Call Number:

05

Repository:

Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church

Extent:

15.0 linear feet

Language:

English

Date:

circa 1820-1975

Creator:

Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church

Abstract:

Methodism is a protestant Christian faith based in the teachings of John Wesley (1703-1791), who preached "practical divinity," emphasis on Christian living, and putting faith and love into action. The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1784 in the United States. After a series of divisions and unifications over the centuries, the modern United Methodist Church (U.S.) was formed in 1968. The Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church collection of Methodist organizations records, circa 1820-1975, consists of small amounts of records from various Methodist organizations within the boundaries of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church, roughly ranging from Philadelphia to Harrisburg. The amount of documentation varies by organization, but there is less than one linear foot of material for each of the organizations included in this collection. Minute books, newsletters, property-related records, financial documents, and several other types of materials, including some audio recordings and photographs, can be found.

Methodism is a protestant Christian faith based in the teachings of John Wesley (1703-1791), who preached "practical divinity," emphasis on Christian living, and putting faith and love into action. The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1784 in Baltimore, Maryland with Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke as its first bishops and held its first general conference in 1792. In May of 1939, the Methodist Episcopal Church; the Methodist Episcopal Church, South; and the Methodist Protestant Church united to form the Methodist Church (U.S.). In 1946 the Church of the United Brethren in Christ (New constitution) and the Evangelical Church united to form the Evangelical United Brethren Church. In 1968 the Methodist Church (U.S.) and the Evangelical United Brethren Church united, forming the United Methodist Church (U.S.).

The territory of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church (U.S.) covers sixteen counties in the southeastern quarter of the state of Pennsylvania, roughly from Philadelphia to Harrisburg.

This collection consists of small amounts of records from various Methodist organizations within the boundaries of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church, roughly ranging from Philadelphia to Harrisburg. The amount of documentation varies by organization, but there is less than one linear foot of material for each of the organizations included in this collection. Minute books, newsletters, property-related records, financial documents, and several other types of materials, including some audio recordings and photographs, can be found.

Organizations represented in this collection include: Association of Methodist Historical Societies Board of Lay Activities Board of Ministerial Training and Qualifications, circa 1950-1956 Cabinet of South District Epworth League, 1908-1924 Centennial Celebration of the Organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 1884 Centennial Funds of the Methodist Episcopal Church Chester Valley M.E. Ministerial Association, 1888-1898 City Evangelization and Church Extension Union of Reading and Vicinity, 1908-1915 Commission for the Bicentennial of the Birth of John Wesley, 1903 Commission on Collegeville Methodist Youth Conference Deaconess Board, 1905-1968 District conference minutes Eastern Conference, Evangelical United Brethren, 1963-1969 Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Needlework Circle Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, Ministers Wives Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, School of Christian Mission Education Fund of the Philadelphia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church Garden Spot Commission Garden Spot Epworth League Institute Garden Spot Institute for Methodist Youth Haverford Institute for Methodist Youth Historical Society of the Philadelphia Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church Home Missionary Society Lancaster County Methodist Ministerium, 1924-1942 Laymen's Library for Methodist Ministers, 1921-1929 M.E. Ministerial Association of Schuylkill County, 1875-1888 Methodist Episcopal Home for the Aged Methodist Episcopal Hospital in the City of Philadelphia Methodist Episcopal Orphanage Methodist Ministers Association of the Anthracite Region, 1927-1944 Methodist Radio Society of Philadelphia and New Jersey Methodist Conferences Methodist Service Center, 1943-1946 Methodist Social Union Millersville Epworth League Institute Ministerial Fellowships of Northeast Philadelphia Ministers Wives Association, 1911-1954 North District Epworth League / Youth Fellowship Northwest and West Districts Laymen Association Oral history audiocassette tapes Philadelphia Annual Conference Stewards, 1819-1856 Philadelphia Board of Church Extensions Philadelphia Collegiate Institute for Girls, 1896-1962 Philadelphia Conference Board of Missions, 1965-1971 Philadelphia Conference Education Society, 1880-1973 Philadelphia Conference Tract Society, 1853-1938 Philadelphia Local Preachers Association, 1884-1926 Philadelphia Methodist Publication Association, 1852-1853 Portia Society, 1897-1913 Prohibition League, Philadelphia Conference Rural Church Institute Social Service Commission South Philadelphia District, 1877-1880 Sunday School Union United Methodist Social Union United Methodist Women Uniting Conference, 1939 Various Quarterly Conferences minute books Wesley Institute of Methodist Youth