West Somerville Universalist Church (Somerville, Mass.). Records, 1884-1950.
Overview
Records of the West Somerville Universalist Church that include member records, meeting minutes, financial records, and treasurer's reports. There are also record books and papers for the Men's Supper Committee, the Ladies Social Circle, and the Sunday School; as well as a scrapbook of newspaper clippings and the constitution and by-laws for the church.
Dates
- Creation: 1884-1950.
Access
There are no restrictions on access to this collection.
Extent
4 boxesThe bulk of this collection consists of record books that include member records, meeting minutes, financial records, and treasurer's reports. There are also record books and papers for the Men's Supper Committee, the Ladies Social Circle, and the Sunday School. The collection also contains a scrapbook of newspaper clippings and the constitution and by-laws for the church.
Biographical / Historical
The first parish meeting for this Universalist congregation in Somerville was held in 1881. In 1886, the Third Universalist Church in Somerville was established, with 21 members. In 1925 these church and parish organizations merged. On February 2, 1927, the name of the church was changed from the Third Universalist Church of Somerville to the West Somerville Universalist Church. A new certificate of organization was issued on March 16, 1927. The church merged with First Universalist Church of Somerville in 1952 and disbanded in 1954. The pastors of the church were:
- Rufus Austin White (1882-1883)
- Charles Augustus Skinner (1884-1889)
- Charles Macomber Smith, DD (1890-1893)
- Thomas Edward Potterton (1893-1901)
- William Couden (1901-1909)
- Harry Adams Hersey (1909-1912)
- Frederick A. Wilmot (1913-1916)
- Henry B. Taylor (1916-1918)
- Isaac Smith (1919-1923)
- Alfred S. Cole (1923-1929)
- Charles P. Hall (1930-1935)
- Thomas A. Sinclair (1935-1936)
- Warren B. Lovejoy (1936-1940)
- Dana E. Klotzle (1942-1943)
- Frederick L. Harrison (1944-1948)
- George Carpenter, student pastor (?-1948)
- Elmer D. Colcord, DD (1948-1950)
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Jessica Suarez in 2007.
- Title
- West Somerville Universalist Church (Somerville, Mass.). Records, 1884-1950: A Finding Aid.
- Author
- Andover-Harvard Theological Library
- Language of description
- und
- EAD ID
- div00528
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.
45 Francis Avenue
Cambridge MA 02138-1911 USA
(617) 496-2485
ask@hds.harvard.libanswers.com