Overview of the Collection
Creator:	South Presbyterian Church of Syracuse, N.Y.
Title:	South Presbyterian Church of Syracuse, N.Y. Collection (http://www.historicsyracusechurch.com/)
Dates:	1901-2001
Quantity:	1.25 linear ft.
Abstract:	South Presbyterian Church of Syracuse, N.Y. collection contains unique materials related to the history of the South Presbyterian Church of Syracuse, N.Y. All of the records are dated from the establishment of the church in 1901 and continue until 2001. Included in the collection are Pastors’ Registers, membership records, Sunday School records, Secretary’s Records, Annual Reports and Minutes and Financial records.
Language:	English
Repository:	Onondaga County Public Library Local History & Genealogy Department 447 South Salina Street Syracuse, New York, 13202 (315) 435-1800

Administrative History

South Presbyterian Church of Syracuse, N.Y. was founded with seventy members on May 17, 1901 and existed until November 2006. At the time of creation it was one of the youngest Presbyterian churches in Syracuse region with a steady growth during those years. Its first pastor was Reverend Murray Shipley Howland. The first service was held in a store at 1425 South Salina St., Syracuse, N.Y. In 1906 the cornerstone of the new church building was laid. A year later the new church opened and started serving its members. Located at the corner of South Salina St. and West Colvin St., Syracuse, N.Y. for decades the church building was of the most remarkable landmarks of the city of Syracuse. The building has a unique architecture and until 2008 was decorated with gorgeous stained-windows created by the Tiffany studios.

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Scope and Contents of the Collection

The collection comprises of church records relating to the history of the South Presbyterian Church of Syracuse, N.Y. as a religious organization with a strong community influence during the 20th century in the south side of the Syracuse, N.Y. The collection consists of original records from the foundation of the church and copies of those that were partly damaged during the years. There are six main categories of the collection described in the series: Pastor’s Registers; Sunday/ Bible School records; Minutes of Personal Workers Band; Board of Deacons records; Secretary’s Records of the Board of Trustees and Financial documents. Each series and subseries are arranged chronologically.

Series 1: Pastor’s Registers

This series contains information valuable for genealogists. The documents organized by the church administrators and pastors comprise of information about served officers (Pastors; Elders; Deacons), listing of new Members, transferred Members, Baptisms, Marriages, Sermons and Funerals. Subseries include Transfer and Reception Certificates showing the migration of the members from and to South Presbyterian Church of Syracuse, N.Y. Date coverage is from 1901 to 1999, 2001.

Series 2: Sunday/Bible School records

This series contains a variety of records, such as: Sunday School Minutes; Constitution of the Bible School of South Presbyterian Church of Syracuse, N.Y. (a printed book and a photocopy of a typewritten draft, on a loose paper, with suggested emendations in the constitution); Sunday School Donation Card; Correspondence. Date coverage is from 1901 to 1954.

Series 3: Minutes of Personal Workers Band

This series contains a single record of the regular Meetings Minutes of the Personal Workers Band – men’s group. Date range is 1906-1907.

Series 4: Board of Deacons records

In this series are included regular and annual meetings Minutes of the Board of Deacons of South Presbyterian Church of Syracuse. The date coverage is from 1932 to 1949 and from 1967 to 1984.

Series 5: Secretary’s Records of the Board of Trustees

This series comprises regular and annual Meetings Minutes of the Board of Trustees of South Presbyterian Church. Date range is 1934-1995.

Series 6: Financial documents

This series contains Envelope, Expense Account Book; South Presbyterian Church Treasurer’s Cash Book – including cash, disbursements and Annual Ending Reports (1912-1921); a loose paper folder with South Presbyterian Church Treasurer’s Annual Reports (1924-1940); Journals ( journal is the book for the chronological record) (1941-1961) containing members names and the donated amount; Ledger (book for the analytical record) (1941-1971) – including taxes, salaries for the church staff and other expenses; Christian Centurion Book (1942-1945); Day Care Center notebook/ Day Nursery, (1970-1972); Pay Checks and Account statements of Day Care Center/ Day Nursery (1970-1973); Record of Checks Drawn – loose paper found in Day Care Center notebook and two handwritten receipts; South Presbyterian Church Heating Fund notebook, including a page regarding Real Estate (1968-1971); Three original South Presbyterian Church of Syracuse Weekly Offering Envelopes, one of them has the name of the donator, the amount and the date; Two Filing Cards for organizing the financial documents (found in the Heating Fund book). The series date coverage is 1909-1973.

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Arrangement of the Collection

The collection is arranged into series in chronological order. Some series contain miscellaneous records, which are individually described, and chronologically organized in the inventory of the Finding Aid.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Patron must have a valid OCPL library card.

Use Restrictions

User must use materials in the Local History and Genealogy Department of OCPL.
Permission must be obtained from staff for reproduction of any materials.

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Related Material

The Local History and Genealogy Department has other archival materials of South Presbyterian Church, which are listed below: Fiftieth anniversary, South Presbyterian Church, Syracuse, New York, 1901-1951. (LN48 Sy8 C5ps), Church Publications (LN48 Sy8 C5ps2), 58th birthday observance, service of celebration for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. : 1929-1968 (LN48 Sy8 C9mar), One hundredth anniversary of the First Presbyterian Society in the village of Syracuse, 1824-1924: commemorative exercises by the church and society, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, December 12, 13 and 14, 1924 (LN48 Sy8 C5plo) and History of the Syracuse Presbytery, 1796-1938 (LN48 Sy8 C5pb).Please check with OCPL staff to access these materials.

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Subject Headings

Persons

Corporate Bodies

Subjects

Places

Genres and Forms

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

South Presbyterian Church of Syracuse, N.Y. Collection
Onondaga County Public Library
Local History and Genealogy Department

Acquisition Information

Gift from Carol Heimburg, for Claudia Varacalli-Tompkins, clerk of sessions South Presbyterian Church to Onondaga County Public Library

Finding Aid Information

Created by: IRP
Date: November , 2011
Revision history: November , 2011 - EAD created (IRP)

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Inventory

	Series 1: Pastor’s Registers
Box 1, Folder 1			Pastor’s Register of Officers, Members (alphabetized listing) and Baptism, 1901-1912
Box 1, Folder 2			Pastor’s Register of Sermons, New Members, Baptism, Marriages and Funerals, 1923-1928
Box 1, Folder 3			Pastor’s Register of Marriages and Funerals, 1923-1953
Box 1, Folder 4			Pastor’s Register of New Members, Baptism, Marriages and Funerals, 1928-1953
Box 1, Folder 5			Pastor’s Register of New Members Received, 1901-1932
Box 1, Folder 6			Pastor’s Register of New Members Received, 1932-1953
		Certificates: Transfer and Reception of members
Box 1, Folder 7			Certificates: Transfer and Reception, 1973-1999, 2001

	Series 2: Sunday/ Bible School Records
Box 1, Folder 8			Sunday School Minutes, 1901-1910
Box 1, Folder 9			Sunday School Minutes, 1911-1924
Box 1, Folder 10			Sunday School Minutes, 1931-1944
Box 1, Folder 11			Sunday School Secretary’s and Annual Reports (loose papers), 1938-1953
		Miscellaneous
Box 1, Folder 12			Constitution of the Bible School of South Presbyterian Church of Syracuse, N.Y.n.d.
Box 1, Folder 13			Constitution of the Bible School of South Presbyterian Church of Syracuse, N.Y. , draft and photocopyn.d.
Box 1, Folder 14			Sunday School Donation Card
Box 1, Folder 15			Sunday School Correspondence – a Thank You Card from George W. Cooper

	Series 3: Minutes of Personal Workers Band
Box 1, Folder 16			Minutes of Personal Workers Band, 1906-1907

	Series 4: Board of Deacons Records
Box 2, Folder 1			Board of Deacons Records, 1932-1949
Box 2, Folder 2			Board of Deacons Records, 1967-1984

	Series 5: Secretary’s Records of the Board of Trustees
Box 2, Folder 3			South Presbyterian Church Secretary’s Records of the Board of Trustees, 1934-1972
Box 2, Folder 4			South Presbyterian Church Secretary’s Records of the Board of Trustees, 1972-1992
Box 2, Folder 5			Regular and Annual Meetings Minutes, South Presbyterian Church (loose paper), 1993-1995

	Series 6: Financial documents
Box 3, Folder 1			Envelope, Expense Account Book, 1909
Box 3, Folder 2			Envelope, Expense Account Book, 1910
Box 3, Folder 3			South Presbyterian Church Treasurer’s Cash Book # 2. 1912-1921
Box 3, Folder 4			South Presbyterian Church Treasurer’s Cash Book # 3. 1921-1932
Box 3, Folder 5			South Presbyterian Church Treasurer’s Annual Reports (loose paper), 1924-1940
Box 3, Folder 6			Journal, 1941-1953
Box 3, Folder 7			Journal, 1953-1961
Box 3, Folder 8			Ledger, 1941-1945
Box 3, Folder 9			Ledger, 1945-1959
Box 3, Folder 10			Ledger, 1960-1971
		Miscellaneous
Box 3, Folder 11			Christian Centurions Book, 1942-1945
Box 3, Folder 12			Day Care Center/ Day Nursery notebook, 1970-1972
Box 3, Folder 13			South Presbyterian Church Pay Checks and Account Statements of Day Nursery, 1970-1973
Box 3, Folder 14			Record of Checks Drawn, found in the Day Care Center/ Day Nursery notebook, 1970-1972
Box 3, Folder 15			South Presbyterian Church Heating Fund and Real Estate notebook, 1968-1971
Box 3, Folder 16			Three Original South Presbyterian Church Weekly Offering Envelopes, 1909, n.d.
Box 3, Folder 17			Two Filing Cards for Financial Documents

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