Repository: ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title: Grace Reformed Church, Pittsburgh, Pa. Records
Creator: Grace Reformed Church (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Collection Number: AIS.1968.21
Extent: 14.7 Linear Feet (28 boxes)
Date: 1853-1964
Abstract: This collection contains the records of the Grace Reformed Church, Pittsburgh, PA, 1853-1964 and relates primarily to financial information and organizational infrastructure. These records include bank ledgers, statements, receipts, bills of sale, church programs, bulletins, missals, sermons, member lists, burial records, correspondence, meeting minutes, memoranda, and miscellaneous medias.
Language: English .
Author: Nathaniel Eddy. Revisions occurred to the finding aid as a part of the encoding process in April 2005.
Publisher: ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address: University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Business Number: 412-648-3232 (Thomas) | 412-648-8190 (Hillman)
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

History

In December of 1853, Rev. Dr. Henry Harbaugh, president of Philadelphia based Franklin and Marshall College, was summoned to Pittsburgh at the request of resident Mrs. Amelia K. Schmertz concerning the potential establishment of a local organization of a Reformed Church. The result of this visit contributed to the 1854 establishment of the Pittsburgh congregation of the Grace Reformed Church, a denomination of The Reformed Church in the United States (RCUS). Services were first held in a hall at the corner of Smithfield Street and Virgin Alley in downtown Pittsburgh and included an initial congregation of seven charter members. A year later the Grace Reformed Church purchased three vacant lots on the corner of Grant and Webster Streets and prepared plans for the construction of a new building. Completed in December of 1857, the original church structure of the Grace Reformed Church would serve the needs of its congregation for just under six years.

In 1899, confronted with an increasing number of members leaving downtown for the suburbs, the Church purchased a plot of land in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh situated at the corner of Dithridge and Bayard Streets and in October 1901 began construction on a new edifice. Completed two years later in July 1903, this new structure served as the permanent location of the Grace Reformed Church until 1964, when the congregation was forced to dissolve due to shrinking numbers in membership and increasing financial instability. In 1968 the Church was demolished.

The RCUS was founded in 1725 as a German immigrant denomination. In 1934 a vast majority of Reformed Churches, including the Grace Reformed Church, united with the Evangelical Synod of North America to form the Evangelical and Reformed Church. In 1957 this new church merged with the Congregational Christian Churches to form the United Church of Christ. Although officially uniting with the Evangelical Synod of North America in 1934, there still exists roughly forty RCUS denominations in the United States today. The majority of these are located in the Northern Plains, South Central, and Western parts of the United States.

Scope and Content Notes

This collection reflects the proceedings and daily affairs of the Grace Reformed Church, Pittsburgh, PA as represented through various correspondence, financial records, and organizational materials, 1853-1964.

The collection is comprised of five series. Series I consists of material related to the history of the church, 1853-1954. Series II contains information regarding organizations affiliated with and sponsored by the church, 1903-1964. Series III consists of material related to church affairs and proceedings. Included in this series is the correspondence of the Rev. Dr. John H. Prugh, pastor of Grace Reformed Church from 1880-1915, and the correspondence of Louis A. Meyran, a considerable benefactor and member of the church consistory. This series also contains church member and roster lists in addition to miscellaneous burial records and dates 1903-1964. Series IV consists of material related to church finances 1855-1964. Included are numerous bank statements and ledgers as well as bills, receipts, and correspondence from local Pittsburgh businesses. Series V contains ten glass lantern slides, assorted photographs, and several stamps used to mark church documents and official correspondence. The small collection of lantern slides feature landscapes and monuments of biblical significance and were most likely utilized as teaching aids for bible class and Sunday school lessons.

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Acquisition Information

Gift of the Grace Reformed Church, Pittsburgh, Pa., 1968.

Previous Citation

Grace Reformed Church Records, Pittsburgh, Pa., 1853-1964, AIS.1968.21, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh

Preferred Citation

Grace Reformed Church Records, Pittsburgh, Pa., 1853-1964, AIS.1968.21, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Nathaniel Eddy in February 2005.

Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Dan Horvath in April 2005. Information about the collection title and the controlled access terms was extracted from the MARC record in the University of Pittsburgh catalog Voyager ID number: 1409392

Copyright

Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Pittsburgh as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Related Material

Official records of Grace Reformed Church, such as membership, baptisms, marriages and deaths are designated as RG 384 and located at the Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society, Lancaster Theological Seminary, 555 W. James Street, Lancaster, PA 17603.

Subjects

Corporate Names

German Reformed Church (U.S.)
Grace Reformed Church (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Reformed Church in the United States

Geographic Names

Oakland (Pittsburgh, Pa.) -- Religion
Golden Triangle (Pittsburgh, Pa.) -- Religion

Genres

Church records
Marriage records
Death records

Other Subjects

Church buildings -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
German Americans -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh -- Religion
Churches and Synagogues
Ethnic groups

Container List

Series I. History, 1853-1954

Scope and Content Notes

Series I contains programs, bulletins, newspaper clippings, notes, and publications pertaining to the history and governing rules of the Grace Reformed Church. Also included is the 1853 journal of the Reverend Dr. Henry Harbaugh describing his visit from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh and detailing the potential appropriateness of Pittsburgh as a setting for the Grace Reformed Church.

Journal of Reverend Dr. Henry Harbaugh, 1853

Containers: box 1, folder 1

Church Bulletin, Historical Sketch of Grace Church, 1854-1902

Containers: box 1, folder 2

Church Bulletin, Golden Jubilee Celebration, 1904

Containers: box 1, folder 3

Church Bulletin, Centennial Anniversary Celebration, 1954

Containers: box 1, folder 4

Handwritten History of Grace Church, no date

Containers: box 1, folder 5

Church History, 1904

Containers: box 1, folder 6

Program of Dedication, 1903

Containers: box 1, folder 7

Constitution and Bylaws, no date

Containers: box 1, folder 8

Member Duties and Visitor Rules, 1920

Containers: box 1, folder 9

Grace Reformed Church Annual Pew Prices and Interior Blueprint, no date

Containers: box 1, folder 10

Scrapbook, 1906

Containers: box 1, folder 11

Miscellaneous Newspaper Clippings, 1903-1915

Containers: box 1, folder 12

Series II. Organizations, 1903-1964

Scope and Content Notes

Series II contains record books, attendance books, registers, annual reports, bulletins and announcements, meeting minutes, and correspondence related to those organizations and classes affiliated with and sponsored by Grace Reformed Church. Records of the various women's guilds and other groups are found within this series.

Subseries 1. Sunday School, 1895-1959

Record Book, 1903-1956

Containers: box 2, folder 1-6

Pupil Workbook and Teacher Guide, 1952, 1956

Containers: box 2, folder 7

Accounts Receivable Ledger, 1953-1955

Containers: box 2, folder 8

Attendance Book, 1916-1936

Containers: box 2, folder 9-10

Attendance Book, 1952-1959

Containers: box 3, folder 1-2

Primary Department, Attendance Book, 1904-1927

Containers: box 3, folder 3-5

Library Register, 1895-1902

Containers: box 3, folder 6

Board Meeting Minutes, 1953-1956

Containers: box 3, folder 7

Subseries 2. Men's Bible Class, 1911-1921

Meeting Minutes, 1911-1921

Containers: box 4, folder 1

Correspondence, 1912

Containers: box 4, folder 2

Member and Attendance Book, 1914-1917

Containers: box 4, folder 3

Subseries 3. Women's Bible Class, 1914-1936

Meeting Minutes, 1914-1936

Containers: box 4, folder 4

Annual Report, 1918

Containers: box 4, folder 5

Annual Report and Roster, 1924

Containers: box 4, folder 6

Subseries 4. Women's Guild, 1942-1960

Women's Guild, Annual Reports, 1942, 1956-1960

Containers: box 4, folder 7

Pittsburgh Synodical Women's Guild, Eighth Biennial Meeting, 1956

Containers: box 4, folder 8

Women's Guild of the Evangelical and Reformed Church, Annual Reports, 1956-1958

Containers: box 4, folder 9

Subseries 5. Women's Missionary Society, 1896-1928

Roster and Meeting Minutes, 1925-1928

Containers: box 4, folder 10

Receipts and Disbursements, 1896-1920

Containers: box 4, folder 11

Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1910-1912

Containers: box 4, folder 12

Subseries 6. Young People's Society, 1911-1917

Ledger, Roster and Meeting Minutes, 1911-1917

Containers: box 4, folder 13

Subseries 7. Consistory, 1904-1964

Meeting Minutes, 1904-1949

Containers: box 5, folder 1-4

Correspondence, 1908-1928, 1931-1950

Containers: box 5, folder 5-6

Member and Committee Lists, 1914-1953

Containers: box 5, folder 7

Announcements and Bulletins, 1950-1964

Containers: box 5, folder 8

Survey, 1951

Containers: box 5, folder 9

Subseries 8. Council of the Reformed Churches of America, 1912

Committee Report of Foreign Missions, 1912

Containers: box 5, folder 10

Correspondence and Minutes, 1912

Containers: box 5, folder 11

Subseries 9. United Church of Women, 1963

Annual Report, 1963

Containers: box 5, folder 12

Subseries 10. Pittsburgh Synod of the Reformed Church, 1916-1959

Bulletins and Minutes, 1916-1952

Containers: box 5, folder 13

Miscellaneous and Correspondence, 1940-1959

Containers: box 5, folder 14

Series III. Affairs and Proceedings, 1903-1964

Scope and Content Notes

Series III contains service bulletins, sermons, church missals, correspondence, memoranda, member lists, burial records, and pledge and communicant cards related to internal affairs and general church proceedings. Also included are miscellaneous service bulletins, pamphlets, publications, and announcements of non-affiliated Grace Reformed churches.

Rev. Dr. John H. Prugh, Correspondence, 1911-1912

Containers: box 6, folder 1-3

Louis A. Meyran, Correspondence, 1924-1941

Containers: box 6, folder 4

Memoranda and Notes, 1911-1912

Containers: box 6, folder 5

Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1903-1956

Containers: box 6, folder 6-7

Miscellaneous Cards of Appreciation, no date

Containers: box 6, folder 8

Miscellaneous Invitations, no date

Containers: box 6, folder 9

Sermons, 1920s

Containers: box 7, folder 1-3

Service Bulletins, 1914-1955

Containers: box 8, folder 1-21

Service Bulletins, 1956-1964

Containers: box 9, folder 1-9

Miscellaneous Service Bulletins, Non-Grace Reformed Church, no date

Containers: box 9, folder 10

Miscellaneous Pamphlets and Publications, Non-Grace Reformed Church, no date

Containers: box 9, folder 11

Men of Grace Reformed Church Roster List, 1911

Containers: box 10, folder 1

Committee and Church Member List, 1912

Containers: box 10, folder 2

Church Member List, 1938

Containers: box 10, folder 3

Miscellaneous Church Member Lists, no date

Containers: box 10, folder 4

Church Guestbook, 1952-1955

Containers: box 10, folder 5

Member Transfer Requests, 1952-1960

Containers: box 10, folder 6

Cradle Roll Call Certificate, 1927

Containers: box 10, folder 7

Burial Records, 1927-1946

Containers: box 10, folder 8

Church Pledge Cards, 1921-1931

Containers: box 10, folder 9

Advent Pledge Cards, no date

Containers: box 10, folder 10

Cards for Communicants, no date

Containers: box 10, folder 11

Miscellaneous Pamphlets and Publications, no date

Containers: box 10, folder 12

Series IV. Finances, 1855-1964

Scope and Content Notes

Series IV contains bank bonds, deposit slips, check books, bank statements, ledgers, leases, and deeds related to the financial history of the Grace Reformed Church. The bulk of the content relates to church financial records and includes correspondence, monetary transactions, and bills of sale and receipts from local Pittsburgh businesses. Also included are the last wills and testaments of Louis A. Meyran and Paul H. Hacke.

Financial Bond, 1855

Containers: box 11, folder 1

Mortgage Indenture, 1855-1856

Containers: box 11, folder 2-3

Financial Bond, 1872

Containers: box 11, folder 4

Financial Indenture, 1872

Containers: box 11, folder 5

Financial Bond, 1880

Containers: box 11, folder 6

Financial Contract, 1900

Containers: box 11, folder 7

Bill of Property Sale, 1901

Containers: box 11, folder 8

Financial Records, 1903-1911

Containers: box 11, folder 9-17

Pew Rent Pledges, 1911

Containers: box 11, folder 18

Financial Records, 1912-1937

Containers: box 12, folder 1-25

Financial Records, 1938-1947

Containers: box 13, folder 1-11

Financial Records, 1948-1955

Containers: box 14, folder 1-10

Financial Records, 1956-1964

Containers: box 15, folder 1-6

Grace Reformed Re-decorating Fund, Financial Records, 1956

Containers: box 15, folder 7

Miscellaneous Financial Records, no date

Containers: box 15, folder 8

Last Will and Estate Information, Paul H. Hacke, 1938

Containers: box 15, folder 9

Last Will and Estate Information, Louis A. Meyran, 1941

Containers: box 15, folder 10

Deposit Slips, Germania Savings Bank, 1912

Containers: box 16, folder 1

Checks Paid, Germania Savings Bank, 1912-1916

Containers: box 16, folder 2-3

Deposit Slips, The Colonial Trust Company, 1940-1956

Containers: box 16, folder 4-6

Workingmans Savings Bank and Trust Co., Bank Statements, 1942

Containers: box 16, folder 7

Peoples First National Bank and Trust Co., Bank Statements, 1953-1957

Containers: box 16, folder 8

The Fidelity Trust Company, 1954-1956

Containers: box 17, folder 1-4

The Fidelity Trust Company, 1956-1957

Containers: box 18, folder 1-3

The Colonial Trust Company, 1938-1939

Containers: box 18, folder 4-5

The Colonial Trust Company, 1939-1943

Containers: box 19, folder 1-7

The Colonial Trust Company, 1943-1946

Containers: box 20, folder 1-7

The Colonial Trust Company, 1947-1950

Containers: box 21, folder 1-7

The Colonial Trust Company, , 1950-1952

Containers: box 22, folder 1-5

the Colonial Trust Company, 1953-1954

Containers: box 23, folder 1-4

Unknown Bank Ledger Books, 1908-1911

Containers: box 24, folder 1

Ledgers, The Colonial Trust Company Bank, 1928-1956

Containers: box 24, folder 2-5

Ledgers, Workingmans Savings Bank and Trust Company, 1942

Containers: box 24, folder 6

Deposit Slips, Peoples First National Bank and Trust Company, 1953-1956

Containers: box 24, folder 7

Series V. Media Material

Scope and Content Notes

Series V contains lantern slides, stamps engraved with the bust of the Rev. Dr. John H. Prugh, and assorted photographs. The small collection of lantern slides were purchased from the T.H. McAllister Company, NY, NY and most likely utilized as teaching aids for Sunday and Bible school classes. Unless specified, all dates unknown.

Subseries 1. Lantern Slides

Solomon's Walls, Jerusalem

Containers: box 25, folder 1

Second Pyramid, Giza, Egypt

Containers: box 25, folder 2

Ruins of Fortress Tyre, Lebanon

Containers: box 25, folder 3

View of Mount of Olives from Damascus Hotel

Containers: box 25, folder 4

Unknown

Containers: box 25, folder 5

Jupiter's Temple, Baalbek, Lebanon

Containers: box 25, folder 6

Convent of Mar-Saba, Jerusalem

Containers: box 25, folder 7

Nablus

Containers: box 25, folder 8

Ramallah

Containers: box 25, folder 9

Unknown

Containers: box 25, folder 10

Subseries 2. Engraving and Stamp

Wood Stamp Copper Block Engraving, Bust of Rev. Dr. John H. Prugh

Containers: box 25, folder 11

Rubber Stamp, "My Testimony For Christ"

Containers: box 25, folder 12

Subseries 3. Photographs

Rev. Karl Stein and Family

Containers: box 26, folder 1-3

Church Treasurer Frank Freese and Family

Containers: box 26, folder 4

Consistory

Containers: box 26, folder 5-6

Unidentified Churches

Containers: box 26, folder 7

Subseries 4. Photographic Negatives

Photograph Negatives, Rev. Karl Stein

Containers: box 26, folder 8

Subseries 5. Photographs, Miscellaneous

Photographs, Miscellaneous Unknown

Containers: box 27, folder 1-6

Photographs, Miscellaneous Unknown

Containers: box 28, folder 1-14

Guide to the Grace Reformed Church, Pittsburgh, Pa. Records, 1853-1964 AIS.1968.21

Arrangement

History

Scope and Content Notes

Access Restrictions

Acquisition Information

Previous Citation

Preferred Citation

Processing Information

Copyright

Related Material

Subjects

Corporate Names

Geographic Names

Genres

Other Subjects

Container List

Scope and Content Notes

Scope and Content Notes

Scope and Content Notes

Scope and Content Notes

Scope and Content Notes