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Introduction | Agency History | Scope and Content | Series Description | Inventory
Introduction
The records of the Women's Missionary Society of the Benton Ridge United Methodist Church date form 1896 to 1958. The history
of the Women's Missionary Society and the Women's Society of World Service is represented in this collection which consists
of meeting minutes, a financial ledger and annual reports.
The collection was donated to the Center for Archival Collections on November 15, 1982, with the cooperation of Mrs. Walter
(Lois) Light of Benton Ridge, Ohio. No restrictions exist on the research use of this collection and duplication is permitted
for purposes of preservation and research. The collection was processed and the register prepared by Mary Alice Herrle, a
graduate student in American Culture, in October 1983.
Agency History
Under the direction of Reverend Burkett, pastor of the Benton Ridge United Methodist Church, a branch of the Women's Missionary
Society was formed in 1883. The organization's records for the first thirteen years are not available. However, it is known
that in the 1890s the society was strong enough to sponsor several sub-organizations. In 1895, the Women's Missionary Society
sponsored the Mission Band. Later, the group started the Little Heralds which was an organization for children. A third sub-group
affiliated with the Women's Missionary Society was originally called the Gleaners and was created for young girls; the title
was later changed to the Young Women's Circle, and later it became the Young People's Missionary Circle and admitted membership
from both sexes.
Between 1924 and 1934, Benton Ridge's United Methodist and United Brethren Churches merged. It was then decided that the Women's
Missionary Society be renamed the Women's Society for World Service. The Mission Band was retitled the Boy's and Girl's Fellowship,
and the Young People's Missionary Circle became the Intermediate and Senior Youth Fellowship. The Women's Missionary Society
and later the Women's Society for World Service were oriented towards missionary work. During World War II, the Women's Society
for World Service was active in sending care packages to servicemen overseas. During the Korean War, the organization initiated
a program for sponsoring Korean orphans.
Scope and Content
The Women's Missionary Society collection from the Benton Ridge United Methodist Church is comprised primarily of the organization's
meeting minutes from 1896 to 1946, as well as the Women's Society for World Service minutes, which begin in December 1946
and continue through January 1956. The collection also contains the financial ledger for the Women's Missionary Society for
1915 to 1933, annual reports for 1948 to 1950, correspondence for 1952, minutes of the Ladies Aid Society for 1926 through
March 1939, minutes of the Young People's Missionary Circle for 1928 to 1933 and a brief history of the Women's Missionary
Society prepared by Bessie Burner in 1958.
This collection consists primarily of official meeting minutes from 1896 to 1956. The minutes generally describe where and
when the meetings took place, the program held, business conducted, those members in attendance and, occasionally, financial
reports concerning special funds. The records also provide information concerning membership attendance, membership fees and
special contributions. The minutes are incomplete with gaps occurring between 1909 and 1924 and again between 1934 and 1941.
Series Description
PROCEEDINGS
LADIES AID SOCIETY MINUTES
May 1926-March 1939
Arranged chronologically
Consists of dates and places of meetings, entertainment, titles of hymns, prayers and readings, and the number in attendance.
WOMEN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY MINUTES
January 1896-May 1909, May 1924-January 1934, January 1941-November 1946.
Arranged chronologically
Consists of dates and places of meetings, entertainment, titles of hymns, the number in attendance and a few references to
special financial reports.
WOMEN'S SOCIETY FOR WORLD SERVICE MINUTES
December 1946-January 1956
Arranged chronologically
Consists of dates and places of meetings, entertainment, titles of hymns, prayers and readings used during meetings, the number
in attendance, and a few references to special financial reports.
YOUNG PEOPLE'S MISSIONARY CIRCLE MINUTES
February 1928-December 1933, n.d.
Arranged chronologically
Consists of dates and places of meetings, entertainment, title of hymns, prayers and readings used during the meetings and
the number in attendance.
CORRESPONDENCE
CORRESPONDENCE
1952, n.d.
Arranged chronologically
Includes a letter and a plan of work from the Ohio Sandusky Branch of the Women's Society for World Service.
REPORTS
ANNUAL/MIDYEAR REPORTS
1948-1950, n.d.
Arranged chronologically
Includes information on membership, meetings, goals, and attendance.
LITERARY DOCUMENTS
HISTORY OF WOMEN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY
1958.
Written by Bessie Burner at the 75th anniversary.
FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS
WOMEN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY FINANCIAL LEDGER
1915-1933
Arranged chronologically
Includes records of fee payments, contributions, and records of a few special project accounts.
Inventory
Box 1
Folders
- Ladies Aid Society minutes, May 1926-March 1939
- Women's Missionary Society minutes, January 1896-June 1905
- Women's Missionary Society minutes, June 1905-May 1909
- Women's Missionary Society minutes, May 1924-January 1934
- Women's Missionary Society/Women's Society for World Service minutes, January 1941- March 1949
- Women's Society for World Service minutes, April 1949-January 1956
- Young People's Missionary Circle minutes, February 1928-December 1933, n.d.
- Women's Society for World Service correspondence, 1952, n.d.
- Women's Society for World Service annual reports, 1948-1950, n.d.
- History of the Women's Missionary Society, 1958
- Women's Missionary Society financial ledger, 1915-1933
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