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Descriptive Summary

Call No.: bMS 301
Title: First Universalist Society in Charlestown (Mass.) Records: Register, 1809-1939
Repository: Andover-Harvard Theological Library, Harvard Divinity School
45 Francis Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138-1911
Quantity: 3 ft. (13 boxes)
Abstract: Church and society records, including minutes and records of services (1809-1916), printed material; letter to society from Edward Turner (1777-1853); financial records (1811-1916); Sunday School records (1847-ca.1905); records of women's organizations; programs; photographs.

Processed by:

Acquisition Information:

Access Restrictions:

Historical Note

The church was organized in 1809. In 1811, the Society was incorporated, its building was erected, and the first minister, Abner Kneeland, was called. In December 1937, the Society relinquished the church building, which was razed in 1939.

Ministers

• 1811-1814
  • Abner Kneeland
• 1814-1825
  • Edward Turner
• 1825-1826
  • Calvin Gardner
• 1827-1829
  • J.S. Thompson
• 1829-1834
  • Linus Everett
• 1835-1839
  • Thomas F. King
• 1840-1845
  • Edwin H. Chapin
• 1846-1849
  • Thomas Starr King
• 1853-1863
  • Alexander G. Laurie
• 1865-1870
  • Oscar F. Stafford
• 1871-1878
  • William T. Stowe
• 1879-1891
  • Charles Follen Lee
• 1893-1899
  • Gideon I. Keirn
• 1900-1910
  • William M. Kimmell
• 1911-1921
  • Ransome A. Greene
• 1922-1927
  • Roger F. Etz
• 1928-1937
  • John M. Ratcliff

Arrangement

Organized into the following series:

• Series I. Society and church records, 1809-1939
• Series II. Financial records, 1811-1882
• Series III. Bills and receipts, 1815-1916
• Series IV. Sunday School records, 1847-ca. 1905
• Series V. Miscellaneous

Scope and Content

This collection consists of church and society records, including minutes and records of services (1809-1916) and printed material; a letter to the society from Edward Turner (1777-1853); financial records (1811-1916); Sunday School records (1847-ca.1905); records of women's organizations; programs; and photographs.

Container List:

• Series I. Society and church records, 1809-1939
  • bMS 301/1 (1) Proceedings of the Universalists in Charlestown. Record book, 1809-1812. Includes: records of services and minutes of meetings, October 29, 1809-January 1, 1812; records of money received for taxes on pews, September 8, 1811-March 29, 1812.
  • bMS 301/1 (2) First Universalist Society in Charlestown. Record book, 1811-1864. Includes: copy of Act of Incorporation, February 1811; copies of deed of land, December 1811; by-laws, 1848; notices and minutes of Society, Proprietors', and Standing Committee meetings, March 14, 1811-October 17, 1864, containing reports and pew valuations; copies of correspondence.
  • bMS 301/2 (1) First Universalist Society in Charlestown. Record book, 1864-1909. Includes: by-laws, May 1896, with signatures of members; notices and minutes of Society and Standing Committee meetings, December 12, 1804-March 29, 1909, containing reports, memorial tributes, copies of correspondence.
  • bMS 301/2 (2) Guest book, One Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of the First Universalist Society of Charlestown, Massachusetts, May 17-18, 1936. Signatures of those attending.
  • bMS 301/2 (3) Edward Turner (1777-1853). Letter to Society concerning his dismissal, September 18, 1823.
  • bMS 301/2 (4) Certificates of Shares in the Vestry, 1824, with annotations concerning sales.
  • bMS 301/2 (5) Subscription lists: for Rev. L.S. Everett, May 14, 1834, and for family of T.F. King, October 13, 1839.
  • bMS 301/2 (6) Agreement, 1840, signed by pewholders, concerning alterations in the building.
  • bMS 301/2 (7) Notes on pastors, 1823-1842.
  • bMS 301/2 (8) Papers concerning alterations to the meeting-house, 1853, including plans for tower, subscription for bell.
  • bMS 301/2 (9) Deed of land, 1853, from Society to Warren Institute for Savings.
  • bMS 301/2 (10) Subscription lists: to pay Church debts, n.d.; for [national?] centennial fund [ca.1870?].
  • bMS 301/2 (11) By-Laws of the First Universalist Society in Charlestown, adopted May 25, 1896 (pamphlet). Includes list of pastors, 1811-1896.
  • bMS 301/3 (1) Programs and clippings, 1891-1899.
  • bMS 301/3 (2) The Cairn, published for the fair of the First Universalist Church in Charlestown, [1900], 30pp. Includes T.T. Sawyer's "Historical Sketch..." and other historical information on the Church and Society.
  • bMS 301/3 (3) Centennial celebration, April 23-25, 1911: papers and programs.
  • bMS 301/3 (4) One hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary, May 17-18, 1936; programs, invitations, clippings.
  • bMS 301/3 (5) Wings of Love, bulletin of St. John's Church, Charlestown, vol. XIII, no. 2 (November 1939). Includes historical sketch of First Universalist Society in Charlestown.
  • bMS 301/3 (6) First Universalist Church in Charlestown. Record book, 1811-1842. Includes: Articles of Faith and Uniting Compact, December 1811, with names of original and later members and information on their removals or deaths; historical notes and minutes of meetings, 1811-1824, 1842.
  • bMS 301/3 (7) Church record book, 1889-1916. Includes: Church membership records, 1889-1916; copies of Articles of Faith, 1803, Covenant, 1865, Form of Church Government, 1866 with amendment 1894; records of services and minutes of Church meetings, January 1889-October 1916.
  • bMS 301/3 (8) Pamphlet, 1844, including names of original Church members, December 1811, with notes on removals and deaths (two copies).
  • bMS 301/3 (9) Articles of Faith, Covenant, and Form of Church Government of the First Universalist Church in Charlestown, 1867 (pamphlet). Includes historical sketch of the Church.
  • bMS 301/3 (10) List of Church members, January 1889.
  • bMS 301/3 (11) Correspondence concerning Church membership, 1839-1936 and n.d.
  • bMS 301/3 (12) Miscellaneous Church papers, including minutes and records of services, programs, orders of service, 1826-1933.

• Series II. Financial records, 1811-1882.
  • bMS 301/3 (13) Treasurer's record book, 1811-1812. Record of subscriptions to purchase land for meetinghouse, accounts, 1811-1812; pew auctions, n.d.
  • bMS 301/4 (1) Pew record book, July 1817-March 1836.
  • bMS 301/4 (2) Pew record book, July 1836-January 1858.
  • bMS 301/5 (1) Pew record book, March 1858-March 1876.
  • bMS 301/5 (2) Treasurer's record book: pew taxes, July 1839-June 1841.
  • bMS 301/5 (3) Treasurer's record book: pew taxes, January 1841-January 1844; other financial records, April 1841-March 1844.
  • bMS 301/5 (4) Cashbook, May 1852-June 1853.
  • bMS 301/5 (5) Treasurer's record book: pew taxes, July 1854-December 1856.
  • bMS 301/5 (6) Treasurer's record book: pew taxes, January 1857-March 1859.
  • bMS 301/5 (7) Treasurer's record book: pew rentals, ca.1860-1861.
  • bMS 301/5 (8) Treasurer's record book: pew taxes, September 1864-February 1865.
  • bMS 301/5 (9) Treasurer's record book: receipts, June 1866-October 1874.
  • bMS 301/5 (10) Treasurer's record book: deposits, August 1875-April 1876.
  • bMS 301/5 (11) Treasurer's record book: collections, November 1878-October 1880.
  • bMS 301/5 (12) Treasurer's record book: deposits, May 1878-April 1882.
  • bMS 301/6 (1) Treasurer's statements, scattered, 1827- 1873.
  • bMS 301/6 (2) Notes reporting votes of Society and Standing Committee to treasurer.
  • bMS 301/6 (3) Treasurer's correspondence and miscellaneous papers, 1843-1923.
  • bMS 301/6 (4) Treasurer's statements of pew taxes collected, scattered, 1832-1874.
  • bMS 301/6 (5) Pew deeds, 1812, 1840.
  • bMS 301/6 (6) Notices of sales of pews, 1830s-1860s; accounts of sales by auctioneers.
  • bMS 301/6 (7) Notices of pew appraisals and taxes, 1840, 1859; legal notice attaching a pew, 1842.
  • bMS 301/6 (8) Pew rental certificates, 1851-1863.
  • bMS 301/6 (9) Record of pews sold, 1864.
  • bMS 301/6 (10) Floor plan of pews, November 1864, with appraisals and names of owners.
  • bMS 301/6 (11) Miscellaneous pew records, n.d.
  • bMS 301/6 (12) Miscellaneous lists.
  • bMS 301/6 (13) Fire Insurance policies and certificates.

• Series III. Bills and receipts, 1815-1916.
  • bMS 301/7 (1) 1815-1817.
  • bMS 301/7 (2) 1818.
  • bMS 301/7 (3) 1819.
  • bMS 301/7 (4) 1831-1832.
  • bMS 301/7 (5) 1833.
  • bMS 301/7 (6) 1834.
  • bMS 301/7 (7) 1835.
  • bMS 301/7 (8) 1836.
  • bMS 301/7 (9) 1837.
  • bMS 301/7 (10) 1838-1939.
  • bMS 301/7 (11) 1840.
  • bMS 301/7 (12) 1841.
  • bMS 301/7 (13) 1842.
  • bMS 301/7 (14) 1843.
  • bMS 301/7 (15) 1844.
  • bMS 301/7 (16) 1845.
  • bMS 301/7 (17) 1846.
  • bMS 301/7 (18) 1847.
  • bMS 301/7 (19) 1848.
  • bMS 301/7 (20) 1849.
  • bMS 301/8 (1) 1850.
  • bMS 301/8 (2) 1851.
  • bMS 301/8 (3) 1852.
  • bMS 301/8 (4) 1853.
  • bMS 301/8 (5) 1854.
  • bMS 301/8 (6) 1855.
  • bMS 301/8 (7) 1856.
  • bMS 301/8 (8) 1857.
  • bMS 301/8 (9) 1858.
  • bMS 301/8 (10) 1859.
  • bMS 301/9 (1) 1860.
  • bMS 301/9 (2) 1861.
  • bMS 301/9 (3) 1862.
  • bMS 301/9 (4) 1863.
  • bMS 301/9 (5) 1864.
  • bMS 301/9 (6) 1865.
  • bMS 301/9 (7) 1866.
  • bMS 301/9 (8) 1867.
  • bMS 301/9 (9) 1868.
  • bMS 301/9 (10) 1869.
  • bMS 301/10 (1) 1870.
  • bMS 301/10 (2) 1871.
  • bMS 301/10 (3) 1872.
  • bMS 301/10 (4) 1873.
  • bMS 301/10 (5) 1874.
  • bMS 301/10 (6-7) 1875.
  • bMS 301/10 (8-9) 1876.
  • bMS 301/11 (1-2) 1877.
  • bMS 301/11 (3) 1878.
  • bMS 301/11 (4) 1879.
  • bMS 301/11 (5) 1880.
  • bMS 301/11 (6) 1881.
  • bMS 301/11 (7) 1882.
  • bMS 301/11 (8) 1883.
  • bMS 301/12 (1-2) 1884.
  • bMS 301/12 (3-4) 1885.
  • bMS 301/12 (5) 1886.
  • bMS 301/12 (6) 1887.
  • bMS 301/12 (7) 1888.
  • bMS 301/12 (8) 1889.
  • bMS 301/12 (9) 1890.
  • bMS 301/12 (10) 1916.

• Series IV. Sunday School records, 1847-ca. 1905.
  • bMS 301/13 (1) Sunday School record book. Minutes of Teachers' meetings, November 8, 1881-June 12, 1892, including reports of committees and officers.
  • bMS 301/13 (2) Pamphlet catalogues of books in the library of the Universalist Sunday/Sabbath School, 1847, 1849, 1895, and n.d.; copy of library regulations, n.d.
  • bMS 301/13 (3) Sunday School Anniversaries: program of Fiftieth Anniversary, May 11, 1879; program/menu of One Hundredth Anniversary Supper.
  • bMS 301/13 (4) Sunday School: miscellaneous papers and letters.
  • bMS 301/13 (5) [Charlestown?] Sunday School: photograph of students, ca.1899-1905, originally inscribed "Jr. Union. This Union flourished while I was Nat'l Supt. M.Y. Canfield."

• Series V. Miscellaneous
  • bMS 301/13 (6) Ladies Berean Society. Treasurer's record book, including lists of members with dues records, cash accounts, 1855-1859.
  • bMS 301/13 (7) Programs of meetings, 1929-1931, of the Chapin Alliance (women's organization) and Starr King Social Club; Recipes, compiled by the women of the Church [1923?].
  • bMS 301/13 (8) List of members (of Society? or Church?), n.d.
  • bMS 301/13 (9) Photographs and prints of Church building, ca. 1920s.