Summary Information
First Congregational United Church of Christ (Janesville, Wis.) Records
1845-1976
- First Congregational United Church of Christ (Janesville, Wis.)
Whitewater Micro 20; Micro 2071
24 reels of microfilm (35mm)
UW-Whitewater Library / Whitewater Area Research Ctr. (Map)Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Records consisting of minutes, constitutions and manuals, committee reports, membership records, weekly bulletins, church publications, photographs, records of women's, men's, youth, and other organizations within the congregation, financial and property records, files on the state conference and the Beloit Association, photographs, and other records. No sacramental record books are included.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-micr2071 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
Informal Congregational societies were held at private residences in Janesville, Wis., as early as 1843 and Reverend C.H.A. Bulkley, an itinerant evangelist of the American Home Missionary Society, became the first minister of this group in 1844. In February 1845, a noted Congregational-Presbyterian missionary in Wisconsin, Reverend Stephen Peet, helped Reverend Bulkley organize the First Congregational Church of Janesville. The congregation, which consisted of 15 members, met in various buildings, initially meeting in the Courthouse.
In 1848, the congregation's first full pastor, Reverend Hiram Foote, arrived; land was purchased on the corner of Jackson and Dodge streets; and construction began on the church's first building. Completed in 1850, the building was expanded the following year to accommodate the growing congregation. The 1850 building was razed in 1868 to make room for a larger building. The new building, completed in 1869, burned down on May 1, 1875 during a thunderstorm. A decision was made to rebuild substantially on the same site and the new sanctuary was dedicated December 19 of that year. The builders used standing walls from the burned building to construct a Gothic revival, cream brick church which is still in use. A large addition was also added for Sunday school and social purposes sometime during the late 1800's. A parsonage was built on land adjacent to the church thanks to an 1895 gift given by Mrs. Laura Kendall.
During the last years of World War I, the Congregational Church and Presbyterian Church formed a Federated Church. The Congregational Church lacked a pastor but was blessed with coal for heating, and the Presbyterian Church had the pastor, but lacked the coal. The Federated Church was dissolved after the war by the Presbyterian Council.
Between 1936 and 1937 the church basement was excavated and remodeled to add classrooms, a kitchen, and a dining room. In 1951, the First Congregational Society purchased most of the remainder of the city block on which the church was situated, including two houses and a meeting hall. The meeting hall and the church parsonage were razed, and a two story church education addition was completed in 1957, which was the same year that a national merger formed the United Church of Christ. An extensive remodeling project was undertaken in 1964 to repair structural damage and to remodel the sanctuary.
With a long history of social activism, the Janesville church first formed the Social Action Committee in 1935. Discussions included workers' rights, equal rights, and the abolition of war. While other churches were moving to the suburbs after World War II, the Congregational Church decided to remain in downtown Janesville to serve a diverse group of people in the city. This was also the motivation for housing in the church the Head Start Program for disadvantaged children.
Scope and Content Note
Records of the Congregational church organized in Janesville, Wisconsin in 1845 include the minutes of a variety of church administrative and service committee meetings, constitutions and manuals, committee reports, financial records and annual budgets, correspondence, membership records, clerk's record books, photographs, directories, Sunday bulletins, and other church publications and newsletters. There are also materials concerning the pastorate, church building, religious education, music, and special events and services.
The microfilmed collection presents several challenges for the researcher. Since similar records were not placed together prior to filming, the researcher will want to pay close attention to the reel list which jumps from reel to reel and frame to frame in order to place similar materials together in the inventory. Frame numbers may also be confusing. They may only appear at the first page of a new document and numbering is not continued with subsequent pages. The following document may then contain the next frame number leading the researcher to believe that the previous document had only one page.
The collection consists of four series: Church Operations, Ministerial and Services, Organizations, and Photographs.
The bulk of the collection consists of materials concerning CHURCH OPERATIONS including several constitutions and manuals, Clerk's record books (1845-1973), a scrapbook of photographs and news clippings, occasional church newsletters and other publications, materials concerning church property and buildings, and the records of the federated committee which combined certain activities common to the Presbyterian and Congregational churches in Janesville during World War I.
Minutes of meetings are extensive and nearly complete for the Board of Trustees, Congregational Society, Coordinating Council, annual meetings of church members, and other committees which focus on the secular matters of church administration. Financial records provide some information on annual budgets, church building and construction project finances, memorials and gifts, pledge drives, and other matters. Correspondence is not complete, but does include incoming and outgoing correspondence of the clerk, intra-church correspondence, and letters sent to all church members.
Membership records include incomplete membership registers, incoming and outgoing letters of dismissal, church directories and lists of members, member service records, and membership record slips. The record slips, 1845-1885, are arranged by year, thereunder alphabetically by name, and contain membership number, date of affiliation, previous church affiliation, names of relatives who are also church members, and information about dismissal or other reasons for leaving the church, such as excommunication.
There are some materials relating to denominational affairs outside the church which include records concerning the Wisconsin Congregational Conference and Wisconsin Congregational Convention. There are some documents on the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) culled from the personal papers of John M. Whitehead, a one-time ABCFM member and church clerk from 1884 to 1924.
The MINISTERIAL AND SERVICES series contains an incomplete but extensive run of weekly Sunday Bulletins, 1893-1972, which document all church activities for the upcoming week. Annual reports, correspondence, and minutes of Church Board meetings are also contained in this series. A pastorate file contains biographical information about the church's ministers, correspondence on pastoral vacancies, some minister's reports, and a few sermons.
There are also music committee reports and a Sunday school songbook. Some materials concern religious education at the church including Board of Religious Education meeting minutes, reports of the Church School, and information about the Sabbath School.
A file on special events includes information about the church's various anniversaries (1870, 1895, 1945, 1969), building dedication and rededication services, and home gatherings. There are a few documents concerning the combined memorial service for Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. conducted by a number of Janesville churches.
The ORGANIZATIONS series consists of the minutes, reports, programs, clippings, and scrapbooks of many church-affiliated organizations as well as those of the Beloit Association, the area's regional association of Congregational churches. A sampling of these men's, women's, and youth organizations include the Congregational Guild, King's Daughters, Ladies Benevolent Society, United Servicemen's Organization, Men's Sunday Evening Club, Women's Home Missionary Union, Women's Club, and Young Person's Society of Christian Endeavor.
PHOTOGRAPHS, which date primarily from the 1960's and 1970's, include Sunday School and its graduating classes, building exterior and interior views, and Pentecost Parades of 1974 and 1977. There are also photographs of some of the church's early prominent members.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Originals loaned for copying by the First Congregational Church of Christ Janesville (via Nancy Linn and David Newton) for microfilming, December 28, 1983. The originals are now at the Rock County Historical Society, Janesville, Wisconsin. Accession Number: M83-346
Processed by Martin Rostermundt and Joanne Hohler, 1989 and revised by Gayle Martinson, 1999.
Contents List
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Series: Church Operations
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Clerk's Record Books
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Reel
2
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Volume 1, 1845-1861
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Reel
2
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Volume 2, 1862-1887
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Reel
3
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Volume 3, 1887-1908
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Reel
4
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Volume 4, 1908-1915
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Reel
5
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Volume 5, 1915-1923
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Reel
6
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Volume 6, 1924-1934
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Reel
13
Frame
082
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Volume 7, 1934-1973
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Reel
13
Frame
145
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Constitutions and Manuals, 1852-1965, undated
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Correspondence
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Reel
7
Frame
000
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Clerk's Incoming Correspondence, 1893-1963, undated
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Clerk's Outgoing Correspondence, 1886-1898
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Reel
7
Frame
312
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Intra-Church Correspondence, 1915-1972, undated
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Reel
7
Frame
222
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Letters to Church Members, 1880-1971, undated
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Reel
13
Frame
319
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Federation Committee [Presbyterian and Congregational Churches], 1918-1919, undated
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Minutes
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Reel
16
Frame
288
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First Congregational Church and Society Meetings, 1848-1924
: Includes Annual and Board of Trustees meetings.
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Reel
1
Frame
309
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Annual Church Meetings with Reports, 1935-1974
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Reel
1
Frame
653
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Reports of the Church Nominating Committee, circa 1927, 1935-1973
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Reel
22
Frame
000
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Board of Trustees Meetings, 1940-1974
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Reel
23
Frame
051
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Miscellaneous Committee Meetings, 1910-1974
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Church Property
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Reel
8
Frame
473
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Church Building Committee Reports, 1953-1958, undated
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Reel
8
Frame
924
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Canvas Plans and Reports, 1954-1958
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Reel
9
Frame
000
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Records and Receipts, 1965-1966
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Reel
9
Frame
369
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Organ and Chimes, 1889-1968, undated
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Reel
8
Frame
515
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Pilgrim Center Building Addition, 1953-1959, undated
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Reel
8
Frame
506
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Property Purchase Contracts, 1953, 1957
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Denominational Affairs
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Reel
21
Frame
276
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American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, 1910
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Reel
16
Frame
291
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Beloit Association, 1898-1960
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Reel
21
Frame
000
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Wisconsin Congregational Convention Record, 1905-1908
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Reel
21
Frame
111
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Wisconsin Congregational Conference, 1890-1945, undated
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Financial
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Reel
7
Frame
417
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Annual Budgets, 1910-1974
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Reel
8
Frame
461
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Church Building Finances, 1895, 1943, undated
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Reel
9
Frame
000
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Construction Projects, 1875-1964
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Reel
7
Frame
500
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Financial Materials, 1845-1974, undated
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Reel
8
Frame
294
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Memorials and Gifts to the Church, 1870, 1945-1966, undated
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Reel
8
Frame
353
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Pew Rental, 1851-1857
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Reel
8
Frame
266
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Pledge Drives, 1910, 1951
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Reel
8
Frame
369
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Rent Slips - Church and Society, 1947-1879
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Membership
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Reel
12
Frame
364
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Church directories and Membership Lists, 1875- 1975
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Reel
12
Frame
493
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Membership and Mailing lists, 1961-1971
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Reel
12
Frame
716
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Membership Lists, 1920-1975
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Reel
11
Frame
000
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Church Members Register: Families, Baptism and Ecclesiastical Meetings, 1845-1901
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Reel
11
Frame
177
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Letters of Dismission, 1891-1919
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Reel
12
Frame
000
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Incoming Letters of Dismission, 1871-1944
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Reel
11
Frame
414
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Outgoing Letters of Dismission, 1890-1910, undated
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Reel
11
Frame
174
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Membership Records, 1908-1909
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Reel
12
Frame
935
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Membership Records-Births, Deaths, and Members Received, 1910-1936, undated
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Reel
12
Frame
347
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Membership Service Records, 1958-1971
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Reel
12
Frame
924
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Membership Oaths, 1939, undated
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Reel
13
Frame
000
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Memorials of Church Members, 1864-1912
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Record Slips
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Reel
9
Frame
441
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nos. 1-299, 1845-1858
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Reel
10
Frame
000
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nos. 300-599, 1858-1867
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Reel
10
Frame
316
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nos. 600-799, 1867-1872
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Reel
10
Frame
517
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nos. 800-1055, 1872-1885
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Reel
20
Frame
753
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Miscellany, 1870-1972, undated
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Reel
23
Frame
088
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Miscellaneous Papers, 1899-1971
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Publications
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Reel
19
Frame
365
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Congregational Newsletter, 1951-1960
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Reel
20
Frame
094
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Miscellaneous Publications, 1900-1965
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Reel
19
Frame
000
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Our Church Home, 1889-1892
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Reel
20
Frame
491
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Our Church News, 1929
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Reel
20
Frame
000
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Pilgrim Circle Cookbook, 1978
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Reel
19
Frame
165
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The Tidings, 1960-1970
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Reel
19
Frame
002
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Wisconsin Congregational Church Life, 1909-1913
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Reel
21
Frame
549
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Scrapbook, 1859-1976
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Series: Ministerial and Services
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Church Board
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Annual Reports
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Reel
1
Frame
537
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1890-1903
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Reel
1
Frame
000
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1962-1973
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Reel
1
Frame
013
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Correspondence, 1967-1968, 1971
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Church Committee/Board Meeting Minutes
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Reel
23
Frame
132
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1935-1959
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Reel
23
Frame
392
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1960-1974
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Reel
1
Frame
030
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1963-1973
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Music
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Reel
16
Frame
194
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Music Committee Reports, 1928-1973
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Reel
16
Frame
216
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Sunday School Songbook, 1877
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Pastorate
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Reel
13
Frame
719
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Biographical File, 1909-1972
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Reel
13
Frame
374
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Correspondence Relating to Pastoral Vacancies, 1874-1972
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Reel
13
Frame
679
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Ministers' Reports, 1938-1962
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Reel
13
Frame
697
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Sermons, 1965, 1969
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Religious Education
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Reel
24
Frame
000
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Board of Religious Education meeting Minutes, 1962- 1974
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Reel
16
Frame
082
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Church School and Education Reports, 1928-1972
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Reel
16
Frame
129
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Sabbath School, 1860-1925, undated
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Special Events
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Anniversaries
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Reel
15
Frame
851
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Quarter Century Memorial Observance, 1870
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Reel
15
Frame
856
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Semi-Centennial Anniversary, 1895
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Reel
15
Frame
929
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Church Centennial, 1945
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Reel
15
Frame
936
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125th Anniversary, 1969
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Reel
16
Frame
000
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Announcements, Programs of Events and Meetings, 1881-1963, undated
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Reel
15
Frame
833
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Building Dedication Services, 1869, 1875
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Reel
15
Frame
839
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Building Rededication Service, 1965
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Reel
15
Frame
986
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Colonial Fair and Other Bicentennial Activities, 1976
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Reel
24
Frame
071
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Combined Church Memorial Service for Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., 1968
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Reel
15
Frame
734
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Home Gatherings, 1892-1927
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Weekly Bulletins
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Reel
13
Frame
742
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1893-1908
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Reel
14
Frame
000
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1909-1941
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Reel
15
Frame
000
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1942-1972, undated
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Reel
15
Frame
720
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Bulletins From Other Churches, 1912-1913
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Series: Organizations
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Brotherhood of the First Congregational Church of Jesus
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Reel
16
Frame
333
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Secretary's Reports
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Reel
16
Frame
334
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Treasurer's Reports, 1913-1917
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Reel
17
Frame
440
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Commissary Committee
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Congregational Guild
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Reel
24
Frame
081
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Meeting Minutes, 1946-1952, 1956-1957
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Reel
17
Frame
425
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Miscellaneous Papers, 1945-1949
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Reel
17
Frame
000
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Programs and Calendars, 1941-1967
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Reel
17
Frame
318
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Reports, 1941-1967
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Reel
17
Frame
250
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Congregational Guild Clippings, Reports, etc., 1965-1967
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Reel
17
Frame
454
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Division Five, 1944-1954
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Reel
17
Frame
455
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Division Seven, 1974
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Reel
17
Frame
468
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Division Eight, 1936-1951
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King's Daughters
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Reel
18
Frame
000
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Meeting Minutes, 1891-1897
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Willing Workers Circle
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Reel
18
Frame
029
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Annual Report, 1893
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Reel
18
Frame
026
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Meeting Minutes, 1891-1895
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Reel
18
Frame
037
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Ladies Benevolent Society, 1890-1898, undated
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Laoni Band
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Reel
18
Frame
061
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Annual Reports, History, and Programs, 1893-1973
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Reel
18
Frame
129
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Meeting Minutes, 1916-1922
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Reel
18
Frame
141
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Men's Club, 1937-1958
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Reel
18
Frame
132
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Men's Sunday Evening Club, 1894-1909, undated
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Reel
18
Frame
413
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Miscellaneous Groups and Committees, 1891-1970, undated
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Reel
18
Frame
151
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United Servicemen's Organization Center Scrapbook, 1942
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Reel
18
Frame
269
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Woman's Home Missionary Union, 1894-1911
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Reel
18
Frame
152
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Women's Club, 1910-1962
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Reel
18
Frame
260
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Financial Ledger, 1922-1924
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Reel
18
Frame
319
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Young Person's Society of Christian Endeavor, 1891-1911
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Reel
18
Frame
402
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Youth Organizations Miscellany,
1966
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Series: Photographs
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Reel
20
Frame
347
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Children's Birthday Party, 1952
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Reel
20
Frame
348
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Christmas, 1976
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Reel
20
Frame
438
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Christmas Eve Service, 1974
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Reel
20
Frame
224
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Church Choir, 1969
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Reel
20
Frame
237
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Church Directory, undated
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Reel
20
Frame
294
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Church Interior, 1967
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Reel
20
Frame
257
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Church Renovation, 1964
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Reel
20
Frame
244
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Graduating Classes, 1968-1972
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Reel
20
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Line Drawing of the Church and Related Materials
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Reel
20
Frame
367
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Reverend Kendrick Strong, 1972
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Pentecost Parade
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Reel
20
Frame
408
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1974
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Reel
20
Frame
611
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1977
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Reel
20
Frame
434
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Sunday School, 1973
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Reel
20
Frame
635
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Miscellaneous
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Reel
24
Frame
852
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Miscellaneous
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