Historical Materials, 1860-1968

A church fire in November 1927 destroyed a portion of this organization’s historical manuscripts. Nevertheless, the remaining records provide sufficient documentation for a thorough study of the Wheatland Salem United Methodist Church’s history. Of primary importance are the church minutes dating from 1860 to 1963 (1916-1947 are missing.) describing organizational changes, building or expansion problems, and general church business. In addition, quarterly conference records (1920-1967) detail administration, financial, and inter-organizational policies. The treasurer’s account books furnish a wealth of information on the church’s financial development through the Depression years to the early 1960’s (1931-1963). Supplementary records, including membership records (1920-1948), burial records (1861-1904), and bulletins and newsletters complete the general church record series. The remaining materials partially document the Sunday School (1916-1952), Ladies’ Aid Society (1908-1948), Women’s Society for World Service (1959-1975), Young Peoples Alliance (later the Evangelical League of Christian Endeavor, 1908-1942), Crusaders (1946-1949), Philathea Class (1923-1946), Young Men’s Bible Class (1919-1928), Salem Brotherhood (1934-1954), and the church choir and drama club. Finally, a small series of photographs depict church construction and some of the congregation. The addenda added at a later date consists of information on the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church archives, a family membership roll, and a church register that includes a record of pastors, members, marriages, baptisms, deaths, and statistics. Researchers should note that one minute book discussing church construction is in German. In addition, the historical file (Box 1, Folder 1) contains a detailed historical sketch as well as anniversary booklets.