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 IV: Building

Box 17

Folder 8: Building Program, 1947-1958
Folder 9: Church Site, 1948-1953
Folder 10: Construction, 1953
Folder 11: Contracts: New Church Construction, 1953-1954
Folder 12: Specifications and Correspondence, 1953
Folder 13: Correspondence: Church Construction Bids, 1953
Folder 14: Correspondence: New Church Architect, 1949-1954
Folder 15: Correspondence: New Church Furniture, 1953-1955
Folder 16: Correspondence: New Church Windows, 1953-1954
Folder 17: Parsonage Purchase and Assessments, 1956-1959
Folder 18: Purchase of Assistant Minister Parsonage, 1962-1963
Folder 19: Record of the New Building Project, 1944-1953
Folder 20: Sale of Old Parsonage, 1957
Folder 21: Trust Deed: New Church Construction Loan, 1954
Folder 22: Warranty Deeds of Church Property

Box 18

Folder 1: Waiver of Lien, 1963-1964
Folder 2: Correspondence: Building Committee, 1961-1963
Folder 3: Correspondence: Organ, 1972-1975
Folder 4: Correspondence: Pew Refinishing, 1965-1968
Folder 5: Correspondence: Refurbishing, 1963-1976
Folder 6: Building Contracts, 1963
Folder 7: Building Contracts and Correspondence, 1963-1977
Folder 8: Carillons, 1969
Folder 9: Rolfing Fund, 1961-1976
Folder 10: Handicapped Accessibility, 1986-1987