Records of Sumner Presbyterian Church (Sumner, Wash.), 1877-1995

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Sumner Presbyterian Church (Sumner, Wash.)
Title
Records of Sumner Presbyterian Church (Sumner, Wash.)
Dates
1877-1995 (inclusive)
Quantity
5.5 linear ft., (6 boxes)
Collection Number
PNW Protestantism Collection - Sumner
Summary
History, administration and congregational activities of First Presbyterian Church of Sumner, Washington with special attention to the role of George F. Whitworth in its founding (Whitworth and this church were instrumental in the establishment of Whitworth College).
Repository
Whitworth University Archives and Special Collections
Whitworth University Archives and Special Collections
300 W. Hawthorne Road
Spokane, WA 99251
Telephone: 5097774481
archives@whitworth.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research use.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Sumner Presbyterian Church was organized on April 29, 1877 under the name “Puyallup” for the valley and river of the area. Neither Puyallup nor Sumner had been chosen as town names at that time. The first church building was begun July 9, 1918. It was completed and dedicated on April 14, 1878. The Presbyterian Church came to Washington Territory in 1858 when the Board of Domestic Missions of the church sent the Reverend George W. Sloan to establish the church in the northwest. He was aided by Valley pioneer William Kincaid, a lay elder of the Olympia church. It was largely his influence which led to the permanent planning for the new church. Another man prominent in the establishment of the Sumner church was the Reverend George Whitworth, who was headquartered in Seattle where he was president of the University of Washington. He had begun to hold regular services in the Sumner area in 1874, traveling through the valley by horseback. When the church was organized John F. Kincaid donated land from his father’s donation land claim as a site for the church building. This church was set on Old Country Road, now the corner of Main and Traffic Streets in Sumner. The wilderness site of 1877 soon became the center of religious and social life, and later the educational center of the community. In 1883, Whitworth Academy, later to be named Whitworth College, was established there. This first edifice was sold to Morse Manufacturing Company in 1911 for $1,200, when progress decreed the site of the first church was needed for a railroad right-of-way.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Major Sections Box No. Introduction and Inventory 1 History 1 Administration 1 Session 1 Board of Deacons 1-2 Board of Trustees 2 Financial 2 Pastors 3 The Congregation 3 Members 3 Associations 3 Presbyterian Women’s Association 4 The Sunday School 4-5 Worship 5 Legal Size Folios 5 Ladies Aid Society 5 Church Ledgers 5 Oversize: Mariners’ Scrapbook 6

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

From the Records of Sumner Prebyterian Church (Sumner, Wash.) in the Whitworth University Archives, Spokane, Wash.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Custodial History

Ms. Andrea Sleek; 912 Wood Avenue; Sumner, WA 98390

Acquisition Information

Acquired December 2000

Related Materials

George F. Whitworth Papers

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Series I: HistoryReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
Introduction and Inventory
1/2
Church History
Undated
1/3
Papers from Cornerstone of the Original Presbyterian Church
July 9, 1877
1/4
Cut of Photograph of the Church Pulpit
April 29, 1877
1/5
Articles of Incorporation
Apr. 30, 1877
1/6
Warranty Deed
Jan. 29, 1878
1/7
Legal Papers: Bond and Mortgage Quit Claim Deed for Whitworth College Warranty Deed for Whitworth College
Jan. 30, 1878 Feb. 7, 1898 Feb. 7, 1893
1/8
Newspaper Clippings re Whitworth College (in which Sumner Church played a significant role)
1963, 1995
1/9
Articles of Incorporation
Dec. 30, 1883 Dec. 31, 1883
1/10
Memorial Windows
Mar. 4, 1938
1/11
Demolition of the First Church Building
1943
1/12
Addition of Chimes
May 1949
1/13
80th Anniversary Celebration
Apr. 28, 1957
1/14
Amended Articles of Incorporation
Jan. 31, 1961
1/15
85th Anniversary Celebration
Apr. 14, 1962
1/16
Purchase and Sale of Property
Mar. 31, 1970
1/17
Building Campaign
1970
1/18
Ground Breaking: Building the Church and Sidewalks (snapshots); First Worship Service (16 mm. Film)
June 27, 1971; Feb. 27, 1972
1/19
Dedication of Sanctuary
Apr. 16, 1972
1/20
Building Committee
1977
1/21
100th Anniversary Celebration
Apr. 29, 1977
1/22
Church Bell
Oct. 30, 1978
1/23
Projects and Proposals
1979-1980
1/24
Dedication of New Sanctuary
Nov. 25, 1979
1/25
New Organ; New Carillon
Mar 16, 1980; Apr. 26, 1985
1/26
Church Addition
1978-1983
1/27
Indenture
Mar. 31, 1984
1/28
Proposed Classroom Addition
1985
1/29
Burning the Mortgage (Snapshots)
Mar. 1986
1/30
Daffodil Luncheon
1987
1/31
Miscellaneous Items
Undated
1/32
Snapshots of Church Activities at the Ryan and Academy Location
1957
1/33
Snapshots and Photographs of the First Section of the Church at 1915 Washington Street
Undated
1/34
Snapshots and Photographs of the Second Phase of the Church at 1915 Washington Street
Undated
1/35
Groundbreaking for the Third Section of the New Church: Willard Youth Building (Gymnasium)
Undated
1/36
Slides of Church History taken by the Rev. Leonard Brown
Feb. 1949- June 1976

Series II: Administration: SessionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/37
Articles of Incorporation; List of Members; By-laws
Dec. 31, 1883 1885 June 4, 1886
1/38
Minutes: Register: Baptisms; Marriages
Sep. 9, 1883- Apr 16, 1905 1876-1908 1887-1896
1/39
Minutes
May 14, 1905- Apr. 15, 1929
1/40
Minutes
May 13, 1929- Apr. 7, 1947
1/41
Minutes
May 5, 1947- Jan. 16, 1964
1/42
Minutes
Feb. 5, 1964- Sep. 4, 1979
1/43
Minutes
Oct. 2, 1979- Jan. 17, 1995

Series III: Administration: Board of DeaconsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/44
Minutes
Jan. 6, 1980- Oct. 27, 1986
1/45
Deacons’ Fund
Mar. 17, 1969- Jan. 23, 1980
1/46
Deacons’ Fund
Apr. 27, 1985- Dec. 11, 1987
2/1
Treasurer’s Reports
1983-1985
2/2
Treasurer’s Reports
Jan. 1986- Dec. 1986
2/3
Treasurer’s Reports
1987

Series IV: Administration: Board of TrusteesReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/4
Minutes
May 17, 1943- Jan. 3, 1949
2/5
Minutes
Feb. 14, 1949- Jan. 7, 1954
2/6
Minutes
Jan. 19, 1954- Dec. 30, 1957
2/7
Minutes
Feb. 2, 1959- Dec. 3, 1962
2/8
Minutes
Feb. 4, 1963- May 7, 1967
2/9
Minutes
June 13, 1967- Dec. 9, 1969
2/10
Minutes
Feb. 12, 1980- Dec. 14, 1982

Series V: Financial RecordsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/11
Legal Documents
Undated
2/12
Real Estate: Title Abstract
1911
2/13
Pledges
Mar. 10, 1911
2/14
Budget
1953
2/15
Expenses
1918-1922
2/16
Offering Plate
1905-1909
2/17-21
Treasurer's Records
1976-1980
2/22-28
Treasurer’s Records
1984-1990
3/1-4
Treasurer’s Records
1991-1994
3/5
Treasurer’s Record: Building Fund
1971-1980
3/6
Treasurer's Report
1910
3/7
Treasurer's Report
Dec. 31, 1962

Series VI: PastorsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/8
Rev. Patrick H. Brady, Assistant Pastor: Installation
Sep. 28, 1980
3/9
Rev. Leonard C. Brown: News Item
Feb. 5, 1956
3/10
Rev. Leonard Chapin Brown: Correspondence
Oct. 20, 1949
3/11
Rev. Mike Ireland, Associate Pastor: News Item and Picture
Apr. 4, 1984
3/12
Rev. Donald A. MacKenzie: News Item and Business Card
May 12, 1949
3/13
Rev. Mynard Meekhof: Correspondence
Jan. 2, 1941 Jan. 8, 1941
3/14
Rev. G. W. Sloan: Correspondence
Oct. 4, 1859
3/15
Rev. Ron Snelling: News Items
Apr. 16, 1991
3/16
Rev. James Steven Starr: Installation and Picture
Undated

Series VI: The CongregationReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/17
Annual Meeting Minutes
1821-1921
3/18
Annual Report to the Presbyterian Church (U. S. A.)
Dec. 31, 1957
3/19
Baptisms
Dec. 1, 1948- Nov. 18, 1956
3/20
Baptisms
Apr. 21, 1957- Dec. 15, 1968
3/21
Dismission and Reception Certificates
Nov. 10, 1955- Jan. 4, 1967
3/22
Dismissal Certificates
Nov. 17, 1941- June 9, 1955
3/23
Directory
1971
3/24
Members in Snapshots
Undated
3/25
Membership Roll
1877-1911
3/26
Membership Roll
1922
3/27
Membership Directory
1950
3/28
Membership Directories
1978-1982 1983-1987
3/29
Membership Directories
1958, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1969
3/30
Membership Directories
1971-1977
3/31
Pictorial Directories
1971 and Undated
3/32
Members: Snapshots
1980

Series VII: AssociationsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/33
Aidettes: Minutes
1946-1959
3/34
Aidettes: Minutes
1960-1965
3/35
Aidettes: Minutes
1966-1972
4/1
Boys Hi-Y Club
Sep. 21, 1938- May 11, 1948
4/2
Ladies Aid: Bazaar Notes
1949-1951
4/3
Ladies Aid Society: Insurance on Church Property
1944, 1947
4/4
Ladies Aid and Women’s Association: Minutes
1948-1961
4/5
Ladies Aid: Year Book
1946-1947
4/6
Korean Orphanage Project
Dec. 1973
4/7
Mariners’ Club: Charter (See Box 6 for scrapbook.)
Nov. 11, 1964
4/8
Mariners’ Club: Minutes
1980-1982
4/9
Olympic Presbyterian: History at the 75th Anniversary
1890-1965
4/10
Presbyterian Christian Endeavor Society: Records
Sep. 1, 1889- Dec. 23, 1894
4/11
Presbyterian Christian Endeavor Society: Treasurer’s Report Book
July 9, 1911- Feb. 7, 1915
4/12-15
Presbyterian Missionary Society: Minutes Merger
1917- 1956 Jan. 1957

Series VII: Presbyterian Women’s AssociationReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
4/16
By-laws and Minutes
Dec. 1963- Dec. 14, 1966
4/17
Directories
1969-1996
4/18
Guest Book
Jan. 25, 1967- Nov. 20, 1968
4/19
Guest Book
Feb. 26, 1969- June 13, 1984
4/20
Financial Records
1929-1964
4/21
Circles: Minutes
1973-1983
4/22
“History Book”
1887-1992
4/23
Scrapbook
1993-1997
4/24
Presbyterian Women in the Olympic Presbytery: Directories
1991-1992; 1996-1997
4/25
Senior High Westminster Fellowship
1959-1960

Series VIII: Sunday SchoolReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
4/26
Cradle Roll
1914-1946
4/27
Hymns
Undated
4/28-30
Secretary’s Records
1894-1896
5/1-8
Secretary’s Records
1897-1907
5/9
Secretary’s Records
1912-1913
5/10
Secretary’s Records
1919-1940
5/11
Secretary’s Records
1955
5/12-13
Secretary’s Records
Jan. 1, 1956- Dec. 31, 1957
5/14
Slides of Classes in the Old Church Just Before the Move
Dec. 1971
5/15
Teacher’s Class Book
1916
5/16
Teachers’ Meetings
1929-1939
5/17
Worship: Bulletins
Undated
5/18
Worship: Choir News Item
Jan. 2, 1947

Series IX: Legal Size FoldersReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
5/19-21
Ladies Aid Society: Minutes
1905-1948
5/22
Ladies Aid Society: Treasurer’s Account Book List of Officers
1980-1929 1908-1925
5/23-24
Church Ledgers (Including Member’s Accounts)
Jan. 1898- Dec. 30, 1910
6/1
Mariners: Scrapbook; Dinner Party
1961-1978; 1989

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Missionaries
  • Washington (State)

Personal Names

  • Brown, Leonard (Rev.)
  • Sloan, George W. (Rev.)
  • Sumner Presbyterian Church (Sumner, Wash.)--Archives.
  • Whitworth, George F. (Rev.)

Corporate Names

  • Whitworth College

Geographical Names

  • Sumner (Wash.)

Form or Genre Terms

  • Church records and registers

Occupations

  • Clergy