Guide to the First Presbyterian Church Papers
1878-1990

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Table of Contents
  Overview of the Collection
   
  Historical Note
   
  Content Description
   
Use of the Collection
   
Administrative Information
   
Detailed Description of the Collection

  Subjects

Overview of the Collection

Creator: .
Title: First Presbyterian Church Papers
Dates: 1878-1990 ( inclusive )
Quantity: 20 Boxes (9 Linear Feet)
Collection Number: USU_COLL MSS 368
Summary: This collection contains the historic papers of the First Presbyterian Church in Logan, Utah, spanning the period between 1878 and 1990.
Repository: Utah State University.
Manuscript Collections

Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-3000
Phone: 435 797-2663
Fax: 435 797-2880
Email: scweb@usu.edu

Languages: Material in English 

Historical Note

During the 1860s the Presbyterian Church’s Board of Home Missions sent missionaries into the American West. They placed special emphasis on establishing a Presbyterian presence in the Utah Territory because of its Mormon population. By 1873 over sixty-five Presbyterian missionaries had been sent to the Utah Territory. On December 7, 1874, they organized the Presbytery of Utah at Corrine, Utah.

In July 1878 the Board of Home Missions sent Calvin M. Parks, his daughter Margaret A. Parks, and Mrs. S. V. N. Parks from Washington D.C. to the Utah Territory to proselyte among the Mormons in Logan, Utah. The first Cache Valley congregation met in the upper floor of a furniture store. On December 4, 1878, the church in Logan was officially chartered with eleven members. In 1879 the Parks acquired property on Center Street and Second West in Logan and constructed a regular meetinghouse. In 1925 the church underwent a renovation, and in 1956 the church was remodeled and expanded. The First United Presbyterian Church continues to hold regular meetings in this building.

On September 2, 1878 the Parks' established the Logan Academy (first known as the Cache Valley Seminary, the New Jersey Academy after 1890, and finally the Logan Academy after 1925). The Academy’s purpose was to give boys and girls a "liberal Christian education" (Logan Academy, p. 2). Smaller subsidiary schools later opened in neighboring Cache Valley towns including Franklin (1881), Mendon (1881), Millville (1881), Smithfield (1881), Wellsville (1881), Richmond (1883), Hyrum, and Preston (1900). Most of the smaller schools closed between 1905 and 1915. In 1910 the Logan Academy became a school for high-school aged girls, aiming "to fit them (the girls) for the highest possible usefulness and consequent happiness in life" (Logan Academy, p. 2). The Logan Academy closed in 1934.

Along with the educational efforts the Cache Valley Presbyterian church participated in and organized various societies including the Association of Church Women (ACW), the United Church Women (UCW), the Ladies Missionary Society, and the Harbor Lights Mariners Club (HLMC). The church also published bulletins and a newsletter called The Pulse.

Content Description

This collection contains the historic papers of the First Presbyterian Church in Logan, Utah, spanning the period between 1878 and 1990. It contains minute ledgers, legal papers, correspondence, church publications, church bulletins, baptism and marriage records, and essays about the history of the church’s activity in Logan. This collection also contains the Sessional Records of the Emanuel Presbyterian Church, formerly in Hyrum, Utah from 1887 to 1911. It also contains a church record from the "Scandinavian operated" Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church in Logan (1885—1891), which dissolved in 1891 and the membership incorporated into the First Presbyterian Church.

This collection is organized into three parts; ledgers (Series I), church papers (Series II), and church bulletins and The Pulse (Series III). The ledger section, Series I, contains seventeen oversized stand-alone ledgers consisting of church minutes (1878—1985), financial records (1915—1941), a Certificates of Dismission and Reception ledger (1929—1950), guest registers (1927-1989), the Church Record of the Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, Logan, (1885-1920), and the Sessional Records of the Emanuel Presbyterian Church in Hyrum (1887-1911).

Series II contains ten boxes from the Logan Presbyterian Church. It consists of church financial papers, officers’ correspondence and papers, legal papers, women's organizations papers, publications, Logan Academy documents, newspapers clippings, church renovations papers, and Harbor Lights Mariners Club documents. Several items of interest are the correspondence of Rev. Harris Pillsbury, Rev. William F. Ehmann, Rev. T. Ross Paden, Elder and Church Treasurer Irving L. Brangham, and the Logan Academy Principle Margery E. Frink. Series II, Box 10 contains six ledgers that are sealed for 50 years until 2049.

Series III contains church bulletins and The Pulse. The church bulletins (programs for weekly worship services) cover 1949 to 1988, with an incomplete run of church bulletins between 1885 and 1931. This series also contains issues of The Pulse, the church’s weekly newsletter, from 1975 to 1990.

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Access :  

The receipt ledgers in Series II, Box 10 are sealed until 2049.

Restrictions on Use :  

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the First Presbyterian Church Papers must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Preferred Citation :  

Initial Citation: First Presbyterian Church Papers USU_COLL MSS 368, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations:USU_COLL MSS 368, USUSCA.

Administrative Information

Arrangement :

This collection is organized by document type, then chronologically.

Processing Note :  

Processed in March of 2012

Acquisition Information :  

The materials in this collection were donated to Utah State University Special Collections and Archives by various officials of the First Presbyterian Church of Logan, Utah, in the 1990s.

Bibliography :  
  • Clemenson, N. E. The Brick Presbyterian Church. Smith, Cummings and Company, Logan, Utah, circa 1895.
  • Logan Academy: A High School for Girls. Yearbook, Logan, Utah, 1925.
  • Simmonds, A. J. The Gentile Comes to Cache Valley. Utah State University Press, Logan, 1976.
  • Lee, LaVonne. “A History of the Church”. 1985.

Detailed Description of the Collection

Series I, Bound Records, 1878-1989
5 Boxes
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Minutes 1878-1985
Box
book
1 1 Minutes, 1878-1899 1879-1899
1 2 Minutes, 1900-1942 1900-1942
1 3 Minutes, 1942-1952 1942-1952
2 4 Minutes, 1952-1970 1952-1970
2 5 Minutes, 1966-1985 1966-1985
Financial Records and Certificates 1915-1950
Box
book
2 6 Financial Record, 1915-1935 1915-1935
3 7 Financial Record, 1939-1941 1939-1941
3 8 Certificates of Dismission and Reception, 1929-1950 1925-1950
Guest Registers and General Records 1927-1989
Box
book
4 9 Guest Register, 1927-1951 1927-1951
4 10 Guest Register, 1957-1961 1957-1961
4 11 Guest Register, 1956-1966 1956-1966
4 12 Guest Register, 1966-1970 1966-1970
5 13 Guest Register, 1971-1974 1971-1974
5 14 Guest Register, 1975-1983 1975-1983
5 15 Guest Register, 1983-1989 1983-1989
5 16 Church Record of the Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, Logan, Utah, 1885-1920 1885-1920
5 17 Sessional Records of the Emanuel Presbyterian Church in Hyrum, Utah, 1887-1911 1887-1911

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Series II, General Presbyterian Church Papers , 1878-1989
11 Boxes
Container(s)
Description
Dates
General Church Papers 1878-1985
Box
Folder
1 1 Church minutes, microfilmed, 1878-1985 1878-1985
1 2 Notes on church occurrences, 1878-1881 1878-1881
1 3 List of ruling church elders, 1878-1953 1878-1953
1 4 Programs concerning the 'UAC Little Theatre' and its presentations at the church, 1926-1927 1926-1927
1 5 Church News, 1931-1932, published in Logan 1931-1932
1 6 Notes, report to the congregational meeting, 1954 1954
1 7 Church birthday and activity calendar, 1955 1955
1 8 Church flyers, seeking funds to continue church construction, 1956 1956
1 9 Papers concerning the dedication of the Logan Presbyterian church house, 1956 and 1966 1956, 1966
1 10 Papers concerning Presbyterian churches in Preston, Idaho, Malad, Idaho, and other papers
1 11 Specification booklet containing Logan church construction/remodeling plans, 1954 (two copies) 1954
1 12 Blueprint of Logan church house, used for remodeling, 1969 1969
1 13 Clemenson, N. E., The Brick Presbyterian Church, Smith, Cummings, and Company, Logan, Utah, circa 1895 (two copies) 1895
1 14 Essay, "Logan and Cache Valley", author unknown, circa 1913 1913
1 15 Essay, "Early Work of the Presbyterian Church in Utah," 1913, and other papers 1913
1 16 Theatrical performance, "Pioneers of Utah," performed on account of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Presbyterian Church in Logan, 1953 1953
1 17 First United Presbyterian Church, 1981 (pictorial history of the Presbyterian Church in Logan) 1981
1 18 Essay, "A History of the Logan Church," by LaVonne Lee, 1985 1985
1 19 Pageant performances, "And God Gave the Increase" and "Praise the Lord" (both pageants depict the story of Presbyterianism in Cache Valley)
1 20 Essay, "The Story by Years"
1 21 Brief Report of the Twenty-fifth Annual Meeting of the Utah Syndoical, 1921 1985
1 22 Papers concerning the history of the Presbyterian Church in Cache Valley
1 23 Boy Scout papers, 1929 1929
1 24 Papers concerning Mr. Belcher
1 25 Presbyterian tracts
1 26 Souvenir Program of the San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1947 (contains penciled notes) 1947
1 27 1993 Church Member Directory 1993
1 28 General church papers, miscellaneous
1 29 Outline of life of William Broughan, 1839-1922
Church Legal papers, 1882-1956 1882-1956
Box
Folder
2 1 Legal papers concerning the Presbyterian Church in Logan, 1917-1956 1917-1956
2 2 Legal papers concerning the Presbyterian Church in Hyrum, 1882-1926 1882-1926
2 3 Legal papers concerning the Presbyterian Church in Mendon, 1887-1926 1887-1926
Church Leadership Correspondence and Papers, 1878-1982 1878-1982
Box
Folder
3 1 Pillsbury, Rev. Harris, outgoing correspondence, 1921-1931 1921-1931
3 2 Pillsbury, Rev. Harris, incoming correspondence, A-Z
3 3 Pillsbury, Rev. Harris, papers; legal papers, pledge lists, and other
3 4 Ehmann, Rev. William F., outgoing correspondence, 1922-1931 1922-1931
3 5 Ehmann, Rev. William F., incoming correspondence, A-D
3 6 Ehmann, Rev. William F., incoming correspondence, E-G
3 7 Ehmann, Rev. William F., incoming correspondence, H-M
3 8 Ehmann, Rev. William F., incoming correspondence, N-R
3 9 Ehmann, Rev. William F., incoming correspondence, S-Z
3 10 Ehmann, Rev. William F., Certificates of Dismission
3 11 Ehmann, Rev. William F., Certificates of Transfer and Reception, and Notice to Pastor
3 12 Ehmann, Rev. William F., papers, pledge records, California papers, and other
3 13 Ehmann, Rev. William F., biographical papers on Ehmann
3 14 Paden, Jr., Rev. T. Ross, outgoing correspondence, 1930-1943 1930-1943
3 15 General church correspondence, A-O, 1921-1982 1921-1982
3 16 General church correspondence, P-Z, 1878-1954 1921-1982
Church Officials, Treasurer and Elder Irving L. Brangham, 1914-1933 1914-1933
Box
Folder
4 1 Brangham, Irving L., outgoing correspondence, 1914-1925 1914-1925
4 2 Brangham, Irving L., outgoing correspondence, 1926 1926
4 3 Brangham, Irving L., outgoing correspondence, 1927 1927
4 4 Brangham, Irving L., outgoing correspondence, 1928 1928
4 5 Brangham, Irving L., outgoing correspondence, 1929 1929
4 6 Brangham, Irving L., outgoing correspondence, 1930 1930
4 7 Brangham, Irving L., outgoing correspondence, 1931 1931
4 8 Brangham, Irving L., outgoing correspondence, 1932 1932
4 9 Brangham, Irving L., outgoing correspondence, 1933 1933
4 10 Brangham, Irving L., outgoing correspondence, undated
4 11 Brangham, Irving L., incoming correspondence, A-E
4 12 Brangham, Irving L., incoming correspondence, Brauer, George, R., 1920-1933 1920-1933
4 13 Brangham, Irving L., incoming correspondence, F-K
4 14 Brangham, Irving L., incoming correspondence, Hare, Rev. David H., 1929-1930 1929-1930
4 15 Brangham, Irving L., incoming correspondence, L-O
4 16 Brangham, Irving L., incoming correspondence, P-R
4 17 Brangham, Irving L., incoming correspondence, Paden, Rev. William M., 1923-1930 (also contains third party incoming correspondence to Paden) 1923-1930
4 18 Brangham, Irving L., incoming correspondence, S-Z
4 19 Brangham, Irving L., papers, Certificates of Dismission and Reception, 1920s 1920s
4 20 Brangham, Irving L., papers, Affidavit of Baptism, contracts, and other papers, 1925-1936 1925-1936
4 21 Brangham, Irving L., payroll records, 1920s 1920s
4 22 Brangham, Irving L., papers, loose receipts and other
4 23 Brangham, Irving L., papers, loose receipts and other
Presbyterian Women, Association Church Women (ACW), United Church Women (UCW), Ladies Missionary Society, and Logan Academy 1893-1985
Box
Folder
5 1 Minutes of Presbyterian Women, 1900-1910 1900-1910
5 2 Minutes of Presbyterian Women, 1910-1914 1910-1914
5 3 Minutes of Presbyterian Women, 1928-1930 1928-1930
5 4 Minutes of Presbyterian Women, 1942-1946 1942-1946
5 5 Minutes of Presbyterian Women, 1946-1953 1900-1910
5 6 Minutes of Presbyterian Women, 1954-1959 1900-1910
5 7 Minutes of Presbyterian Women, 1959-1970 1959-1970
5 8 General UCW Correspondence, 1893-1927 1893-1927
5 9 Presidents of the ACW list, 1942-1975 1942-1975
5 10 Papers of Presbyterian Women, financial, 1961-1965 1961-1965
5 11 Women's meeting programs, 1930-1931 1930-1931
5 12 ACW catalogues, 1950-1952, 1955, 1957-1960, 1964-1966, 1975, and 1985 1950-1952, 1955, 1957-1960, 1964-1966, 1975, and 1985
5 13 Ladies Missionary Society meeting minutes, 1921-1922 (incomplete) 1921-1922
5 14 Annual report of the WBHM, 1913 1913
5 15 Woman's Board, annual report of the Secretary of Literature, 1921 1921
5 16 "From Out Church to the World," circa 1930, for Pastor use 1930
5 17 Papers and note concerning the church missionary program
5 18 Officers Hand Books, 1929-1931 1929-1931
5 19 Approved Books for Missionary Reading Campaign, undated
5 20 Church tracts concerning the ACW/UCW
5 21 Booklet, "Woman's Missionary Society, Logan, Utah," 1921 1921
5 22 Ladies Night programs, 1948-1960 (incomplete) 1948-1960
5 23 List of committees and members, undated
5 24 Crowell, K. R., "Sheldon Jackson: Prospector and Pioneer," Presbyterian Pioneers, circa 1912 1912
5 25 Women's originations papers, miscellaneous
5 26 ACW constitution and bylaws, 1960s 1960s
5 27 ACW, suggested bylaws, 1965 1965
New Jersey Academy Papers, Logan, Utah 1878-1959
Box
Folder
6 1 "History of the New Jersey-Logan Academy: 1878-1934," by H. Loo 1878-1934
6 2 Logan Academy: A High School for Girls, 1925-1926 yearbook 1925-1926
6 3 "With Little Sons," presented by the senior Bible class of the Logan Academy, undated
6 4 Paper discussing the New Jersey Academy, 1896 (photocopy) 1896
6 5 New Jersey Academy papers, miscellaneous
6 6 Presbyterian mission study class enrollment cards, circa 1930s 1930s
6 7 Essay, "Our Schools in Utah"
6 8 Flyer produced by the LDS Brigham Young College mentioning the New Jersey Academy, circa 1920s 1920s
6 9 Frink, Margery E., Principal of the New Jersey Academy, outgoing correspondence, 1928-1929 1928-1929
6 10 Frink, Margery E., outgoing correspondence, 1930 1930
6 11 Frink, Margery E., outgoing correspondence, 1931 1931
6 12 Frink, Margery E., outgoing correspondence, 1952 1952
6 13 Frink, Margery E., incoming correspondence, A-O
6 14 Frink, Margery E., incoming correspondence, P-Z
6 15 Frink, Margery E., papers concerning the school and missionary program
6 16 Loo, Harold Y. S., outgoing correspondence (1957) and incoming correspondence, A-Z (1952) 1952,1957
6 17 Papers and correspondence concerning Emma Laub and her "This is Your Life," 1959 1959
6 18 "The Ariel: Official Publication of Logan Academy," 1928 1928
Harbor Lights Mariners Club (HLMC) Papers 1946-1989
Box
Folder
7 1 Secretary's Records, including meeting minutes, 1946-1952 1946-1952
7 2 HLMC minutes, 1968-1970 1968-1970
7 3 HLMC minutes, 1971-1972, Statements of OPS and Net Worth 1971-1972
7 4 Executive meeting of the Mariner Fleet, 1986 1986
7 5 HLMC constitution, 1986 1986
7 6 General HLMC correspondence, A-Z, 1970-1989 1986
7 7 "Salient Facts in Mariner's Club History"
7 8 The Mariner's song and psalm
7 9 HLMC directory, 1981 1981
7 10 Booklet, "The Good Ship Mariner's Club of Logan, Utah," 1949 1949
7 11 Glossary of Mariner terms
7 12 HLMC newsletters, "The Poop Sheet," 1968-1986 1968-1986
7 13 HLMC papers, miscellaneous
8 1 HLMC yearbooks, 1969, 1970, 1974-1981, 1983, and 1987 1969,1970,1974-1981,1983,1987
8 2 Mariner's Catalog of Resources and Supplies, 1987 1987
8 3 Mariner's Catalog of Resources and Supplies, 1987 1987
8 4 HLMC financial records, "cargo expenses," 1975-1978 1975-1978
8 5 HLMC checking account registers, 1981-1990 1981-1990
8 6 HLMC record ledger, 1982-1984 1982-1984
8 7 HLMC financial records, 1980s, removed from a binder 1980s
8 8 HLMC financial records, 1983-1986 1983-1986
8 9 HLMC financial records, 1987 1987
8 10 HLMC financial papers; miscellaneous, 1970-1980s 1970-1980s
Logan Presbyterian Church Newspaper Clippings
Box
Folder
9 1 Newspaper clippings
9 2 Newspaper clippings
General Financial Papers, 1895-1958 1895-1958
Box
Folder
10 1 "Minimum budget per month family," 1895 1895
10 2 List of church donors and amount given for the purchase of a church table, 1914 1914
10 3 Ekonomik check and deposit register, 1921-1926 1921-1926
10 4 Ekonomik check and deposit register, 1930-1934 1930-1934
10 5 Check stubs, 1939 1939
10 6 Papers and financial plans for missionary education, 1930s 1930s
10 7 "Book A: Alphabetical list of pledges, church building fund," 1950s 1950s
10 8 "Book No. 1: Record of payment of pledges on Presbyterian Church annex building fund," 1950s 1950s
10 9 Church building fund record ledger and loose papers, 1954-1957 1954-1957
10 10 Receipt ledger, 1954, sealed until 2049 1954
10 11 Receipt ledger, 1954, sealed until 2049 1954
10 12 Receipt ledger, 1955, sealed until 2049 1955
10 13 Receipt ledger, 1955-1956, sealed until 2049 1955-1956
10 14 Receipt ledger, 1956-1957, sealed until 2049 1956-1957
10 15 Receipt ledger, 1957-1958, sealed until 2049 1957-1958
Presbyterian Church Microfilmed Ledgers, 1878-1966 1878-1966
Box
Folder
11 1 Ledgers, 1878-1966 1878-1966
11 2 Ledgers, 1878-1966 1878-1966
11 3 General Ledger
11 4 General Ledger

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Series III, Church bulletins and The Pulse, 1885-1990
5 Boxes
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Church Bulletins 1885-1988
Box
Folder
1 1 Bulletins, 1885, 1896, 1903, 1925, 1928, 1930, and 1931 1885, 1896, 1903, 1925, 1928, 1930, 1931
1 2 Bulletins, 1947 1947
1 3 Bulletins, 1948 1948
1 4 Bulletins, 1949 1949
1 5 Bulletins, 1950 1950
1 6 Bulletins, 1951 1951
1 7 Bulletins, 1952 1952
1 8 Bulletins, 1953 1953
1 9 Bulletins, 1954 1954
1 10 Bulletins, 1955 1955
1 11 Bulletins, 1956 1956
1 12 Bulletins, 1957 1957
1 13 Bulletins, 1958 1958
1 14 Bulletins, 1959 1959
2 1 Bulletins, 1960 1960
2 2 Bulletins, 1961 1961
2 3 Bulletins, 1962 1962
2 4 Bulletins, 1963 1963
2 5 Bulletins, 1964 1964
2 6 Bulletins, 1965 1965
2 7 Bulletins, 1966 1966
2 8 Bulletins, 1967 1967
2 9 Bulletins, 1968 1968
2 10 Bulletins, 1969 1969
2 11 Bulletins, 1970 1970
3 1 Bulletins, 1971 1971
3 2 Bulletins, 1972 1972
3 3 Bulletins, 1973 1973
3 4 Bulletins, 1974 1974
3 5 Bulletins, 1975 1975
3 6 Bulletins, 1976 1976
3 7 Bulletins, 1977 1977
3 8 Bulletins, 1978 1978
3 9 Bulletins, 1979 1979
3 10 Bulletins, 1980 1980
4 1 Bulletins, 1981 1981
4 2 Bulletins, 1982 1982
4 3 Bulletins, 1983 1983
4 4 Bulletins, 1984 1984
4 5 Bulletins, 1985 1985
4 6 Bulletins, 1986 1986
4 7 Bulletins, 1987 1987
4 8 Bulletins, 1988 1988
The Pulse 1975-1990
Box
Folder
5 1 The Pulse, 1975-1976 1975-1976
5 2 The Pulse, 1977-1978 1977-1978
5 3 The Pulse, 1979-1980 1979-1980
5 4 The Pulse, 1981-1982 1981-1982
5 5 The Pulse, 1983-1984 1983-1984
5 6 The Pulse, 1985-1986 1985-1986
5 7 The Pulse, 1987-1988 1987-1988
5 8 The Pulse, 1989-1990 1989-1990

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Subjects

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            Finding aid/Register created by Zachary R. Jones and Jason Neil
            ©2012