General Conference of the German Evangelical Congregational Churches of the United States. Papers, 1883-1971.

Collection Information
Title:

General Conference of the German Evangelical Congregational Churches of the United States papers, 1883 -1971.

Creator(s):

General Conference of the German Evangelical Congregational Churches of the United States

Dates:

1883 -1971 (bulk 1950-1964)

Extent:

3 document cases (1.14 cubic feet)

Collection ID #:

RG0779

Conditions Governing Access:

Access to this collection is unrestricted and open to the public.

Copyright: Preferred Citation:

[Identification of item], in the General Conference of the German Evangelical Congregational Churches of the United States papers, RG0779. The Congregational Library & Archives, Boston, MA.

Language:

English and German

Processing information:

Originally processed by Colleen Mahoney in March 2009

Revision History:

Accrual added and finding aid revised according to DACS Second Edition by Cristina Prochilo in February 2014.

Abstract:

The General Conference of the German Evangelical Congregational Churches of the United States of America was founded in Crete, Nebraska in 1883, with the goal of improving communication and collaboration among German churches across the American west. This collection includes the incorporation records, minutes, correspondence, and some publications of the General Conference.

Acquisition Information:

Materials previously donated to the Congregational Library & Archives.

Accruals:

Record book from 1891-1921 transmitted from Chicago Theological Seminary in January 2011; added to Box 2 of this collection in February 2014.

Description

Historical Note

The General Conference of the German Evangelical Congregational Churches of the United States of America was founded in Crete, Nebraska in 1883, with the goal of improving communication and collaboration among German churches across the American west. The Conference filed papers of incorporation in Chicago, Illinois in 1910. The association officially changed its name to the General Conference of Congregational Churches of America in 1949. In 1950 the General Conference relocated to Yankton, South Dakota. Membership included Congregational Churches in the states of California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. The General Conference sponsored missionaries to Brazil and Argentina, the School of Theology at Yankton College, and the Pioneer Press. The General Conference was dissolved in 1964, and their papers were donated to the Congregational Library in 1971.

 

Scope of Collection

This collection includes the incorporation records, minutes, correspondence, and some publications of the General Conference. The Nebraska State Historical Society has some items of this collection available on microfilm (see http://www.nebraskahistory.org/lib-arch/research/manuscripts/church/germancca.htm). The Congregational Library also has The Christian Messenger, the Conference's official newspaper, in its holdings. Many of the early records and correspondence in this collection are in German.

 

Further Searches

Subject Headings

General Conference of the German Evangelical Congregational Churches of North America

 

Related Materials

Congregations of the German Evangelical Synod of North America and related groups by Richard H. Taylor 9.3.272

The origin of the German Evangelical Synod of North America by Carl Edward Schneider 16.7.1.68

Chicago Theological Seminary collection on Illinois, Nebraska, Ohio, and Pennsylvania Congregational Church records, 1839-1978. RG5121

 

Arrangement

No changes to arrangement made with addition of 2014 accrual added to Box 2.

 

Contents

  Date Box
Incorporation Records and associated correspondence 1910-1955 B1
Minutes, Board of Trustees 1952-1964 B1
General Conference records (German) 1932-1939 B1
General Conference records (English and German) 1940-1949 B1
General Conference records (English and German) 1950-1955 B1
General Conference records 1956-1959 B1
General Conference records 1960-1965 B1
  Date Box
German Conference scrapbook 1891-1921 B2
Minutes book (German) 1883-1902 B2
Minutes book (German) 1904-1930 B2
Minutes book (German and English) 1932-1964 B2
"Gesangburh mit Noten" (German hymnal) 1939 B2
"Der Roftliche Schak" (German hymnal) 1950 B2
"The Pioneer Hymnal" 1952 B2
  Date Box
Correspondence (English and German) 1904-1939 B3
Correspondence (English and German) 1944-1947 B3
Correspondence (English and German) 1951-1958 B3
Correspondence 1961-1962 B3
Correspondence 1963-1964 B3
Correspondence 1965-1968 B3
Correspondence 1971 B3
Missions Board papers 1953-1964 B3
Missions Board correspondence 1955-1964 B3
Board of Publications/Pioneer Press papers 1959-1966 B3
Board of Publications/Pioneer Press correspondence 1961-1967 B3