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.
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.
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.
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).
Patron must have a valid OCPL library card.
User must use materials in the Local History and Genealogy Department of
OCPL.
Permission must be obtained from staff for reproduction of any
materials.
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
Shelf Location: MS-2
Gift from Carol Heimburg, for Claudia Varacalli-Tompkins, clerk of sessions South Presbyterian Church to Onondaga County Public Library.