First Presbyterian Church records

First Presbyterian Church records, 1878-1993

Overview of the Collection

Title: First Presbyterian Church records
Dates: 1878-1993 (inclusive)
18781993
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 1993.
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 population of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 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 Latter-day Saints 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 1993. 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 Principal 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 records must be obtained from the Special Collections and Archives manuscript curator and/or the Special Collections and Archives department head.

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation: First Presbyterian Church recordss 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, Series I	1	Minutes	1879-1899
1, Series I	2	Minutes	1900-1942
1, Series I	3	Minutes	1942-1952
2, Series I	4	Minutes	1952-1970
2, Series I	5	Minutes	1966-1985
		Financial Records and Certificates	1915-1950
Box	book
2, Series I	6	Financial Record	1915-1935
3, Series I	7	Financial Record	1939-1941
3, Series I	8	Certificates of Dismission and Reception	1925-1950
		Guest Registers and General Records	1927-1989
Box	book
4, Series I	9	Guest Register	1927-1951
4, Series I	10	Guest Register	1957-1961
4, Series I	11	Guest Register	1956-1966
4, Series I	12	Guest Register	1966-1970
5, Series I	13	Guest Register	1971-1974
5, Series I	14	Guest Register	1975-1983
5, Series I	15	Guest Register	1983-1989
5, Series I	16	Church Record of the Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, Logan, Utah	1885-1920
5, Series I	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, Series II	1	Church minutes, microfilmed	1878-1985
1, Series II	2	Notes on church occurrences	1878-1881
1, Series II	3	List of ruling church elders	1878-1953
1, Series II	4	Programs concerning the 'UAC Little Theatre' and its presentations at the church	1926-1927
1, Series II	5	Church News, published in Logan	1931-1932
1, Series II	6	Notes, report to the congregational meeting	1954
1, Series II	7	Church birthday and activity calendar	1955
1, Series II	8	Church flyers, seeking funds to continue church construction	1956
1, Series II	9	Papers concerning the dedication of the Logan Presbyterian church house	1956-1966
1, Series II	10	Papers concerning Presbyterian churches in Preston, Idaho, Malad, Idaho, and other papers	undated
1, Series II	11	Specification booklet containing Logan church construction/remodeling plans, (two copies)	1954
1, Series II	12	Blueprint of Logan church house, used for remodeling	1969
1, Series II	13	Clemenson, N. E., The Brick Presbyterian Church, Smith, Cummings, and Company, Logan, Utah, (two copies)	1895
1, Series II	14	Essay, "Logan and Cache Valley", author unknown	1913
1, Series II	15	Essay, "Early Work of the Presbyterian Church in Utah,", and other papers	1913
1, Series II	16	Theatrical performance, "Pioneers of Utah," performed on account of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Presbyterian Church in Logan	1953
1, Series II	17	First United Presbyterian Church, (pictorial history of the Presbyterian Church in Logan)	1981
1, Series II	18	Essay, "A History of the Logan Church," by LaVonne Lee	1985
1, Series II	19	Pageant performances, "And God Gave the Increase" and "Praise the Lord" (both pageants depict the story of Presbyterianism in Cache Valley)	undated
1, Series II	20	Essay, "The Story by Years"	undated
1, Series II	21	Brief Report of the Twenty-fifth Annual Meeting of the Utah Syndoical	1921
1, Series II	22	Papers concerning the history of the Presbyterian Church in Cache Valley	undated
1, Series II	23	Boy Scout papers	1929
1, Series II	24	Papers concerning Mr. Belcher	undated
1, Series II	25	Presbyterian tracts	undated
1, Series II	26	Souvenir Program of the San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1947 (contains penciled notes)	1947
1, Series II	27	Church Member Directory	1993
1, Series II	28	General church papers, miscellaneous	undated
1, Series II	29	Outline of life of William Broughan	1839-1922
		Church Legal papers	1882-1956
Box	Folder
2, Series II	1	Legal papers concerning the Presbyterian Church in Logan	1917-1956
2, Series II	2	Legal papers concerning the Presbyterian Church in Hyrum	1882-1926
2, Series II	3	Legal papers concerning the Presbyterian Church in Mendon	1887-1926
		Church Leadership Correspondence and Papers	1878-1982
Box	Folder
3, Series II	1	Pillsbury, Rev. Harris, outgoing correspondence	1921-1931
3, Series II	2	Pillsbury, Rev. Harris, incoming correspondence, A-Z	undated
3, Series II	3	Pillsbury, Rev. Harris, papers; legal papers, pledge lists, and other	undated
3, Series II	4	Ehmann, Rev. William F., outgoing correspondence	1922-1931
3, Series II	5	Ehmann, Rev. William F., incoming correspondence, A-D	undated
3, Series II	6	Ehmann, Rev. William F., incoming correspondence, E-G	undated
3, Series II	7	Ehmann, Rev. William F., incoming correspondence, H-M	undated
3, Series II	8	Ehmann, Rev. William F., incoming correspondence, N-R	undated
3, Series II	9	Ehmann, Rev. William F., incoming correspondence, S-Z	undated
3, Series II	10	Ehmann, Rev. William F., Certificates of Dismission	undated
3, Series II	11	Ehmann, Rev. William F., Certificates of Transfer and Reception, and Notice to Pastor	undated
3, Series II	12	Ehmann, Rev. William F., papers, pledge records, California papers, and other	undated
3, Series II	13	Ehmann, Rev. William F., biographical papers on Ehmann	undated
3, Series II	14	Paden, Jr., Rev. T. Ross, outgoing correspondence	1930-1943
3, Series II	15	General church correspondence, A-O	1921-1982
3, Series II	16	General church correspondence, P-Z	1921-1982
		Church Officials, Treasurer and Elder Irving L. Brangham	1914-1933
Box	Folder
4, Series II	1	Brangham, Irving L., outgoing correspondence	1914-1925
4, Series II	2	Brangham, Irving L., outgoing correspondence	1926
4, Series II	3	Brangham, Irving L., outgoing correspondence	1927
4, Series II	4	Brangham, Irving L., outgoing correspondence	1928
4, Series II	5	Brangham, Irving L., outgoing correspondence	1929
4, Series II	6	Brangham, Irving L., outgoing correspondence	1930
4, Series II	7	Brangham, Irving L., outgoing correspondence	1931
4, Series II	8	Brangham, Irving L., outgoing correspondence	1932
4, Series II	9	Brangham, Irving L., outgoing correspondence	1933
4, Series II	10	Brangham, Irving L., outgoing correspondence, undated	undated
4, Series II	11	Brangham, Irving L., incoming correspondence, A-E	undated
4, Series II	12	Brangham, Irving L., incoming correspondence, Brauer, George, R.	1920-1933
4, Series II	13	Brangham, Irving L., incoming correspondence, F-K	undated
4, Series II	14	Brangham, Irving L., incoming correspondence, Hare, Rev. David H.	1929-1930
4, Series II	15	Brangham, Irving L., incoming correspondence, L-O	undated
4, Series II	16	Brangham, Irving L., incoming correspondence, P-R	undated
4, Series II	17	Brangham, Irving L., incoming correspondence, Paden, Rev. William M., (also contains third party incoming correspondence to Paden)	1923-1930
4, Series II	18	Brangham, Irving L., incoming correspondence, S-Z	undated
4, Series II	19	Brangham, Irving L., papers, Certificates of Dismission and Reception	1920-1929
4, Series II	20	Brangham, Irving L., papers, Affidavit of Baptism, contracts, and other papers	1925-1936
4, Series II	21	Brangham, Irving L., payroll records	1920-1929
4, Series II	22	Brangham, Irving L., papers, loose receipts and other	undated
4, Series II	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, Series II	1	Minutes of Presbyterian Women	1900-1910
5, Series II	2	Minutes of Presbyterian Women	1910-1914
5, Series II	3	Minutes of Presbyterian Women	1928-1930
5, Series II	4	Minutes of Presbyterian Women	1942-1946
5, Series II	5	Minutes of Presbyterian Women	1900-1910
5, Series II	6	Minutes of Presbyterian Women	1900-1910
5, Series II	7	Minutes of Presbyterian Women	1959-1970
5, Series II	8	General UCW Correspondence	1893-1927
5, Series II	9	Presidents of the ACW list	1942-1975
5, Series II	10	Papers of Presbyterian Women, financial	1961-1965
5, Series II	11	Women's meeting programs	1930-1931
5, Series II	12	ACW catalogues	1950-1985
5, Series II	13	Ladies Missionary Society meeting minutes	1921-1922
5, Series II	14	Annual report of the WBHM	1913
5, Series II	15	Woman's Board, annual report of the Secretary of Literature	1921
5, Series II	16	"From Out Church to the World," for Pastor use	1930
5, Series II	17	Papers and note concerning the church missionary program	undated
5, Series II	18	Officers Hand Books	1929-1931
5, Series II	19	Approved Books for Missionary Reading Campaign	undated
5, Series II	20	Church tracts concerning the ACW/UCW	undated
5, Series II	21	Booklet, "Woman's Missionary Society, Logan, Utah,"	1921
5, Series II	22	Ladies Night programs	1948-1960
5, Series II	23	List of committees and members, undated	undated
5, Series II	24	Crowell, K. R., "Sheldon Jackson: Prospector and Pioneer," Presbyterian Pioneers	1912
5, Series II	25	Women's originations papers, miscellaneous	undated
5, Series II	26	ACW constitution and bylaws	1960-1969
5, Series II	27	ACW, suggested bylaws	1965
		New Jersey Academy Papers, Logan, Utah	1878-1959
Box	Folder
6, Series II	1	"History of the New Jersey-Logan Academy" by H. Loo	1878-1934
6, Series II	2	Logan Academy: A High School for Girls, 1925-1926 yearbook	1925-1926
6, Series II	3	"With Little Sons," presented by the senior Bible class of the Logan Academy, undated	undated
6, Series II	4	Paper discussing the New Jersey Academy, 1896 (photocopy)	1896
6, Series II	5	New Jersey Academy papers, miscellaneous	undated
6, Series II	6	Presbyterian mission study class enrollment cards, circa 1930s	1930-1939
6, Series II	7	Essay, "Our Schools in Utah"	undated
6, Series II	8	Flyer produced by the LDS Brigham Young College mentioning the New Jersey Academy, circa 1920s	1920-1929
6, Series II	9	Frink, Margery E., Principal of the New Jersey Academy, outgoing correspondence	1928-1929
6, Series II	10	Frink, Margery E., outgoing correspondence	1930
6, Series II	11	Frink, Margery E., outgoing correspondence	1931
6, Series II	12	Frink, Margery E., outgoing correspondence	1952
6, Series II	13	Frink, Margery E., incoming correspondence, A-O	undated
6, Series II	14	Frink, Margery E., incoming correspondence, P-Z	undated
6, Series II	15	Frink, Margery E., papers concerning the school and missionary program	undated
6, Series II	16	Loo, Harold Y. S., outgoing correspondence and incoming correspondence, A-Z	1952-1957
6, Series II	17	Papers and correspondence concerning Emma Laub and her "This is Your Life,"	1959
6, Series II	18	"The Ariel: Official Publication of Logan Academy,"	1928
		Harbor Lights Mariners Club (HLMC) Papers	1946-1989
Box	Folder
7, Series II	1	Secretary's Records, including meeting minutes	1946-1952
7, Series II	2	HLMC minutes	1968-1970
7, Series II	3	HLMC minutes, Statements of OPS and Net Worth	1971-1972
7, Series II	4	Executive meeting of the Mariner Fleet	1986
7, Series II	5	HLMC constitution	1986
7, Series II	6	General HLMC correspondence, A-Z	1970-1989
7, Series II	7	"Salient Facts in Mariner's Club History"	undated
7, Series II	8	The Mariner's song and psalm	undated
7, Series II	9	HLMC directory	1981
7, Series II	10	Booklet, "The Good Ship Mariner's Club of Logan, Utah,"	1949
7, Series II	11	Glossary of Mariner terms	undated
7, Series II	12	HLMC newsletters, "The Poop Sheet,"	1968-1986
7, Series II	13	HLMC papers, miscellaneous	undated
8, Series II	1	HLMC yearbooks	1969-1987
8, Series II	2	Mariner's Catalog of Resources and Supplies	1987
8, Series II	3	Mariner's Catalog of Resources and Supplies	1987
8, Series II	4	HLMC financial records, "cargo expenses,"	1975-1978
8, Series II	5	HLMC checking account registers	1981-1990
8, Series II	6	HLMC record ledger	1982-1984
8, Series II	7	HLMC financial records, removed from a binder	1980-1989
8, Series II	8	HLMC financial records	1983-1986
8, Series II	9	HLMC financial records	1987
8, Series II	10	HLMC financial papers; miscellaneous	1970-1989
		Logan Presbyterian Church Newspaper Clippings	undated
Box	Folder
9, Series II	1	Newspaper clippings	undated
9, Series II	2	Newspaper clippings	undated
		General Financial Papers	1895-1958
Box	Folder
10, Series II	1	"Minimum budget per month family,"	1895
10, Series II	2	List of church donors and amount given for the purchase of a church table	1914
10, Series II	3	Ekonomik check and deposit register	1921-1926
10, Series II	4	Ekonomik check and deposit register	1930-1934
10, Series II	5	Check stubs	1939
10, Series II	6	Papers and financial plans for missionary education	1930-1939
10, Series II	7	"Book A: Alphabetical list of pledges, church building fund,"	1950-1959
10, Series II	8	"Book No. 1: Record of payment of pledges on Presbyterian Church annex building fund,"	1950-1959
10, Series II	9	Church building fund record ledger and loose papers,	1954-1957
10, Series II	10	Receipt ledger, sealed until 2049	1954
10, Series II	11	Receipt ledger, sealed until 2049	1954
10, Series II	12	Receipt ledger, sealed until 2049	1955
10, Series II	13	Receipt ledger, sealed until 2049	1955-1956
10, Series II	14	Receipt ledger, sealed until 2049	1956-1957
10, Series II	15	Receipt ledger, sealed until 2049	1957-1958
		Presbyterian Church Microfilmed Ledgers	1878-1966
Box	Folder
11, Series II	1	Ledgers	1878-1966
11, Series II	2	Ledgers	1878-1966
11, Series II	3	General Ledger	undated
11, Series II	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, Series III	1	Bulletins	1885-1931
1, Series III	2	Bulletins	1947
1, Series III	3	Bulletins	1948
1, Series III	4	Bulletins	1949
1, Series III	5	Bulletins	1950
1, Series III	6	Bulletins	1951
1, Series III	7	Bulletins	1952
1, Series III	8	Bulletins	1953
1, Series III	9	Bulletins	1954
1, Series III	10	Bulletins	1955
1, Series III	11	Bulletins	1956
1, Series III	12	Bulletins	1957
1, Series III	13	Bulletins	1958
1, Series III	14	Bulletins	1959
2, Series III	1	Bulletins	1960
2, Series III	2	Bulletins	1961
2, Series III	3	Bulletins	1962
2, Series III	4	Bulletins	1963
2, Series III	5	Bulletins	1964
2, Series III	6	Bulletins	1965
2, Series III	7	Bulletins	1966
2, Series III	8	Bulletins	1967
2, Series III	9	Bulletins	1968
2, Series III	10	Bulletins	1969
2, Series III	11	Bulletins	1970
3, Series III	1	Bulletins	1971
3, Series III	2	Bulletins	1972
3, Series III	3	Bulletins	1973
3, Series III	4	Bulletins	1974
3, Series III	5	Bulletins	1975
3, Series III	6	Bulletins	1976
3, Series III	7	Bulletins	1977
3, Series III	8	Bulletins	1978
3, Series III	9	Bulletins	1979
3, Series III	10	Bulletins	1980
4, Series III	1	Bulletins	1981
4, Series III	2	Bulletins	1982
4, Series III	3	Bulletins	1983
4, Series III	4	Bulletins	1984
4, Series III	5	Bulletins	1985
4, Series III	6	Bulletins	1986
4, Series III	7	Bulletins	1987
4, Series III	8	Bulletins	1988
		The Pulse	1975-1990
Box	Folder
5, Series III	1	The Pulse	1975-1976
5, Series III	2	The Pulse	1977-1978
5, Series III	3	The Pulse	1979-1980
5, Series III	4	The Pulse	1981-1982
5, Series III	5	The Pulse	1983-1984
5, Series III	6	The Pulse	1985-1986
5, Series III	7	The Pulse	1987-1988
5, Series III	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.

Form or Genre Terms

Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.).

Archives West Finding Aid

Table of Contents