#  Congregational Histories 

 



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When researching a congregation, historical narratives are helpful in multiple ways. The library collects histories of local Unitarian Universalist congregations and you can find them in [HOLLIS](https://hollis.harvard.edu/primo-explore/search?sortby=rank&vid=HVD2&lang=en_US), our catalog. Below are the types of congregational histories in our collection and ways to use them.



 



      ![Historic photograph of a Gothic church with a tall corner tower and steeple](/sites/g/files/omnuum4416/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/902-27-07newyork4thuniv_small_0.jpg?itok=OydRS8ZR) 

 

 

  Fourth Universalist Society in the City of New York   

 



 

 

 

Contemporary histories cover more recent events, such as the Unitarian, the Universalist, and the merged congregations in a specific town. For example, [Arlington's First Parish: A History 1733-1990](http://id.lib.harvard.edu/alma/990084181980203941/catalog) \[Print Only\].

Earlier histories are usually based on original records held by the congregation. For example, [*A Historical Sketch of the Independent Congregational Church, Meadville, Pennsylvania, 1825-1900*](https://id.lib.harvard.edu/alma/990008056340203941/catalog)*.*

The earliest published histories are found in sermons or addresses given at a minister's anniversary or retirement or for a church anniversary. For example, [*A Discourse Preached at Barre, January 11, 1854, at the End of a Ministry of Fifty Years in that Town*](https://hdl.handle.net/2027/nyp.33433081903639) and an address found in the [*Centennial Anniversary of the Planting of Universalism in Portsmouth, N.H., Nov. 16 & 17, 1873*](https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.32044020680062).

Regional histories include information about individual churches. For example, [A Century of Universalism in Philadelphia and New York, with Sketches of Its History in Reading, Hightstown, Brooklyn, and Elsewhere ](https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.32044023400989) and [*Unitarianism on the Pacific Coast: The First Sixty Years*](http://id.lib.harvard.edu/alma/990026181610203941/catalog) \[Print Only\].

General local histories include information on the history of the various congregations within a given town. For example, [*History of the Town of Shirley, Massachusetts, from Its Early settlement to A.D. 1882*](https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.32044024594871)*.*

The library also collects unpublished histories, such as ['The Unitarian Church of Lawrence, Kansas, 1855-1930. An Interpretative Story of a Church Career'](https://id.lib.harvard.edu/ead/div00109/catalog) \[Print Only\]

In addition to history narratives,

- [Yearbooks](https://guides.library.harvard.edu/c.php?g=253864&p=7224766) locate membership, financial and leadership data over time. Yearbooks are also helpful for tracing the career of a minister.
- [Annual reports](https://guides.library.harvard.edu/c.php?g=253864&p=7224906) identify the trends and events that affected congregations, and to see congregational involvement at the national level.
- [Journals](https://guides.library.harvard.edu/c.php?g=253864&p=7224951) are another great place to research congregations.

Researching your Unitarian Universalist congregation's ties to slavery before and after abolition? Other questions about congregational history? [Contact a research librarian](mailto:research@hds.harvard.edu).

If you know of histories that the library should purchase, please submit a [Purchase Request](https://library.harvard.edu/services-tools/purchase-request).

To donate historical material about a Unitarian Universalist congregation to the library, see [Donate Materials](/collections/special-collections/contact#donating-materials).