Guide to the American Society of Church History Records

Descriptive Summary

Title

American Society of Church History Records

Inclusive Dates

1911-1981

Call Number

RG 162

Creator(s)

American Society of Church History.

Quantity

5.00 cubic feet (5 boxes)

Restrictions on Access

Collection open for research

Repository

Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147-1516 USA

Biographical Note / Administrative History

Administrative History

In 1888, Philip Schaff, a nationally renowned church historian, founded the American Society of Church History (ASCH). The organization was conceived as a professional society of leading American church historians, clergy, and interested laymen. The society met annually in December to present research papers. The proceedings of these meetings were published in The Papers of the American Society of Church History (1888-96). A second series of proceedings appeared from 1913 to 1934. Initially the ASCH retained many of Schaff's founding ideals, notably the study of church history as a separate discipline and the movement of church historians towards greater understanding between denominations.

Gradually the membership acquired a more secular bent and, in 1896, voted to merge with the American Historical Association (AHA) as the Church History Section. The relationship permitted only minimal participation by the ASCH, however. Since the AHA Annual Reports were printed at government expense, the publication of church-related papers was too sensitive an issue, given the concept of separation of Church and State. Dissatisfaction with the existing arrangement between the AHA and the ASCH resulted in the reorganization of the latter in 1906, as an independent entity. Since then, the society has held its annual meetings in conjunction with the AHA. Spring membership meetings are also held annually by the ASCH.

Since 1932 the quarterly journal Church History has served as a forum for scholarship. In addition the society encourages excellence in church history research through the Philip Schaff Prize and the Frank S. and Elizabeth D. Brewer Prize, both of which award a subsidy towards the publication of winning manuscripts.

Collection Overview

Collection includes records relating to meetings, membership, and scholarly activities, including publication of the periodical "Church History," financial records, and miscellaneous records.

Organization and Arrangement

SERIES 1: MEETINGS, 1917-1980

SERIES 2: MEMBERSHIP, 1935-1977

SERIES 3: SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES, 1919-1981

SERIES 4: FINANCIAL RECORDS, 1911-1979

SERIES 5: MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, 1929-1980

INDEX TO MICROFILM AND BOUND VOLUMES

Administrative Information

Processing Information

Provenance was generally respected in processing this collection. Published materials that were part of the original collection are listed at the end of the finding aid. These materials, however, are incomplete and the researcher is advised to check the library for the complete holdings.

Collection processed and finding aid prepared: April 1983
Karen Schoenwaldt, Archival Intern
Frederick J. Heuser, Jr, Archivist

Finding Aid revised: July 1992
Stephanie Muntone, Processing Archivist

Catalog Headings

The following headings have been used to index the description of this collection in the society’s electronic catalog.

Corporate Subject

American Society of Church History.

Title Subject

Church history (Chicago, Ill. : Periodical)

Topical Subject

Church history--Societies, etc.

Religious newspapers and periodicals--United States.

Genre-form

Minutes (administrative records) aat

Financial records. aat

Reports. aat

Correspondence. aat

Programs (documents) aat

Collection Inventory

Box	Folder	Description

1	1	Finding Aid to Record Group 162

		SERIES 1: MEETINGS, 1917-1980

		Minutes, 1971-1980
1	2	Annual Council, 1917-1939
1	3	Annual Council, 1941-1946
1	4	Annual Council, 1952-1968
1	5	Annual Council, 1970-1978
1	6	Annual Society, 1917-1939
1	7	Annual Society, 1940-1946
1	8	Annual Society, 1952-1968
1	9	Annual Society, 1970-1978
1	10	Spring Council, 1931-1938
1	11	Spring Council, 1940-1945
1	12	Spring Council, 1968-1980
1	13	Spring Society, 1931-1938
1	14	Spring Society, 1940-1945
1	15	Spring Society and Council, 1935
1	16	Spring Society and Council, 1953
1	17	Spring Literacy, 1925-1931
1	18	Annual Research Committee, 1976

		Reports, 1930-1976
1	19	Treasurer's, 1930-1940
1	20	Treasurer's, 1941-1946
1	21	Treasurer's, 1951-1960
1	22	Treasurer's, 1961-1969
1	23	Treasurer's, 1973-1979
1	24	Research Committee, 1927-1976
1	25	Secretary's, 1939-1942

		Programs, 1926-1980
1	26	Annual, West Coast Meeting, 1926-1945
1	27	Annual, West Coast Meeting, 1946-1960
1	28	Annual, West Coast Meeting, 1961-1979
1	29	Spring, 1932-1945
1	30	Spring, West Coast Meeting, 1946-1960
1	31	Spring, West Coast Meeting, 1961-1980
1	32	Literacy Meeting, 1927-1931

		Correspondence, 1930-1976
1	33	Annual Meeting, 1930
1	34	Annual Meeting, 1935
1	35	Spring Meeting, 1938
1	36	Spring Meeting, 1939
1	37	Annual Meeting, 1940
1	38	Spring Meeting, 1940
1	39	Annual Meeting, 1942
1	40	Spring Meeting, 1942
1	41	Annual Meeting, 1942-1943
1	42	Annual Meeting, 1944
1	43	Spring Meeting, 1946
1	44	Annual Meeting, 1946
1	45	Annual Meeting, 1950
1	46	Spring Meeting, 1955
1	47	Annual Meeting, 1955
1	48	Spring Meeting, 1956
1	49	Annual Meeting, 1956
1	50	Annual Meeting, 1958
1	51	Annual Meeting, 1959
1	52	Spring Meeting, 1960
1	53	Annual Meeting, 1960
1	54	Annual Meeting, 1973
1	55	Annual Meeting, 1973
1	56	Annual Meeting, 1975
1	57	Annual Meeting, 1975
1	58	Annual Meeting, 1976

		SERIES 2: MEMBERSHIP, 1935-1977

1	59	Miscellaneous Membership Correspondence, 1935-1977
1	60	Miscellaneous Membership Items, 1938-1947
1	61	Membership Lists, 1914, 1917
1	62	Membership Lists, 1939-1943

		SERIES 3: SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES, 1919-1981

1	63	Editorial Board Reports, 1931-1942
1	64	Editorial Board Reports, 1973-1980
1	65	Correspondence regarding Journal, 1950-1976
1	66	News Supplements, 1972-1976
1	67	History of Brewer and Schaff Prizes, 1918-1979
1	68	Entries for Brewer and Schaff Prizes, 1945-1981

		SERIES 4: FINANCIAL RECORDS, 1911-1979

1	69-73	Bank Statements, 1950, 1965-1972
1	74	Long-Range Financial Planning Committee, 1979
1	75	Ledger, 1911-1926
1	76	Ledger, 1926-1932
1	77	Ledger, 1943-1950
1	78	Ledger, 1949-1950
1	79-82	Ledger Sheets, 1951-1955

2	1-17	Ledger Sheets, 1955-1972
2	18	Subscription Lists, 1972-1973
2	19	Ledger Sheets, 1972-1973

		SERIES 5: MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, 1929-1980

2	20	Constitution, By-Laws, and Correspondence, 1943-1978
2	21	Insurance Policies, 1951-1958
2	22	Copyright Certificates and Correspondence, 1969-1981
2	23-25	Mortgage Certificates, 1934-1957
2	26	American Council of Learned Societies, 1929
2	27	American Historical Association, 1942-1978
2	28	Committee on Reorganization and Policy, 1950
2	29	Medieval Academy of America, 1958
2	30	Self-Study Project, 1958-1959
2	31	Council on the Study of Religion, 1969-1980
2	32	International Commission for Comparative Church History, 1975-1976
2	33	American Society for Reformation Research, 1977

		INDEX TO MICROFILM
3	none	Church History, Volumes 18-37 (1949-1968)
3	none	Church History, Volumes 39-49 (1970-1980)

		BOUND VOLUMES
4	none	Church History, Volumes 1-26 (1932-1957)

5	none	Church History, Volumes 27-30 (1958-1961)
5	none	Papers of the ASCH, 2nd Series, Volumes 1-4 (1906-1913)
5	none	Papers of the ASCH, 2nd Series, Volumes 6-9 (1916-1933)
5	none	The Great Awakening in Nova Scotia: 1776-1809, by Maurice W. Armstrong, 1948 Brewer Prize
5	none	Papers of the ASCH, First Series, Volume 5 (1893)

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Guide to the American Society of Church History Records

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