Mayfield Congregational Church

Transcription

1 Inventory of the Mayfield Congregational Church Mayfield, Illinois Records In the Regional History Center RC 185

2 1 INTRODUCTION Mr. Charles H. Payne, Chair of the Board of Trustees, donated the Mayfield Congregational Church Records to the Northern Illinois Regional History Center in October Addenda to the collection were added at a later date. Property rights in the collection belong to the Regional History Center; literary rights are dedicated to the public. There are no restrictions on access to this collection, except Box 11, Folder 1-3, Pledges. Linear feet of shelf space: Number of containers: 24 Northern Illinois Regional History Center Collection 185 SCOPE AND CONTENT Records from the Mayfield Congregational Church date from its organization in 1849 to the present, although the bulk of the material is dated after its affiliation with the Congregationalists in The collection is divided into eight series: Historical and Administrative Records, Membership, Committees, Financial Records, Building Fund/Construction, Church Organizations, Audio-visual, and United Church of Christ. Series I, Historical and Administrative Records, contains historical documentation, church registers, annual reports, correspondence, church newsletters and bulletins. A complete run of Church Registers from 1906 to 1984 contains minutes of meetings, lists of member s marriages, baptisms, and deaths. Membership information, the second series, includes letters of dismission and transfers, biographical information, membership lists and directory, and guest books. The third series, Committees, is arranged alphabetically. The Financial Records series includes treasurer s reports, bills and receipts, pledge information, gifts and investments, and insurance. Series V, Building Fund/Construction consists of construction information for the church and the parsonage. The records for the three Church Organizations included in Series VI, Ladies Aid Society, Mayfield Women s Fellowship and Sunday School, consists of minutes and financial information which documents their activities. Photographs and information from the National and Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ comprise the last two series. The addenda include further information regarding reports, newsletters, board and committee minutes, women s fellowship, and financial documents. For additional information on Congregational and Methodist Churches, researchers should consult the Regional History Center's guide and reference shelf list.

3 2 HISTORICAL SKETCH The citizens of Mayfield participated in the Methodist Rock River Conference as a stop on the circuit starting in Conference meetings were held at Mayfield, then know as Brush Point, in 1848 and At first services were held in the home of Mr. Ira Douglas and then at the Brush Point school house. In 1860 a group of citizens met at the school house to organize the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Mayfield. At that first meeting they elected a board of trustees, adopted a constitution and began plans for construction of a building to be located near the cemetery in Mayfield. The first board of trustees included Rev. William A. Nickerson, Stephen Townsend, and Reuben and Ira Nichols, all known for their involvement with the underground railroad. In 1906 the church lost its ability to get pulpit supply through the Wesleyan Methodist organization. At that time the church changed its affiliation to the Congregational churches and began receiving pulpit supply through Wheaton College. It became a member of the Congregational and Christian Conference of Illinois during this period. In the early and mid- 1960's, the Mayfield church joined the Northern Association of Congregational Christian churches which, eventually, became part of the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ. The latter group consolidated the Congregational and Christian Conference of Illinois with the North Illinois Synod of the Evangelical and Reformed Churches. In 2002 Mayfield voted to begin the process to become an Open And Affirming (O & A) congregation, which indicates that the church publicly welcomed persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities. The mission statement was amended in 2004 to officially be considered O & A, the first Christian church in DeKalb county to openly include members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community. Congregationalists Mayfield, (Ill.) Mayfield Congregational Church Methodists LGBT - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Wesleyan Methodist Church, Mayfield United Church of Christ SUBJECT TRACINGS

4 3 COLLECTION INVENTORY BOX FOLDER DESCRIPTION Series I. Historical and Administrative Records Church History, Historical Documents found in Safety Deposit Box, th Anniversary Worship Service, October 20, Transfer of Deeds of Mayfield Church Property 6 Diary, Written by Member of Mayfield Congregational Church, March 20, 1921-July 4, Recital, The Pupils of Ruby R. Nichols, Newspaper Articles, ( , n.d.) 10 "Mayfield Church and My Promises to Keep" 11 Constitution and By-laws, (1860, , 2003) 12 Constitution and By-laws, Drafts ( , 2005) 13 Governance of the Congregation 2 1 Original Constitution and Minutes, Church Register, Church Register, Baptismal Records, , Death Notices, Annual Report, Quarterly Program Appraisal, January 19, Yearbook Reports, 1947, Year End Reports, 1974, 1979, Business Correspondence, Correspondence, , n.d. 11 Events and Miscellaneous Correspondence, , n.d. 12 Minister's Correspondence, Midweek Reminder, ( ) 14 Newsletter Mailing List, September Newsletters, ( ) 5 1 Newsletters ( ) 2-4 Mayfield Church News, May December Bulletins, ( )

5 BOX FOLDER DESCRIPTION Bulletins, January 1, April 22, Minister Evaluation and Search, ( ) 2 Installation and Farewell for Rev. Armin Munz, 1979, Rev. Jeanne Vetere, , Missions, DeKalb County Migrant Ministry, Church Suppers, , , Pancake Supper, , Pancake Breakfast and Chicken Supper Flyers, , Custodial Duties, n.d. Series II. Membership 11 Letters of Dismission, Notes Received, Records of Decision, Letters of Transfer to Mayfield, , 1973 Correspondence: 13 Transfers to Mayfield, , Transfers to Other Churches, , Certificates of Transfers, Biographical Information, Membership Profiles, n.d Membership Lists, , , 1977, 1985, 1988, , 1995, , , n.d. 20 Membership Directory, 1996, Member Accomplishments, 1970, 1981, 1989, Member and Friend Involvement, Interest and Participation Survey, Guest Register, 1955, 1960, Guest Book, , n.d. 5 Christian, Education Report, 1990 Series III. Committees 6 Congregational Meeting Minutes, October 26, 1966, March 18, Council Meetings, ( ) 8 Council Meeting Minutes, Deacons Minutes, January 29, 1969-December 4, 1977

6 BOX FOLDER DESCRIPTION Deacon Reports, Diaconate Board, December 3, Finance Committee, Joint Parish Council, Treasurer s Report, ( ) 6 Junior Youth Rally, July 21, Memorial Committee, October 12, Mission Board Minutes, January 25, 1974-July 26, Pastoral Relations Committee, 1984, n.d. 10 Pastor s Report, Stewardship/Finance Committees, Church Growth, Shepherd s Program, Trustees, , Yoked Parish Covenant, 1979, 1991, n.d. Series IV. Financial Records Treasurer's Record, Treasurer's Reports, ( ) 10 1 Treasurer s Reports, ( ) 2 Account Ledger, Ledger Sheets, Budget, 1996, , Employee's Notebook, Interest Income Statements, Savings Books, Bank Statements and Checks, Deposit Slips, January 26, 1971-December 17, Bills and Receipts, Barnes & Roberts Oil Co. Bills, Electric Bills, Telephone Bills, Pledges, Estates & Gifts, Lanan Trust with United Church Foundations, Stock Dividends, Investments, Certificate of Deposit, Country Capital Investment Fund, Inc Insurance, ( , 1987) 11 Insurance, ( ) 12 Certificates of Status of Exempt Property,

7 BOX FOLDER DESCRIPTION Tax Exempt Status, Tax Returns, , Income Summary, Pension Board, Salary Report, Clergy Salary and Benefits, Church Finance, Miscellaneous, Savings Books, , , , Savings Books, Men s Club, , God Squad, , Memorial Fund, Check Registers, February 1955-December Check Registers, December 1968-May Receipt Books, Bills and Receipts, Series V. Building Fund/Construction 4-5 Building Fund Receipts, Building Fund Account Book, Electric Service Contracts, Equipment, New Parsonage Survey, Organ, Well Construction, Construction, Mayfield Church Building Fund, , Building Fund Treasurer s Reports, Building Fund Pledges, Building Fund Checks, ; Deposit Slips, Savings Book, Check Register, Series VI. Church Organizations Ladies Aid Society: 16 1 Minutes, Treasurer's Record, Minutes and Treasurer s Book,

8 BOX FOLDER DESCRIPTION 7 Mayfield Women's Fellowship: 16 4 Constitution and By-law, n.d. 5-7 Minutes, October 14, 1958-December 7, Correspondence, 1964, 1966, , n.d. 9 Thank You Notes, 1952, 1955, n.d. 10 Member List, n.d. 11 Reports and Projects, People of Faith, Luncheons, Suppers and Other Projects, Recipes, Ideas, and Other Helps, n.d. 3 Programs, ( ) 4 Mother s Day Programs, 1962, Program Material and Committee Lists, Ledger, , Treasurer s Reports, Check Registers, Newspaper Clippings, October 15, As You Go, Do According to Your Faith, The Church Members Manual, The Joy of Singing, n.d Bills and Receipts, Sunday School: 2 Constitution, n.d. 3 Yearly Convention Minutes, Receipts & Expenditures, , Minutes, Attendance & Collection, Attendance & Collection, Collection, Series VII. Audio-Visual 2-3 Photographs, 1920, 1969, 1972, n.d. 4 Engraving of Building Committee, n.d. Series VIII. United Church of Christ 5 United Church of Christ, Constitution and By-laws,

9 BOX FOLDER DESCRIPTION Issues Briefing Book, Congregational & Christian Church, Conference of Illinois, United Church of Christ, Illinois Conference, Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ, Conference News, United Campus Ministries, Staff/Program Report, September United Church of Christ, United Church Foundation, 1988 ADDENDUM 21 1 Mayfield Congregational Church Brochure, n.d. 2 Annual Report, Newsletters, September 2003-Autumn Bulletins, April 29, December 30, 2001; September 21, 2003-January 6, Bulletins, Mother s Day, n.d., Father s Day, 2006, The Service of Installation of Rev. Mary Gay McKinney, November 9, Calendars, Council Meeting Minutes, September 4, December 4, Outdoor Ministries, Retreats, Newspaper Clippings, Pastoral Counsel for Farmers, Farm Crisis Task Force, Farm Crisis Task Force, Facing Agricultural Crisis Together, Farm Crisis Task Force, Rural Americans Needing Support, The ABC s of Natural Church Development, Lombard Mennonite Peace Center Brochures, Prairie Association, Council Meeting Minutes, ADDENDUM II 23 1 Annual Meeting, January 11, Annual Reports, Council Meeting Minutes, November 1, 2005-June 17, 2008

10 BOX FOLDER DESCRIPTION Our Church s Wider Mission Conference, Stewardship Materials, , no date 6 Newsletters, March 2006-July/August Newspaper Clippings, June 9, 2007-January 28, Raise the Roof Campaign, Directory, Spring Program, April 27, Outdoor Ministries, circa Sesquicentennial, October 24, Open and Affirming, Research papers by Dawn E. Jones, April 11, 1995, May 17, 1995, May 18, 1995, May 17, Open and Affirming Resources, circa Open and Affirming Meeting Minutes, April 27, February 2, The United Church of Christ Coalition for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns, Buttons from the United Church of Christ Coalition for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns Mayfield Church, through Marvin s poetry, by Marvin Roush, 2011 ADDENDUM III 24 1 Annual Meetings, January 11, 2004-January 15, Annual Report, , Newsletters, Newspaper Clippings, Bulletins, Membership List, Officer Nominees, and Events, Council Meetings, August 5, December 7, Council Meetings, February 1, December 6, Council Meetings, February 21, December 30, Council Meetings, March 5, October 7, Council Meetings, February 10, December 13, Council Meetings, February 26, December 10, Council Meetings, February 28,2011- December 13, Committee Boards Reports Meeting Minutes, November 4, October 11, Trustees Reports, Minutes, and Meetings, March 29,2005- March 22, Asset and Account Balances, January 31,2009- March 1, Budget, January 31, December Budget, 2010

11 BOX FOLDER DESCRIPTION Budget, January 9, December 13, Clerk s Reports, Income and Expenses, April 30, December 31, Income Statements, March 31, October 30, Treasurer s Report, April December Miscellaneous 25 Church Dinners and Fund-raising Meals, September 18, March 18, Sunday School Reports, Goals, and Proposals 27 Thank You Notes, May 17, 2007, January 8, 2008, July Prairie Association of Illinois Conference United Church of Christ