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Boston, Massachusetts. Old South Church. Records, 1669-1997

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Deposit, 1976, 1982.
Processed 1987-1988 by Thomasin Kellerman; Sandra Sudak, 1992. Refined 2008 by Jessica Steytler
Request information on copyright from the archivist. No access Restrictions

 

 

 

Introduction


Microfilm copies available (15 microfilm reels: positive and negative; 35 mm). Original deposit to the Congregational Library as permanent loan in 1976; additional deposit made in 1982.

 

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Historical Note


The congregation has had several buildings and locations. The original church property at the corner of Milk and Washington Streets resulted from several deeds and a bequest from a First Church minister John Norton’s widow, Mary Norton.

 

1669  -  Third Church Church of Boston Formed by members from First Church of Boston.
1670  -  Began meeting at the Cedar Meeting House, then at the Old South Meeting House on the corner of Milk and Washington Streets
1730  -  Current meeting house built and owned by the Old South Association
1735  -  “Church-and-Congregation” Society formed
1845  -  Old South Society incorporated as the Old South Church
1859  -  Old South Society incorporated
1875  -  Congregation moves to corner of Boylston and Dartmouth Streets in Copley Square, its current location.
1945  -  Church and Society merge. All further legal transactions now done by the Church.
1946  -  Original Old South Building (became office space) and property on Spring Lane transferred to the Church for maintenance and ownership.
1984  -  Building restored

 

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Ministers of Old South Church

 

Thomas Thacher 1670-1678                                
Samuel Willard 1678-1707    
Ebenezer Pemberton 1700-1717    
Joseph Sewall 1713-1769    
Thomas Prince 1718-1758    
Alexander Cumming 1761-1763    
Samuel Blair 1766-1769    
John Hunt/John Bacon 1771-1775    
Joseph Eckley 1779-1811    
Joshua Huntington 1808-1819    
Benjamin B. Wisner 1821-1832    
Samuel H. Stearns 1834-1836    
George W. Blagden 1836-1872    
Jacob M. Manning 1857-1872    
George Angier Gordon 1884-1927    
Russell Henry Stafford 1927-1945    
Frederick M. Meek 1946-1973    
James W. Crawford 1974-2002    
Nancy S. Taylor 2005-    

 

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Scope and Content Note


The original arrangement of these records made use of a lot of abbreviations.

 

Church Records CR                                          
Church Vital Statistics CVS    
Admissions CVS-A    
Baptisms CVS-B    
Marriages CVS-M    
Church Committee Records C-COM    
Society Committee Records S-COM    
Church Sacramental Contributions C-SAC    
Society Records SR    
Pew Proprietors PROP    

 

 

The earliest records were microfilmed. The material which is on the reels is noted in the box list.

The collection is divided into several sections:

 

  1. Church records - includes vital statistics (membership/admissions, baptisms, marriages). Early records merge meeting minutes and vital statistics into the same ledger books. Regarding the marriage records: CVSM I - Record of marriages solemnized by Reverend Joseph Eckley D.D. pastor of the Old South Church in Marlborough Street Boston. Collected and arranged from the town clerk’s certificates of publishment on file and the original memorandums made thereon in the handwriting of the Rev. Doctor Eckley, certifying the marriages, 1780-1882
  2. Church and Society Committees - Reports and correspondence. Majority of bound books are not in a box, however do have labels and beginning/end dates .
  3. Financial - Treasurer’s reports and pew deeds
  4. Legal - legal deeds and transaction records
  5. Organizations - Sunday/Sabbath School records, Temperance, Maternal Association, Old South Club, Mission Sewing Circle, Women’s guild.
  6. Photographs, Newspaper clippings.
  7. Prince Library
  8. Ministers’ records:
    • Peter Thatcher records
    • J Eckley
    • Jacob M Manning
    • George A Gordon
    • Russell H Stafford
    • Frederick Meek
    • Allen E. Cross
    • Willis H. Butler
  9. Published histories, publications by the church

 

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Box List

 

ID ; roll# Box Subject Year
       

Church Records
87-5006;1 1 CR I: Records of the Old South Church and Congregation
Reverse of volume contains records of Church-and congregation; Also “SR I”		 1669-1766

1735-1767
87-5006;1   CR II - “Church Minutes” 1768-1816
87-5006;1   CR III - Old South Church Records 1817-1854
87-5006;1   CR I-III Index of Records for first 3 volumes; topical index  
87-5006;2   CR IV - Church Records 1855-1888
87-5006;2 2 CR V - Church Records 1888-1906
87-5006;2   CR VI - Church Records 1907-1914
87-5006;2   CR VII - Church Records 1915-1921
87-5006;3 3 CR VIII - Church Records 1921-1930
87-5006;3   CR IX - Church Records 1930-1936
87-5006;3   CR X - Church Records 1936-1942
87-5006;3 4 CR XI - Church Records 1942-1948
87-5006;4   CR XII - No Identification. Church Records 1949-1958
87-5006;4 5 CR XIII - No Identification. Church Records 1958-1965
87-5006;4   CR XIV - No Identification. Church Records 1965-1969
n/a 6 Copy of 1st ledger - First records of church and congregation
Copy of CR I – SR I made in 1858		 1669-1766
1735-1767; 1858
n/a   CR IA Copy -- Copy of a list of names of those who broke off from the 1st Church to from 3rd Church with additional names through 1713 1669-1713
    CR II Copy “vol. 2” copied in 1860 1768-1816
n/a   C VS B IA copy 1 - copy of Baptisms 1669-1672
n/a   C VS B IA copy 2 - copy of Baptisms 1669-1875
n/a   Copy of 1st ledger - First records of church and congregation
Copy of CR I – SR I made in 1858		 1669-1766
1735-1767;
1858
       

Church Vital Statistics - Baptisms “C VS B”
87-5006;4 7 C VS B I - Baptisms 1669-1672
87-5006;4 -- C VS B II - Index to records, Baptisms 1857-1920
87-5006;3   C VS B III - Originals on 3 x 5 inch cards. One roll of microfilm on recent baptisms. 1927-1986
       

Church Vital Statistics - Admissions “C VS A”
87-5006;4 7 C VS A I - Admission of Old South,
Membership
owners of the baptismal covenant		 1669-1855
1669-1814
87-5006;4   C VS A II - List of Members. 1669-1855
87-5006;4
C VS A III - Members; begun 1859 with retrospective of previous membership 1669-1923
88-1967;1 -- C VS A IV - Originals on 3 x 5 inch cards. 1 roll of microfilm on recent admissions 1941-1980
n/a 8-11 C VS A Misc. 1-4. 4 letters of transfer, disciplinary correspondence, church councils. 1821-1859
       

Church Vital Statistics - Marriages “C VS M”
87-5006;4 7 C VS M I - Marriages. Joseph Eckley, pastor. 1780-1882
  12-13 C VS M Marriage Certificates, intentions of marriage, certificates of publishment 1780-1832
  12-13 C VS M Box Certificates of publication 1812-1831
88-1967;2 -- C VS M II Originals on 3 x 5 (3 rolls of microfilm) on recent marriages 1941-1980
       

Church Committee Records “C COM”
  Reports and Correspondence - originally folded and undocumented
  14 Committees  
    Council, society records 1840s
    General Reports 1838-1899
    Committee and Meeting records 1856-1870s
    Building Committee Reports 1875-1876
    Chapel Papers 1860, 1866
    Leasing Committee, reports, correspondence 1855-1857
    Preservation Committee correspondence 1879
    Prudential Committee correspondence 1831-1832
  15 Correspondence (approximately chronological)  
Oversize
Top shelf		 box Admission/dismission letter
Andrew Crosswell’s letter to Joseph Sewall and Thomas Prince		 1793
1748
    Park Street Church formation; Bingham and Thurston 1809
    6 folders: Standing Committee, letters and reports 1825-1901
       
    3 folders: Clerk correspondence 1832-1881
    Letters from churches, includes Judson’s ordination (1786) 1700s-1800s
    Request and thanks for using OSC 1825-1835
    Correspondence 1826-1833
    Letters relating to the case of Justus Lincoln. See church records, vol. 3, p. 58 1827
    Alderman/society-related correspondence 1829
    Dow, Joseph - Discipline. See also vol. 3, p 94 1831
    Letters - discipline 1830s
    Correspondence to Old South Church Society 1830s-1880s
    Hillard, George S. - Correspondence 1854-1855
    2 folders: Notes 1868-1882
    Dedication service program 1876
    Manning Resignation notice and letter 1882
89-314;1 16 C COM I - Committee Records 1828-1855
89-314;1   C COM II - Committee Records 1855-1897
89-314;1   C COM III - Committee Records 1897-1906
89-314;1   C COM IV - Committee Records 1906-1911
89-314;2 17 C COM V - Committee Records 1912-1917
89-314;2   C COM VI - Committee Records 1917-1923
89-314;2   C COM VII - Committee Records 1923-1930
89-314;2 18 C COM VIII - Committee Records 1930-1937
89-314;2   C COM IX - Committee Records 1937-1945
       

Church Sacramental Contributions “C SAC”
89-314;2 18 C SAC I Sacramental Contribution 1708 1708-1798
       

Society Records; Society Committee “SR”; “S COM”;
89-1077;1 sh. 5 SR I - Church & Congregation Society Records
Reverse vol.: Also CR I		 1735-1768
1669-1766
89-1077;1   SR II - Society Minutes, Records 1768-1802
89-1077;1   S COM & SR III - Votes Orders & Proceedings of the South Church & Congregation. Standing Committee records, some Society votes 1735-1819
89-1077;1   S COM & SR IV - Society and Standing Committee 1787-1823
89-1077;1   S COM V - Standing Committee 1824-1842
89-1077;1   S COM & SR VI - Society and Standing Committee 1819-1845
89-1077;2   S COM VII - Standing Committee 1842-1862
89-1077;2   SR/PROP VIII - Society and Pew Proprietors Records 1845-1866
       

Society Committee ; Pew Propietors “S COM” ; “PROP”
89-1077;2   S COM IX - Society Standing Committee 1862-1876
89-1077;3   S COM X - Society Records; Standing Committee 1867-1876
89-1077;3   S COM XI - Society Standing Committee 1876-1896
89-1077;3   SR/PROP XII - Society and Pew Proprietor Records 1877-1896
89-1077;4   SR/PROP XIII - Pew Proprietors 1897-1910
89-1077;4   S COM XVI - Society Standing Committee 1897-1911
89-1077;4 sh. 6 SR/PROP XV - Society and Pew Proprietors Records 1911-1923
89-1077;5   S COM XVI - Standing Committee 1911-1923
89-1077;5
SR/ PROP XVII - Society and Pew Proprietors Records 1924-19345
89-1077;6
S COM XVIII - Standing Committee 1924-1937
89-1077;6
SR/PROP XIV - Society and Pew Proprietors Records 1936-1948
n/a   S COM MISC - correspondence, treasurer’s reports 1800s
    S COM XI - Society Standing Committee 1876-1896
    SR/ PROP XII - Pew Proprietors Records 1877-1896
    SR/PROP XIII - Pew Proprietors Records 1897-1910
    S COM XIV - Society Standing Committee 1897-1911
    SR/PROP XV - Pew Proprietors 1911-1923
    S COM XVI - Society Standing Committee 1911-1923
    SR/PROP XVII - Pew Proprietors 1924-1935
    S COMM XVIII - Society Standing Committee 1924-1935
    SR/PROP XIX - Pew Proprietors 1936-1948
Pew Records - Deeds
  19-20 Pew Deeds I-IV 1783-1820;
1820-1845;
1845-1875;
1876-1922
  19 Misc I - list of pew proprietors and some valuations 1885-1909
  21-22 Misc II - files of pew proprietors 1930s
Oversize Box Pew records 1823-1871
Oversize Box Plate and pew records 1868-1891
Oversize Box Correspondence and reports  
Oversize Box Pew Assessments 1876
Pew Accounts
  23 Accounts I-III 1786-1808;
1810-1844;
1845-1865
Miscellaneous Pew Accounts
  24 Pew Transfers 1785-1873
    Pews Forfeited to Society 1869-1873
oversize; end of range Early pew plans; some proprietor names; portfolio  
     

Society Financials
  25 Money received to OSC 1927-1897
    Correspondence 1839-1845,
1847, 1872
    Reports 1838-1868
    Records 1846-1867
    Treasurer’s Accounts 1747-1827
Oversize Box Treasurer Reports, oversize (incomplete run) 1834-1900
  26 Journal 1827-1872
    Financials (Private) 1837-1838;
1840
1846-1856;
1857-1861
 
Hope Chapel Appropriations 1882-1885;
1912-1917
 
Untitled 1846-1860
 
Untitled 1847-1890
 
Tax Books 1890-1900;
1901-1912;
1913-1926;
1923-1927
       

Legal Deeds
(shelf 7) 27 Tripartite Conveyance of land from Mrs. Judith Winthrop, John Chamberlayne and Thomas (P..?) to John Norton of Boston 1659
    Mrs. Judith Winthrop’s receipt of money (£200) for land in Boston paid by John Norton and others 1659
    Mary Northon’s Deed of land to Old South Church, signed and sealed April 1 1669
    Letter to Hamilton Hill from Brown 1888
    Mary Norton’s second gift of land to the Old South Church. Conveyance of dwelling house and land appertaining thereunto 1677
    Historical statement of Reverend J Eckley relating to the covenant of his church, making reference to Mary Norton’s deed, rights of pew-holders 1800s
    Conveyance of Old South real esteate by Ed Rawson, Joshua Scottow and Jacob Elito to their successors Samuel Seawall, Mrs. Rawson, B. Davis, N. Oliver and one other as Trustees n.d.
    Bond to Mrs. Norton from Mr. Hubbard and John Hull. Receipt for payment of £40  
    Mortgage of land on Spring Lane by Stephen Minot and wife to Joseph Seawall and others, Ministers, and Deacons of the Church. May 11 1767
       
    Memorandum on a measurement of land showing lots of Deblois, Whittemore Winslow and Stephen Minot  
       
    Conveyance by Joseph Townsend and wife to Francis Nurroughs 1697
    Transfer of land by John Phillips and wife to Christopher Clark 1693
       
    Documents relating ot the Old South Church, J. Eckley 1804
    Copy of land plat for Old South Meeting House signed by Dawes 1770 - in oversize portfolio  
    Legal Documents 1845-1882
    Legal Documents 1870s
    Administrative and legal records 1874-1877
       
Legal Transactions
Pamphlets
shelf 7 28 Reasons for the appointment of the committee to investigate the prudential affairs of the Old South Church in Boston. To which are added copies of Mrs. Norton’s deeds 1859
    Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Supreme Judicial Court. Stephen H. Phillips, Attourney Generaat the relation of Joseph Ballard, informant vs. “The Old South Society in Boston” and “The Ministers and Deacons of the Old South Church in Boston.” Information and Answers 1860
    Supreme Judicial Court. Master’s Report 1865
    Deeds and Documents relating to the gift of the land to the Third Church in Boston (now Old South) by Madam Norton 1874
    Testimony of Dea. Frederick D. Allen, in favor of leasing the Old South Meeting-House. Given before the Committee on Parishes and Religious Societies 1874
    Arguments and evidence in behalf of pew-owners desirous of preserving the building for the continuance of public worship therein 1874
    Speech of Hon. Francis B. Hayes delivered in the Massachusetts Senate, Thursday April 16 1874
    Remonstrance of Old South Society against annulling or evading the conditions of the indenture of sale of its Meeting-House by the legislature of Massachusetts 1876
    To the legislature of Massachusetts. Answer to the reply of petitioners to the remonstrance of Old South Society 1876
    Old South Society vs. Crocker. Closing argument for the plaintiffs by Mr. B. F. Thomas 1876
    Old South Society vs. Crocker. Report of the evidence 1876
    Act to incorporate trustees of Old South Meeting House in Boston (No. 216) 1877
Envelopes
  (2) Legal papers pertaining to the case of the Old South Society v. Attorney General et als. Bill of Complaint; Answer of the Attorney General; Answer of Old South Church; Scheme; Decree 1907
    Memo prepared by Frederick Foster regarding the property at the corner of Boylston and Dartmouth Streets, including blueprints and records from the registry of deeds 1928
       

Educational Organization
  29 Sabbath- / Sunday-School Records 1851-1859;
1860-1867;
1873-1885
    Attendance Books 19th century
    Committee on Religious Education 1920-1930
       

Ancillary Organizations
  30 Unnamed Charitable Society - "We the Subscribers" 1734-1771
    Society for the Amicable Religious Conversation and Prayer 1821-1831
    Old South Temperance Association c. 1826
    Old South Maternal Association 1837-1850,
1852-1859
    Old South Club 1894-1901
    Young Ladies Society 1889-1897
  31 Old South Mission Sewing Circle, Records, Account book 1847-1852;
1847-1864
    Old South Sewing Circle 1836-1846;
1847-1863;
1868-1873;
1888-1893;
1900-1904;
1904-1920
    Old South Women’s Guild, Home Missions Committee 1940-1944
Pamphlet Box - "Miscellany"
 Box 32 Env.1 Mother Goose inscription
Church record extracts		  
  2 Two letters concerning John Davenport c. 1667
  3 Letter from Boston Association for a convention to reform morals
Reverend Lyman’s Motion for a convention		 1799
1804
  4 Enoch Pond Confession of Faith and Recommendation 1814
  5 Papers concerning Calvin Park Investigation 1825
  6 Inventory of Record Books 1858; 1875
  7 Membership lists 1800s
  8 Church and Society Correspondence 1800s
  9 Communion Service Papers sent to Mt. Hope Congregational Church, Detroit 1889
  10 "Hymns of Faith" selection process 1895
  11 Old South Association: list of Officers, Committees, Charter, Documents 1912
  12 Letter to Dr. Gordon from Percy Blake 1917
  13 250th Anniversary Service 1919
  14 Report of Church Committee on the Codification of Standing Rules 1920
Addresses and Essays from Old South Church Affiliates
Box 33 Abigail Dawes Waters letter to her children c. 1816
    Samuel Johnson’s history of the OSC’s move to Copley Square c. 1900
    Biographies (no author, no date, handwritten) of Theodore Atkinson, Peter Brackett, Thomas Brattle, William Davis, Theophilus Frary, Benjamin Gibbs, John Wing  
    Birthday tribute to Miss Walley, Sunday School teacher 1925
    George James Webb, organist, an appreciation by Mary Sturgis Gray, his grand-niece c. 1930
    Recollections of Hope Chapel; for Home Mission Dept meeting. By Annie E. Packard 1939
    "What’s in a Name?" - poem by Helen F. More  
    Recollections of Grace B. Howard on her relationship with South Congregational Church, Kennebunkport, ME and OSC 1983
    "the Old South Building" by Christina Turner 1983
       

Photographs and Clippings
Photographs
Box 34
 Env.1 Burgess/Price’s "A South East View of Ye Great Town of Boston in New England in America." Lithograph, British Museum  
  2 Benjamin Franklin portrait; pew/floor plan c. 1710 - shows Franklin pew  
  3 - Etching of Old South when on fire Dec 29
- Isaac Harris, Photo of portrait, Bostonian Society
- Silver pitcher, photograph of - given to Isaac Harris by OSC - now at Museum of Fine Arts		 1810
--
--
  4 Photographs of portraits: Charles Chauncy, Thomas Prince, Joseph Sewall, Samuel Sewall, Thomas Thatcher  
  5 Photograph of OSC at Milk and Washington Streets;
Photograph of OSC at Copley Sq		  
  6 Photo of Faneuil Hall before its enlargement, Bostonian Society
View of State Street and Old State House
Photo of Shem Drowne weathervane, Mass. Hist. Soc.		  
  7 Photo of OSC Communion Service
Clocks at OSC (photo)		  
  8 Photos of Deacons Richard B. Stanley and Franklin D. Putnam  
Articles
  9 "Old South Church" by Samuel Burnham from Watchman and Reflector  
  10 Photo of lion on Kensington bldg., Copley  
  11 "Copley Square. Cram’s Scheme Attacked", Boston Evening Transcript 1921
  12 "Dedicate Miss Carleton’s Paintings for the Old South Church School." Boston Evening Transcript 1934
  13 "First Complete Photograph of Old South’s Front" Boston Evening Transcript 1939
       

Prince Library
Box 35 Correspondence 1866-1868;
1932-1943
    Select Committee/Public Library report 1866
    Order on donation of Prince library. City Document 76. 1866
    Agreement with Mayor and Alderman. July 11 1868
    Catalogs - (2 copies) T. Prince’s donation to OSC; collection deposited at public library 1846
1870
    Thomas Prince’s biography  
Manuscript Sermons
  36 Peter Thatcher 1731
    J. Eckley 1795-1811
    Extracts of Eckley’s sermons from Weston’s shorthand 1790
Jacob M. Manning
  37 Sermons and addresses at his installation 1857
    Correspondence 1856-1882
    Journal  
    Articles and Letters from the Boston Globe;
"A Collection of Services of the Rev. Jacob M. Manning D.D. as Chaplain of the 43rd Regiment, Mass."		  
George A. Gordon
  38 Sermons and Addresses, bound and unbound
bound - not in a box		 1896-1924;
1916-1927
  39 Publications: "The Appeal of the Nation; five patriotic addresses,"
"And Let Us Reason Together..."		 1917

1947
    Services: Installation; 25th Anniversary; Memorial 1884;1909;
1929
    Correspondence - Letters;
From C.M. Eliot and Gordon		 1854-1937
1878-1923
    Photographs: of Gordon; of Gordon and his daughter, Ruth  
    Memorabilia -
Installation
Pastor’s Reception, autographed card
Dinner invitation
25th Anniversary program, dinner, thoughts from others
"Education Under the Master of Religion; final address..."
Recollections of Dr. Gordon by Elise D. Gordon
1884
1899
1907
1909
1922-23
1950
Russell Henry Strafford
  40 Installation Service 1927
    "Charge to the Minister" given by Dean Sperry to Stafford  
    Sermons 1945
    Correspondence - From Gordon to Stafford;
from Bertha Davis to Stafford;
Congratulations on Hartford Theological appointment		 1927-1949;
c. 1940; 1945
    Publications
"A Living God"
"Paradoxes of the Kingdom: an interpretation of the Beatitudes"
"A Philosophy of Life", Congregationalist		 1929
    Honorary Dinner for Stafford at Algonquin Club 1927
Frederick M. Meek
  41-43 Sermons 1946-1973
Allen E. Cross - Associate Minister
  44 Correspondence on resignation May - August 1911
Willis H. Butler - Associate Minister
  44 Correspondence on call; on resignation 1912; 1919
Ministers and Deacons Fund
  44 Financial ledger 1924-1947
       

Published Histories
  45 Burdett 1877
    Hill 1882
    Wisner 1830
    "bound miscellany"  
    Anniversary volume 1919
       
Publications
    Covenants  
    Catalogues  

 

 

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