Massachusetts Conference. Old Colony Ministerial Association. Records, 1827-1997.
Records, 1827 - 1997
RG 0117
2 linear feet (2 boxes)
No access restrictions. Majority of records received in deposit 11244 in 1981.
Processed June 1997 by Lisa A. Plato. Updated January 1999 by Virginia Hunt.
Copyright: requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the archivist or librarian.
- Historical Note
- Scope and Content
- Series Description
- Container List
Historical Note
The Old Colony Ministerial Association was organized in 1827 "embracing the orthodox Congregational clergymen of New Bedford, Mass. and vicinity" (series II - A, folder 1). The original association covered the towns of Plymouth, Plympton, Middleboro, Carver, Berkley, Freetown, Dartmouth, New Bedford, New Haven, Rochester, Wareham and Martha's Vineyard; the organization consisted of ordained Congregational clergymen from these towns. Bylaws were repealed in 1849 and in 1920 the Old Colony Ministerial Association or Old Colony Association of Congregational Ministers dissolved. The organization transferred its funds to the Old Colony Association of Churches and Ministers; remaining members transferred their membership to this organization. In 1914 the Old Colony Ministers' Union was organized; by 1949 the organization began referring to itself as the Ministers' Union of Old Colony United Association of Congregational Christian Churches and Ministers in its minutes.
The Old Colony Conference of Churches was organized in 1856; the conference was to consist of the church pastor and two delegates for each of the churches connected with it and was to "promote Christian fellowship and activity" (series II - B, folder 1). Initially Congregational churches in Middleboro, Middleton, Lakeville, Marion, Mattapoisett, South Dartmouth, New Bedford and Fairhaven were active in the conference. Ca. 1890s the organization began referring to itself as the Old Colony Conference of Congregational Churches in its minutes.
Old Colony United Association of Congregational and Christian Churches was founded in 1930 from the previous Old Colony Conference of Congregational Churches; in 1970 this organization was renamed the Old Colony United Association of Congregational and Christian Churches and Ministers of the United Church of Christ. Old Colony Association, Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ extant in 1997; in 1997 the association included churches in Assonet, Attleboro, Attleboro Falls, South Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Fall River, Lakeville, Mansfield, Marion, Mattapoisett, Middleboro, New Bedford, Norton, Raynham, Rehoboth, Somerset, Swansea, Taunton and Wareham, Mass.
Top of pageScope and Content Note
The records were processed as one record group, since the organizations mentioned in the finding aid had a close relationship from the beginning of their history. An attempt was made to divide the series by organization, although the researcher should note that the aforementioned organizations were closely affiliated.
20th century annual reports contain reports from the moderator, Committee on Church and Ministry, Committee on Christian Education, Missions Committee, Women's Fellowship of Old Colony District, treasurer and Nominating Committee and a directory of churches and ministers; some years also contain reports from the Southeast Area Council, Committee on Church and Community, and Committee on Church and Mission. Early records of the scribe are likely to contain financial records, constitutions, bylaws, membership records and committee records; in the late 20th century, these records can be found in the annual reports.
Council records (including ordination, installation, recognition and dismissal councils) were maintained by the registrar and were originally housed in acidic binders, subdivided by divider tags. The original binder labels were preserved, as were the original dividers. These records contain information about ministers transferring in and out of the association.
Top of pageDescription
Series I. Old Colony Ministerial Association Records, 1827 - 1920
Series II. Old Colony Ministers' Union Financial Records, 1915 - 1936
Series III. Old Colony Association/Old Colony Conference Records, 1856 - 1996
Subseries A. Annual and Semi - Annual Reports, 1930 - 1996
Subseries B. Clerk/Registrar/Scribe
Subseries C. Treasurer
Subseries D. Committees and Departments
1. Massachusetts Congregational Laymen's Organization
2. Committee on Ministerial Standing
3. Church and Education Committee Interchange Newsletter
Subseries E. Old Colony Mission Sabbath School Secretary's Records, 1866 - 1867
Subseries F. Photographs and etchings
Subseries G. Miscellaneous
Top of pageContainer List
Box 1
Series I. Old Colony Ministerial Association Records, 1827 - 1920
Folder 1. Articles of faith, constitution, membership and meeting minutes, 1827 - 1902; index in back of volume.
Folder 2. Minutes, 1902 - 1920 and membership, 1878 - 1909
Series II. Old Colony Ministers' Union Records, 1914 - 1949
Folder 1. Minutes, 1914 - 1949 and membership records
Folder 2. Account book, 1915 - 1936
Series III. Old Colony Association/Old Colony Conference Records , 1856 - 1997
Subseries A. Annual and Semi - Annual Reports
Folder 1. Executive board reports, 1930 - 1969
Folder 2. Semi - annual and annual reports and constitution of Old Colony United Association of Congregational and Christian Churches and Ministers, 1957 - 1964
Folder 3. Semi - annual and annual reports and constitution of Old Colony United Association of Congregational and Christian Churches and Ministers, 1964 - 1969
Folder 4. Annual reports, 1961 - 1966 (gaps; missing 1962)
Folder 5. Annual reports, 1967 - 1971
Folder 6. Annual reports, 1972 - 1975
Folder 7. Annual reports, 1976 - 1980
Folder 8. Annual reports, 1981 - 1986
Folder 9. Annual reports, 1987 - 1993
Folder 10. Annual reports, 1995 - 1997
Subseries B. Clerk/Registrar/Scribe
Folder 1. Minutes, 1856 - 1879
Folder 2. Minutes, 1880 - 1901
Folder 3. Minutes, 1901 - 1915
Folder 4. Minutes, 1915 - 1930
Folder 5. Minutes, 1930 - 1955; includes bylaws
Box 2
Folder 6. Councils, 1940 - 1949
Folder 7. Ordination councils, 1951 - 1957
Folder 8. Ordination councils, 1959 - 1962
Folder 9. Ordination councils, 1964 - 1973
Folder 10. Installation councils, 1956 - 1954
Folder 11. Recognition councils, 1951 - 1963
Folder 12. Dismissal councils, 1953 - 1964
Folder 13. Dismissal councils, 1958 - 1973
Folder 14. Correspondence with Claude A. Butterfield, 1924 - 1926 transferring ministerial standing to Woburn Association
Subseries C. Treasurer
Folder 1. Account book, ca. 1930 - 1950
Subseries D. Committees and Departments
1. Massachusetts Congregational Laymen's Organization
Folder 1. Formation of Layman's Department / Massachusetts Congregational Laymen's Organization, 1946
2. Committee on Ministerial Standing
Folder 1. Minutes, 1943 - 1953
Folder 2. Minutes, 1954 - 1964
3. Church and Education Committee Interchange Newsletter
Folder 1. Interchange newsletter, 1972 - 1974
Subseries E. Old Colony Mission Sabbath School Secretary's Records, 1866 - 1867
Folder 1. Secretary's record book, 1866 - 1867
Subseries F. Photographs and etchings
Folder 1. Bushnell, Samuel. Pastor at Acushnet from Dec. 1878 for 11 years; Nott, Rev. Samuel, 1829 - 1845
Subseries G. Miscellaneous
Folder 1. Stearns, George Warren / Two Hundredth Anniversary of the First Congregational Church in Middleboro, Massachusetts. Middleboro, Mass. : First Congregational Church, 1895.
Folder 2. Programs, 1905, 1912 - 1948, 1950, 1959 - 1960
Folder 3. Necrology. Cook, Charles H.