Introduction | Agency History | Scope and Content | Series Description | Order of Microfilming

 Introduction

The records of the Howard Methodist Church, Findlay, Ohio, were transferred for microfilming to the Center for Archival Collections, Bowling Green State University, in February 1981 with the cooperation of Mr. Edward Jones, church member. The collection (1887-1968) consists of the minutes of the Church Board, the Brotherhood Society, the Ladies Aid Society, and the Sunday School; quarterly reports; church records listing baptisms, marriages, and funerals; and records of the Foreign and Home branches of the Women's Missionary Society, the Epworth League, the Bethany Sisters, the Women's Service Executive Committee, and the John Steen Junior League.

The register for the Howard Methodist Church collection was compiled by Ira Daly, Graduate Assistant, in March 1981.

 Agency History

Methodism had been established in Findlay for half a century when the growth of the city and of the First Methodist Church made a new church advisable. Under the pastorate of Dr. A. J. Fish at the First Church, the first steps were taken by securing two lots in Cherry Street near Clinton, which were held while money was raised for the building. The cornerstone was laid in December 1887, and the building was soon enclosed. The church was dedicated on July 16, 1888, by Dr. J. W. Hamilton of Boston.

During the pastorate of Rev. S. L. Boyers (1894-1895) the debt on the building was paid off. During the pastorate of Rev. J. Baumgardner (1903-1907) a parsonage was secured adjoining the church. The church has had a steady growth since its establishment.

(From Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, by J. A. Kimmell, page 169.)

 Scope and Content

The Howard Methodist Church collection provides the researcher with a great quantity of records which illustrate the various functions of a church within the community. The Official Board Minutes (1905-1968) and the Quarterly Conference Reports (1889- 1968) provide background on the administrative history of this church. Chronological gaps do occur in both record series which reduces their scholarly usefulness. Detailed vital statistical information on church members such as baptisms, marriages, and funerals is provided through the Church Record (1887-1944).

Educational functions of the church are documented in the records of the John Steen Junior League (1911-1913), the Epworth League (1908-1915), and the Sunday School, 1911-1943). Information on men's organizations within the church is provided within the Brotherhood minutes (1908-1914), but most prevalent in this collection are the minutes and financial records of various women's groups. Minutes are available for the Bethany Sisters (1912-1958), the Ladies Aid Society (1919-1940), the Women's Society Christian Service Executive Committee (1961-1967), the Women's Foreign Missionary Society (1896-1935), and the Women's Home Missionary Society (1924-1940). Treasurer's records exist for the Women's Foreign Missionary Society (1899-1935), the Ladies Aid Society (1910-1932), and the Bethany Sisters (1903- 1948).

 Series Description

PROCEEDINGS

OFFICIAL BOARD MINUTES
October 3, 1905-December 11, 1968
Arranged chronologically
Includes lists of members and elected officials, treasurer's reports, and daily church business.

QUARTERLY CONFERENCE RECORDS
October 21, 1889-April 19, 1968
Arranged chronologically
Consists of conference minutes and the reports of all church- related organizations such as the Sunday School and the Women's Missionary Society.

CHURCH RECORDS
1887-1908
Arranged by category and chronologically within each category.
Includes church officers, church members, probationer's records, and marriages.

CHURCH RECORDS
1888-1944
Arranged by category and chronologically within each category.
Includes lists of church pastors, church members, records of baptisms, funerals, and marriages.

SUNDAY SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES
October 6, 1913-February 10, 1924
Arranged chronologically
Includes list of officers, missionary and general funds accounting.

SUNDAY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE RECORDS
1911-1943
Arranged chronologically
Consists of a list of students with their attendance records and a list of Sunday School officers with their attendance records; some volumes contain scattered minutes.

EPWORTH LEAGUE MINUTES
October 19, 1908-March 2, 1915
Arranged chronologically
Consists of a membership list, elected officers, secretary's, treasurer's and president's reports.

JOHN STEEN JUNIOR LEAGUE MINUTES
October 29, 1911-April 27, 1913
Arranged chronologically
Includes a list of officers, the minutes, and dues collection.

BROTHERHOOD MINUTES
December 9, 1908-November 16, 1914
Arranged chronologically
Consists of constitution, a list of members, and brotherhood business.

BETHANY SISTERS MINUTES
February 18, 1912-May 7, 1958
Arranged chronologically
Consists of constitution, treasurer's reports, lists of officers, lists of members, and minutes.

LADIES AID SOCIETY MINUTES
July 9, 1919-September 18, 1940
Arranged chronologically
Includes various attempts at fund raising, lists of members, and officers.

WOMEN'S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY MINUTES
June 1896-October 1935
Arranged chronologically
Consists of treasurer's reports, lists of members, and minutes.

WOMEN'S HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY MINUTES
June 18, 1924-June 19, 1940
Arranged chronologically
Consists of dues collection, attendance records, a list of officers, and minutes.

WOMEN'S SOCIETY CHRISTIAN SERVICE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MINUTES
June 8, 1961-December 20, 1967
Arranged chronologically
Includes fundraising and society business.

FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS

WOMEN'S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY TREASURER'S RECORD
1899-1935
Arranged chronologically
Consists of receipts, dues collection, and a list of members of the society.

LADIES AID SOCIETY TREASURER'S RECORD
October 1910-July 1932
Arranged chronologically
Consists of records of money collected and money spent.

BETHANY SISTERS TREASURER'S RECORD
1903-1948
Arranged chronologically
Consists of dues payments by individuals and organizational balance sheets.

 Order of Microfilming

Roll 1

1. Official board minutes, October 3, 1905-September 1, 1908
2. Official board minutes, October 13, 1908-October 7, 1913
3. Official board minutes, January 6, 1913-September 7, 1916
4. Official board minutes, April 3, 1917-July 9, 1918
5. Official board minutes, July 10, 1938-July 22, 1947
6. Official board minutes, August 25, 1947-May 26, 1952
7. Official board minutes (folder), June 23, 1952-June 27, 1955
8. Official board minutes (folder), January 27, 1958-May 3, 1961
9. Official board minutes (folder), August 26, 1964-December 11, 1968
10. Quarterly conference record, October 21, 1889-September 1, 1905

Roll 2

1. Quarterly conference record, November 24, 1908-September 13, 1912
2. Quarterly conference record, November 11, 1912-October 13, 1916
3. Quarterly conference record, December 13, 1916-August 9, 1920
4. Quarterly conference record (includes Official board minutes), July 5, 1928-July 7, 1938
5. Quarterly conference record, February 28, 1942-September 28, 1950
6. Quarterly conference record, May 6, 1951-October 30, 1951
7. Quarterly conference record, April 27, 1966-April 19, 1968
8. Church record, 1887-1903

Roll 3

1. Church record, May 1888-April 1944
2. Sunday School Board minutes, October 6, 1913-February 10, 1924
3. Sunday School attendance record (includes board minutes), 1911-1913
4. Sunday School attendance record, 1920-1927
5. Sunday School attendance record (includes board minutes), 1928-1931
6. Sunday School attendance record, 1932-1935
7. Sunday School attendance record, 1935-1939
8. Sunday School attendance record, 1939-1943
9. Epworth League minutes, October 19, 1908-May 15, 1912
10. Epworth League minutes, May 15, 1912-March 2, 1915
11. John Steen Junior League minutes, October 29, 1911-April 27, 1913
12. Brotherhood minutes, December 9, 1908-November 16, 1914
13. Bethany Sisters minutes, February 18, 1912-September 18, 1934
14. Bethany Sisters minutes, December 4, 1917-November 13, 1923
15. Bethany Sisters minutes, October 2, 1934-August 6, 1940
16. Bethany Sisters minutes, September 11, 1940-May 1, 1946
17. Bethany Sisters minutes, June 5, 1946-May 7, 1952

Roll 4

1. Bethany Sisters minutes, June 4, 1952-May 7, 1958
2. Bethany Sisters treasurer's record, January 7, 1930-July 6, 1948
3. Ladies Aid Society minutes, July 9, 1919-February 25, 1925
4. Ladies Aid Society minutes, July 14, 1930-August 1941
5. Ladies Aid Society treasurer's record, February 21, 1910-July 10, 1918
6. Ladies Aid Society treasurer's record, July 1918-July 1932
7. Women's Foreign Missionary Society minutes, June 1, 1896-September 5, 1910
8. Women's Foreign Missionary Society minutes, October 14, 1910-September 12, 1919
9. Women's Foreign Missionary Society minutes, October 3, 1919-October 1929
10. Women's Foreign Missionary Society minutes, October 1929-October 1935
11. Women's Foreign Missionary Society treasurer's record, 1899-1914
12. Women's Foreign Missionary Society treasurer's record, 1914-1924
13. Women's Foreign Missionary Society treasurer's record, 1924-1935
14. Women's Home Missionary Society minutes, June 18, 1924-June 19, 1940
15. Women's Society of Christian Service Executive Committee minutes, June 18, 1961-December 15, 1965
16. Women's Society of Christian Service Executive Committee minutes, January 13, 1966-December 20, 1967

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