Congregational Christian Historical Society. Records, 1948,1953-
Records, 1948,1953 -
RG 1187
10 boxes, 4 linear feet
Processed June 2005, 2008 by Jessica Steytler
Contact Archivist for permission to use.
History and Structure
"One of the mysteries of our time presents the second - oldest denominational founding of a colony on these shores waiting three hundred and thirty - two years to establish an Historical Society." (From an address given on the 25th anniversary of the Society, May 10, 1977 by Mervin M. Deems, who had participated in its founding meeting on October 15, 1952.) Yet as Deems noted, "there were antecedents," remarking the founding and purpose of the Congregational Union and of the Congregational Library Association (both founded in 1853), certain in whose original functions (e.g., the collection and preservation of church records) would one day be shared with the Historical Society.
In 2007-2008, the Historical Society and the American Congregational Association started the process of folding the Society’s activities into the Congregational Library’s. The reasoning behind this was that because all of the work was done by Library staff, that it would be more realistic to not have an artificial divide between the two organizations.
Frederick L. Fagley, who in 1922 had become the secretary of the Commission on Evangelism and Devotional Life and Associate Secretary of the National Council of Congregational Christian Churches, and who in 1949 had retired as Associate Minister and Secretary of the General Council, was the Society's first Executive Secretary. The first permanent office of the Society was at denominational headquarters in New York City. After Fagley's death in 1959, the office was moved to 14 Beacon Street ("Congregational House") in Boston and even more recently became domiciled within the Congregational Library at that address.
- The fourfold purpose of the Society is set forth in its Articles of Organization/Incorporation under the date of March 1, 1978, viz.:
- "To cultivate a deeper interest in the history of the Congregational Christian Churches in all aspects, and to develop a greater awareness of the importance of the Congregational, Christian, and Congregational Christian recorded history as a source of information and inspiration, an as a basis for future action.
- "To encourage and to participate in the creation, preservation and correlation of records, the scholarly use of historical materials and the production of historical works.
- "To promote the observance of anniversaries and other occasions of historical interest, and the preservation of monuments, historical sites an other materials.
- "To work in cooperation with the relevant instrumentalities of the United Church of Christ, of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches, of the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference, with the Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society, and with any other organization now or hereafter existing sharing its purposes and objectives."
Activities
- Solicits and maintains a local church file on thousands of Congregational [and] Christian and United Church of Christ congregations whose publications have been sent to the Boston office over the years.'
- Researches and responds to questions on the history of Congregationalism and the Christian denomination, employing the manuscript and published materials assembled at the Congregational Library.
- With the help of the Library, maintains updated necrological files on Congregational/ Christian/United Church of Christ clergy (1600 - present).
- Researches and responds to more general questions on American and world - wide religious history, transmitting information to inquirers at home and abroad.
- Advises local church officers/committees on the ways to preserve valuable records old and new, including assistance in developing a collecting and accessions policy.
- Gives congregations of the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference, the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches, and the United Church of Christ advance notice of upcoming 25th - year anniversaries, offering CCHS's help in planning significant publications and celebrations.
- Maintains a circulating library of published local church histories from which selections are packaged and loaned to local churches as their leadership seeks fresh approaches and formats.
- Annually reviews all local church histories forwarded to CCHS, awarding the Fagley, Guptill, and President's Awards in recognition of especially imaginative and responsible publications in this genre.
- Issues the Society's Newsletter (current circulation: 850), spreading the word about Society's past and upcoming activities.
- Plans and implements two public meetings a year in response to invitations from anniversary churches to meet at their location, as well as to give public voice to issues in our history which call for recollection and better understanding.
- Represents the local churches' concerns in matters archival and historical at meetings of the United Church of Christ Historical Council.
- And more, on an annual budget of only $20,000. Will you not join hands with those who are already members of our support system, so that we may continue to keep the story of the Congregational/Christian churches fresh and accessible to all comers? Thank you for caring.
Scope and Content
Series 1, Board of Directors 1953-, is in chronological order and includes annual meetings, executive committee meetings and treasurer's reports given during those meetings. There is frequently correspondence from administrators included.
Series 1 Board, Sub-Series A: Correspondence
Series 1 Board, Sub-Series B: Committees- Membership-External organizations
Series 2: Activities, Events, Services
Essays, Articles, 1948-. Removed to be a separate collection
Series 3: Newsletter and Photographs
Series 4: Temporary Financial Records 1999-, will be disposed of after seven years from originating date and are not for public use.
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Series 1-
Board of Directors |
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Box 1 |
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1
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Acts of Incorporation, 4 copies |
1969 |
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2 |
Constitution (s) |
1950s |
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3 |
Founding Documents- Committee on Denominational History,
General Council |
1949-1952 |
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4 |
Formation |
1952-1959 |
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5 |
Organizing Meeting |
1952 |
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6-9 |
Annual Meetings, Treasurer Reports |
1953-1977 |
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Box 2 |
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1 |
Annual Meetings, Treasurer Reports |
1970-1977 |
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2-4 |
Executive Committee |
1955-1977 |
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5 |
Annual Meetings, Treasurer Reports, Executive Committee-
related correspondence |
1978-1980 |
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Box 3 |
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1981-1989 |
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Box
4 |
1990-1999 |
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Box 5 |
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2000-2006 |
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Sub-Series A- Correspondence- Alphabetically listed |
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Atkins, Gaius Glenn- Correspondence, image, articles,
memorial |
1953, 1961-1977 |
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Danby, Vaughan- telegram about, memorial of |
1964; 1973 |
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Deems, Mervin M. Correspondence |
1971 |
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Edwards, Robert L. Correspondence |
1995, 1997 |
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English, James F. Correspondence, image, articles,
memorial |
1953, 1961-1977 |
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(2
folders) |
Fagley, Frederick. Correspondence, articles, memorial |
1956-1966 |
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Guptill, Nathanael. Correspondence, Memorial |
1990-1991; 1997; 2007 |
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Haddix, James L. Correspondence |
1984-1991 |
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Box 6 |
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(2) |
Haddix, James L. Correspondence |
1992; 1993-1999 |
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Hambrick-Stowe, Charles. Correspondence, CV. |
1989, 2000-2001 |
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Horton, Douglas. Correspondence |
1950s-1960s |
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Knight, Dennis R. Correspondence |
1988-2001 |
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Merrill, Charles |
1940s-1960s |
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(3) |
Taylor, Richard H. Articles and Correspondence |
1972-1998 |
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Wilson, Arthur E. Memorial |
1996 |
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Worthley, Harold Field. Biographical, articles by/about |
1960s-1970s |
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Sub-Series B:
Committees- Membership-External organizations |
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Membership- lifetime members |
1988-1990 |
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Nominating Committee |
1992, 1997-2005 |
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External
Organizations- |
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Christian Churches |
1952-1965 |
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Evangelical & Reformed Historical Society: by/about |
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United Church of Christ Historical Commission |
1964-1975 |
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United Church of Christ Historical Council, activities |
1975, 1995, 1998 |
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Box
7 |
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Series 2-
Society Activities, Events, Services |
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Events |
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(2) |
Cambridge Synod Celebration, Correspondence |
1948 |
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10th and 25th Anniversaries CCHS |
1962, 1977 |
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Cambridge Platform Anniversary |
1998 |
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Church activities, general |
1980s, 2002, 2003 |
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Church activities, schedules for large churches |
1980s-2000 |
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Church activities, schedules for small churches |
1994-2004 |
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Box
8 |
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Services |
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Outreach- handouts, examples |
Bulk- 1990s |
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Outreach- History/about CCHS |
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Church Anniversary Prep- Examples of music |
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Church Anniversary Prep- Fashion, art |
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Church Anniversary Prep- Preliminary surveys, suggestions |
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Church Anniversary Prep- How to write a history- multiple
instructions and dates |
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Suitcase Seminars |
1990, 1999-2000 |
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Awards, Fagley |
1993-2004 |
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Projects |
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Bookmarks. Includes original plate |
1994 |
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Speaker’s Bureau |
1991 |
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Little Baddlow |
1983-1987 |
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Historical Markers |
1996-1997 |
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Scrooby Manor |
1993-1995 |
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Scrooby Pilgrim Father’s Information Center |
1979-1980 |
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Scrooby Historical Marker |
1955-1959 |
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United Church of Christ 25th Anniversary |
1982 |
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United Church of Christ – Women’s History |
1992 |
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Videos |
1980s-1990s |
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Essay Contest |
1995-2000 |
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Box
9 |
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Series 3:
Newsletters, Photographs |
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Newsletters |
1954-2004 |
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Photographs |
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Photographs, meetings |
1952, 1960-1962, 1964-1965, 2002 |
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Box
10 |
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Series 4: Financial |
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Recent financial records that will be disposed of after
seven years from originating date : not for public use |
1999-2003 |
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Fund appeal letter |
1960-2003 |
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Bequests |
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Bishop, Lewis M. |
1981 |
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Jaques, Mildred Noyes |
1971-1977 |
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King, Dorothy Anna |
1997 |
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McColloch, Elizabeth R |
1986 |
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Ott, Harry E. |
1998 |
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Spratley, Jennie B |
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Duplicate materials |
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Newsletter |
1954-2004 |
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Published articles |
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