Guide to the Holy Trinity (Swedish) Evangelical Lutheran Church, Greensburg, Pa. Records, 1887-1979 AIS.1979.43

Table of Contents

Summary Information

History

Scope and Content Notes

Administrative Information

Controlled Access Headings

Previous Citation

Collection Inventory

Series I. Constitution and By-Laws

Series II. Combined Church Record Book

Series III. Church Registers

Series IV. Minute Books

Series IV. Financial Records

Series VI. Sunday School Class Records

Series VII. Church Directories

Series VIII. Census Records, Parish

Series IX. Correspondence

Series X. Forms and Reports

Series XI. Church Bulletins

Series XII. Publications and Files

Summary Information

Repository

ULS Archives & Special Collections

Title

Holy Trinity (Swedish) Evangelical Lutheran Church, Greensburg, Pa. Records

Creator

Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church (Greensburg, Pa.).

Collection Number

AIS.1979.43

Date

1887-1979

Extent

7.0 microfilm reels

Abstract

The records of Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church consist of minute books and financial records of the various church boards and societies; combined church records which include baptisms, confirmations, marriages, reception and dismissal of members, and funerals; church directories and census records; church bulletins and newsletters; and parish files.

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History

The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Salem Church was organized under the auspices of the Augustana Synod in 1887 with a congregation of 62. There were two subsequent name changes; the first was in 1948 when the congregation elected to call itself the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church of Greensburg; and again in 1956 the name changed to the Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of Greensburg.

The congregation met for services at the Zion Lutheran Church of Greensburg until their own church was built at the corner of Chestnut and Brandon Streets in 1895. The same church continues to serve the membership today. Land adjoining the church was purchased for a parsonage in 1910 and in 1953 the "Fellowship Hall," an addition to the church, was dedicated.

Holy Trinity has a strong Swedish heritage. All early church records are in Swedish and it wasn't until 1935 that services were conducted in English. Prior to this time nearly all of the congregation was fluent in Swedish, but gradual Americanization made it necessary to switch to English for the benefit of the younger members. It was decided to keep church records in English in 1925.

Several active church groups have been established since Holy Trinity was founded. Their specific purposes vary, but in general they work for the welfare of the congregation and, in their capa city as Evangelists, strive to share their religious conviction with non-members. Among them are: The Luther League (Ungdomsforeningen or Young People's Society), formed in 1891; the Salem Choir, 1895; the Sunday School, 1895; the Tabitha Society (Salems Stjarnan), 1896; the Dorcas Society (Syforeningen), 1899; the Lutheran Brotherhood (Mans-foreningen), 1915; the Women's Missionary Society 1918; and the Junior Missionary Society, 1919.

Though the church has evolved over the years, encompassing a wider variety of ethnic backgrounds, the Swedish heritage is still strong, as evinced by the number of members with Swedish surnames. The commitment to community service also remains strong. The church maintains a camp for Scout and youth groups, conducts a Vacation Bible School during the summers and holds Sunday School classes during the winter months with nursery to adult classes.

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Scope and Content Notes

Records span the years 1887-1979. The majority of the pre-1925 records are in Swedish. Record-keeping was fairly consistent throughout the history of the church. Minute books comprise the bulk of the records and provide information on the social and spiritual activities of the members.

The collection consists of minute books and financial records of the various church boards and societies; combined church records which include baptisms, confirmations, marriages, reception and dismissal of members, and funerals; church directories and census records; church bulletins and newsletters; and parish files.

Series 8, "Parish Census Records," includes a set of questionnaires on church programs and activities with comments and criticism by parishioners. Many of the file folders of correspondence and parish office files were selectively filmed by the Archives of Industrial Society to avoid duplication and to omit extraneous material, church and Scouting pamphlets of a national origin, devotional prayers, church film catalogs, church furnishings catalogs, and other materials.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

ULS Archives & Special Collections, May 1980

Revision Description

 Converted from EAD Version 1.0 to EAD Version 2002 uly 1, 2006

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

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.

Acquisition Information

These records were microfilmed by the Archives of Industrial Society with funds provided by NEH grant RC-0036-79-1210, "Survey and Acquisition of Source Materials Relating to Immigrant and Ethnic Life in Southwestern Pennsylvania" in 1979.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Katie Kirwan in May, 1980.

Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Dan Horvath in September, 2003. 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: 1373698

Existence and Location of Originals

Original records are in the possession of Holy Trinity (Swedish) Evangelical Lutheran Church.

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Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

• Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church (Greensburg, Pa.).

Genre(s)

• Censuses
• Directories
• Newsletters

Geographic Name(s)

• Greensburg (Pa.) -- Church history
• Pennsylvania -- Church history

Subject(s)

• Baptismal records
• Church records and registers -- Pennsylvania -- Greensburg
• Churches and Synagogues
• Ethnic groups
• Lutheran Church -- Pennsylvania
• Swedes -- Pennsylvania
• Swedes -- Pennsylvania -- Greensburg
• Swedish Americans -- Pennsylvania
• Swedish Americans -- Religion

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Previous Citation

Holy Trinity (Swedish) Evangelical Lutheran Church, Greensburg, Pa. Records, AIS.1979.43, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh

Holy Trinity (Swedish) Evangelical Lutheran Church, Chestnut and Brandon Streets, Greensburg, Pa. 15601, Records, 1887-1979, AIS Micro 79:43, Archives of Industrial Society, University of Pittsburgh

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Collection Inventory