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Guide to the First Congregational Church (La Crosse, Wisconsin) Records, 1859-1936 MSS 045, Micro 18

Guide to the First Congregational Church (La Crosse, Wisconsin) Records, 1859-1936

MSS 045, Micro 18

Summary Information

Abstract
Organized on January 22, 1852, the First Congregational Church is the second oldest church in La Crosse. The First Congregational Church of La Crosse, Wisconsin is affiliated nationally with the United Church of Christ.

Records on microfilm include congregational minutes, 1859-1883; lists of members received and removed, 1852-1915; baptisms, 1882-1936; and marriages, 1888-1936.
Collection Title
First Congregational Church (La Crosse, Wisconsin) Records
Date of Materials
1859-1936
Creator
First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ (La Crosse, Wis.).
Call Number
MSS 045, Micro 18
Amount
0.1 cubic feet
Physical Description
1 reel of 35 mm microfilm
Language of Materials
English
Repository
La Crosse Public Library Archives

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], First Congregational Church (La Crosse, Wisconsin) Records, MSS 045, La Crosse Public Library Archives, La Crosse, WI

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Historical Note

Organized on January 22, 1852, the First Congregational Church is the second oldest church in La Crosse. On this day, twelve Congregationalists and Presbyterians formed a union church, and at the same time and place the First Baptist Church was being established at the home of S. T. Smith. The First Congregational Church became a member of the Presbyterian and Congregational Convention of Wisconsin in October of 1855. A separate Presbyterian Church was organized in 1866.

Until a lot at the southeast corner of Fourth and Jay Streets was donated by the Peter Cameron estate for the completion of a church in December 1855, the members met at various locations such as the old wooden courthouse and the Old Third Ward brick school house. In 1870 the church at Fourth and Jay Streets was sold to the Norwegian Lutheran Church. A new church was built on the corner of Seventh and Main Streets in an American Gothic style. This building was partially razed after it was found to be structurally unsound, leaving only the 1931 addition across the back. The third church building was constructed at Losey Boulevard and Main Street with a dedication of the new church being held on September 13, 1953 (Haas, Charles E. Bless the Work of Our Hands. La Crosse, WI: First Congregational Church, 1984). The church at 2503 Main Street is a multi-level, flat-roofed structure with a Winona stone exterior. It is also complete with a large educational wing. Remodeling efforts of the fellowship hall and sanctuary have been accomplished in the 1990s.

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Scope and Contents

Records of First Congregational Church, 1859-1936, of La Crosse, Wisconsin, which is affiliated with the United Church of Christ, include congregational minutes, 1859-1883; lists of members received and removed, 1852-1915; baptisms, 1882-1936; and marriages, 1888-1936. Despite the early date of organization, the sacramental records do not begin until 1882 and 1888.

Originally there were three churches on this reel of microfilm. For patron ease, these have been spliced apart. As a result, this reel starts with item 5 instead of being labeled item 1. If the original volume had pagination (page numbers), then these are included in the reel list below.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

La Crosse Public Library Archives 1997 December

800 Main St.
La Crosse, Wisconsin, 54601
(608) 789-7136
archives@lacrosselibrary.org

Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for patron use.

Acquisitions Information

(Accession No. 1997.023) Purchased by the Archives with gift funds from the Genealogical Society of Utah with permission of Rev. Jerry Jordan, Oct. 1997. Originals filmed in July 1981; GSU control number 1306452.

Processing Information

Finding aid written by Anita Taylor Doering, Dec. 1997.

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Related Materials

Related Archival Materials note

(MSS CB, MSS PH at University of Wisconin-La Crosse Area Research Center)
 First Congregational Church (La Crosse, Wisconsin) Records
(929.377572 R245 1976)
 Record of marriages in which Rev. Henry Faville officiated while pastor at La Crosse, Wisconsin -- 27 December 1888 until 6 September 1913: First Congregational Church, by Naomi N. Holmlund
(285.877571 F519LB 1984)
 Bless the work of our hands: a history of the First Congregational Church of La Crosse, Wisconsin, 1852-1972, by Charles E. Haas

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Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

  • First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ (La Crosse, Wis.).
  • United Church of Christ (La Crosse, Wis.).

Subject(s)

  • Church records and registers--Wisconsin--La Crosse

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OCLC Number

47043534

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Collection Inventory

Reel Item

Index to Item 5 

1 5
Reel Item Page

Pastors 

1 5 1

Deacons 

1 5 3

Other Officers 

1 5 7

Subordinate List 

1 5 20-24

Baptisms (chronological), 1900-1915 

1 5 25-32

Members received (chronological) 

Reel Item Page

 1852-1914 

1 5 33-57

 1914-1915 

1 5 71-72
Reel Item Page

Members removed (chronological), 1900-1915 

1 5 58-69

Congregational Minutes, 1859-1882 

1 6 1-221

Members received and dismissed (chronological) 

Reel Item Page

 1874-1881 

1 6 380-385

 1852-1874 

1 6 420-436
Reel Item Page

Pastors 

1 7 1

Deacons 

1 7 3

Register of communicants (members received and removed, chronological), 1852-1889 

1 7 15-45

Baptisms (chronological), 1882-1889 

1 7 55-62

Congregational minutes, 1882-1883 

1 7 160-190

Organizers of original church, 1852 January 22 

1 8 1

Pastors 

1 8 2

Deacons 

1 8 4

Church committee 

1 8 8

Register of communicants, 1852-1899 

1 8 20-57

Baptisms, 1890-1899 

1 8 100-111

Marriage, 1899 

1 8 162

Index to Item 9 

1 9 1

Pastors 

1 9 2

Baptisms, 1915-1936 

1 9 25-37

Marriages, 1914-1936 

1 9 70-81

Rev. Henry Faville's log book of Marriages 

Reel Item

 1888-1909 

1 10
Reel Item Page

 1909-1913 

1 10 13-37