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Greenwood Presbyterian Church Records, 1825-2002
PA 26
Overview
Creator:
Greenwood Presbyterian Church
Title:
Greenwood Presbyterian Church Records
Collection Number:
PA 26
Collection Dates
1825-2002
Size:
5 boxes
Accession #:
IL2009.1; IL2016.2
Repository:
Hanover College Archives
Duggan Library
121 Scenic Drive
Hanover, Indiana 47243-0287
Phone: (812) 866-7181
archives@hanover.edu
Collection Information:
Scope and Content Note
Records of the Greenwood Presbyterian Church in Greenwood, Johnson County, IN, dated 1825-2002. Materials include session minutes, financial reports, membership lists, congressional meeting minutes, annual reports, Deacon’s minutes, and documentation for actions taken against members for improper behavior. Records also include vital statistic information for births, baptisms, marriages and deaths.
Historical Information
The Greenwood Presbyterian Church founded on 31 December 1825. Jacob Smock bought the first land in the vicinity in 1822, just a few years before the church was founded. Originally known as Greenfield, the town name was changed to Greenwood after it was discovered there was a town of the same name in a nearby county. The churches’ second meeting place, completed in 1832, was also used as a school house and a community center. In 1853, a new building was completed closer to the population center of the growing town of Greenwood. In 1898, yet another new building was constructed to meet the continuing needs of the church.
Administrative Information:
Related Items:
Related materials may be found by searching the Hanover College online catalog.
Greenwood Presbyterian Church Records
PA 26
2
Acquisition:
Loaned by the Greenwood Presbyterian Church, 2009. Additional loan in 2016.
Property rights and Usage: This collection is the property of Hanover College. Obtaining permission to publish or redistribute any copyrighted work is the responsibility of the author and/or publisher.
Preferred Citation: [identification of item], Greenwood Presbyterian Church Records, PA 26, Hanover College
Finding Aid Updated: 3/21/2018
Container List
Box
Folder
Folder Title
Date
Notes
1
1
Session Minutes
1825-1839
Meeting minutes; Records of membership; notes on actions taken against members (defamation of character, improper Christian conduct, adultery); A list of baptisms appear at book’s end with dates, names and parentage (1838).
1
2
Session Minutes and Church Register
1868-1900
Meeting minutes; membership changes; actions taken against members for improper behavior (scandalous behavior; forgery); discussions on the neglect of ordinances, duties, prayers, and family worship; membership list; deaths of members; church registers with dates of entry and method and departure; Baptisms; Marriages
1
3
Session Minutes (Quarterly Meetings)
1878-1918
A record book listing church quarterly meetings by date and providing detailed financial reports of receipts and expenditures. Some entries include actions taken upon motions and reports from committees.
1
4
Annual meetings and called business meetings
1919-1957
A record of annual and specially called church business meetings to provide a summary of the past year’s history and accomplishments including membership changes, finances, committee reports, staff changes, and attendance.
2
1
Session Book
1928-1945
Meeting minutes; actions of the officers and members of the church to improve attendance, giving, membership, organization, and worship; Annual reports; membership lists; baptisms; United World Emergency Fund; Aid to England and Russia
2
2
Session Book
April 1945-Jan. 1955
Meeting minutes; actions and discussions of the church regarding membership and staff changes, committee reports, plans, and the condition of the church; Annual reports; Greenwood Presbyterian Church Records
PA 26
3
Box
Folder
Folder Title
Date
Notes
2
3
Session Minutes
1955-1967
Church business notes arranged by date with paging, no marginal guides. Topics are presented as discussed or approved in order of business and include projects and emphases, Christian education, committee reports, fellowship activities, finances, membership changes, and Presbyter business. Pages 27-28 contain long membership lists. Pages 41-42 present long baptism lists. Annual reports appear regularly. Pages 64-65 present names of suspended members, some thought to be deceased. Elder assignments and responsibilities listed each session. Many names appear pages 311-313.
3
1
Session Minutes
1968-1982
A record of the church business meetings arranged by date and paging. Entries include names of attendees, topics listed as they occur with actions taken. Reports of committees appear below minutes and entries include membership and finances. Annual reports appear.
3
2
Session Minutes
1982-1993
Meeting minutes; membership changes; financial reports; committee reports; officer lists; lists of deceased, inactive and active communicants; Church votes to commit to peace-making, 1984; Clerk reports include racial and age make up of congregation; detailed study of plans to improve church facility and ministry
4
1
Session Minutes
1993-1997
Meeting minutes; membership changes and analyses; financial reports; activities; plans to improve facilities; by-laws, 1995 Annual report and Presbyter report.
4
2
Session Minutes
1997-2002
Meeting minutes; membership changes; financial reports; lists of officers; committee reports; plans and projects of the church; Minutes of actions taken and discussions are interspersed with documents, analyses, and state reports. Insurance papers, letters, financial analysis, and statistical reports complete the book.
5
1
Congregational Meetings
1957
Three entries of seven pages for January 2, 1957, September 8, 1957 , October 27, 1957. These three meetings primarily discuss and explain changes made in the church by-laws. Elder nominations are included. Greenwood Presbyterian Church Records
PA 26
4
Box
Folder
Folder Title
Date
Notes
5
2
Deacon’s Meetings
1931-1935; 1935-1937.
Entries appear by date and include attendance, motions made and acted upon, selection of officers, bills approved for payment, discussions of church finances, needs of building, and treasurer’s reports. Minutes are recorded in two books.
5
3
Deacon’s Meetings
1940-1948; 1948-1952
Minutes of the meetings include attendees, bills approved for payment, discussion of building needs, budget, and financial reports. Minutes by date and appear in two books.
5
4
Programs
1925-1939
Programs from the centennial anniversary celebration, 1925; centennial memorial service of Parson John Todd, 1939; and chapel dedication service, 1935
