University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives Department.

Grand Avenue Congregational Church (Milwaukee, Wis.).

Records, 1857-1998.

Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 128

17.8 cubic ft. (62 archives boxes)

ABSTRACT: Records, mainly 1910-1998, of a Milwaukee church founded in 1847 as the Free Congregational Church, later known as the Spring Street Congregational Church, and renamed the Grand Avenue Congregational Church (GAC) in 1881. Since 1961 the congregation was a member of the United Church of Christ. Included are published histories and information on anniversary observances; newspaper clippings and photographs; minutes and correspondence of congregational meetings, the Church Council, and many governing boards and committees; financial and other administrative records; incomplete membership records, and numerous publications including annual reports, newsletters, and church bulletins. Activities of the women in the congregation are documented by minutes, financial information, and other records of the Women's Guild and its many circles, the Home and Foreign Missionary societies, and other groups. The collection also includes information on the United Church of Christ merger and on participation in area ecumenical activities. The church closed in 1997 and the collection contains documentation on the closing and sale of the building, which had been placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

ARRANGEMENT: The collection is arranged as Historical and Background Material, Administrative Records, Organizations, Publications, and External Organizations.

SCOPE AND CONTENT: The records of the Grand Avenue Congregational Church primarily reflect the activities of the various boards and committees that govern the congregation, the organizations in which the women of the congregation participated, and the publications issued to communicate with members.

The records document well the congregation's role and activities as a large church of the central city, although information pertaining to its important early role in the anti-slavery and temperance movements is entirely missing from the records. There is also little information on individual pastors or their ministries, aside from Charles H. Beale, who served from 1903-1924.

The Historical Background Material includes printed histories prepared for anniversary observances which contain copies of some major documents and statements of faith from the church's past. Files on various anniversaries include programs, pageant scripts, and other related items. The union with Pilgrim Church which took place in 1916 as a result of the geographical proximity of the two congregations is documented by the resolutions passed by both congregations and a roll of Pilgrim Church members. Also here are files on the honor roll maintained during World War I and World War II, containing some correspondence between the pastor and service men and women from the congregation. Newspaper clippings reflect some aspects of the church's history for the period between 1930 and 1987. Copies of statistical reports submitted to the Congregational Year-Book shortly after the turn of the century contain information on the composition of the membership, the amount and distribution of their benevolent contributions, and the career and salary of the minister.

Administrative Records are a major part of this collection, consisting primarily of minutes and correspondence of boards and committees and financial records. The records document well the activities and endeavors of a modern congregation.

With the general file of constitutions and by-laws at the beginning of the section is a file pertaining to the dissolution of the Second Congregational Society formed in 1848 to oversee the finances of the church and to the incorporation of the church in 1952. The remainder of the series is arranged by administrative body or by record type. Documented administrative groups include general congregational meetings, the Church Council (and its predecessor the Pastor's Staff), the Board of Religious Education, the Board of Trustees, which was responsible for the business and secular operation of the church; and the Board of Worship that was responsible for religious activities.

The records of the general church membership meetings include minutes and annual reports of church groups and officials. In more recent years the annual reports were separately printed. They may be found in the Publications series.

Financial records are primarily comprised of individual pledge records and summary financial statements. The pledge books document the patterns in charitable contributions of individual members for the period from 1918 to 1958, while the summary financial statements (some monthly and some annual) provide good coverage of the congregation's overall financial position for most of the twentieth century.

The membership records date from 1857 through 1997, and sometimes contain information on births, deaths, and baptisms, as well as the new affiliations of members who left the congregation. The Dismission Book contains the same information for the period 1934-1940, but it is difficult to use, as the names are not indexed. Baptism records date from circa 1857 through circa 1980.

Alphabetical subject files grouped with the administrative records contain some information on the merger with the Evangelical and Reformed Church and on the careers of individual ministers and other individuals employed by the congregation. The pastors' files are primarily biographical, often consisting of newspaper articles and a few sermons and writings. The files concerning the hiring of a pastor in 1903 and choir director/organist in 1934 are interesting in their documentation of the extent and thoroughness of the searches. Also in the subject files is information on church modernization projects and construction. The records here include committee papers, blueprints, specifications, and fundraising information.

The Organizations series documents well the role of women in the congregation, with a few of the volumes dating to the mid-nineteenth century. Well documented by both minutes and financial records are the Women's Guild and its many circles, and the early Home and Foreign Missionary groups. There is, however, only a small quantity of documentation pertaining to the Sunday School.

The Publications series consist of annual reports, directories, newsletters and Order of Worship bulletins/Calendars. With the beginning of the Messenger in 1948 calendar information was no longer published in the bulletins, and as a result these later bulletins have not been retained. The cookbook issued by the women of the Pilgrim Congregational Church is an interesting example of this traditional type of fundraising vehicle.

A small group of material documents the relationship of GAC with External Organizations in the Milwaukee area, including Central City Churches, Inc., a consortium of urban churches providing aid to the elderly, hungry and homeless.

ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY NOTE: The Grand Avenue Congregational Church of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was founded on February 4, 1847 as the Free Congregational Church, after the Milwaukee Presbyterian and Congregational churches excluded abolitionists. The Rev. O.F. Curtis served as the first pastor, but after one year he was followed by Rev. W.L. Parsons. Mrs. Parsons opened a school first known as the Milwaukee Female Seminary which flourished and eventually became Milwaukee-Downer College.

The church's third pastor, G.W. Bassett, served less than a year. After this the church was without a pastor for almost two years until 1853 when Rev. J.G. Wilson became the minister. Following Wilson's resignation in 1854 the church building was sold, and the congregation was without a home and a pastor until 1857. This period, during which the congregation suffered as a result of its anti-slavery views, marked the church's low ebb and a conference of Christian brethren was called to consider if the church should continue. This meeting determined that its principles were correct and needed in the community, and with this support the congregation determined to erect a building of its own at Sixth and Spring streets. On February 2, 1858 Rev. William DeLoss Love was installed as pastor. He served until 1871 and was followed by Dr. George T. Ladd who served from 1871 to 1879.

This early period during which the church had six pastors in thirty years ended in 1880 when the congregation entered a period of growth and maturity. The next two ministers each stayed twenty years or more and were highly regarded. Dr. George H. Ide was pastor from 1880 to 1903, and Dr. Charles H. Beale was pastor from 1903 to 1924. Beale saw church membership grow from 612 to 1150 (including 200 members who joined when the Pilgrim Church merged with GAC in 1916). Church activities also expanded during this period and an assistant pastor was employed to supervise youth activities. In additions GAC achieved a national reputation and Beale was personally well known for his civic, political, and religious activities.

In 1924 Beale was succeeded by his son Arthur Stanley Beale. His pastorate, which continued until 1934, was marked by increasing emphasis on men's activities, active participation in community affairs by the pastor, an extensive publicity campaign, and an increase in church membership to over 1500, its all-time high. However, stress produced by the Depression and internal divisions resulted in Beale's resignation in 1934.

The next pastor, Dr. Frank M. Sheldon, brought with him experience based on years spent as the superintendent of the Congregational Conference of Wisconsin and as secretary of the Congregational Educational Society and Sunday School and Publishing Society, as well as pastorates at a number of churches. Under his leadership GAC became more of a city-wide church, and while many members moved to distant parts of the city and the church neighborhood changed in character, membership remained stable.

Beginning in 1947 GAC was served successively by four pastors: Perry Avery (1947-1954), Donald Tarr (1955-1959), David Howell (1959-1966), and John Kelley (1966-1969). During this period the central city continued to change and membership declined and the church was forced to decide whether to remain at its Grand Avenue site or relocate. After extensive study of the issue, the congregation chose to retain its role as an urban church and it embarked on a fundraising effort to renovate its sixty-year old building.

Like many Congregational churches in Wisconsin, the proposal for a national merger with the Evangelical and Reformed Church was a source of discussion and dissension. However, the vote for merger prevailed, and GAC became a member of the United Church of Christ in 1961.

Published histories of the Grand Avenue Congregational Church prepared in 1907 and 1947 that offer more detailed accounts of the congregation's past are available in the first box of the collection.

The church's last service was held on December 28, 1997.

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:

Grand Avenue Congregational Church (Milwaukee, Wis.). Records, 1857-1977. Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 128. Wisconsin Historical Society. Milwaukee Area Research Center. Golda Meir Library. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

ACQUISITION: Donated by Grand Avenue Congregational Church of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, via Paul Sprunger, 1967-1977, and via Harrison Henry, 1997-1998. M67-348; M68-32; M68-262; M77-145; M98-084.

PROCESSING: Processed by Natalie Tinkham (AH and CJM) in 1992. The additions to the collection were processed by Donna Sereda and Edward Katilus in 1998.

MARC RECORD SEARCH TERMS: The following terms were used in the online bibliographic MARC record to this collection:

Church records and registers--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
Congregational Church--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
Milwaukee (Wis.)--Church history--Sources.
United Church of Christ--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
Women in church work--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

MILWAUKEE MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION 128. Historical Background Materials.	BOX	FOLDER
Beale, Arthur Stanley (1881-1938), memorial booklet, 1938	61	7
Brochures, 1956, undated	61	8
Celebrations and Services, 150 Years, 1997	61	9
Celebrations and Services, 1972-1986	61	10
Centennial Observance, 1987	61	11
Church History Pamphlets, 1950-1981	61	12
Church Manual, 1887	61	13
Church Manual, undated	61	14
Commemorative Events and Anniversaries, Building Dedication, 1888	1	2
Commemorative Events and Anniversaries, Centennial, 1945-1947	1	7
Commemorative Events and Anniversaries, Faith of Our Fathers, Script by Lulu M. Dysart, 1947	1	8
Commemorative Events and Anniversaries, Members of Prominence, 1930	1	10
Commemorative Events and Anniversaries, Miscellaneous, 1862, 1881, 1890, 1904-1950, undated	1	11
Commemorative Events and Anniversaries, Pilgrim Landing 300th Anniversary, Pageant Script,1920	1	5
Commemorative Events and Anniversaries, Programs, Sermon, Reminiscences of Ovid B. Blix, 1945-1947	1	7
Commemorative Events and Anniversaries, 60th Anniversary, 1907	1	3
Commemorative Events and Anniversaries, 70th Anniversary, 1917	1	4
Commemorative Events and Anniversaries, 75th Anniversary, 1922	1	6
Commemorative Events and Anniversaries, 110th Anniversary, 1957	1	9
Mission Statement and Procedures, 1970-1975	61	15
National Register of Historic Places, 1984-1986	61	16
Newspaper Clippings, 1932-1963	1	12-13
Newspaper Clippings, 1930-1987	61	17
Our Pilgrim Inheritance, Charles Beale, 1920	61	18
Performance Arts, 1970-1988	61	19
Photographs, Xerox Copies, 1947, 1961, undated	1	14
Printed Histories, Historical Sketch, Grand Avenue Congregation Church, 1907 and One Hundred Years of Christian Service, 1947	1	1
Sale of Church, 1996-1998	62	1
State Historical Society, Correspondence, Deposit of Records, 1966-1967	1	15
Stenson Report and GAC Role as Urban Church and Long-Range Planning, 1964	1	16
Title Abstract, 1835-1997	62	2
Union with Pilgrim Church, 1915	1	17
World War I, Members in the Service, 1918-1919	1	18
World War II, Honor Roll and Correspondence, 1941-1946	1	19
Yearbook Statistical Reports, 1905-1923	1	20

MILWAUKEE MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION 128. Administrative Records.	BOX	FOLDER
Administrative Bodies, Board of Religious Education, 1948-1951	2	6
Administrative Bodies, Board of Trustees, Minutes and Correspondence, 1920-1931	2	7-10
Administrative Bodies, Board of Trustees, Minutes and Correspondence, 1932-1947	3
Administrative Bodies, Board of Trustees, Minutes and Correspondence, 1948-1965	4
Administrative Bodies, Board of Worship, Correspondence, 1934-1953	6	1-3
Administrative Bodies, Board of Worship, Minutes, 1931-1966	5	1-5
Administrative Bodies, Church Council, Pastor's Staff, 1904-1912	2	5
Administrative Bodies, Church Council, Pastor's Staff, 1948-1964	2	6
Administrative Bodies, Clerk's Correspondence, 1901-1950	2	3
Administrative Bodies, Congregational Meetings, 1910-1931	1	22
Administrative Bodies, Congregational Meetings, 1933-1966	2	1-2
Baptism Records, A-H, circa 1857-1980	42
Baptism Records, I-Spra, circa 1857-1980	43
Baptism Records, Spru-Z, circa 1857-1980	44
Committees, Every Member Canvass, 1926-1965	6	4-7
Committees, House Committee, 1949-1951	6	8
Committees, Pastoral Committees, 1903	6	9
Committees, Pastoral Committees, 1923, 1947, 1954	7	1-3
Committees, Publicity Committee, 1950	7	4
Committees, Records Committee, 1956-1958	7	5
Committees, Social Action, 1953-1954	7	6
Constitutions and By-Laws, 1914-1974	1	21
Financial Records, Benevolence Account, 1919-1936	7	7
Financial Records, Building Alteration and Pastor's Assistant Fund, 1907	7	8
Financial Records, Individual Pledge Records, 1952-1954	13	3-4
Financial Records, Individual Pledge Records, 1955-1958, 1959-1961	14	3-5
Financial Records, Individual Pledge Records, A-C, 1918-1933	8	1-2
Financial Records, Individual Pledge Records, A-H, 1934-1948	11
Financial Records, Individual Pledge Records, A-K, 1955-1958	13	5-6
Financial Records, Individual Pledge Records, D-K, 1918-1933	9
Financial Records, Individual Pledge Records, I-S, 1934-1948	12
Financial Records, Individual Pledge Records, L-P, 1918-1933	8	3-4
Financial Records, Individual Pledge Records, L-Z, 1955-1958	14	1-2
Financial Records, Individual Pledge Records, R-Z, 1918-1933	10
Financial Records, Individual Pledge Records, T-Z, 1934-1948	13	1-2
Financial Records, Summary Financial Statements, Annual and Monthly, 1912-1959	15
Financial Records, Summary Financial Statements, Annual and Monthly, 1960-1973	16	1-2
Legal Papers, Dissolution of Second Congregational Society and Incorporation of GAC, 1952	28	2
Membership Records, A-B, circa 1857-1997	45
Membership Records, C-E, circa 1857-1997	46
Membership Records, F-H, circa 1857-1997	47
Membership Records, H-L, circa 1857-1997	48
Membership Records, L-N, circa 1857-1997	49
Membership Records, O-R, circa 1857-1997	50
Membership Records, S-T, circa 1857-1997	51
Membership Records, U-Z, circa 1857-1997	52
Membership Records, Dismission Book Stubs, 1935-1940	19	2
Membership Records, Information on People Associated with GAC, 1955	20	1
Membership Records, Members by Geographic Location, 1956	19	3
Membership Records, Membership Books 109-2341, 1857-1915	16	3
Membership Records, Membership Books, 2342-4102, 1916-1934	17	1-2
Membership Records, Membership Lists, 1922	18	2
Membership Records, Membership Lists, 1931, 1952-1955	18	3-5
Membership Records, Membership Lists, 1960-1963	19	1
Membership Records, Membership Lists, Compiled in 1940, 1847-1887	18	1
Membership Records, Membership Updates, 1947-1951	20	2
Membership Records, Membership Updates, 1952-1968	21	1
Minutes, Miscellaneous, 1924-1935	53	1
Minutes, Board of Christian Education, 1952-1957	53	2
Minutes, Board of Christian Education, 1958-1975	53	3
Minutes, Board of Trustees, 1964-1974	53	4
Minutes, Board of Trustees, 1975-1985	53	5
Minutes, Board of Trustees, 1986-1997	53	6
Minutes, Board of Worship, 1967-1983	54	1
Minutes, Board of Worship, 1986-1991	54	2
Minutes, Board of Worship, 1992-1997	54	3
Minutes, Church Council, 1931-1946	54	4
Minutes, Church Council, 1947-1967	54	5
Minutes, Church Council, 1967-1989	55	1
Minutes, Church Council, 1989-1991	56	1
Minutes, Church Council, 1992-1995	56	2
Minutes, Church Council, 1996-1997	56	3
Minutes, Congregational Meetings, 1947-1967	56	4
Minutes, Congregational Meetings, 1966-1983	57	1
Minutes, Congregational Meetings, 1983-1990	57	2
Minutes, Congregational Meetings, 1991-1997	57	3
Subject Files, Church Magazine, 1929-1931	21	2
Subject Files, Church Use Requests, 1949-1955	21	3
Subject Files, Memorial Donations and Bequests, 1919-1955	22	1
Subject Files, Merger of Congregational and E&R Churches, Issue at GAC, 1948-1970	22	2
Subject Files, Merger of Congregational and E&R Churches, Laymen's Committee of Concern, 1957-1959	22	3
Subject Files, Merger of Congregational and E&R Churches, Literature on Constitution, 1959-1960	22	4
Subject Files, Merger of Congregational and E&R Churches, Wisconsin Churches Not Approving Merger, 1957-1971	23	1
Subject Files, Messenger, 1954-1958	23	2
Subject Files, Music, 1926, 1957-1966	23	3
Subject Files, Name Change, 1925-1931	23	4
Subject Files, Parish Visitor, 1950-1966	23	5
Subject Files, Pastors, Avery, Perry, 1947-1954	24	4
Subject Files, Pastors, Beale, Arthur, 1924-1934	24	2
Subject Files, Pastors, Beale, Charles, 1904-1924	24	1
Subject Files, Pastors, Curtis, Otis, 1847-1848	23	6
Subject Files, Pastors, Howell, David, 1959-1966	24	6
Subject Files, Pastors, Ide, George, 1881-1903	23	8
Subject Files, Pastors, Kelley, John, 1966-1969	24	7
Subject Files, Pastors, Ladd, George, 1872-1881	23	7
Subject Files, Pastors, Sheldon, Frank, 1935-1947	24	3
Subject Files, Pastors, Tarr, Donald, 1955-1959	24	5
Subject Files, Personnel, Associate Pastors, 1952-1956	25	5
Subject Files, Personnel, Choir Director/Organist, 1934	25	3
Subject Files, Personnel, Interim Pastors, 1947	25	4
Subject Files, Personnel, Miscellaneous Personnel, 1924-1956	25	6
Subject Files, Personnel, Pastoral Candidates, 1903	25	1-2
Subject Files, Personnel, Pulpit Supply Correspondence, 1901-1903	24	8
Subject Files, Physical Plant, Building Modernization, 1955	26	2
Subject Files, Physical Plant, Construction Bids and Contracts, 1931, 1955-1958	26	3
Subject Files, Physical Plant, New Century Planning, 1948-1955	26	1

MILWAUKEE MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION 128. Organizations.	BOX	FOLDER
Bible Book of the Month Club, undated	32	5
Foreign Missionary Society, Minutes, 1869-1880	26	4
Foreign Missionary Society, Minutes, 1895-1916	26	8-9
Foreign Missionary Society, Minutes, 1917-1923	27	1
Foreign Missionary Society, Treasurer's Records, 1892-1903	26	7
Home Missionary Society, Minutes, 1903-1928	28	1
Home Missionary Society, Treasurer's Records, 1909-1925	27	3
Men's Club, 1922-1971	32	6
Mr. and Mrs. Club, 1947-1959	32	7
Sunday Nighters (Formerly Young Peoples' Club), 1930-1947	32	8-9
Sunday Nighters (Formerly Young Peoples' Club), Financial Records, 1935-1945	33	1
Sunday School, Financial Records, 1890-1948	33	3-5
Sunday School, General, 1920-1954	33	2
Woman's Board of Missions, 1880-1890	26	5-6
Women's Guild, Circles, Alice Keenan Sheldon Circle, 1944-1953	31	3
Women's Guild, Circles, Business and Professional Women, 1949-1954	31	4
Women's Guild, Circles, Charlotte Willard Circle, Minutes, 1916-1966	31	5-8
Women's Guild, Circles, Charlotte Willard Circle, Financial Records, 1924-1948	31	9
Women's Guild, Circles, Charlotte Willard Circle, Financial Records, 1949-1966	31	10
Women's Guild, Circles, Charlotte Willard Circle, Friendly Service, 1956-1963	31	11
Women's Guild, Circles, Charlotte Willard Circle, Script, "The Red Chair Waits," 1960	31	12
Women�s Guild, Circles, Dorcas Circle, Minutes, 1970-1980	58	1
Women's Guild, Circles, Esther Circle, 1962-1964	31	13
Women�s Guild, Circles, Esther Circle, Minutes, 1980-1988	58	1
Women�s Guild, Circles, Esther Circle, Minutes, 1989-1993	58	2
Women's Guild, Circles, General Membership Lists, 1955-1965	31	2
Women's Guild, Circles, Kitchen Circle, 1945-1953	31	1
Women's Guild, Circles, Martha Circle, 1955	31	2
Women's Guild, Circles, Mary Avery Circle, 1951-1954	31	3
Women's Guild, Circles, Service Circle, 1942-1953	31	4
Women's Guild, Constitutions, 1917-1949	27	3
Women�s Guild, Financial Reports and Minutes, 1964-1970	58	3
Women's Guild, Lectures and Entertainment, 1922	30	5
Women's Guild, Minutes, 1901-1932	27	4-7
Women's Guild, Minutes, 1932-1967	29
Women�s Guild, Minutes, 1971-1994	58	4
Women's Guild, Missionary Department, 1928-1936	27	2
Women's Guild, Programs, 1940-1966	31	1
Women's Guild, Scrapbooks, 1914-1933	30	6-8
Women's Guild, Treasurer's Records, 1923-1961	30	1-4

MILWAUKEE MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION 128. Publications.	BOX	FOLDER
Annual Reports, 1958-1973	33	6
Annual Reports, 1974-1990	58	5
Annual Reports, 1971-1997	58	6
Brochures, 1970-1972, undated	34	1
Calendars, With Order of Worship, 1901-1919	37	6-12
Calendars, With Order of Worship, 1920-1928	38
Calendars, With Order of Worship, 1929-1937	39
Calendars, With Order of Worship, 1938-1947	40
Directories, 1898-1964	34	2
Directories, 1952-1993	59	1
Free Church Messenger and Messenger, 1942-1954	34	6-12
Free Church Messenger and Messenger, 1955-1967	35
Free Church Messenger and Messenger, 1968-1972	36
Free Church Messenger and Messenger, 1973-1977	37	1-5
The Little Bible, Charles Beale, 1910	59	2
Messenger, 1978	59	3
Messenger, 1979	59	4
Messenger, 1980	59	5
Messenger, 1982	59	6
Messenger, 1983	59	7
Messenger, 1984	60	1
Messenger, 1985	60	2
Messenger, 1986	60	3
Messenger, 1987	60	4
Messenger, 1988	60	5
Messenger, 1989	60	6
Messenger, 1990	60	7
Messenger, 1991	60	8
Messenger, 1992	61	1
Messenger, 1993	61	2
Messenger, 1994	61	3
Messenger, 1995	61	4
Messenger, 1996	61	5
Messenger, 1997	61	6
Our Church News, 1919-1931	34	5
Pilgrim Church Cook Book, 1914	34	4
Who's Who at GAC, 1949-1959	34	3

MILWAUKEE MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION 128. External Organizations.	BOX	FOLDER
Central City Churches, Inc., 1980-1983	62	3
Congregational Club of Milwaukee, 1904-1969	41	1
Fairhaven Home, 1960-1963	41	2
Finnish Luther Church, l910-1939	41	3
Milwaukee Area Congregational Churches, 1904-1960	41	4
Milwaukee Area Ecumenical Groups, 1947-1967	41	5
Milwaukee Association of Congregational Churches, 1952-1962	41	6
National Congregational Church Literature, 1919-1953	41	7
Southeast Wisconsin Association, 1963-1965	41	8
West Allis Church, 1926	41	9