HTM_WCMss111.xml Guide to the First Congregational Church of Walla Walla Records First Congregational Church of Walla Walla Records Whitman College and Northwest Archives 2011, 2019
345 Boyer Avenue Walla Walla, WA 99362 Business Number: 509-527-5922 Archives@whitman.edu https://library.whitman.edu/archives/
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-10-09. Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition. Whitman College and Northwest Archives First Congregational Church of Walla Walla Records WCMss.111 13.63 linear feet 11 record cartons, 2 flat boxes 1828-1981 The First Congregational Church of Walla Walla was first gathered in April, 1864 by Reverend Peasley B. Chamberlain, and is the oldest congregational church in what is now the state of Washington. The collection consists primarily of membership records and directories, deeds and abstracts, correspondence, annual reports, and meeting minutes. English .

Collection is open for research.

Donated to the Whitman College and Northwest Archives by the First Congregational Church on April 13, 1987. The accession number associated with this donation is retro-0107.

The First Congregational Church of Walla Walla was first gathered in April, 1864 by Reverend Peasley B. Chamberlain. The church was the first congregational church established in what is now the state of Washington and was originally located on the current site of the Marcus Whitman Hotel. It was officially organized on January 1, 1885 with seven charter members, Reverend Cushing Eells and his wife Myra Fairbanks Eells and son Edwin Eells, Reverend Peasley B. Chamberlain and his wife Alice, and J.W. McKee and his wife Mary. In January, 1900, the church moved to its current location on the corner of Palouse Street and Alder Street.

The First Congregational Church of Walla Walla Records consists of membership records and directories, deeds and abstracts, correspondence, annual reports and meeting minutes, records of the Peace United Church of Christ, ledger books, the Whitman Memorial service program, financial information, newspaper clippings and a journal, "Records of the First Congregational Church of Walla Walla Washington Territory," from the oldest Congregational Church in the state of Washington.

 Religion Administrative Records (Constitutions, Financials, Minutes, Reports etc.) Board of Trustees miscellaneous undated 1 11 Constitution 1916 1 13 Constitution 1964 1 14 Constitution 1977 1 15 Constitution 1975 1 16 Naomi Group membership 1962 1 20 Plymouth Club minutes 1922-1923 1 21 Plymouth Club miscellaneous undated 1 22 Priscilla Group financial undated 1 24 Priscilla Group miscellaneous undated 1 25 Annual reports & presidential reports undated 1 66 Board of National Missions undated 1 68 Committee undated 1 71 Constitution undated 1 72 Ledger books undated 2 1 Christian Endeavor ledger undated 2 2 Ladies Aid Church minutes 1924-36 2 3 Ladies Aid Church minutes 1936-43 2 4 Ladies Aid Church minutes 1944-59 2 5 Ladies Aid Church minutes 1959-63 2 6 Ladies Aid Church minutes 1963-68 2 7 Ladies Aid Church minutes 1968-73 2 8 Report of the pastor undated 3 11 Annual meeting of the First Congregational Church undated 3 13 Centennial committee undated 3 14 Church meeting undated 3 15 CWMSA commissions undated 3 16 Host church planning committee undated 3 17 Joint committee on church building undated 3 18 Ministerial association undated 3 19 Music committee undated 3 20 Nominating committee undated 3 22 OCWM committee undated 3 23 Review committee undated 3 24 Self-study committee undated 3 25 Social Action Commission undated 3 26 Special committee undated 3 28 Spiritual committee undated 3 29 World Ministries Commission undated 3 30 World Ministries Commission reference undated 3 32 Social Action Commission reference undated 3 33 Ladies Aid Society history, programs, financial undated 3 34 Conferences materials undated 3 35 Betty Alden Group minutes and correspondence 1941-1954 3 36 Women's Mission Society minutes 1984-1945 3 37 Sunday school bank statements undated 3 38 Building and property materials undated 4 1 Symposium on World Peace 24 October 1965 4 4 Incorporation undated 4 8 Clerk Files: annual reports, membership undated 4 15 Ledgers undated 5 2 Financial receipts 1919-1970 5 3 Financial receipts 1916-1977 5 4 Preliminary financial budget 1917-1978 7 1 Treasurer's reports 1917-1976 7 2 Peace United Church financial undated 7 3 First Congregational Church financial undated 7 4 First Congregational Church financial undated 7 5 Board of Trustees undated 7 6 Miscellaneous financial 1955-1976 7 8 Pledges 1916-1931 7 9 Pledges 1969-1972 7 11 Financial summary sheets undated 7 12 Check registers, checks, ledgers undated 8 1 Financial summary sheets undated 9 1 Bank statements undated 9 2 Pledges undated 10 1 Annual Report 1942-1975 11 1 Diaconate agenda & minutes, budget, correspondence, duties & responsibilities 1969-1974 11 2 Board of Trustees minutes & agendas 1917-1977 11 3 Priscilla Group minutes & membership 1955-1962 11 4 Minutes and Membership 1955-1962 11 5 Church Council minutes & agenda 1964-1979 11 6 Joint Board minutes undated 11 7 Agenda 1971-1975 11 8 Social concerns 1974-1975 11 9 Mission minutes & agenda 1970-1974 11 10 Plymouth Club minutes & membership 1940-1945 11 12 Betty Alden minutes & membership 1953-1967 11 13 Women's Fellowship minutes, annual reports, budget, treasurer's report undated 11 14 Folder: annual reports 1945, "I am among you as one who serves" 1945 11 15 Ledger: Baptisms, marriages, funerals conducted by Rev. P. B. Chamberlain undated 12 2 The Free Lutheran Congregational Church of Zion, Agreement to Form, 1896 1986 12 5 Annual Report 1910 12 9 Annual Report 1910 12 10 Historical Sketch, Constitution and Membership 1910 12 11 Sunday School Records 1911-1913 12 14 Upper Columbia Association Meeting 1887 12 15 Members of the Men's Club undated 12 20 List of subscribers for support of…October 20, 1871 20 Oct 1871 12 22 Ledgers undated 13 1 Correspondence Correspondence I 1916-1931 1 1 Correspondence I 1951 1 2 Correspondence I 1953 1 3 Correspondence I 1954 1 4 Correspondence I 1964 1 5 Correspondence I 1968 1 6 Correspondence I 1969 1 7 Correspondence I 1970 1 8 Correspondence I 1971 1 9 Correspondence I 1981 1 10 Priscilla Group correspondence undated 1 23 Women's Fellowship correspondence undated 1 35 Correspondences 1949 1 73 Correspondences 1950-1951 1 74 Correspondences 1952-1954 1 75 Correspondences 1955-1956 1 76 Correspondences 1957 1 77 Correspondences 1958 1 78 Correspondences 1959 1 79 Correspondences 1960 3 1 Correspondences 1961 3 2 Correspondences 1962 3 3 Social Action Commission correspondence undated 3 27 World Ministries Commission correspondence undated 3 31 Correspondence undated 4 5 Financial correspondence, Board of Trustees 1963-1977 7 7 Correspondence 1970-1974 11 11 Directories, Yearbooks Membership directories 1904 1 39 Membership directories 1941 1 40 Membership directories 1950 1 41 Membership directories 1955 1 42 Membership directories 1958 1 43 Membership directories 1960 1 44 Membership directories 1962 1 45 Membership directories 1964 1 46 Membership directories 1965 1 47 Membership directories 1966 1 48 Membership directories 1967 1 49 Membership directories 1970 1 50 Membership directories 1971 1 51 Membership directories 1973 1 52 Membership directories 1974 1 53 Membership directories 1976 1 54 Membership directories 1977 1 55 Membership directories 1979 1 56 Membership directories 1986 1 57 Women's Fellowship yearbooks 1897-98 1 58 Women's Fellowship yearbooks 1948-49 1 59 Women's Fellowship yearbooks 1952 1 60 Women's Fellowship yearbooks 1953 1 61 Women's Fellowship yearbooks 1954 1 62 Women's Fellowship yearbooks 1956-57 1 63 Women's Fellowship yearbooks 1957-58 1 64 Women's Fellowship yearbooks 1958-76 1 65 Ministers undated 3 8 Women's Fellowship directories undated 12 1 Histories History undated 3 6 History undated 4 7 History of, 50th Anniversary, by Edwin Eells undated 12 6 History of Ladies Aid Society by Mrs. S. B. L. Penrose 1987 12 8 Congregational Church, Early History, Edwin Eells undated 12 12 Centennial History, 1864-1964 1864-1964 12 23 The Forgotten Church, The History and Brief Life of the Third Building of First Congregational Church of Walla Walla, and Circumstances That Led to the Construction of the Current Building, Stephen Wilen, Co-Chair; First Congregational Church Sesquicentennial Committed April 2014 April 2014 12 27 Pumps, Pedals, Pipes, Pianos and Some Clanging Bells…but no Pizza! A Look at Some of the Keyboard Instruments in the History of First Congregational Church of Walla Walla, compiled by Steve Wilen November 2014 Nov 2014 12 28 The Phoenix Rises, The Development, Construction and Early Life of the Third and Present House of Worship for First Congregational Church in Walla Walla. undated 12 29 Miscellaneous Certificate of Appreciation undated 1 12 "Highlights" undated 1 17 Historical merger, United Church of Christ undated 1 18 Certificate undated 1 69 Education undated 3 4 Guild undated 3 5 Member undated 3 7 Miscellaneous undated 3 9 Narcissa Whitman federation undated 3 21 Clippings undated 4 2 Centennial undated 4 3 Eureka Congregational Church undated 4 6 Journal by Rev. Peasley B. Chamberlain undated 4 9 New Church for Whitman College undated 4 10 Miscellaneous undated 4 12 Olivet Congregational Church undated 4 13 Photographs undated 4 14 Kirchenbuch undated 6 1 Miscellaneous 1932-1954 7 10 Peace Church I undated 9 3 Peace Church II undated 9 4 Old inventory undated 11 17 "Building the City" by Raymond C. Brooks, pastor undated 11 19 Records of Missionary Society 12 Dec 1888-April 1903 12 7 Celebration of 75th Anniversary, a pageant undated 12 13 Newspaper clipping undated 12 18 The First Congregational Church of Eureka, organization of, 1896 1896 12 24 Membership directories, pamphlets, ephemera undated 12 25 "Would Give Up New Church for Whitman College", Rev. Raymond C. Brooks, 1912 1912 12 26 Oversized Material Proposed new first Congregational Church, Walla Walla, Washington, longitudinal section undated 4 8 1 Congregational Ch [Church], Walla Walla, number 11 1930 September 29 4 8 2 Proposed new first Congregational Church, Walla Walla, Washington, side elevation undated 4 8 3 Congregational Ch [Church], Walla Walla, number 9 1930 September 29 4 8 4 Proposed new first Congregational Church, Walla Walla, Washington, front elevation undated 4 8 5 Plans of addition: First Congregational Church, Walla Walla, Washington undated 4 9 6 Front view of proposed first Congregational Church undated 6 8 Alterations to present church for Parish house for the First Congregational Church, Walla Walla, Washington - first floor plan undated English. Flat Files 2 Alterations to present church for Parish house for the First Congregational Church, Walla Walla, Washington - ground floor plan undated English. Flat Files 2 Alterations to present church for Parish house for the First Congregational Church, Walla Walla, Washington- second floor plan undated English. Flat Files 2 Proposed church building for the First Congregational Church, Walla Walla, Washington- first floor plan undated English. Flat Files 2 Programs Programs 1916 1 26 Programs 1917-1918 1 27 Programs 1921 1 28 Programs Dedication Service 1931 1 29 Programs 1964 Centennial year 1964 1 30 Programs 1969 1 31 Programs 1971 1 32 Programs 1973 1 33 Programs 1976 1 34 Programs 1985 1 37 Programs Lighting of the Advent Candles undated 1 38 Programs undated 3 10 Pamphlets undated 4 11 Program for Centennial Memorial Service honoring Dr. and Mrs. Marcus Whitman undated 11 16 King's Daughters of First Congregational Church -2nd annual Banquet program 6 May 1986 11 18 Sunday Church Service Bulletins undated 12 3 Program 14 March 1897 12 4 Dedication Service Program 1 Feb 1931 12 16 Program: "Echoes from the Past" by Mrs. Grova Cookerly undated 12 17 Programs undated 12 19 Dedication Service Program 2 Dec 1923 12 21 Religious Activity Groups, Religious Studies Classes Men's Club undated 1 19 Women's Fellowship "Festival of Holidays" undated 1 36 Bible study undated 1 67 Choir undated 1 70 Women's Bible Class January 1911-January 1916 2 9 Women's Bible Class 1917-23 2 10 Women's Bible Class 1923-29 2 11 Women's Bible Class 1930-36 2 12 Youth group undated 3 12 Education I: Adult education, church school, teaching materials, budget undated 4 16 Education II: curriculum, staff meeting minutes, Sunday school undated 5 1