First Presbyterian Church Papers, 1878-1990

Overview of the Collection

Creator
First Presbyterian Church (Logan, Utah).
Title
First Presbyterian Church Papers
Dates
1878-1990 (inclusive)
Quantity
20 Boxes, (9 Linear Feet)
Collection Number
UUS_COLL MSS 368
Summary
This collection contains the historic papers of the First Presbyterian Church in Logan, Utah, spanning the period between 1878 and 1990.
Repository
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu
Access Restrictions

The receipt ledgers in Series II, Box 10 are sealed until 2049.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

During the 1860s the Presbyterian Church’s Board of Home Missions sent missionaries into the American West. They placed special emphasis on establishing a Presbyterian presence in the Utah Territory because of its Mormon population. By 1873 over sixty-five Presbyterian missionaries had been sent to the Utah Territory. On December 7, 1874, they organized the Presbytery of Utah at Corrine, Utah.

In July 1878 the Board of Home Missions sent Calvin M. Parks, his daughter Margaret A. Parks, and Mrs. S. V. N. Parks from Washington D.C. to the Utah Territory to proselyte among the Mormons in Logan, Utah. The first Cache Valley congregation met in the upper floor of a furniture store. On December 4, 1878, the church in Logan was officially chartered with eleven members. In 1879 the Parks acquired property on Center Street and Second West in Logan and constructed a regular meetinghouse. In 1925 the church underwent a renovation, and in 1956 the church was remodeled and expanded. The First United Presbyterian Church continues to hold regular meetings in this building.

On September 2, 1878 the Parks' established the Logan Academy (first known as the Cache Valley Seminary, the New Jersey Academy after 1890, and finally the Logan Academy after 1925). The Academy’s purpose was to give boys and girls a "liberal Christian education" (Logan Academy, p. 2). Smaller subsidiary schools later opened in neighboring Cache Valley towns including Franklin (1881), Mendon (1881), Millville (1881), Smithfield (1881), Wellsville (1881), Richmond (1883), Hyrum, and Preston (1900). Most of the smaller schools closed between 1905 and 1915. In 1910 the Logan Academy became a school for high-school aged girls, aiming "to fit them (the girls) for the highest possible usefulness and consequent happiness in life" (Logan Academy, p. 2). The Logan Academy closed in 1934.

Along with the educational efforts the Cache Valley Presbyterian church participated in and organized various societies including the Association of Church Women (ACW), the United Church Women (UCW), the Ladies Missionary Society, and the Harbor Lights Mariners Club (HLMC). The church also published bulletins and a newsletter called The Pulse.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection contains the historic papers of the First Presbyterian Church in Logan, Utah, spanning the period between 1878 and 1990. It contains minute ledgers, legal papers, correspondence, church publications, church bulletins, baptism and marriage records, and essays about the history of the church’s activity in Logan. This collection also contains the Sessional Records of the Emanuel Presbyterian Church, formerly in Hyrum, Utah from 1887 to 1911. It also contains a church record from the "Scandinavian operated" Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church in Logan (1885—1891), which dissolved in 1891 and the membership incorporated into the First Presbyterian Church.

This collection is organized into three parts; ledgers (Series I), church papers (Series II), and church bulletins and The Pulse (Series III). The ledger section, Series I, contains seventeen oversized stand-alone ledgers consisting of church minutes (1878—1985), financial records (1915—1941), a Certificates of Dismission and Reception ledger (1929—1950), guest registers (1927-1989), the Church Record of the Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, Logan, (1885-1920), and the Sessional Records of the Emanuel Presbyterian Church in Hyrum (1887-1911).

Series II contains ten boxes from the Logan Presbyterian Church. It consists of church financial papers, officers’ correspondence and papers, legal papers, women's organizations papers, publications, Logan Academy documents, newspapers clippings, church renovations papers, and Harbor Lights Mariners Club documents. Several items of interest are the correspondence of Rev. Harris Pillsbury, Rev. William F. Ehmann, Rev. T. Ross Paden, Elder and Church Treasurer Irving L. Brangham, and the Logan Academy Principle Margery E. Frink. Series II, Box 10 contains six ledgers that are sealed for 50 years until 2049.

Series III contains church bulletins and The Pulse. The church bulletins (programs for weekly worship services) cover 1949 to 1988, with an incomplete run of church bulletins between 1885 and 1931. This series also contains issues of The Pulse, the church’s weekly newsletter, from 1975 to 1990.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the First Presbyterian Church Papers must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation: First Presbyterian Church Papers USU_COLL MSS 368, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations:USU_COLL MSS 368, USUSCA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

This collection is organized by document type, then chronologically.

Processing Note

Processed in March of 2012

Acquisition Information

The materials in this collection were donated to Utah State University Special Collections and Archives by various officials of the First Presbyterian Church of Logan, Utah, in the 1990s.

Bibliography

Clemenson, N. E. The Brick Presbyterian Church. Smith, Cummings and Company, Logan, Utah, circa 1895. Logan Academy: A High School for Girls. Yearbook, Logan, Utah, 1925. Simmonds, A. J. The Gentile Comes to Cache Valley. Utah State University Press, Logan, 1976. Lee, LaVonne. “A History of the Church”. 1985.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I, Bound Records, 1878-1989Return to Top

5 Boxes
Container(s) Description Dates
Minutes
1878-1985
Box book
1 1
Minutes
1879-1899
1 2
Minutes
1900-1942
1 3
Minutes
1942-1952
2 4
Minutes
1952-1970
2 5
Minutes
1966-1985
Financial Records and Certificates
1915-1950
Box book
2 6
Financial Record
1915-1935
3 7
Financial Record
1939-1941
3 8
Certificates of Dismission and Reception
1925-1950
Guest Registers and General Records
1927-1989
Box book
4 9
Guest Register
1927-1951
4 10
Guest Register
1957-1961
4 11
Guest Register
1956-1966
4 12
Guest Register
1966-1970
5 13
Guest Register
1971-1974
5 14
Guest Register
1975-1983
5 15
Guest Register
1983-1989
5 16
Church Record of the Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, Logan, Utah
1885-1920
5 17
Sessional Records of the Emanuel Presbyterian Church in Hyrum, Utah
1887-1911

Series II, General Presbyterian Church Papers , 1878-1989Return to Top

11 Boxes
Container(s) Description Dates
General Church Papers
1878-1985
Box Folder
1 1
Church minutes, microfilmed
1878-1985
1 2
Notes on church occurrences
1878-1881
1 3
List of ruling church elders
1878-1953
1 4
Programs concerning the 'UAC Little Theatre' and its presentations at the church
1926-1927
1 5
Church News, published in Logan
1931-1932
1 6
Notes, report to the congregational meeting
1954
1 7
Church birthday and activity calendar
1955
1 8
Church flyers, seeking funds to continue church construction
1956
1 9
Papers concerning the dedication of the Logan Presbyterian church house
1956-1966
1 10
Papers concerning Presbyterian churches in Preston, Idaho, Malad, Idaho, and other papers
undated
1 11
Specification booklet containing Logan church construction/remodeling plans, (two copies)
1954
1 12
Blueprint of Logan church house, used for remodeling
1969
1 13
Clemenson, N. E., The Brick Presbyterian Church, Smith, Cummings, and Company, Logan, Utah, (two copies)
1895
1 14
Essay, "Logan and Cache Valley", author unknown
1913
1 15
Essay, "Early Work of the Presbyterian Church in Utah,", and other papers
1913
1 16
Theatrical performance, "Pioneers of Utah," performed on account of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Presbyterian Church in Logan
1953
1 17
First United Presbyterian Church, (pictorial history of the Presbyterian Church in Logan)
1981
1 18
Essay, "A History of the Logan Church," by LaVonne Lee
1985
1 19
Pageant performances, "And God Gave the Increase" and "Praise the Lord" (both pageants depict the story of Presbyterianism in Cache Valley)
undated
1 20
Essay, "The Story by Years"
undated
1 21
Brief Report of the Twenty-fifth Annual Meeting of the Utah Syndoical
1921
1 22
Papers concerning the history of the Presbyterian Church in Cache Valley
undated
1 23
Boy Scout papers
1929
1 24
Papers concerning Mr. Belcher
undated
1 25
Presbyterian tracts
undated
1 26
Souvenir Program of the San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1947 (contains penciled notes)
1947
1 27
Church Member Directory
1993
1 28
General church papers, miscellaneous
undated
1 29
Outline of life of William Broughan
1839-1922
Church Legal papers
1882-1956
Box Folder
2 1
Legal papers concerning the Presbyterian Church in Logan
1917-1956
2 2
Legal papers concerning the Presbyterian Church in Hyrum
1882-1926
2 3
Legal papers concerning the Presbyterian Church in Mendon
1887-1926
Church Leadership Correspondence and Papers
1878-1982
Box Folder
3 1
Pillsbury, Rev. Harris, outgoing correspondence
1921-1931
3 2
Pillsbury, Rev. Harris, incoming correspondence, A-Z
undated
3 3
Pillsbury, Rev. Harris, papers; legal papers, pledge lists, and other
undated
3 4
Ehmann, Rev. William F., outgoing correspondence
1922-1931
3 5
Ehmann, Rev. William F., incoming correspondence, A-D
undated
3 6
Ehmann, Rev. William F., incoming correspondence, E-G
undated
3 7
Ehmann, Rev. William F., incoming correspondence, H-M
undated
3 8
Ehmann, Rev. William F., incoming correspondence, N-R
undated
3 9
Ehmann, Rev. William F., incoming correspondence, S-Z
undated
3 10
Ehmann, Rev. William F., Certificates of Dismission
undated
3 11
Ehmann, Rev. William F., Certificates of Transfer and Reception, and Notice to Pastor
undated
3 12
Ehmann, Rev. William F., papers, pledge records, California papers, and other
undated
3 13
Ehmann, Rev. William F., biographical papers on Ehmann
undated
3 14
Paden, Jr., Rev. T. Ross, outgoing correspondence
1930-1943
3 15
General church correspondence, A-O
1921-1982
3 16
General church correspondence, P-Z
1921-1982
Church Officials, Treasurer and Elder Irving L. Brangham
1914-1933
Box Folder
4 1
Brangham, Irving L., outgoing correspondence
1914-1925
4 2
Brangham, Irving L., outgoing correspondence
1926
4 3
Brangham, Irving L., outgoing correspondence
1927
4 4
Brangham, Irving L., outgoing correspondence
1928
4 5
Brangham, Irving L., outgoing correspondence
1929
4 6
Brangham, Irving L., outgoing correspondence
1930
4 7
Brangham, Irving L., outgoing correspondence
1931
4 8
Brangham, Irving L., outgoing correspondence
1932
4 9
Brangham, Irving L., outgoing correspondence
1933
4 10
Brangham, Irving L., outgoing correspondence, undated
undated
4 11
Brangham, Irving L., incoming correspondence, A-E
undated
4 12
Brangham, Irving L., incoming correspondence, Brauer, George, R.
1920-1933
4 13
Brangham, Irving L., incoming correspondence, F-K
undated
4 14
Brangham, Irving L., incoming correspondence, Hare, Rev. David H.
1929-1930
4 15
Brangham, Irving L., incoming correspondence, L-O
undated
4 16
Brangham, Irving L., incoming correspondence, P-R
undated
4 17
Brangham, Irving L., incoming correspondence, Paden, Rev. William M., (also contains third party incoming correspondence to Paden)
1923-1930
4 18
Brangham, Irving L., incoming correspondence, S-Z
undated
4 19
Brangham, Irving L., papers, Certificates of Dismission and Reception
1920-1929
4 20
Brangham, Irving L., papers, Affidavit of Baptism, contracts, and other papers
1925-1936
4 21
Brangham, Irving L., payroll records
1920-1929
4 22
Brangham, Irving L., papers, loose receipts and other
undated
4 23
Brangham, Irving L., papers, loose receipts and other
undated
Presbyterian Women, Association Church Women (ACW), United Church Women (UCW), Ladies Missionary Society, and Logan Academy
1893-1985
Box Folder
5 1
Minutes of Presbyterian Women
1900-1910
5 2
Minutes of Presbyterian Women
1910-1914
5 3
Minutes of Presbyterian Women
1928-1930
5 4
Minutes of Presbyterian Women
1942-1946
5 5
Minutes of Presbyterian Women
1900-1910
5 6
Minutes of Presbyterian Women
1900-1910
5 7
Minutes of Presbyterian Women
1959-1970
5 8
General UCW Correspondence
1893-1927
5 9
Presidents of the ACW list
1942-1975
5 10
Papers of Presbyterian Women, financial
1961-1965
5 11
Women's meeting programs
1930-1931
5 12
ACW catalogues
1950-1985
5 13
Ladies Missionary Society meeting minutes
1921-1922
5 14
Annual report of the WBHM
1913
5 15
Woman's Board, annual report of the Secretary of Literature
1921
5 16
"From Out Church to the World," for Pastor use
1930
5 17
Papers and note concerning the church missionary program
undated
5 18
Officers Hand Books
1929-1931
5 19
Approved Books for Missionary Reading Campaign
undated
5 20
Church tracts concerning the ACW/UCW
undated
5 21
Booklet, "Woman's Missionary Society, Logan, Utah,"
1921
5 22
Ladies Night programs
1948-1960
5 23
List of committees and members, undated
undated
5 24
Crowell, K. R., "Sheldon Jackson: Prospector and Pioneer," Presbyterian Pioneers
1912
5 25
Women's originations papers, miscellaneous
undated
5 26
ACW constitution and bylaws
1960-1969
5 27
ACW, suggested bylaws
1965
New Jersey Academy Papers, Logan, Utah
1878-1959
Box Folder
6 1
"History of the New Jersey-Logan Academy" by H. Loo
1878-1934
6 2
Logan Academy: A High School for Girls, 1925-1926 yearbook
1925-1926
6 3
"With Little Sons," presented by the senior Bible class of the Logan Academy, undated
undated
6 4
Paper discussing the New Jersey Academy, 1896 (photocopy)
1896
6 5
New Jersey Academy papers, miscellaneous
undated
6 6
Presbyterian mission study class enrollment cards, circa 1930s
1930-1939
6 7
Essay, "Our Schools in Utah"
undated
6 8
Flyer produced by the LDS Brigham Young College mentioning the New Jersey Academy, circa 1920s
1920-1929
6 9
Frink, Margery E., Principal of the New Jersey Academy, outgoing correspondence
1928-1929
6 10
Frink, Margery E., outgoing correspondence
1930
6 11
Frink, Margery E., outgoing correspondence
1931
6 12
Frink, Margery E., outgoing correspondence
1952
6 13
Frink, Margery E., incoming correspondence, A-O
undated
6 14
Frink, Margery E., incoming correspondence, P-Z
undated
6 15
Frink, Margery E., papers concerning the school and missionary program
undated
6 16
Loo, Harold Y. S., outgoing correspondence and incoming correspondence, A-Z
1952-1957
6 17
Papers and correspondence concerning Emma Laub and her "This is Your Life,"
1959
6 18
"The Ariel: Official Publication of Logan Academy,"
1928
Harbor Lights Mariners Club (HLMC) Papers
1946-1989
Box Folder
7 1
Secretary's Records, including meeting minutes
1946-1952
7 2
HLMC minutes
1968-1970
7 3
HLMC minutes, Statements of OPS and Net Worth
1971-1972
7 4
Executive meeting of the Mariner Fleet
1986
7 5
HLMC constitution
1986
7 6
General HLMC correspondence, A-Z
1970-1989
7 7
"Salient Facts in Mariner's Club History"
undated
7 8
The Mariner's song and psalm
undated
7 9
HLMC directory
1981
7 10
Booklet, "The Good Ship Mariner's Club of Logan, Utah,"
1949
7 11
Glossary of Mariner terms
undated
7 12
HLMC newsletters, "The Poop Sheet,"
1968-1986
7 13
HLMC papers, miscellaneous
undated
8 1
HLMC yearbooks
1969-1987
8 2
Mariner's Catalog of Resources and Supplies
1987
8 3
Mariner's Catalog of Resources and Supplies
1987
8 4
HLMC financial records, "cargo expenses,"
1975-1978
8 5
HLMC checking account registers
1981-1990
8 6
HLMC record ledger
1982-1984
8 7
HLMC financial records, removed from a binder
1980-1989
8 8
HLMC financial records
1983-1986
8 9
HLMC financial records
1987
8 10
HLMC financial papers; miscellaneous
1970-1989
Logan Presbyterian Church Newspaper Clippings
undated
Box Folder
9 1
Newspaper clippings
undated
9 2
Newspaper clippings
undated
General Financial Papers
1895-1958
Box Folder
10 1
"Minimum budget per month family,"
1895
10 2
List of church donors and amount given for the purchase of a church table
1914
10 3
Ekonomik check and deposit register
1921-1926
10 4
Ekonomik check and deposit register
1930-1934
10 5
Check stubs
1939
10 6
Papers and financial plans for missionary education
1930-1939
10 7
"Book A: Alphabetical list of pledges, church building fund,"
1950-1959
10 8
"Book No. 1: Record of payment of pledges on Presbyterian Church annex building fund,"
1950-1959
10 9
Church building fund record ledger and loose papers,
1954-1957
10 10
Receipt ledger, sealed until 2049
1954
10 11
Receipt ledger, sealed until 2049
1954
10 12
Receipt ledger, sealed until 2049
1955
10 13
Receipt ledger, sealed until 2049
1955-1956
10 14
Receipt ledger, sealed until 2049
1956-1957
10 15
Receipt ledger, sealed until 2049
1957-1958
Presbyterian Church Microfilmed Ledgers
1878-1966
Box Folder
11 1
Ledgers
1878-1966
11 2
Ledgers
1878-1966
11 3
General Ledger
undated
11 4
General Ledger
undated

Series III, Church bulletins and The Pulse, 1885-1990Return to Top

5 Boxes
Container(s) Description Dates
Church Bulletins
1885-1988
Box Folder
1 1
Bulletins-
1885-1931
1 2
Bulletins
1947
1 3
Bulletins
1948
1 4
Bulletins
1949
1 5
Bulletins
1950
1 6
Bulletins
1951
1 7
Bulletins
1952
1 8
Bulletins
1953
1 9
Bulletins
1954
1 10
Bulletins
1955
1 11
Bulletins
1956
1 12
Bulletins
1957
1 13
Bulletins
1958
1 14
Bulletins
1959
2 1
Bulletins
1960
2 2
Bulletins
1961
2 3
Bulletins
1962
2 4
Bulletins
1963
2 5
Bulletins
1964
2 6
Bulletins
1965
2 7
Bulletins
1966
2 8
Bulletins
1967
2 9
Bulletins
1968
2 10
Bulletins
1969
2 11
Bulletins
1970
3 1
Bulletins
1971
3 2
Bulletins
1972
3 3
Bulletins
1973
3 4
Bulletins
1974
3 5
Bulletins
1975
3 6
Bulletins
1976
3 7
Bulletins
1977
3 8
Bulletins
1978
3 9
Bulletins
1979
3 10
Bulletins
1980
4 1
Bulletins
1981
4 2
Bulletins
1982
4 3
Bulletins
1983
4 4
Bulletins
1984
4 5
Bulletins
1985
4 6
Bulletins
1986
4 7
Bulletins
1987
4 8
Bulletins
1988
The Pulse
1975-1990
Box Folder
5 1
The Pulse
1975-1976
5 2
The Pulse
1977-1978
5 3
The Pulse
1979-1980
5 4
The Pulse
1981-1982
5 5
The Pulse
1983-1984
5 6
The Pulse
1985-1986
5 7
The Pulse
1987-1988
5 8
The Pulse
1989-1990

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Account books--Utah--Logan--History--Sources.
  • Church bulletins--Utah--Logan.
  • Church records and registers--Cache Valley (Utah and Idaho).
  • Church records and registers--Utah--Logan.
  • Guest books--Utah--Logan--History--Sources.
  • Presbyterian Church--Education--Cache Valley (Utah and Idaho).
  • Presbyterian church buildings--Utah--Logan--Design and construction.

Personal Names

  • Brangham, Irving L.--Correspondence.
  • Ehmann, William F.--Correspondence.
  • Frink, Margery E.--Correspondence.
  • Pillsbury, Harris--Correspondence.

Corporate Names

  • Emanuel Presbyterian Church (Hyrum, Utah)--Records and correspondence.
  • First Presbyterian Church (Logan, Utah)--Accounting.
  • First Presbyterian Church (Logan, Utah)--History.
  • First Presbyterian Church (Logan, Utah)--Ladies Missionary Society.
  • First Presbyterian Church (Logan, Utah)--Periodicals.
  • Harbor Lights Mariners Club (Logan, Utah)--Records and correspondence.
  • Logan Academy (Utah)--History.
  • Presbyterian Women (Logan, Utah)--Records and correspondence.
  • Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church (Logan, Utah)--Records and correspondence.
  • First Presbyterian Church (Logan, Utah)--Records and correspondence.

Form or Genre Terms

  • Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.).