Boston, Massachusetts. Old South Church. Records, 1669-1997
Records, 1669-1986
49 Linear feet
RG 0028
Deposit, 1976, 1982.
Processed 1987-1988 by Thomasin Kellerman; Sandra Sudak, 1992. Refined 2008 by Jessica Steytler
Request information on copyright from the archivist. No access Restrictions
Introduction
Microfilm copies available (15 microfilm reels: positive and negative; 35 mm). Original deposit to the Congregational Library as permanent loan in 1976; additional deposit made in 1982.
Historical Note
The congregation has had several buildings and locations. The original church property at the corner of Milk and Washington Streets resulted from several deeds and a bequest from a First Church minister John Norton’s widow, Mary Norton.
1669- Third Church Church of Boston Formed by members from First Church of Boston.
1670- Began meeting at the Cedar Meeting House, then at the Old South Meeting House on the corner of Milk and Washington Streets
1730- Current meeting house built and owned by the Old South Association
1735- “Church-and-Congregation” Society formed
1845- Old South Society incorporated as the Old South Church
1859 Old South Society incorporated
1875- Congregation moves to corner of Boylston and Dartmouth Streets in Copley Square, its current location.
1945- Church and Society merge. All further legal transactions now done by the Church.
1946- Original Old South Building (became office space) and property on Spring Lane transferred to the Church for maintenance and ownership.
1984- Building restored
Ministers of Old South Church
Thomas Thacher 1670-1678
Samuel Willard 1678-1707
Ebenezer Pemberton 1700-1717
Joseph Sewall 1713-1769
Thomas Prince 1718-1758
Alexander Cumming 1761-1763
Samuel Blair 1766-1769
John Hunt/John Bacon 1771-1775
Joseph Eckley 1779-1811
Joshua Huntington 1808-1819
Benjamin B. Wisner 1821-1832
Samuel H. Stearns 1834-1836
George W. Blagden 1836-1872
Jacob M. Manning 1857-1872
George Angier Gordon 1884-1927
Russell Henry Stafford 1927-1945
Frederick M. Meek 1946-1973
James W. Crawford 1974-2002
Nancy S. Taylor 2005-
Scope and Content Note
The original arrangement of these records made use of a lot of abbreviations.
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Church Records |
CR |
|
Church Vital Statistics |
CVS |
|
Admissions |
CVS-A |
|
Baptisms |
CVS-B |
|
Marriages |
CVS-M |
|
Church Committee Records |
C-COM |
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Society Committee Records |
S-COM |
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Church Sacra |
C-SAC |
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Society Records |
SR |
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Pew Proprietors |
PROP |
The earliest records were microfilmed. The material which is on the reels is noted in the box list. < br />
The collection is divided into several sections:
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Church Records |
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ID ; roll# |
Box |
Subject |
Year |
|
87-5006; 1 |
1 |
CR I: Records of the Reverse of volu |
1669-1766 1735-1767 |
|
87-5006; 1 |
|
CR II – “Church Minutes” |
1768-1816 |
|
87-5006; 1 |
|
CR |
1817-1854 |
|
87-5006; 1 |
|
CR I-III Index of Records
for first 3 volu |
|
|
87-5006; 2 |
|
CR IV- Church Records |
1855-1888 |
|
87-5006; 2 |
2 |
CR V- Church Records |
1888-1906 |
|
87-5006; 2 |
|
CR VI- Church Records |
1907-1914 |
|
87-5006; 2 |
|
CR VII- Church Records |
1915-1921 |
|
87-5006; 3 |
3 |
CR VIII- Church Records |
1921-1930 |
|
87-5006; 3 |
|
CR IX- Church Records |
1930-1936 |
|
87-5006; 3 |
|
CR X- Church Records |
1936-1942 |
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87-5006; 3 |
4 |
CR XI- Church Records |
1942-1948 |
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87-5006; 4 |
|
CR XII- No Identification.
Church Records |
1949-1958 |
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87-5006; 4 |
5 |
CR XIII- No Identification.
Church Records |
1958-1965 |
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87-5006; 4 |
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CR XIV- No Identification.
Church Records |
1965-1969 |
|
n/a |
6 |
Copy of 1st
ledger - First records of church and congregation Copy of CR I – SR I made in
1858 |
1669-1766 1735-1767;
1858 |
|
n/a |
|
|
1669-1713 |
|
|
|
CR II Copy “vol. 2” copied
in 1860 |
1768-1816 |
|
n/a |
|
C VS B IA copy 1- copy of
Baptisms |
1669-1672 |
|
n/a |
|
C VS B IA copy 2- copy of
Baptisms |
1669-1875 |
|
n/a |
|
Copy of 1st
ledger - First records of church and congregation Copy of CR I – SR I made in
1858 |
1669-1766 1735-1767;
1858 |
|
Church Vital Statistics- Baptisms “C
VS B” |
|||
|
87-5006; 4 |
7 |
C VS B I -Baptisms |
1669-1672 |
|
87-5006; 4 |
-- |
C VS B II- Index to
records, Baptisms |
1857-1920 |
|
87-5006; 3 |
|
C VS B III- Originals on 3
x 5 inch cards. One roll of microfilm on recent baptisms, |
1927-1986 |
|
Church Vital Statistics- Admissions “C
VS A” |
|||
|
87-5006; 4 |
7 |
C VS A I- Admission of Old
South, |
1669-1855 1669-1814 |
|
87-5006; 4 |
7 |
C VS A II- List of Members,
|
1669-1855 |
|
87-5006; 4 |
7 |
C VS A III – Members; begun
1859 with retrospective of previous |
1669-1923 |
|
88-1967; 1 |
-- |
C VS A IV- Originals on 3 x
5 inch cards. 1 roll of microfilm on recent admissions |
1941-1980 |
|
n/a |
8-11 |
C VS A Misc. 1-4. 4 letters
of transfer, disciplinary correspondence, church councils. |
1821-1859 |
|
Church Vital Statistics- Marriages “C
VS M” |
|||
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87-5006; 4 |
7 |
C VS M I- Marriages. Joseph
Eckley, pastor. |
1780-1882 |
|
|
12-13 |
C VS M Marriage
Certificates, intentions of marriage, certificates of publishment |
1780-1832 |
|
|
-- |
C VS M Box Certificates of
publication; |
1912-1931 |
|
88-1967; 2 |
-- |
C VS M II Originals on 3 x
5 (3 rolls of microfilm) on recent marriages |
1941-1980 |
|
Church Committee Records “C COM” |
|||
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Reports
and Correspondence- originally folded and undocumented |
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Box14 |
Committees |
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|
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Council, society records |
1840s |
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General Reports |
1838-1899 |
|
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Committee and Meeting
records |
1856-1870s |
|
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Building Committee Reports |
1875-1876 |
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Chapel Papers |
1860,
1866 |
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Leasing Committee, reports,
correspondence |
1855-1857 |
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|
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Preservation Committee
correspondence |
1879 |
|
|
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Prudential Committee
correspondence |
1831-1832 |
|
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Box15 |
Correspondence (approximately chronological) |
|
|
Oversize Top shelf |
box |
Admission/dismission letter Andrew Crosswell’s letter
to Joseph Sewall and Thomas Prince |
1793 1748 |
|
|
|
|
1809 |
|
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6 folders: Standing
Committee, letters and reports |
1825-1901 |
|
|
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|
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3 folders: Clerk
correspondence |
1832-1881 |
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|
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Letters from churches,
includes Judson’s ordination (1786) |
1700s-1800s |
|
|
|
Request and thanks for
using OSC |
1825-1835 |
|
|
|
Correspondence |
1826-1833 |
|
|
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Letters relating to the
case of Justus Lincoln. See church records, vol. 3 p. 58 |
1827 |
|
|
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Alderman/society-related
correspondence |
1829 |
|
|
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Dow, Joseph- Discipline.
See also vol. 3, p 94 |
1831 |
|
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Letters-discipline |
1830s |
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Correspondence to |
1830s-1880s |
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Hillard, George S
Correspondence |
1854-1855 |
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2 folders: Notes |
1868-1882 |
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Dedication service program |
1876 |
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|
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Manning Resignation notice
and letter |
1882 |
|
89-314; 1 |
16 |
C COM I- Committee Records |
1828-1855 |
|
89-314; 1 |
|
C COM II- Committee Records |
1855-1897 |
|
89-314; 1 |
|
C COM III- Committee Records |
1897-1906 |
|
89-314; 1 |
|
C COM IV- Committee Records |
1906-1911 |
|
89-314; 2 |
17 |
C COM V- Committee Records |
1912-1917 |
|
89-314; 2 |
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