Unitarian Universalist Church of Fargo-Moorhead Records
Collection
Identifier: Mss 3111
Scope and Content
The Administration Series is arranged in chronological order by sub series. The Board meeting minutes and Annual meeting minutes contain information of the daily operations of the church, programing, funding, budgeting, and the churches membership progress. The board meeting minutes 1981- 2012 is the most complete. Committee reports include discussions documents on church programming and progress. The Church Directory spans the years of 1952-2018. The Financial records contain budgets records and fundraising. The sub series Bylaws presents the original church bylaws submitted in 1952 and amendments. The building and planning sub series holds church building and expansion records, construction, and planning manuals.
The Public Relations Series is arranged alphabetically by sub series. The collection contains advertisement proposals for the Forum, and Prairie Public radio, a cassette tape of the radio ad can be found in the Artifact Series. The sub series Public Out Reach contains both national and local Unitarian Universalist fellowship information that would have been presented to the public to promote membership.
The Church Programming is arranged by progression of planning. The collection includes correspondence from the programming coordinators Millie Truemann and Carolyn Monzigo to potential campaign speaker. Carolyn’s notebook containing her notes about programming and board meetings can also be found in this file. This collection also includes Membership program preference surveys, program coordinator reports, and long-standing fellowship campaigns. The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee file contains a U.U.S.C. recruitment button and publications.
The Church Service Series is arranged chronologically. The collections contain Newsletters from national and local Unitarian sources, Sunday Bulletins, sermons, and Reverend Lucy Hitchcock writings. Reverend Lucy Hitchcock was a minister for the church who left the congregation in 1986. In this file are writings by the reverend Lucy, correspondence, and a homemade wood puzzle given to Lucy by members of the congregation.
The Milestones Series contains 50th Birthday and centennial celebration of the Churches founding, Award nominations forms, Awards, Obituaries/Memorials, and newspaper clippings. The subs series titled Church History contains the churches Historical society manual, collection of oral histories from past church patrons, and written church history. Additionally, the file contains photocopies of photos of Ruth T. Haynes Baker. Ruth was one of the church members who was in elementary school in New York in 1928. Ruth was an important member of the Unitarian Universalist church and had the ambition to share a part of her story.
The Artifact Series contains Membership signature book 1952-2018, an appreciation Plaque from the food pantry. There is a search committee minister catalog used educate prospective reverends about the church. One cassette tape with Prairie Radio Ad, and two videotapes of the 50th Birthday celebration.
The Oversized Series consists of architectural drawings of the church building addition designed by Foss Architects in 2003 and a poster from the 50th Birthday celebration in 2002.
The Public Relations Series is arranged alphabetically by sub series. The collection contains advertisement proposals for the Forum, and Prairie Public radio, a cassette tape of the radio ad can be found in the Artifact Series. The sub series Public Out Reach contains both national and local Unitarian Universalist fellowship information that would have been presented to the public to promote membership.
The Church Programming is arranged by progression of planning. The collection includes correspondence from the programming coordinators Millie Truemann and Carolyn Monzigo to potential campaign speaker. Carolyn’s notebook containing her notes about programming and board meetings can also be found in this file. This collection also includes Membership program preference surveys, program coordinator reports, and long-standing fellowship campaigns. The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee file contains a U.U.S.C. recruitment button and publications.
The Church Service Series is arranged chronologically. The collections contain Newsletters from national and local Unitarian sources, Sunday Bulletins, sermons, and Reverend Lucy Hitchcock writings. Reverend Lucy Hitchcock was a minister for the church who left the congregation in 1986. In this file are writings by the reverend Lucy, correspondence, and a homemade wood puzzle given to Lucy by members of the congregation.
The Milestones Series contains 50th Birthday and centennial celebration of the Churches founding, Award nominations forms, Awards, Obituaries/Memorials, and newspaper clippings. The subs series titled Church History contains the churches Historical society manual, collection of oral histories from past church patrons, and written church history. Additionally, the file contains photocopies of photos of Ruth T. Haynes Baker. Ruth was one of the church members who was in elementary school in New York in 1928. Ruth was an important member of the Unitarian Universalist church and had the ambition to share a part of her story.
The Artifact Series contains Membership signature book 1952-2018, an appreciation Plaque from the food pantry. There is a search committee minister catalog used educate prospective reverends about the church. One cassette tape with Prairie Radio Ad, and two videotapes of the 50th Birthday celebration.
The Oversized Series consists of architectural drawings of the church building addition designed by Foss Architects in 2003 and a poster from the 50th Birthday celebration in 2002.
Dates
- Majority of material found within 1895-2020
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.
Copyrights
Copyrights to material owned by the donors in this collection is held by the Archives.
History
The First Unitarian Society in Fargo, N.D. was incorporated with 52members on February 18, 1890. The American Unitarian Association of Boston helped the new congregation and appointed William Ballou as the first minister. He remained the full-time minister until 1919. The first meetings were held in the G.A.R. Hall located in the 600 block of 1st Avenue N.
On June 1, 1892, Thomas Baker, Jr. President of the Board of Education signed a deed conveying the school property at the northwest corner of 2nd Avenue and 9th Street S., to the Unitarian Society for $2000. The first Sermon was delivered in the new church building on December 11, 1892. On August 29, 1919 the prominent socialist, Max Eastman spoke against the draft and World War I. This sparked protests, and the rioters broke out the church windows. Mr. Eastman narrowly escaped a lynch mob by crouching on the floor of Mary Weible's carriage on the way to Dilworth, Minn. to board a train. After this, the First Unitarian Society disbanded due to the unpopularity of their Socialist and pacifist convictions. William Ballou purchased the building from the First Unitarian Society for use as a music studio and Civic Center. The building suffered fire damage in 1941. In July 1941, the building is sold to Jewish community leaders to be used as a Jewish Community Center (Beth El Center).
A Unitarian Fellowship in Fargo is approved by the American Unitarian Association around 1952-1954. Meetings are held in the Fireside Room of the old N.D.A.C.’s, Y.M.C.A. There were ten charter members. On May 22, 1961, the Unitarian Fellowship of Fargo Moorhead is incorporated. In 1962, the American Unitarian and Universalist Associations merge in the Unitarian Universalist Association. A mortgage note is signed on a building at 18 8th Street S., on March 15, 1969, with help from Charles and Linda Moses. By 1984 the congregation had grown to 103 members and 40 children. Due to this, a Long Range Planning committee was formed to begin searching for other buildings to purchase. Fate would have it that the original Unitarian Church, located at 121 9 Street S. was available for purchase. The U.U.A. President, John Buehrens came to dedicate the refurbished building, and in November 2003, construction of a building addition began. As of 2012, the church had 74 members.
On June 1, 1892, Thomas Baker, Jr. President of the Board of Education signed a deed conveying the school property at the northwest corner of 2nd Avenue and 9th Street S., to the Unitarian Society for $2000. The first Sermon was delivered in the new church building on December 11, 1892. On August 29, 1919 the prominent socialist, Max Eastman spoke against the draft and World War I. This sparked protests, and the rioters broke out the church windows. Mr. Eastman narrowly escaped a lynch mob by crouching on the floor of Mary Weible's carriage on the way to Dilworth, Minn. to board a train. After this, the First Unitarian Society disbanded due to the unpopularity of their Socialist and pacifist convictions. William Ballou purchased the building from the First Unitarian Society for use as a music studio and Civic Center. The building suffered fire damage in 1941. In July 1941, the building is sold to Jewish community leaders to be used as a Jewish Community Center (Beth El Center).
A Unitarian Fellowship in Fargo is approved by the American Unitarian Association around 1952-1954. Meetings are held in the Fireside Room of the old N.D.A.C.’s, Y.M.C.A. There were ten charter members. On May 22, 1961, the Unitarian Fellowship of Fargo Moorhead is incorporated. In 1962, the American Unitarian and Universalist Associations merge in the Unitarian Universalist Association. A mortgage note is signed on a building at 18 8th Street S., on March 15, 1969, with help from Charles and Linda Moses. By 1984 the congregation had grown to 103 members and 40 children. Due to this, a Long Range Planning committee was formed to begin searching for other buildings to purchase. Fate would have it that the original Unitarian Church, located at 121 9 Street S. was available for purchase. The U.U.A. President, John Buehrens came to dedicate the refurbished building, and in November 2003, construction of a building addition began. As of 2012, the church had 74 members.
Extent
5.5 Linear Feet (5.5linear feet.)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Unitarian Universalist church was founded in Fargo, N.D. in 1890.
Provenance
Donated by William Thomay on (Acc. 2020-053irs)
Separated Materials - Photographs
24 photographic prints and 13 35mm color negatives processed into Photo 2203
Property Rights
The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection.
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fargo-Moorhead Records
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu