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Seattle First Baptist Church records, 1869-2022

Overview of the Collection

Creator
First Baptist Church (Seattle, Wash.)
Title
Seattle First Baptist Church records
Dates
1869-2022 (inclusive)
Quantity
36.22 cubic feet (78 boxes including 43 sound cassettes and 3 sound discs)
Collection Number
5410
Summary
Organizational records documenting the history and outreach services of the second oldest church in Seattle, Washington
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users.

Request at UW

Languages
English
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Historical Note

Seattle First Baptist Church was founded in December 1869 when eleven members held the first service in the home of Abigail Hanford. The first church was built in 1872 and was located between present day 4th and 5th Avenues and Cherry and James Streets. The Great Seattle Fire of 1889 stopped short of the church, but the congregation soon grew too much for the little building to hold and a new sanctuary was built in 1899 at the same location. The regrading of downtown left the church at the edge of a deep cut on 4th avenue, and so in 1906, a committee was formed to oversee the building of a new church. The current site on the corner of Harvard Avenue and Seneca Street was chosen and completed in 1912.

From the beginning, the Church has emphasized Christian education and social outreach ranging from offering assistance during the resettlement of Japanese after World War II to the creation of the Christian Center, one of the first urban renewal projects in the country.

Church leadership has shifted away from a traditional hierarchical model to one of collaboration with a coordinating pastor leading a four-person pastoral team. The Church is known for upholding diversity and progressive values, and engaging in urban issues.

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Content Description

The Seattle First Baptist Church records is a comprehensive collection documenting the history and development of the Church from its founding to the present. The collection contains minutes, agendas, correspondence, reports, financial summaries, newsletters, surveys, directories, architectual blueprints, drawings, biographical files, building files, sermons, scrapbooks, sound recordings, and ephemera. Material of interest include the sermons of Dr. Rodney Romney, who led the congregation during the 1980s and 1990s and was well known as a radio preacher. Also of note are records relating the Church's women's ministry program.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Creator's copyrights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Organized into 4 accessions.

  • Accession No. 5410-003, Seattle First Baptist Church records, 1869-2006
  • Accession No. 5410-004, Seattle First Baptist Church records, 1984-2012
  • Accession No. 5410-005, Seattle First Baptist Church records, 1908-2017
  • Accession No. 5410-006, Seattle First Baptist Church records, 1909-2022

Separated Materials

Material Described Separately:

Seattle First Baptist Church Photograph Collection (PH Accession PH2016-087)

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Detailed Description of the Collection