Title: First Congregational Church Records (DeKalb), 1856-2002
ID: RHC/RC/017
Extent: 15.75 Linear Feet
Arrangement: The collection contains six series: Administrative Records, Membership, Committees, Building, Church Activities, and Audio-Visual.
Date Acquired: 03/00/1973
Subjects: Congregationalists, Ellwood, Isaac L., First Congregational Church (DeKalb, Ill.), Glidden, Joseph F., Religious Institutions-- DeKalb
Languages: English
The records in this collection document the growth and development of the First Congregational Church of DeKalb from 1856-1991.
The first series, Administrative Records, includes historical information, constitutions and annual reports, church meeting minutes and correspondence, bulletins and the church newsletter. The nearly complete span of weekly church bulletins documents day-to-day activities and concerns.
Series two, Membership, contains church directories, membership lists, and letters of dismission for members transferring their membership to other churches. Also included are guest register books dating 1944-1978.
Committees make up the third series in this collection. The committees are arranged alphabetically and include minutes and correspondence.
The building and refurbishing of the new church is documented in the fourth series. This series dates from 1947-1987 and contains contracts, correspondence, and deeds for the church built in 1954.
Series five, Church Activities, includes material relating to activities and organizations that the church is involved with.
The Audio-Visual series includes two reel-to-reel cassettes with church services from 1965, three 33 1/3 recordings of the church dedication, fourteen architectural drawings dating 1951- 1973, and 165 photographs of church members and the church buildings.
Congregationalists
Ellwood, Isaac L.
First Congregational Church (DeKalb, Ill.)
Glidden, Joseph F.
Religious Institutions-- DeKalb
Repository: Northern Illinois University
Access Restrictions: There are no restrictions on access to the collection.
Use Restrictions: Property rights in the collection remain with the First Congregational Church, DeKalb, Illinois. Literary rights are dedicated to the public.
Acquisition Source: The First Congregational Church
Acquisition Method: The First Congregational Church Collection was deposited in the Northern Illinois Regional History Center in March 1973. Additional records were added at later dates.
Related Materials: Related collections of the Regional History Center include: DeKalb First Methodist Church Collection (RC 24), St. Paul's Episcopal Church Collection (RC 55), First Lutheran Church, Rockford (RC 83), and Salem Lutheran Church, Sandwich (RC 84).