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

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.

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.

Title Subject

Church history (Chicago, Ill. : Periodical)

Topical Subject

Church history Societies, etc.

Religious newspapers and periodicals United States.

Genre-form

Minutes. aat

Financial records. 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, 1917-39
	3	Annual Council, 1941-46
	4	Annual Council, 1952-68
	5	Annual Council, 1970-78
	6	Annual Society, 1917-39
	7	Annual Society, 1940-46
	8	Annual Society, 1952-68
	9	Annual Society, 1970-78
	10	Spring Council, 1931-38
	11	Spring Council, 1940-45
	12	Spring Council, 1968-80
	13	Spring Society, 1931-38
	14	Spring Society, 1940-45
	15	Spring Society and Council, 1935
	16	Spring Society and Council, 1953
	17	Spring Literacy, 1925-31
	18	Annual Research Committee, 1976

		Reports, 1930-1976

1	19	Treasurer's, 1930-40
	20	Treasurer's, 1941-46
	21	Treasurer's, 1951-60
	22	Treasurer's, 1961-69
	23	Treasurer's, 1973-79
	24	Research Committee, 1927-76
	25	Secretary's, 1939-42

		Programs, 1926-1980

1	26	Annual, West Coast Meeting, 1926-45
	27	Annual, West Coast Meeting, 1946-60
	28	Annual, West Coast Meeting, 1961-79
	29	Spring, 1932-45
	30	Spring, West Coast Meeting, 1946-60
	31	Spring, West Coast Meeting, 1961-80
	32	Literacy Meeting, 1927-31
		Correspondence, 1930-76

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

		SERIES 2: MEMBERSHIP, 1935-1977

1	59	Miscellaneous Membership Correspondence, 1935-77
	60	Miscellaneous Membership Items, 1938-47
	61	Membership Lists, 1914, 1917
	62	Membership Lists, 1939-43

		SERIES 3: SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES, 1919-1981

1	63	Editorial Board Reports, 1931-42
	64	Editorial Board Reports, 1973-80
	65	Correspondence re: Journal, 1950-76
	66	News Supplements, 1972-76
	67	History of Brewer and Schaff Prizes, 1918-79
	68	Entries for Brewer and Schaff Prizes, 1945-81

		SERIES 4: FINANCIAL RECORDS, 1911-1979

1	69-73	Bank Statements, 1950, 1965-72
	74	Long-Range Financial Planning Committee, 1979
	75	Ledger, 1911-26
	76	Ledger, 1926-32
	77	Ledger, 1943-50
	78	Ledger, 1949-50
	79-82	Ledger Sheets, 1951-55

2	1-17	Ledger Sheets, 1955-72
	18	Subscription Lists, 1972-73
	19	Ledger Sheets, 1972-73

		SERIES 5: MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, 1929-1980

2	20	Constitution, By-Laws, and Correspondence, 1943-78
	21	Insurance Policies, 1951-58
	22	Copyright Certificates and Correspondence, 1969-81
	23-25	Mortgage Certificates, 1934-57
	26	American Council of Learned Societies, 1929
	27	American Historical Association, 1942-78
	28	Committee on Reorganization and Policy, 1950
	29	Medieval Academy of America, 1958
	30	Self-Study Project, 1958-59
	31	Council on the Study of Religion, 1969-80
	32	International Commission for Comparative Church History, 1975-76
	33	American Society for Reformation Research, 1977

		MICROFILM

3		Church History, Volumes 18-37 (1949-68)
		Church History, Volumes 39-49 (1970-80)

		BOUND VOLUMES

4		Church History, Volumes 1-26 (1932-57)

5		Church History, Volumes 27-30 (1958-61)

		Papers of the ASCH, 2nd Series, Volumes 1-4 (1906-13)
		Papers of the ASCH, 2nd Series, Volumes 6-9 (1916-33)

		The Great Awakening in Nova Scotia: 1776-1809, by Maurice W. Armstrong, 1948 Brewer Prize

		Papers of the ASCH, First Series, Volume 5 (1893)