First Congregational Church Records (DeKalb), 1856-2002 | Northern Illinois University

Collection Overview

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

Scope and Contents of the Materials

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.

Collection Historical Note

The First Congregational Church in DeKalb was organized by eight founding members in December 1854, following missionary services begun in September of that year by Rev. H.N. Norton. Services were initially held (1854-1888) in a school house located at the corner of Grove and South Second Street. The school house was purchased outright n 1870. With financial support from I.L. Ellwood and J.F. Glidden, a new stone structure was built in 1888 next to the "Old Chapel" which was razed in 1914. A new building fund was begun in 1944 as part of the 90th Anniversary celebration. On July 4, 1954, the first services were held in the new, modern church building on North First Street.

Subject/Index Terms

Congregationalists
Ellwood, Isaac L.
First Congregational Church (DeKalb, Ill.)
Glidden, Joseph F.
Religious Institutions-- DeKalb

Administrative Information

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).

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series I: Administrative Records],
[Series II: Membership],
[Series III: Committees],
[Series IV: Building],
[Series V: Church Activities],
[Series VI: Audio-Visual],
[Addendum 1],
[Sub-Series I: Administrative Records],
[Sub-Series II: Membership],
[Sub-Series III: Committees],
[Sub-Series IV: Building],
[Sub-Series V: Church Activities],
[Sub-Series VI: Audio-Visual],
[Oversize Drawer 20],
[All]

Series III: Committees

Box 8

Folder 1: Auditing Committee, 1976
Folder 2: Bus Committee, 1958
Folder 3-10: Church Cabinet Meeting Minutes, 1928-1933, 1942-1966

Box 9

Folder 1-5: Church Cabinet Meeting Minutes, 1967-1987
Folder 6-8: Board of Christian Education, 1960-1966, 1970-1977, 1983-1987
Folder 9-10: Christian World Mission Committee, 1971-1977

Box 10

Folder 1: Church Access Study Committee, 1970-1986
Folder 2: Congregational and Christian Conference of Illinois, 1934, 1939
Folder 3-7: Board of Deacons, 1966-1969, 1974-1977, 1983-1987
Folder 8: Historical Committee, 1973-1975
Folder 9: Memorial Committee, 1971-1976
Folder 10: Men's Club: Historical Background, 1894-1945
Folder 11: Men's Club: Meeting Minutes, 1929-1939,1945
Folder 12: Men's Club: Treasurer's Record, 1941-1953

Box 11

Folder 1: Mission Council, 1970-1981
Folder 2: Music Committee, 1964-1977
Folder 3: Nominating Committee, 1959-1966, 1975, 1976
Folder 4: Organ Committee, 1968-1976
Folder 5: Organ Guild Treasurer Reports, 1926-1938
Folder 6-7: Minute Books, 1926-1933
Folder 8: Pastoral Relations Committee, 1972, 1976
Folder 9: Pulpit Committee (Pastorate Search), 1945
Folder 10: Refugee Committee, 1981-1985
Folder 11: Research Committee, 1978
Folder 12: Stewardship Committee, 1965-1987
Folder 13: Christian Enlistment Effort, 1969
Folder 14: Student Work Committee, 1966-1976

Box 12

Folder 1-9: Board of Trustees: Minutes, 1947-1968

Box 13

Folder 1-4: Board of Trustees: Minutes, 1969-1970, 1973-1980, 1983-1987
Folder 5: Board of Trustees: Manual for Trustees, 1947
Folder 6: Board of Trustees: Bonds, 1950-1953
Folder 7: Board of Trustees: Estate and Probate Documents, 1927-1961
Folder 8: Ushers, 1960-1971
Folder 9: Woman's Guild, Women's Fellowship, and Women's Society: Constitutions and Committee Duties, 1957, 1966, 1976, no date
Folder 10: Woman's Guild, Women's Fellowship, and Women's Society: Missionary Society Treasurer's Book, 1897-1933

Box 14

Folder 1-3: Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society Meeting: Minutes (4 volumes), 1895-1933
Folder 4: Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society Meeting: Roll Book and Dues (1 volume), 1908-1928,1929-1933
Folder 5: Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society Meeting: Correspondence, 1917,1923-1926, 1928,1930,1932-1933, no date
Folder 6-7: Women's Society: Minutes (2 volumes), 1911-1927

Box 15

Folder 1: Women's Society: Minutes(1 volume), 1927-1938
Folder 2: Women's Society: Reports, 1936-1937
Folder 3: Women's Society: Treasurer's Reports, 1944-1959
Folder 4: Women's Society: Journal (1 volume), 1951-1964
Folder 5: Women's Guild: Receipt Book (2 volumes), 1940-1951, 1955-1959
Folder 6: Women's Guild: Calendar, 1942-1943
Folder 7-8: Women's Guild: Meeting Minutes, 1950-1960
Folder 9: Women's Guild: Yearbooks, 1953, 1957-1960

Box 16

Folder 1: Circle II Meeting Record, 1978-1979
Folder 2: Circle Six of Women's Guild Meeting Minutes (1 volume), 1947-1952
Folder 3-4: Group Seven of the Congregational Church Meeting Minutes, 1945-1959
Folder 5-6: Women's Fellowship: Yearbooks, 1961-1986
Folder 7-12: Women's Fellowship: Meeting Minutes, 1960-1968, 1975-1988
Folder 13: Women's Fellowship: Committee Reports, 1977-1980, 1985-1986, no date
Folder 14: Women's Fellowship: Spring Spree, 1977-1978

Box 17

Folder 1: Women's Fellowship: Correspondence, 1936-1937, 1957, 1963-1964, 1969, 1974, 1976-1979, 1984-1988, no date
Folder 2: Women's Fellowship: Programs, 1962, 1964-1965, 1967, 1973, 1975-1978, no date
Folder 3: Women's Fellowship: Handbooks, 1968-1969, no date
Folder 4: Women's Fellowship: Cookbook
Folder 5: Manual for Women's Organizations, no date
Folder 6: Youth Ministry Committee, 1985-1987
Folder 7: Young Married Couples Club, 1932