Series 2: Plymouth Church, 1824-circa 1980, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
This series contains materials that primarily concern Plymouth Church. Although certain items document the church during Henry Ward Beecher's tenure, their primary use is in documenting the activities of the church, rather than those of Beecher. In addition to church records, this series includes papers of and regarding four of Beecher's successors at Plymouth Church. The series also includes some material from Church of the Pilgrims and, to a lesser extent, other churches in Brooklyn and elsewhere.
The series contains church publications, including the monthly Plymouth Chimes, church bulletins, church manuals, articles of faith, miscellaneous programs, annual reports, and other print matter. Records of Plymouth Church in the series include those relating to membership, such as a parish book, a shareholders' book, pew rental charts, and a list of applicants to the church.
The series includes materials pertaining to the Sunday/Sabbath Schools, such as rosters, hymn books, sheet music, and programs for Sunday School events. The many organizations that were affiliated with Plymouth Church and Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims are represented in this section with material such as programs, membership rosters, and news clippings. The organizations represented include the Plymouth League, the Bethel Mission, Work Committee, Men's and Women's Clubs, the Arbuckle Institute, Plymouth Institute, and Plymouth Church house.
Lyman Abbott, Newell Dwight Hillis, J. Stanley Durkee, and L. Wendell Fifield , the four pastors immediately following Henry Ward Beecher at Plymouth, are represented in the series with writings, sermons, news clippings, and ephemera. The series also includes materials pertaining to the general history, architecture, and notable members and leaders of Plymouth Church. Materials relating to Paxton Hibben's 1927 biography of Beecher are in the series. Several scrapbooks compiled by members of the congregation are found in the series; among these are one compiled with substantive annotations by Horatio C. King (circa 1901-1907) and one with political ephemera from the 1870s-1880s.
Arrangement
The series is arranged in eight sections:
Section 1: Publications (1854-1980)
Section 2: Records (1851-1933)
Section 3: Sunday School (1845-1962)
Section 4: Church Organizations (1863-1949)
Section 5: Pastors (1888-1955)
Section 6: History (1856-1961)
Section 7: General (1824-1978)
Section 8: Scrapbooks (1854-1916)
Section 1: Publications
Church Manuals., 1854, 1867, 1874, 1923, inclusive
Church Manuals., 1931, inclusive
Church Manuals., 1940, inclusive
Articles of Faith and Principles and Rules, 1884, 1895, 1920, inclusive
"Letter-Missive." Sent to Congregational Churches., 1876, inclusive
Plymouth Pulpit: Sermons by HWB., 1869-1870, inclusive
List of Church leaders., 1882, 1884, 1920, inclusive
Bulletins., 1888-1921, inclusive
Bulletins., 1935-1942, inclusive
Bulletins., 1958-1963, inclusive
Bulletins- Polytechnic Baccalaureate ceremony., 1930, 1936, inclusive
Programs: Concerts., 1869-1892, inclusive
Miscellaneous Programs., 1876, 1892, 1937-1938, 1958, inclusive
Anniversary programs., 1900-1937, inclusive
Programs: Miscellaneous events at Plymouth, not Plymouth specific, 1930-1932, 1934, inclusive
Lenten and Christmas programs., 1934-1960, inclusive
Plymouth Triangle magazine., 1879, inclusive
Plymouth Chimes: bound volume, 1877-1895, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Also includes a program for the 77th Plymouth organ concert, 1873, which was the gift of Frank J. Wilder.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
The spine of the volume is broken and the edges of the pages are brittle and fragile. Researchers should handle with care.
The first two issues had come loose from the binding and have been separately foldered for preservation. Researchers should use the provided preservation photocopies.