Grand Rapids, Michigan. South Congregational Church. Records, 1890-2001

Collection Information
Title:

South Congregational Church (Grand Rapids, Mich.) records

Creator(s):

South Congregational Church (Grand Rapids, Mich.)

Dates:

1870-2001

Extent:

6.5 Linear Feet

Collection ID #:

RG 4657

Conditions Governing Access:

None

Copyright:

Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the archivist or librarian.

Preferred Citation:

[Identification of item], in the South Congregational Church (Grand Rapids, Mich.) records, RG 4657. The Congregational Library and Archive, Boston, MA.

Language:

English

Processing information:

Processed by Jessica Steytler, November 2001

Brief History of the Church

Taken from Series 7, folder 10 "Historical Sketch," 1994

1876 Chapel completed
1878 Church organized with 43 members
1879 Church received into Grand River Conference
1886 Church building expanded and moved to the corner of Delaware and Sheldon
1897 Fire nearly destroyed the building. Time of growth in church membership
1936 Second fire
1949 First unit of the new building on the corner of Madison and Alger was erected. The Sunday school membership reached 800
1967 A tornado destroyed 60% of the South Church building. Major fund drives were necessary to completely rebuild the church
1970 Church mortgage was paid back. The 1970s mark the decline in membership
2001 Church closes

 

Scope and Content

Series 1: Annual Reports, Annual Meetings, and Congregational Meetings, 1890-2001
Series 2: Board of Trustees, Polity, 1895-2001
  Includes articles of association, Board meetings, constitution, by-laws, polity guidelines, and Council minutes
Series 3: Building and Financial, 1899-2001
  Includes building planning, tenant information, sale of church property, real estate proposal and appraisal, mortgage records, insurance, bequests, account books, and treasurer's records
Series 4: Committees, Societies, and Clubs, 1933-2000
  Includes Diaconate minutes, mission groups, aid societies, and social clubs
Series 5: Ministers, 1890s-1999
  Includes correspondence, biographical information, new ministers, and interim ministers
Series 6: Membership, 1889-2001
  Includes baptisms, weddings, funerals, directories, handbook of records, letters of transfer and dismissal, and yearbook reports
Series 7: Historical and Memorabilia
  Includes Anniversaries, historian's reports, historical sketches, special programs and clippings
Series 8: Sunday Program and Newsletter, 1908-2001

 

Folder List

Series 1: Annual Reports, Annual Meetings, and Congregational Meetings, 1890-2001
Box 1
  Folders 1-5  Annual Reports 1890-1920; 1931-44; 1956-61
Box 2
  Folders 6-10 Annual Reports 1962-1997
Box 3
  Folders 11-17 Annual Reports 1998-2001
  Folder 12 Meeting Announcements 1920s, 40s
  Folders 13-17 Special/Annual Meetings 1930-45; 1971-83
Box 4
  Folders 18-21 Congregational Meetings 1922-29; 1945-2001 (gaps)
     

Series 2: Board of Trustees and Polity, 1895-2001
Box 5
  Folder 1 Articles of Association  
  Folder 2 Resolutions  
  Folder 3 Constitution and By-Laws 1989-2001
  Folder 4 Constitution 1895
  Folder 5 Board of Trustees Basic Info. Booklet ca. 1993
  Folder 6 Revised Church Leadership 1998-99
  Folder 7 Board Correspondence 1984
  Folder 8 Board Correspondence 1990
  Folders 9-12 Board Minutes 1899-1943
Box 6
  Folders 13-20 Board Minutes 1973-2001
Box 7
  Folder 21 Board and Committee Policies, Constitutions  
  Folder 22 Clerk's Information Booklet  
  Folders 23-28 Council Minutes 1952 - 1998
     

Series 3: Building and Financial, 1899-2001
Box 8 (oversize)
  Folder 1 Non-Profit Status 1942-1978
  Folder 2 Building Committee 1943-49
  Folder 3 New Sanctuary, Building and Dedication 1969
  Folder 4 Real Estate Proposal/Appraisal 2001
  Folder 5 Sale of Church Property 2001
  Folder 6 Tenant: New Covenant Life Ministries 1999
  Folder 7 Pilgrim Manor Retirement Home 1957-1965
  Folder 8 Mortgage Records multiple dates
  Folder 9 Mortgage 2001
  Folder 10 Insurance 2001
  Folder 11 Account Book 1899-1902
  [Series 4] Home and Foreign Mission Society 1905-1922
Box 9
  Folders 12-13 Bequests  
  Folder 14 Financial Statements 1899-1919
  Folder 15 Treasurer's Book 1909 - 27
  Folder 16 Treasurer's Reports, letters from the Pastor 1912-18; 1942-44
  Folder 17 Treasurer's Records 1922-1952
Box 10
  Folders 18-19 Account Books 1923-24; 1927-29
  Folder 20 Financial Reports 1929-1935
  Folder 21 Account Book 1929-1935
     

Series 4: Committees, Societies, and Clubs, 1922-2000
Box 11
  Folder 1 Christian Endeavor Society 1926-1929
  Folders 2-5 Diaconate 1977-1997 (gaps)
  Folder 6 Ethiopian Family 1985
  Folder 7 Flag Discussion 1999
  Folder 8 Ladies Aid Society 1928 - 1932
Box 12
  Folder 9 Missionary/World Service 1922-1935
  Folder 10 Nominating Committee 1983-1992, 1996
  Folder 11 Serving Team [Mission] 1998-2000
  Folder 12 Top of the Hill Club 1975-1978
  Folder 13 Woman's Fellowship 1966; 1982-1995
  Folder 14 World Service 1980-83
     

Series 5: Ministers 1890s-1999
Box 13
  Folders 1-2 Church Correspondence 1890s; 1907-1929
  Folder 3 Catton, William, Biographical Information ca 1950s
  Folder 4 Collins, Earl, Correspondence 1940s-50s
  Folder 5 Ford, Richard, Sermons 1977
  Folder 6 Interim Minister 1998-1999
  Folder 7 New Ministers 1970s, 1990s
  Folder 8 Pastors' Correspondence  
  Folder 9 "Sharing the Good News" 1975-76
     

Series 6: Membership, 1889-2000
Box 14
  Folder 1 Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals 1941-1967
  Folder 2 Baptisms 1965-1983
  Folder 3 Church Directories multiple dates
  Folder 4 Church Records Book ca. 1890-1924
  Folder 5 Church Survey "A Look Within" 1974
Box 15
  Folders 6-8 Handbook of Records (by Jesse Fry) 1899-1933
  Folder 9 Letters of Transfer, Dismissal 1912-1914
Box 16
  Folder 10 Marriage Records 1931-41; 1952-89
  Folder 11 Marriage Service  
  Folder 12 Membership, Baptisms, Removals 1880-1923
  Folder 13 Members, Numerical List (includes ministers' list) 1889-1978
Box 17
  Folder 14 Members, Alphabetical Listing 1889-1978
  Folder 15 Members, Removed, Baptisms 1889-1978
  Folder 16 Members 1922
  Folder 17 Membership Index File 1999
  Folder 18 Membership Letter 1997
  Folder 19 Yearbook Report 1910-1930 (gaps)
  Folder 20 Yearbook Report 1966-2000
     

Series 7: Historical and Memorabilia
Box 18
  Folders 1-5 Anniversaries  
  Folder 6 Certificates 1990s
  Folder 7 Cornerstone Capsule 1949
  Folder 8 Historian's Reports and Sketches  
  Folder 9 Historical Sketches 1944
  Folder 10 Historical Sketch 1994
Box 19
  Folder 12 History of South Church 1948
  Folders 13-14 Special Programs and clippings  
Boxes 20-21
    Photographs  
Folders A and B
    Oversize images  
     

Series 8: Sunday Program and Newsletter, 1908-2001
Box 22
  Folders 1-4 Church Bulletin (Sunday Program) 1908-1931; 1962-2000
Box 23
  Folders 5-12 South Church Page n. d., 1932-36; 1968-76
Box 24
  Folders 13-17 Messenger 1977-1992
Box 25
  Folders 18-20 Messenger 1993-2001