Unitarian Universalist Church of Fargo-Moorhead Photograph Collection
Collection
Identifier: Photo 2203-Photo Folio 3
Scope and Content
This collection contains photographs from the 50th Birthday celebration and 120mm color negatives from unidentified event. Membership directory photos from 1998 along with member information sheets can be found in this collection. Additional Ink Jet photocopy member photos and data sheets accompany this collection found in the document collection Mss 3111, box 1, file 21. The church building photograph depicts the 9th street building before the addition in 2003. Folio 3 contains photographs of church member Ruth T. Haynes Baker. Ruth wrote a poem in elementary school in New York in 1928 and another in 1944. She graduated from North Dakota Agricultural College in 1953 and had the ambition to share a part of her story through her poems.Additional photo Ink jet copies of Ruth and her obituary can be found in Mss 3111, box 2, file 53.
Dates
- Majority of material found within 1950 - 2003
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.
Copyrights
Copyrights are held partially by the NDSU Archives, or creators.
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
27 Photographic Prints (27 photographic prints)
13 Photographic Negatives (13 35mm color negatives)
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 Manuscript Materials
Manuscript document processed in Mss 3111
Property Rights
The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection.
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fargo-Moorhead Photograph Collection
- 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