Archives West Finding Aid
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Salem Lutheran Church (Spokane, Wash.) Records, 1888-1996
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Salem Lutheran Church (Spokane, Wash.)
- Title
- Salem Lutheran Church (Spokane, Wash.) Records
- Dates
- 1888-1996 (inclusive)18881996
- Quantity
- 4 linear ft., (4 boxes)
- Collection Number
- PNW Protestantism Collection S
- Summary
- The file contains mostly the early records of Salem Lutheran Church, nee Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Salem Church of Spokane Falls, Washington Territory. Many of the records in the file are in the Swedish language. It is a genealogist’s cornucopia of names of Nordic families who migrated to the Pacific Northwest and settled in Spokane, Washington.
- 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, Swedish.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
On June 25, 1888 forty-one Swedish pioneers met in a public hall with Pastor Peter Carlson to organize the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Salem Church of Spokane Falls, Washington Territory (later known as Salem Lutheran Church). A lot was purchased by the pastor for $900 on Broadway close to Monroe Street. A simple structure, costing about $700, was erected on the site before the year 1888 ended. In 1904 a parsonage was erected and a pipe organ was installed in 1912. The language issue, a problem for years, was resolved when English was voted out entirely. Some of Salem’s members disagreed and left to organize English Trinity Lutheran Church. In 1925 English was given increased usage. The first annual report was made in English. In 1930 an education wing was constructed at the rear of the sanctuary. During the next decade the front entrance was remodeled. The sanctuary was destroyed by fire in February 15, 1949, during the construction of the Youth Center. A new church and Youth Center were dedicated on April 30, 1950. In 1963 a constitution for the congregation, following the model proposed by the newly consolidated Lutheran Church in America (L. C. A.), was adopted. On January 1, 1988 the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (E. L. C. A.) was formed through the merging of the Lutheran Church in American, the American Lutheran Church, and the American Evangelical Lutheran Church. June 25, 1988 marked the 100th anniversary of Salem Lutheran Church.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Section - Box; Introduction and Inventory - 1; History - 1; Administration - 1; Board of Deacons - 1; Board of Trustees - 1; Business Office - 1; The Congregation - 1; Annual Reports - 1; Membership Records - 1; Organizations - 2,3; Sunday School and Worship - 3; Columbia Conference - 3; Legal Size Records - 4; Congregational Meeting Minutes - 4; Publication: “Salem News” - 4; Sunday School Attendance Records - 4
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
From the Salem Lutheran Church (Spokane, Wash.) Records; located in the Whitworth University Archives; Spokane, Washington
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Series 1: HistoryReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/1 | Introduction and Inverntory |
undated |
1/2 | Confirmation/Reunion Banquet |
1931 |
1/3 | Fiftieth Anniversary, 1888-1938 |
1938 |
1/4 | Addition to the Church |
1948 |
1/5 | Sixtieth Anniversary Appeal |
1948 |
1/6 | Church destroyed by fire; rebuilding started |
Feb. 15, 1949 |
1/7 | New Sanctuary: Plans and Specifications |
July 1949 |
1/8 | New Sanctuary Dedication Services |
Apr. 30, 1950- May 21, 1950 |
1/9 | Seventy-fifth Anniversary |
June 23, 1963- June 30, 1963 |
1/10 | Church designated as a pioneer corporation |
Aug. 30, 1989 |
1/11 | Pastors, Various – Photographs |
undated |
1/12 | One Hundredth Anniversary Celebration |
June 25, 1988 |
Series 2: AdministrationReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/13 | Board of Deacons: Minutes |
Feb. 1, 1938- Jan. 2, 1945 |
1/14 | Board of Trustees: Minutes (in Swedish) |
Jan. 5, 1891- Jan. 4, 1906 |
1/15 | Board of Trustees: Minutes (in Swedish) |
Jan. 29, 1902- Jan. 13, 1909 |
1/16 | Board of Trustees: Minutes (Partly in Swedish) |
Jan. 16, 1911- Mar. 31, 1924 |
1/17 | Board of Trustees: Minutes (in English) |
Jan. 1942- Aug. 10, 1949 |
1/18 | Board of Trustees: Minutes (in English) |
Aug. 31, 1949- Jan. 11, 1953 |
1/19 | Church Council: Minutes (in Swedish) |
Dec. 1914- 1938 |
Series 3: Financial RecordsReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/20 | Financial Reports (?) (in Swedish) |
Oct. 25, 1890- Jan. 4, 1892 |
1/21 | Paid-up Bonds (Lutheran Brotherhood) Issue |
1949 |
1/22 | Check Book Stubs |
1996 |
1/23 | Correspondence and Miscellaneous |
1889-1923 |
Series 4: The CongregationReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/24 | Annual Reports |
1954, 1955 |
1/25 | Annual Reports |
Jan. 10, 1965 |
1/26 | Statistics (Augustana Synod Records) |
1908, 1913, 1917, 1950 |
1/27 | Early Moving Records (in Swedish): A-H |
Compiled 1988 |
1/28 | Ibid: I-Q |
Compiled 1988 |
1/29 | Ibid: R-Z |
Compiled 1988 |
1/30 | Early Moving Records (Supplement compiled by John Ellingson) |
June 2002 |
1/31 | Library Catalog (in Swedish, compiled by the Young People’s Society) |
1891-1894 |
1/32 | Membership Directory |
1991 |
1/33 | Membership Directory |
1996 |
1/34 | Ibid: with Additional Photographs |
ca. 1990 |
1/35 | Membership Enrollments (as typed on cards by Marilyn Tomson) |
undated |
1/36 | Ibid: Extracted from the Church’s first enrollment book by Marilyn Tomson) |
undated |
1/37 | Yearbook (Membership) |
1945, 1950 |
Series 5: OrganizationsReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
2/1 | Adelphia Society: Minutes |
Dec. 1, 1909- Dec. 17, 1919 |
2/2 | Adelphia Society: Minutes |
1920-1936 |
2/3 | Ibid: Treasurer’s Record |
1927-1937 |
2/4 | Ibid: Minutes |
June 1, 1944- Dec. 1950 |
2/5 | Ibid: Minutes |
Jan. 10, 1951- Mar. 12, 1959 |
2/6 | Canon Hill Circle: Minutes |
1938-1945 |
2/7 | Deborah Circle: Minutes |
Sep. 1962- Jan. 16, 1973 |
2/8 | Esther Circle: Minutes |
Mar. 25, 1959- Dec. 16, 1970 |
2/9 | Evangelical Lutheran Church Women: Correspondence |
1992 |
2/10 | Friendship Club: Minutes |
Jan. 19, 1945- Mar. 1958 |
2/11 | General Aid Society: Minutes |
1938-1942 |
2/12 | General Aid Society: Minutes |
July 29, 1943- Oct. 27, 1946 |
2/13 | General Aid Society; Women’s Federation |
1946-1947; Jan. 1948- Sep. 1948 |
2/14 | Liberty Park Circle |
Jan. 1945- Dec. 1949 |
2/15 | Gustav Adolph Society: Minutes (in Swedish) |
Nov. 27, 1894- Aug. 14, 1896 |
2/16 | Liberty Park Circle: Minutes |
Jan. 19, 1950- Nov. 19, 1953 |
2/17 | Luther League: Minutes; Executive Committee: Minutes |
1930-1932; – 1933 |
2/18 | Luther League: Minutes |
1933-1934 |
2/19 | Luther League: Minutes |
Dec. 22, 1933- Dec. 17, 1937 |
2/20 | Luther League: Statistical Reports |
1930-1937 |
2/21 | Salem Lutheran Brotherhood: Minutes |
Jan. 31, 1928- June 2, 1944 |
2/22 | Mary Circle: Minutes |
Mar. 25, 1959- May 17, 1962 |
2/23 | Miriam Circle: Minutes |
1954- 1959 |
2/24 | Miriam Circle: Minutes |
Mar. 25, 1959- Dec. 15, 1970 |
2/25 | Miriam Circle: Minutes |
Jan. 19, 1971- Mar. 15, 1982 |
2/26 | Miriam Circle: Minutes |
Apr. 19, 1982- June 16, 1986 |
2/27 | The Mutual Aid Society: Minutes (in Swedish) |
June 5, 1900- Dec. 1, 1925 |
3/1 | Natatorium Circle: Minutes |
Dec. 14, 1938- Nov. 15, 1944 |
3/2 | Orchestra: Constitution, Minutes |
Nov. 7, 1907- Mar. 9, 1908 |
3/3 | Salem Augustana Lutheran Church Women: Minutes |
Oct. 25, 1960- Dec. 9, 1964 |
3/4 | Salem Brotherhood: Minutes |
Dec. 21, 1914- Dec. 27, 1927 |
3/5 | Sunday Afternoon Social Club: Treasurer’s Record (in Swedish) |
1911- Jan. 13, 1918 |
3/6 | Women of the Church: Minutes |
Jan. 1951- Jan. 27, 1959 |
3/7 | Women’s Federation: Minutes |
Dec. 30, 1948- Nov. 1951 |
3/8 | Women’s Home and Foreign Missionary Society: Accounts |
1919-1921 |
3/9 | Women’s Home and Foreign Missionary Society: Minutes |
May 25, 1921- Nov. 26, 1945 |
3/10 | History of the Women’s Missionary Societies since their Organization – Salem,
Spokane; Grace, Spokane; Westdale, Troy, ID; First Lutheran, Moscow, ID |
1921-1953 |
3/11 | Women’s Home and Foreign Missionary Society of Spokane: Constitution, By
laws, Minutes |
Feb. 14, 1919- Nov. 19, 1924 |
3/12 | Women’s Missionary Society of Augustana Synod, “Those Fifty Years (See pp.
160-161)” |
1892-1942 |
3/13 | Young People’s Society: Minutes (in Swedish) |
Oct. 1, 1902- Mar. 25, 1904 |
3/14 | Sunday School: Secretary’s Record (in Swedish) |
1898-1904 |
Series 6: WorshipReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
3/15 | Bulletin |
May 30, 1937 |
3/16 | Choirs: Photographs |
undated |
3/17 | Offering |
Sep. 7, 1958- Dec. 30, 1960 |
3/18 | Offering |
Jan. 1, 1961- July 21, 1963 |
3/19 | Offering: Counter’s Report |
Jan. 7, 1996 |
3/20 | Writings: “The Cupboard (in English and Swedish)” |
Sep. 26, 1894- Aug. 26, 1896 |
Series 7: Columbia ConferenceReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
3/21 | Minutes |
1902, 1904, 1905-1907 |
3/22 | Minutes |
1912, 1913, 1917 Fragment |
3/23 | Minutes |
1934, 1947, 1959, 1962 |
3/24 | Delegates |
1941 |
Series 8: Legal Size FilesReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
4/1 | Congregational Meetings: Minutes |
1930-1944 |
4/2 | Publication: “Salem News” |
1941-1949 |
4/3 | Publication: “Salem News” |
1950-1954 |
4/4 | Offering Records (in Swedish) |
Nov. 1890-1895 |
4/5 | Sunday School: Attendance Records |
1966-1967 |
4/6 | Sunday School: Attendance Records |
1968 |
4/7 | Sunday School: Attendance Records |
1970 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Evangelical Lutheran church
- Lutheran church
Personal Names
- Carlson, Peter (Rev.)
- Ellingson, John
- Tomson, Marilyn
Corporate Names
- Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church. Columbia Conference
- Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod of North America
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
- Salem Lutheran Church--Spokane (Wash.)
- Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church--Spokane (Wash.)
Geographical Names
- Spokane (Wash.)
Form or Genre Terms
- Church records and registers
Occupations
- Clergy