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Congregational Church Collection, 1848-1986

Overview of the Collection

Title
Congregational Church Collection
Dates
1848-1986 (inclusive)
1880-1920 (bulk)
Quantity
1.5 cubic feet (4 document cases, 1 reel microfilm)
Collection Number
Mss 1018
Summary
Ranging in date from 1848 to 1986, the Congregational Church Collection is an artificial collection of records from Congregational churches and related associations in Oregon. The bulk of the collection consists of printed material from various churches, notably the First Congregational Church of Portland and Oregon City's Atkinson Memorial Church. The collection also includes microfilmed records from the First Congregational Church of The Dalles. A limited amount of correspondence, financial records, meeting minutes, and assorted church records forms the remainder of the collection.
Repository
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org
Access Restrictions

The collection is open to the public.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Historical Note

Sponsored by the American Board for Foreign Missions, Congregational missionaries arrived in what would become the Oregon Territory during the 1830s. The denomination quickly formed many new churches in the region; Reverend J.S. Griffin established the first Congregational Church near Hillsboro in 1842, and by 1852, churches were established in Oregon City, Milwaukie, Portland, and Salem. In addition to ministering to settlers, the church proved important in the development of the educational system in Oregon; Dr. George Atkinson, the long-time minister of the First Congregational Church in Oregon City, helped establish the public school system and Tualatin Academy (later Pacific University). Oregon's Congregational churches had a combined denomination of over 1,000 by 1880 and grew steadily during the 20th century. The Congregational Church merged with the Evangelical and Reformed Churches to form the United Church of Christ in 1957.

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Content Description

The records of the Congregational Church Collection were gathered by the Oregon Historical Society from various sources. Ranging in date from 1848 until 1986, the collection consists of the print output, correspondence, meeting minutes, and financial records of individual churches and Congregational associations and conferences in Oregon. Additionally, the collection contains one reel of microfilmed records from the First Congregational Church in The Dalles that features early meeting minutes, church histories, church programs, correspondence, and other church records. A final series of assorted church records includes the marriage record book of pastor P.S. Knight, church certifications, and handwritten notes.

Printed material produced by individual churches from 1880 until 1920 constitutes the bulk of the collection and includes pamphlets, annual reports, booklets, church programs, sermons, and member directories, among other materials. The First Congregational Church of Portland and the First Congregational Church of Oregon City (later Atkinson Memorial Church) created the majority of this portion of the collection. Other noteworthy items are handwritten meeting minutes of early meetings of Congregational associations and churches and correspondence penned by Dr. George Atkinson, known as "the father of Oregon public schools," regarding Plymouth Congregational Church.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

The Oregon Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library before any publication use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

Preferred Citation

The Congregational Church Collection, Mss 1018, Oregon Historical Society Research Library

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Folders containing the records of various Oregon Congregational churches and affiliated associations are arranged alphabetically within six series:

  • Series A: Printed materials, 1854-1986
  • Series B: Correspondence, 1856-1945
  • Series C: Meeting minutes, 1848-1921
  • Series D: Financial records, 1879-1901
  • Series E: Microfilm, 1867-1961
  • Series F: Assorted materials, 1850-1914

Acquisition Information

The collection was assembled by the Oregon Historical Society from a variety of sources.

Related Materials

The majority of First Congregational Church of Portland materials are designated Coll 597, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Church history--Oregon
  • Congregational Church--Oregon
  • Congregational Church--Oregon--Portland
  • Congregational Church--Oregon--Salem
  • Congregational churches--Education--Oregon
  • Congregational churches--Oregon--Biography
  • Congregationalists--Oregon

Personal Names

  • Atkinson, G.H. (George Henry), 1819-1889
  • Himes, George H., 1844-1940
  • Joslyn, Erastus S.
  • Knight, Plutarch Stewart
  • Tenney, William Alfred, 1827-1914

Corporate Names

  • Atkinson Memorial Church (Oregon City, Or.)
  • Congregational Missionary Society of Portland and Vicinity (Or.)
  • First Congregational Church of Portland (Or.) (creator)
  • First Congregational Church (Corvallis, Or.)
  • First Congregational Church (Oregon City, Or.)
  • First Congregational Church (Salem, Or.)
  • First Congregational Church (The Dalles, Or.)
  • Hassalo Street Congregational Church (Portland, Or.)
  • Oregon Association of the Congregational and Presbyterian Brethren (Or.)
  • Oregon Home Missionary Society (Or.)
  • Pacific University
  • Pacific Coast Congress of Congregational Churches
  • Plymouth Congregational Church (Portland, Or.)
  • Portland Local Association of Congregational Churches and Ministers (Portland, Or.)
  • Tualatin Academy
  • Willamette Association of Congregational Ministers and Churches (Or.)

Geographical Names

  • Corvallis (Or.)--History
  • Dalles (Or.)--History
  • Eugene (Or.)--History
  • Forest Grove (Or.)--History
  • Lake Oswego (Or.)--History
  • Oregon City (Or.)--History
  • Portland (Or.)--History
  • Salem (Or.)--History

Form or Genre Terms

  • Annual reports
  • Booklets
  • Business cards
  • Church bulletins
  • Clippings
  • Constitutions
  • Financial records
  • Invitations
  • Leaflets
  • Letters (correspondence)
  • Microfilm
  • Newsletters
  • Pamphlets
  • Proceedings
  • Programs
  • Resolutions
  • Sermons
  • Speeches

Collection processed by Amy Bowman, April 2006
2006

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