Collection Title:

Repository:

The Helsabeck Archives of the Stone-Campbell Movement
Emmanuel Christian Seminary Library at Milligan
1 Walker Drive
Johnson City, TN 37682
Email: archives@milligan.edu

Creator:

First Christian Church of Chicago

Title:

First Christian Church of Chicago Records, 1861-2003, undated

Collection No.

HSC0009

Extent

9.2 cubic feet (10 boxes)

Language(s):

English

Abstract:

This collection contains the records of First Christian Church of Chicago (formerly Englewood Christian Church). First Christian Church of Chicago dates back to 1885 and at one time included a large congregation of hundreds of members and a large Sunday School program. These records include board meeting minutes and information, Sunday School files, building information, and publications, among other files.

Administrative History:

First Christian Church of Chicago dates back to 1885, when ten people formed a church that met in various locations throughout Chicago. In 1887, the church settled in its first building on Eggleston Avenue and called itself Englewood Church of Christ. The Sunday School program, also started in 1885, grew quickly, as the church membership grew to 400 by 1905. In 1905, the church moved to a new building, formerly the Cumberland Presbyterian Church on Stewart Avenue and 66th Place, and became Englewood Christian Church. During this time, the Englewood church assisted many other churches in the area who were struggling financially. In 1958, in moving to 79th Street (where they are currently located), the church chose First Christian Church of Chicago as their name. First Christian Church did not stay with the Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) and are an independent Christian Church. Some ministers of note from over the years include Charles G. Kindred, Burton B. Thurston, and Fred Thompson. Steven Chapman has been the minister since 1996. More information can be found in the History series of this collection.

Arrangement:

The records of First Christian Church of Chicago were found in the Helsabeck Archives. Provenance is unclear, but it is possible that the records came to Emmanuel Christian Seminary in the mid-2000s. The records appeared to be somewhat in order, with markers denoting sets, although these were not always accurate. Katherine Banks, archivist, refoldered the collection and arranged it into eight series: I. Series: History, 1910-1996, undated; II. Series: Leadership, 1885-2003, undated; III. Series: Building, 1925-1972, undated; IV. Series: Classes, 1900-1953, undated; V. Series: Events and Organizations, 1916-1984, undated; VI. Publications, 1927-1987, undated; VII. General Files, 1861-1991, undated; and VIII. Series: Photos, 1936, undated. The Leadership series is further divided into three subseries: 1. Subseries: Board, 1885-2003, undated; 2. Subseries: Financial and Legal, 1923-2002, undated; 3. Subseries: Personnel, 1921-1977, undated. The Classes series is further divided into three series: 1. Subseries: Bible School, 1900-1952, undated; 2. Subseries: Leadership Training, 1921-1953, undated; and 3. Subseries: Teacher Training, 1931-1947, undated. All series and subseries are arranged alphabetically with the exception of the Board and Financial and Legal subseries, which are arranged chronologically.

Scope and Content Note:

The records of First Christian Church of Chicago are arranged into eight series: History, Leadership, Building, Classes, Events and Organizations, Publications, General Files, and Photos. The Leadership series is further divided into three subseries: Board, Financial and Legal, and Personnel. The Classes series is also divided into three subseries: Bible School, Leadership Training, and Teacher Training.

The History series spans 1910 to 1996 and contains undated material. In this series are items relating to anniversary celebrations, visitors to the church over the decades, and history of the congregation.

The Leadership series spans 1885 to 2003 and contains undated material. Within this series are three subseries. The first subseries is the Board subseries, spanning 1885 to 2003 and containing undated material. In this subseries are board meeting minutes and folders relating to committees, elders, and deacons. The second subseries is the Financial and Legal subseries, spanning 1923 to 2002 and containing undated material. This subseries contains items relating to the finances of the church and legal documents, such as by-laws. The final subseries is the Personnel subseries, spanning 1921 to 1977 and containing undated material. This subseries contains files on various employees and leaders within the church.

The Building series spans 1925 to 1972 and contains undated material. In this series are contracts and equipment files, as well as plans and items relating to the S.P.A.C.E. committee.

The Classes series spans 1900 to 1953 and contains undated material. It is further divided into three subseries. The first subseries is Bible School, spanning 1900 to 1952 and containing undated material. It includes class information about the church’s robust Sunday School program. The second subseries is the Leadership Training subseries, spanning 1921 to 1953 and containing undated material. The third subseries is the Teacher Training subseries, spanning 1931 to 1947 and including undated material. These two subseries contain information on lessons to be taught.

The Events and Organizations series spans 1916 to 1984 and includes undated material. This series contains information on various events in the church’s history as well as organizations associated with the church, such as the Boy Scouts, Christian Action, Lake Region Christian Assembly, and Women’s Fellowship.

The Publications series spans 1927 to 1987 and includes undated material. In this series are various publications put out by the church over the years, as well as subscription information.

The General Files series spans 1861 to 1991 and includes undated material. Files that did not fit into other categories but are related to the church in some way are included into this series.

The Photos series includes photos from 1936, but many are undated. These are photos relating to the church.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information:

Accession 2023-001

Note: There was no accession year available when this collection was processed, therefore the year when processing started is used for the accession record.

Access Restrictions:

The collection is open for research.

The archivist reserves the right to determine on a case-by-case basis if certain folders within the collection that have been requested for viewing cannot be made available due to various restriction compliance, including but not limited to student information, private personal information, and organizational information of a restricted nature.

Preferred Citation:

[Item], First Christian Church of Chicago Records, Collection HSC0009, The Helsabeck Archives of the Stone-Campbell Movement, Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan Library, Johnson City, TN.

Processing Information:

Processed by Katherine N. Banks

Completed in 2023.

Folder List

Box 1

I. Series: History, 1910-1996, undated

• Anniversary Booklets, 1933-1940


• Correspondence – Anniversary, 1917-1940


• Fiftieth Anniversary, 1935


• Golden Jubilee, 1910-1935, undated


• Historical Overview of the Englewood Church of Christ (First Christian Church), undated


• History, 1915-1935, undated


• Membership, 1932


• Membership Directory, 1952


• Publicity – Anniversary, 1940


• Visitors (Registry), 1933-1938, undated


• Visitors Register, 1948


• Visitors – Registry, 1953


• Visitor Cards, 1969-1974


• Visitor Cards, 1975-1996


• Visitor Rolls, 1984-1990

II. Series: Leadership, 1885-2003, undated

1. Subseries: Board, 1885-2003, undated

• Minutes of Official Board of Church, 1885-1891


• Board Minutes, 1892-1893


• Deacons, 1904-1910


• Music Committee, 1906-1943


• Deacons, 1911


• Elders, 1915-1922

Box 2

• Executive Committee, 1923-1930, undated


• Nominating Committee Chairman, 1923-1959, undated


• Deacons, 1925-1930


• Finance Committee, 1927-1931


• Minutes of Church Business Meetings, 1927-1932


• Collections Committee, 1928-1931


• Program Committee, 1929-1931, undated


• Visitation, 1929-1931, undated


• Deacons, 1930-1932


• Executive Committee Correspondence, 1930-1931, undated


• Lists Committee, 1931, undated


• Stewardship, 1932-1934, undated


• Visitation, 1932, undated


• Deacons, 1933


• Deacons, 1934-1935


• Joint Elders and Deacons, 1934-1947, undated


• Deaconess, 1936-1939


• Deacons, 1936-1967


• Board of Deacons Records, H.O. Cord Secretary, 1938-1939


• Deacons, 1938-1939


• Elders, 1938-1942, undated


• Reorganization, 1938-1977


• Deacons, 1941


• Deacons, 1942-1945


• Elders, 1942


• Elders, 1943


• Elders, 1944


• Elders, 1945


• Deacons, 1946-1949


• Elders, 1946


• Deacons, 1947-1948


• Elders, 1947


• Elders, 1948


• Elders – Materials Discussed at Meeting, 1949

Box 3

• Missions Endorsed by Elders, 1949


• Fall Mobilization, 1949-1950


• Elders, 1950-1951


• Meeting Minutes, 1966


• Meeting Minutes, 1967


• Deacons Minutes, 1968


• Meeting Minutes, 1968


• Pulpit Committee, 1968-1970, undated


• Deacons Minutes, 1969


• History of Deacons Meetings, 1969


• Deacons Minutes – Secretary, 1970


• Secretary Deacons Minutes, 1971


• Minutes for Deacons Meeting, Secretaries Copy, 1972


• Deacons Minutes – Secretary, 1973


• Deacons Minutes – Secretary, 1974


• Minutes Year of 1975, 1975


• Deacons Minutes, 1978-1982, undated


• Worship Committee, 1981-1995


• Leadership Team, 1988-1994, undated


• Leadership Team, 2001-2002


• Leadership Team, 2001-2003

Box 4

2. Subseries: Financial and Legal, 1923-2002, undated

• Financial Reports, 1923-1951, undated


• Legal Documents, 1924-1993, undated


• Financial Report, 1940-1941


• Financial Report, 1942-1943


• Financial Report, 1944-1945


• Financial Report, 1946-1948


• Finance Community, 1949-1951


• Financial Report, 1949-1951


• Financial Report, 1952-1953


• By-Laws, 1962-1964


• Financial Acknowledgement Letters, 1964-1977


• Crown Campaign, 1967-1983, undated


• Giving Campaign, 1970-1971, undated


• Chicago Title and Trust – Church Tax, 1971


• Report of Trust Fund Account, 1971


• Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, 1971


• 1972 Tax – Cullerton’s Office, 1972, undated


• 1973 Church Tax Report File, 1973


• 1974 Tax, 1974


• Louise Rapp Estate – FCC, 1975-1976


• By-Laws, 1979


• Account of Lila Lewis to First Christian Church, 1984


• Long Range Planning, 1989, undated


• Financial, 1995-2002, undated

3. Subseries: Personnel, 1921-1977, undated

• Church Organist, 1977


• Kindred, C. G., 1925-1949, undated


• Kindred, 1930-1949, undated


• Kindred’s First Sermon, 1971


• Morris, W.W., 1937-1950


• Old Applications Received for New Custodian, 1968


• Pulpit Supply, 1941-1947, undated


• O.A. Rosboro, 1921-1922, undated


• Schaefer, 1928-1940, undated


• Shaw, W.F., 1927-1932, undated


• E.C. Slaughter, 1931-1934


• Stickell – “Modernistic Tendencies In Bible School Literature,” undated


• Thurston, Burton B., 1948-1953


• Wilhelm, Carl, 1921-1925

Box 5

III. Series: Building, 1925-1972, undated

• Building Campaign, 1927-1931, undated


• Building Correspondence, 1967


• Building Plans, 1928, undated


• Building Plans – New Church, 1925-1937, undated


• Chrysler Air Conditioning, 1972


• Equipment – Guarantees and Service Contracts, 1960-1972, undated


• Fiberglass Baptistry, 1971


• Operation Forward, 1957-1960, undated


• Sidewalk File, 1970-1971


• S.P.A.C.E. Committee – Miscellaneous Items, 1964-1966, undated


• S.P.A.C.E. Contracts, 1967


• S.P.A.C.E. Meeting Minutes, 1962-1966


• S.P.A.C.E. Reports, 1964-1968


• Specifications for the Addition to First Christian Church, 1967

IV. Series: Classes, 1900-1953, undated

1. Subseries: Bible School, 1900-1952, undated

• Attendance Reports, 1911-1930


• Banquets, 1922-1952, undated


• Classes 15, 17, 1931-1939, undated


• Class 21, 1921-1947, undated


• Class 22, 23, 24, 25, 1906-1947, undated


• Class 40, 1915-1916


• Class 43, 1900-1951

Box 6

• Class Rolls, 1949, undated


• Cover of Historical Record, undated


• Crusader Bible Class, 1948-1951, undated


• List of Materials, undated


• Membership, 1950, undated


• Miscellaneous, 1924-1950


• Record Book – Financial Secretary Class “43,” 1914-1925


• Teachers and Officers, 1946-1951, undated


• Young People’s Department, 1932-1948, undated

2. Subseries: Leadership Training, 1921-1953, undated

• General Information, 1921-1947


• Genesis-Deuteronomy, undated


• Leadership Training (1948-1963), 1952-1953, undated

3. Subseries: Teacher Training, 1931-1947, undated

• General Lessons: Archaeology, 1933-1935


• General Lessons: Baptism, 1933


• General Lessons: Bible, undated


• General Lessons: Church Since Pentecost, 1933


• General Lessons: Communion, 1933


• General Lessons: General Leadership, 1933


• General Lessons: Home Missions, 1933


• General Lessons: Meaning of Church Membership, 1933


• General Lessons: Psychiatry: A Social Science, undated


• General Lessons: Psychology of Teaching, 1933


• General Lessons: Purpose of the Bible, undated


• General Lessons: Reformation, 1933


• General Lessons: Religion in Art, 1933


• Old Testament: Books of History, undated


• Old Testament: Books of Poetry, undated


• Old Testament: Charts – O.T. History, Judges – 1080-164 B.C., undated


• Old Testament: Kings of Judah and Israel, undated


• Old Testament: Major and Minor Prophets, 1933


• Old Testament: O.T. Divisions, undated


• Old Testament: Pentateuch, undated


• Old Testament: Malachi to Matthew, undated


• New Testament: Acts, 1933-1947


• New Testament: Christ, 1933, undated


• New Testament: Ephesians, undated


• New Testament: Galatians, 1936, undated


• New Testament: General Letters, 1933


• New Testament: Gospel of the Cross, undated


• New Testament: Gospels, 1933


• New Testament: Matthew, undated


• New Testament: Paul, undated


• New Testament: Philippians – Study of B.B.F. 1, undated


• New Testament: Romans, undated


• New Testament: Special Letters, 1933


• New Testament: Sub-Apostolic Age, undated


• Scrapbook of News Articles on Teaching, circa 1931


• Social Life of Bible Class, 1933


• Teacher Training I, II, III, undated

V. Series: Events and Organizations, 1916-1984, undated

• Boy Scouts, 1932-1934, undated


• Chicago Bible Society, 1933, undated


• Chicago City Missionary Society, 1920-1938, undated


• Chicago Disciples Union, 1937


• Chicago District Evangelistic Association, 1922-1952, undated

Box 7

• Christian Action, 1934-1943, undated


• Christian Action (Clippings), 1934-1939, undated


• Christian Endeavor, 1931-1952, undated


• Conferences 1944, 1944, undated


• Disciples Divinity House, 1943, undated


• Emergency Million, 1928-1945, undated


• Evangelism – Local, 1948-1951, undated


• Fall Fellowship Chicago Area, 1949, undated


• Funeral Services, 1931-1938


• Lake Region Christian Assembly, 1933-1950, undated


• Lake Region Christian Assembly Conferences, 1930-1935, undated


• Lake Region Christian Assembly Conferences, 1937-1939


• Lake Region Christian Assembly Conferences, 1940-1941


• Lake Region Christian Assembly Conferences, 1942-1944


• Miscellaneous Programs, 1920-1952, undated


• Miscellaneous Programs, 1925-1953, undated


• Missionary Conferences, 1916-1953


• Music and Music Festivals, 1922-1953, undated

Box 8

• Women’s Council, 1946-1948, undated


• Women’s Fellowship, 1946-1950, undated


• Women’s Fellowship, 1967-1984


• Women’s Fellowship – Treasurer, 1963-1966


• Women’s Work, 1943-1947, undated


• YMCA, 1930-1951, undated


• Young People’s Work, 1923-1933, undated

VI. Publications, 1927-1987, undated

• Bible School News, 1949-1950, undated


• Calendars, 1948


• Calendars, 1949


• Calendars, 1950


• Calendars, 1951


• Calendars, 1952


• The Centurion, 1934-1937


• The Centurion, 1940-1943


• Centurion, 1942-1943


• The Christian Visitor, 1930-1931, undated


• Duration Sheet, 1936-1946, undated


• The Englewood Christian, 1948-1950


• The Englewood Christian, 1951-1952


• The Englewood Christian, 1953


• The First Christian Messenger, 1970-1987


• Monthly Paper, 1927-1942, undated


• Prayer Meeting, 1947-1952


• Subscriptions, 1931, undated


• TELL, 1951-1953, undated


• The Weekly, 1967-1968

VII. General Files, 1861-1991, undated

• Area Churches, 1925-1933, undated


• Articles, 1971-1997, undated


• Ashland Church, 1926-1939


• Austin Boulevard Christian Church, 1950


• Bain, John (Charles Kindred, Minister), 1933-1934, undated


• Certificates, 1934


• Chicago City, 1933-1939, undated


• Correspondence, 1948-1972, undated


• Correspondence, 1971-1980


• Christian Hour, 1946-1947, undated


• F.C.C. Disciples, 1990-1991


• Englewood Christian Bowling League, 1948


• Eureka College, 1924-1939, undated


• Maywood – First Christian Church, 1944-1949, undated


• Morgan Park Christian Church, undated


• Pension Fund, 1930-1942, undated


• Publicity, 1913-1931, undated


• Quotations and Correspondence, 1972


• Story of the Churches, 1940, undated


• Times of the Gentiles, 1912-1936, undated


• Tri-City Amusement Company, 1931-1936


• Walker, Dean E., 1971, undated


• World Exposition, 1861-1940

Box 10

VIII. Series: Photos, 1936, undated

• Photos, 1936, undated