Boston Association of Ministers. Records, 1755-1960.
Overview
Records of the Boston Association of Ministers, including record books, by-laws and lists of members, correspondence; as well as handwritten and typescript copies of Christopher Rhodes Eliot's "Origin and History of the Boston Association of Ministers". The records span 1755-1960.
Dates
- Creation: 1755-1960
Access
There are no restrictions on access to this collection.
Extent
4 boxesThis collection consists of record books, 1755-1960, as well as records of meetings, memorials, by-laws and lists of members, notices of meetings, and undated correspondence of various individuals. The collection also contains handwritten and typescript copies of Christopher Rhodes Eliot's "Origin and History of the Boston Association of Ministers," Chapters 1-7 and an essay of Christopher Rhodes Eliot's entitled "The Boston Association and the Massachusetts Convention of Congregational Minister". Finally, there are material copies from the official records of Association and miscellaneous Association notes, fragments and papers.
Biographical / Historical
There has been an association of Boston ministers since at least 1633. In 1686 the objective of the group was "to form a centre at which the Boston ministers may periodically meet each other for friendly acquaintance and consultation about their common work, and other matters of religious interest." The ministers of Charlestown, Boston and neighboring towns were organized by Chares Morton in October 1690 to meet in the College of Cambridge. Soon after that, similar associations were organized, and there were at least five by 1708. Some time between 1700 and 1745 the large group organized by Morton was divided into the "Associated Ministers of Boston and Charlestown" and the "Association in and about Cambridge." In May 1960 these two groups merged to form the Greater Boston Association of Unitarian Ministers.
- Title
- Boston Association of Ministers. Records, 1755-1960: A Finding Aid.
- Author
- Andover-Harvard Theological Library
- Language of description
- und
- EAD ID
- div00071
Repository Details
Part of the Harvard Divinity School Library, Harvard University Repository
Special Collections at Harvard Divinity School Library preserves and makes accessible primary source materials documenting the history of religion and theology, with particular historical emphasis on American liberal religious traditions. Though the historical strengths of the collections have been in the field of Christianity, other religious traditions are increasingly reflected, in step with Harvard Divinity School's evolving focus on global religious studies. Known as Andover-Harvard Theological Library since 1911, it was renamed the Harvard Divinity School Library in 2021.
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