Summary Information
Union Congregational Church Records
1835-1985
- Union Congregational Church (Green Bay, Wis.)
Green Bay Mss 118; Green Bay Micro 48; Micro 1185; Audio 1057A; PH 3896
13.0 c.f. (31 archives boxes and 3 flat boxes), 11 reels of microfilm (35mm), 3 tape recordings, and 115 photographs
UW-Green Bay Cofrin Library / Green Bay Area Research Ctr. (Map)Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Records, mainly 1960-1985, of one of the oldest churches in Wisconsin. Originally founded in 1835 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, as the First Presbyterian Church, the congregation became the Union Congregational Church in 1899 and a member of the United Church of Christ in 1964. Included are published histories, microfilmed scrapbooks, anniversary files, and other historical background material; minutes, correspondence, and related files concerning the congregational meetings and the many administrative boards and committees; sermons of Charles L. Bagby and other ministers; treasurers' reports and records; worship service bulletins and numerous other congregational publications; and photographs of church buildings throughout its history and of activities, circa 1950-1975.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-gb0118 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
The Union Congregational Church of Green Bay, Wisconsin, one of the oldest churches in Wisconsin, was founded on September 21, 1835 as the First Presbyterian Church. The congregation of twelve members called the Rev. Cutting Marsh, a missionary from the American Missionary Society to the Stockbridge Indians. During the congregation's earliest days Marsh came to Green Bay at six-week intervals and preached at services conducted in the military hospital at Fort Howard.
In 1838 the congregation built its first church, a meetinghouse-style structure on the corner of Crooks and Adams Streets. A year later the congregation completed organization of typical Presbyterian polity with the formation of the First Presbyterian Society which was responsible for church property and funds.
In 1840 the congregation called the Rev. Jeremiah Porter, and under his leadership participated in what was known as the Presbyterian and Congregational Convention of Wisconsin.
In 1880 the church and parsonage were destroyed by fire. A new building at the same location was dedicated on April 2, 1882.
In 1899 the church adopted a new constitution which altered its organizational structure and a new name, the Union Congregational Church. The congregation also adopted a “Bond of Union” as a basic tenet of the church. These changes reflected the general predominance of Congregational churches in Wisconsin, the desire for a more representative polity, and the more liberal theology of the ministers called to serve the church during the latter half of the nineteenth century.
Membership grew rapidly during the early twentieth century, and during the 1920s demands began for a new building. This new building at Spring and Madison Streets was dedicated in 1930. Unfortunately the event coincided with the Depression, and for the next twenty years a major concern was paying off the mortgage. During the late 1940s and 1950s membership growth was again sufficient to necessitate additional space and in 1955 the congregation dedicated its Mayflower Wing.
In 1961 the congregation voted to oppose the proposed constitution of the United Church of Christ, the national merger of the Congregational Christian and the Evangelical and Reformed churches. After extended discussions during the intervening period, in 1964 the congregation voted to join the United Church of Christ. However, approximately 300 of the members resigned and formed the Pilgrim Congregational Church.
For researchers requiring a more detailed history of the congregation several publications and historical talks are contained within the collection.
Scope and Content Note
The records of the Union Congregational Church are similar to other records of UCC churches held by the Historical Society, although they are unusual because the records date to the congregation's very beginnings as one of the oldest churches in Wisconsin. For the 1960s and subsequent years the records are also notable in their unusually strong coverage of the congregational organization and management as well as for their inclusion of an extensive file of ministerial sermons.
The records consist of Background Material, Administrative Records, Pastors' Papers, Treasurers' Records, Publications, and Miscellany.
The BACKGROUND MATERIAL confirms the unusual interest of the Union Church in its history and traditions, as well as the personal interest of two lifelong members of the congregation, Ethel S. Cady and George Nau Burridge, the church historian. Included here are histories, files concerning numerous significant events in congregational history, scrapbooks (available only on microfilm), memorabilia, photographs, and several miscellaneous files belonging to Burridge. The histories section includes Mrs. Cady's full-length book written in 1955, her shorter work on church symbols, and several speeches and talks by others on miscellaneous historical topics. In the commemorative files are speeches, orders of worship, and special publications concerning various church anniversaries and events. For the dedication of the church building in 1930 there is also a detailed file of correspondence pertaining to the construction. Also in the anniversaries section is a draft and a printed copy of Burridge's book, Sequence of Events Leading to the Vote by Union Congregational Church to Join the UCC which was published in 1984 to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of this event. The volume includes his account of the congregation's extended and controversial deliberations and reprints of documents used in preparing the text.
Burridge's own files include reports; fragmentary correspondence related to the church; and information on the Community of the Covenant, a movement in which he was involved.
The historical scrapbooks, which were mainly comprised of newspaper clippings, were microfilmed and the originals returned to the congregation. For conservation purposes the original photographs received with the collection are housed in the Society's Visual and Sound Archives; convenience copies are, however, available with the rest of the records.
ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS form the bulk of the collection. The records date to the earliest days of the church, although the documentation is most extensive for the period from the 1960s through 1985. These later records document with unusual completeness the various boards and organizations by which a large, modern Protestant church managed its various activities and endeavors. The early records of the First Presbyterian Church consist of two sets of minutes, one pertaining to the First Presbyterian Church and the other to the First Presbyterian Society. The records of the church (as opposed to the society) contain the small and relatively incomplete quantity of sacramental records available in this collection. The disposition of any similar material for the early history of the congregation is unknown. Among the lists at the end of each volume are:
1835-1876
- Register of Members, 1836-1875
- Register of Infant Baptisms, 1837-1863
- Register of Infant Deaths, 1841-1858
- Register of Marriages, 1840-1856
- Register of Deaths, 1839-1864
- Register of Members, 1837-1893
- Register of Infant Baptisms, 1866-1956
The two sets of minutes created by the Society and the church were eventually combined in one volume. After 1934 the minutes were not recorded in volumes but kept loose in spiral binders. In addition to true minutes of the church and its various boards, both the bound and unbound records contain annual financial statements, audits, reports, clippings, and miscellaneous correspondence. This filing arrangement apparently ended about 1971 (although loose copies of general congregational meetings for the period 1973-1981 have been filed here), in favor of a system which filed records separately by the creating administrative board.
Board records are filed alphabetically by name. For each board, the files variously include minutes, publications, and files on various groups which operated under its functional direction. While the majority of the boards and their purposes are self-explanatory, some records require further comment. Most extensive in the collection are the files of the Board of Trustees, which is responsible for church property and for its financial affairs. In addition to minutes for the trustees, there are financial reports, budget papers, and detailed information (primarily from the 1970s) concerning the church's Every Member fundraising drives.
Records of various women's organizations are also extensive and include not only records of the Women's Fellowship, but also minutes of the turn-of-the-century Women's Missionary Society and the World Study Guild. Although less extensive, the files of the Board of Christian Social Concerns contains extensive correspondence on Green House, an alternative neighborhood school briefly operated in conjunction with Crossroads Academy of Milwaukee.
The administrative records also include a file on miscellaneous church committees. Particularly interesting here are the records of the Pastoral Search Committee which hired Rev. Stanton in 1981.
PASTORS' PAPERS primarily document the pastorate of Charles L. Bagby, who served the congregation between 1959 and 1981. His papers include copies of sermons and talks, 1964-1980, together with three sermons which are available only in recorded form. Bagby's files also include a biographical interview conducted by Burridge in 1985 and an incomplete alphabetical subject file relating to other activities in which he was involved such as the local ministers' group, Planned Parenthood, and the Pastor's Class. The remainder of the series is arranged chronologically.
The TREASURERS' RECORDS are quite incomplete, consisting chiefly of annual reports for the period 1978-1984 and ledgers of individual contributions. These ledgers exist only for the period 1921-1939 but they provide important information on charitable giving during the 1920s and 1930s, a period of tight budgets for the congregation. Supplementary financial information for more recent years can be found in the church's annual reports and in the records of the Board of Trustees.
PUBLICATIONS available in the records include annual reports, 1941-1984; worship service bulletins (the majority of which are available only on microfilm); newsletters; directories; and other miscellaneous publications.
The 2007 Additions cover the years 1877-1961, and are organized into Background Material and Administrative Records.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by the Church via Charles Bagby and George N. Burridge, with portions also loaned for microfilming, 1979-1980. Accession Number: M79-487, M81-6, M82-189, M89-404, M90-31
Portions prepared for microfilming by Lenny Wetzler and Joanne Hohler, 1982; Original Collection processed by Carolyn J. Mattern, 1990; 2007 Additions processed by Jeanette Goddard, November 2007.
Contents List
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Green Bay Mss 118
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Series: Original Collection, 1835-1985
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Subseries: Background Material
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Histories
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Our Church, by Ethel S. Cady, 1948
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A History of Union Congregational Church, 1836-1955, by Ethel S. Cady, 1955
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Box
1
Folder
2
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The Christian Symbols of Our Church, 1957
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Box
1
Folder
3
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Miscellaneous short histories, 1935-1984, undated
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Commemorative events and anniversaries
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Box
1
Folder
4
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40th anniversary, 1876
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Box
1
Folder
4
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50th anniversary, 1886
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Box
2
Folder
1
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75th anniversary, 1911
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Box
2
Folder
2
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Building dedication, 1929-1930
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Box
2
Folder
3-4
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Files regarding construction, 1928-1934
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Box
2
Folder
5
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Wisconsin Congregational conference meeting, 1931
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Box
2
Folder
6
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100th anniversary, 1936
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Box
2
Folder
7
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Dedication of new wing, 1955
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Membership in United Church of Christ
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Box
3
Folder
1
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Sequence of Events Leading to the Vote by Union Congregational Church to Join the UCC, 1984
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Box
3
Folder
2-3
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Draft
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Box
4
Folder
1
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Rededication, 1980
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Box
4
Folder
2
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Sesquicentennial, 1985
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Green Bay Micro 48/Micro 1185
Reel
11
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Scrapbook
: Filmed without a counter
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Green Bay Mss 118
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Historian's files
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Box
4
Folder
3
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Community of the Covenant, 1969-1970
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Box
4
Folder
4
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Robert Etter correspondence, 1961-1984
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Box
4
Folder
5
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Maurice Helen correspondence, 1952-1961
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Box
4
Folder
5
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Reports, 1981-1986
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Box
4
Folder
5
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Memorabilia, 1838-1904
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Photographs
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Box
4
Folder
6
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Photocopies and duplicate prints
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PH 3896
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Original prints
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Green Bay Micro 48/Micro 1185
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Scrapbooks
: Portions filmed without a counter
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Reel
1
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1929-1937
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Reel
1
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1938-1942
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Reel
1
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1942-1949
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Reel
2
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1949-1957
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Reel
2
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1957-1960
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Reel
2
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1960-1965
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Reel
7
Frame
920
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1965-1977
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Reel
11
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1977-1981
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Green Bay Mss 118
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Subseries: Administrative Records
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Box
5
Folder
1
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Constitutions, 1938, 1955-1975, undated
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Church meeting records
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“Record book,” 1835-1876
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Box
5
Folder
1
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Original volume
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Box
5
Folder
1
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Transcription
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Box
5
Folder
2
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“Minutes of the First Presbyterian Society,” 1838-1866
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“Record book”
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Box
5
Folder
3
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1876-1907
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Box
6
Folder
1
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1899-1933
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Minutes (Unbound)
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Box
6
Folder
2-3
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1934-1942
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Box
7
Folder
1-5
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1943-1971
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Box
7
Folder
6
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Loose minutes of church meetings, 1973-1981 (incomplete)
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Board records
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Church Council
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Box
7
Folder
7-8
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1972-1979
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Box
8
Folder
1
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1979-1984
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Deacons
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Box
8
Folder
2
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Handbooks, 1968-1977
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Box
8
Folder
3-6
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Minutes, 1962-1984
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Box
8
Folder
7
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Lenten services, 1952-1987
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Box
9
Folder
1
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Membership, 1979-1981
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Box
9
Folder
2
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Retreats, 1971-1979
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Education
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Box
9
Folder
3-6
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Minutes, 1966-1984
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Box
9
Folder
7
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Christian Education Task Force, 1971-1972
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Box
9
Folder
8
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Church School, 1958-1980
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Box
9
Folder
9
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Library Committee, 1977
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Box
9
Folder
10
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Union U, 1975-1977, undated
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Youth Ministry
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Box
9
Folder
11
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Directories, 1966-1974
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Box
9
Folder
12
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General material, 1969-1976, undated
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Box
10
Folder
1
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Campus Ministry, 1970-1979
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Box
10
Folder
2
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Retreats, 1970-1980
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Box
10
Folder
3
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Young Christians in Action, 1976-1980
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Music
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Box
10
Folder
4-5
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Minutes, 1964-1984
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Box
10
Folder
6
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Organ, 1965-1978
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Social Concerns
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Box
10
Folder
7-8
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Minutes, 1968-1984
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Box
11
Folder
1-4
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Crossroads/Green House, 1973-1979
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Trustees
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Box
11
Folder
5
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Manual, 1977
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Minutes
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Box
11
Folder
6-7
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1922-1943
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Box
12
Folder
1-3
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1944-1956
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Box
12
Folder
4
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Financial statements, 1953-1955
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Box
12
Folder
5
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Miscellany, 1953-1954
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Box
12
Folder
6-7
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1957-1964
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Box
12
Folder
8
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Financial statements, 1960-1961
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Box
13
Folder
1
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Reports, 1962-1964
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Box
13
Folder
2-8
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1966-1984
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Box
14
Folder
2-4
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Budget papers, 1964-1976
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Box
14
Folder
1
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Building miscellany, 1977, undated
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Box
14
Folder
5
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Environmental Study Committee, 1969-1980
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Box
14
Folder
6-10
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Every Member Canvass, 1942, 1960-1976
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Box
14
Folder
11
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Ushers, 1975-1984
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Women's Fellowship
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Box
14
Folder
12
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Constitutions, undated
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Minutes
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Box
14
Folder
13
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1907-1912
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Box
15
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1913-1980
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Box
16
Folder
1
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1981-1984
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Box
16
Folder
2
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Correspondence regarding sales tax, 1974-1975
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Box
16
Folder
3
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Directories, 1963-1984
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Box
16
Folder
4
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Publications, 1984, undated
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Records of other women's organizations
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Box
16
Folder
4
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Ergonites, 1940-1971
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Box
16
Folder
4
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Priscillas, 1952-1953
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Box
16
Folder
4
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Women's Missionary Society, 1896-1899
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Box
17
Folder
1
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World Study Guild, 1935-1943
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Box
17
Folder
2
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Miscellany
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Box
17
Folder
3-7
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World Mission, Minutes, 1960-1984
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Miscellaneous committees and organizations
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Box
17
Folder
8
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Breakfast Group, 1979
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Box
17
Folder
9
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Cosmopolites, 1973-1979
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Box
17
Folder
10-11
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Memorials, 1948-1975
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Box
17
Folder
12
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Men's Fellowship (Church school proposal), 1919
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Box
17
Folder
13
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Neighborhood Environmental Development Committee, 1972
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Box
18
Folder
1
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Pastoral Search Committee (Stanton), 1981
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Box
18
Folder
2
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Pastoral Search Committee (Minister of Education), 1974-1980
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Box
18
Folder
3
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Refuge Committee, 1980
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Subseries: Pastors' Papers
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Box
19
Folder
1
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Crawford, William, 1877-1914, undated
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Box
19
Folder
2
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Curtiss, D.D., 1881
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Box
19
Folder
3
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White, L.J., 1889
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Box
19
Folder
4
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1930-1959, Correspondence regarding pastors
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Bagby, Charles L.
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Sermons
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Typescript copies
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Box
19
Folder
5-8
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1964-1972
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Box
20
Folder
1-4
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1973-1980
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Recorded sermons
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1057A/2
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1980, April 6
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1057A/3
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1981, March 8
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1057A/1
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1981, April 19
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Green Bay Mss 118
Box
20
Folder
5
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Interview, 1985
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Miscellaneous correspondence
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Box
20
Folder
6
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Brown County Council of Churches, 1976-1981
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Box
20
Folder
7
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Giving statistics, 1960
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Box
20
Folder
8
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Global Partners, 1978
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Box
20
Folder
9
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Green Bay Cooperative Ministries, 1978-1979
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Box
20
Folder
10
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Madison Street Pastors, 1976
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Box
20
Folder
11
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Pastor's Class, 1961-1980
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Box
20
Folder
12
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Planned Parenthood, 1980
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Box
21
Folder
1
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Secretarial search, 1977
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Box
21
Folder
2
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Hofland, Obid, Jr., Report on Christian education, 1976
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Box
21
Folder
3
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Installation ceremony programs, 1961-1974
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Subseries: Treasurers' Records
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Box
21
Folder
4
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Reports, 1978-1984
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Donations
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Box
24
Folder
1
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1921-1926
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Box
24
Folder
2
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1927-1935
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Box
25
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1935-1939
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Box
26
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Summary, 1927-1940
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Subseries: Publications
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Box
21
Folder
5-9
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Annual reports, 1941-1984
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Green Bay Micro 48/Micro 1185
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“Calendars” (Bulletins and News)
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Reel
3
Frame
861
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1911-1924
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Reel
4
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1925-1948
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Reel
5
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1949-1959
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Reel
6
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1960-1970
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1971-1975
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Reel
7
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Bulletin, 1971-1975
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Reel
8
Frame
599
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News, 1974-1975
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Reel
9
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1976-1980
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Reel
10
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1981, January-June
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Green Bay Mss 118
Box
27
Folder
1
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1981, June-December (News only)
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Box
27
Folder
2-3
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1982-1983
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Box
27
Folder
4
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, 1984 (News only)
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Box
27
Folder
5
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1985, September-December (News only)
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Box
27
Folder
6
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, 1986 (News only)
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Box
23
Folder
7
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Bulletins missing from microfilm, 1902-1930
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Box
22
Folder
1-3
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Congregational Conversations, 1964-1974
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Directories
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Box
22
Folder
4-5
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1939, 1960-1985
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Box
22
Folder
6
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Handwritten lists of members, 1905-1939, undated
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Box
23
Folder
1
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Opportunity, 1911-1912
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Box
23
Folder
2
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Pilgrim Messenger, 1938-1942
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Box
23
Folder
3
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Pilgrim News, 1951, undated
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Box
23
Folder
4-6
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Unionist, 1900-1904
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Box
23
Folder
8
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Miscellaneous publications
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Subseries: Miscellany
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Curriculum materials
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Box
23
Folder
9
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All Church project, 1954
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Box
23
Folder
10
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Bible Sunday, 1952
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Box
23
Folder
11
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Local Church in God's Mission, 1968
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Box
23
Folder
12
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Miscellaneous material, undated
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Series: 2007 Additions, 1877-1961
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Subseries: Background Material
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Box
28
Folder
1
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Church directory
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Commemorative events and anniversaries
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Box
28
Folder
2
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Building dedication service, 1930
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Box
28
Folder
3
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National merger of the Congregational-Christian and the Evangelical and Reformed churches, 1947-1961
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Box
28
Folder
4
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Ordination service for Quinn Hawley, 1961
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Box
28
Folder
5
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Wisconsin Congregational Conference, 1961
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PH 3896
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Photographs of Congregational Conference, 1961; Mr. David Stowe; groundbreaking for church school, April 11, 1954; unidentified church member, , 1937
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Green Bay Mss 118
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Subseries: Administrative Records
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Box
28
Folder
6
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Constitution
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Board records
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Trustees
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Box
28
Folder
7
|
Annual statements, 1904-1937 (incomplete series)
|
|
|
Box
28
Folder
8-9
|
Building addition, 1954
|
|
|
Box
28
Folder
10
|
Building contracts, 1954
|
|
|
Box
33
Folder
2
|
Building fund financial records, 1929-1940
|
|
|
Financial papers
|
|
|
Box
28
Folder
11
|
Bank books, 1877-1932 (incomplete series)
|
|
|
Box
28
Folder
12
|
Debt reduction campaign, 1944
|
|
|
Box
28
Folder
13-14
|
Financial campaigns, 1947-1956
|
|
|
Box
28
Folder
15
|
Financial papers - general, 1929-1944
|
|
|
Box
33
Folder
3
|
Financial records book, 1921-1942
|
|
|
Box
28
Folder
16
|
Insurance policies, 1935-1939
|
|
|
Box
28
Folder
17
|
Mortgage transfer, 1925
|
|
|
Box
29
Folder
1
|
Mortgage through Board of Home Missions, 1930-1956
|
|
|
Box
29
Folder
2-4
|
Financial contributions - members' pledges, 1935-1944
|
|
|
Box
29
Folder
5
|
Special debt retirement subscription pledges
|
|
|
Box
29
Folder
6
|
Subscriptions for hymnals
|
|
|
Women's fellowship
|
|
|
Box
29
Folder
7
|
General
|
|
|
Box
29
Folder
8-10
|
Secretary's book, 1931-1942
|
|
|
Box
33
Folder
1-2
|
Treasurer's book
|
|
|
Box
33
Folder
1
|
1911-1927
|
|
|
Box
30
Folder
1-2
|
1928-1942
|
|
|
Miscellaneous committees and organizations
|
|
|
Box
30
Folder
3-5
|
Benevolences, 1944-1960
|
|
|
Box
30
Folder
6
|
Displaced persons program, 1949-1951
|
|
|
PH 3896
|
Photographs of displaced family
|
|
|
Green Bay Mss 118
|
Correspondence
|
|
|
Box
31
Folder
1-3
|
General, 1931-1959
|
|
|
Membership transfers
|
|
|
Box
31
Folder
4-5
|
1943-1951
|
|
|
Box
31
Folder
4-5
|
1952-1956
|
|
|
