Scope and Contents: The records in this collection document the history of the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church from 1904 to 1978.
The collection contains official church records describing the congregation’s origin, growth, and service organizations. Documents include the original constitution and official advisory board minutes, correspondence, annual reports, membership records, and financial accounts dating from 1904 to 1976. Also included are records from committees and organizations charged with responsibility for the congregation’s mission in the Sandwich community. Researcher Note: Since Salem Lutheran was a religious center for many Swedish immigrants, much of the earlier documentation is in the Swedish language. The collection also contains the Church’s printed material, publications, and include volumes of Salem Co-Worker, The Salem Spectator, and Salem Church Bulletins and guest registers dating 1944 to1978. For related materials, researchers may wish to consult the following collections: First Congregational Church Collection (RC 17), DeKalb First United Methodist Church Collection (RC24), and St. Paul's Episcopal Church Collection (RC55).