The Somers United Church of Christ records consist of official records of the congregation, as well as records of a number of church organizations. The official records pertain not only to the church's history as a member of the Congregational Church and the United Church of Christ, but also to its two older component congregations: the Somers Presbyterian Church and the Somers Methodist Episcopal Church. Of these, the Presbyterian congregation is much more fully documented.
The earliest record book for the Pike Grove Presbyterian Church in the collection mentions an earlier volume of minutes, which has apparently been lost. As a result, information about the earliest history of the congregation is scarce. Researchers may wish to consult the American Home Mission Society records also held by the State Historical Society which includes some Stephen Peet correspondence. Similarly for the church's later history, the records of the Wisconsin Conference of the United Church of Christ held by the Historical Society contain some useful correspondence.
The OFFICIAL RECORDS include constitutions, minutes, sacramental records, lists of members, financial records, annual reports, publications, and committee records. The general record books contain sacramental records for the Presbyterian Church for the period 1851-1921 and for the Somers Congregation Church for the period 1921-1947. Even for this period, however, the volumes do not include records for all sacraments. The official records do include relatively complete minutes for congregational meetings of the Presbyterian congregation and the Congregational/UCC church. In addition, there are also minutes for various official church committees including the deacons, trustees, and the Christian Education Committee.
Financial records are more recent in coverage (1950-1980) and consist of financial statements, record books, and miscellaneous records. Printed materials (1947-1984) include annual reports, newsletters, clippings and miscellaneous printed materials. These materials help to connect the official records and the church club activities with the Somers community.
CHURCH CLUB RECORDS constitute perhaps the richest part of the collection. Notable clubs include the Pike Grove Bible Society, which was affiliated with the American Bible Society and which dated to 1842, and various women's service groups.
MISCELLANY includes correspondence with pastors and material concerning the ordination of a church member. A few miscellaneous photographs documenting the various building occupied by the congregation and church activities are available in the Visual Materials Archive in Madison.
