Original Church Records

Collection

Identifier: RG-1703

Staff Only

Dates

Creation: 1650-

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research. Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and copyright holder. Staff may refuse copying of fragile or at-risk materials.

Materials may be accessed by request at the American Baptist Historical Society. For more information on accessing collections or obtaining copies, visit http://abhsarchives.org.

Extent

600 Linear Feet (Extent is approximate, until records are all in the catalog. ) : Archival boxes, rolled architectural plans, 1800s ledgers, metal file boxes, loose folders of items, realia such as metal stamps, loose volumes.

Language of Materials

Multiple languages

Additional Description

Appraisal

Original church records have come the ABHS for many years. When churches close, many send their records here so that they will be preserved. Many have yet to be processed and inventoried, so the collection continues to grow.

Processing Information

A master list created by volunteers is the backbone of the original church records, and only covers Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island and Indiana. There are records, however, from nearly every state in the U.S.

Jill Sweetapple, Head of Archives and Special Collections, will add records as they are processed. Some records will have a system or arrangement, but this is not always the case. Additionally, any order from when the records were donated will be difficult to trace. Any information found with the materials will be noted.