
|
| Sereno Dwight Papers | 1850 | |
| A.L. Stone Papers | 1862-1868 | |
W.H.H. Murray Papers |
1868-1873 |
|
| John Lindsay Withrow Papers | 1899 | |
| Box 89 | ||
| A.Z. Conrad Sermons | 1922-1935 | |
| Box 90 | ||
A.Z. Conrad Papers |
1907-1939 |
|
| Box 91 | ||
| H.J. Okenga Sermons & Papers | 1937-1961 | |
| Box 92 | ||
| Articles of Faith and Bylaws | 1809-1969 | |
| Welcome and Membership Materials | 1900-1950 | |
| Box 93 | ||
Anniversaries: Park Street ’s 50th, 100th, 125th, 130th, 150th |
|
|
Anniversaries: 125th of the first singing of "America" |
1957 | |
| Anniversaries: 75th of Park Street Women’s Club | 1975 | |
| Events Hosted by Park Street | 1929-1959 | |
Box 94 |
|
|
Newspaper Clippings: Articles and images citing PSC as Boston landmark |
1890-1970 |
|
Newspaper Clippings: Church events |
1958-1964 |
|
| Box 95 | ||
Photographs |
|
|
| Box 96 | ||
| Historical Reflections and Inquiries |
|
|
Box 97 |
|
|
Bulletins |
1915-37, 1946-59, 1961 |
|
Sermons Preached at Park Street |
|
|
|
|
|
Box 98 |
|
|
| Preservation of Park Street | 1902-1904 | |
|
|
|
Expansion Program Scrapbook |
1966 |
|
|
|
|
Box 99 |
|
|
Park Street by Moonlight (framed photograph from a painting by H.B. Warren) |
|
|
Image of Park Street (Gilmore Rothery printing plate) |
1851 |
|
Box 100 |
|
|
"History of the Park Street Church" by Charles L. Smith, Jr. |
1954 |
|
Historical Committee Notes |
ca. 1946 |
|
|
|
|
Box 101 |
|
|
| Church Facilities: Early Documents | 1808-1811 | |
| Box 102 | ||
| Church Facilities: Renovation and Maintenance Projects | 1924-1963 | |
| Church Facilities: Expansion Programs | 1955, 1964, 1970 | |
| Box 103 | ||
| Church Facilities: Steeple, Jones Memorial Chapel, Greenwood House, Mt. Auburn Cemetery Lot, No. 1 Park Street | 1825-1959 | |
| Box 104 | ||
| Church Facilities: Deeds & Mortgages | 1830-1945 | |
Box 105 |
|
|
Church Facilities: Leases |
1810-1943 |
|
|
|
|
Box 106 |
|
|
Insurance Policies |
1829-1954 |
|
|
|
|
Box 107 |
|
|
Area churches: Invitation for Pastoral Installations and Dissolutions |
1818-1849 |
|
|
|
|
Box 108 |
|
|
Area churches: Invitation for Pastoral Installations and Dissolutions |
1850-1891 |
|
|
|
|
Box 109 |
|
|
| Area Churches: Correspondence about Institutional Matters & Mutual Councils | 1816-1973 |
|
|
|
|
Box 110 |
|
|
| Affairs of the State |
|
|
|
|
|
Box 111 |
|
|
| Correspondence |
|
|
| Box 112 | ||
| Music | ||
Box 113 |
|
|
| Misc. Ministries: Sunday School, Freedom Trail | ||
|
|
|
Box 114 |
|
|
Clock |
|
|
|
|
|
Box 115 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Series VI: Shamut Church |
|
|
Box 116 |
|
|
Endowment & Merger Records |
1900-1954 |
|
Shamut Social Union Records |
1875-1883 |
|
|
||
Box 117 |
|
|
Bylaws, Creed, Minutes |
1897-1915 |
|
Church Membership Record Book |
1876 |
|