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COLLECTION Identifier: bMS 342

First Universalist Society in Salem, MA. Records, 1806-1955

Overview

Meeting minutes, pew deeds, financial statements, correspondence, clippings, etc. of the First Universalist Society in Salem, MA. The records span 1806-1955.

Dates

  • Creation: 1806-1955

Access

There are no restrictions on access to this collection.

Extent

2 boxes

This collection contains meeting minutes, pew deeds, financial statements, correspondence, (including letters from Edward Turner and Hosea Ballou), clippings, programs, and the diary of carpenter Perley Putnam, which includes a copy of the Act of Incorporation.

This collection was also microfilmed and the microfilm is in box 1.

Biographical / Historical

Nathaniel Frothingham was the most instrumental person in the founding of the Universalist faith in Salem. He invited Reverend John Murray to preach at his home in Salem in1805, and that same year, the Universalist Society in Salem was formally organized. Two other early Universalist leaders in Salem were Jonathan Bickford and Reverend Hosea Ballou. The first Universalist service was held in the church on May 14, 1809. On June 22 of that same year, the church was dedicated and the minister, the Reverend Edward Turner, was installed.

Title
First Universalist Society in Salem, MA. Records, 1806-1955.
Author
Andover-Harvard Theological Library
Language of description
und
EAD ID
div00342

Repository Details

Part of the Harvard Divinity School Library, Harvard University Repository

Special Collections at Harvard Divinity School Library preserves and makes accessible primary source materials documenting the history of religion and theology, with particular historical emphasis on American liberal religious traditions. Though the historical strengths of the collections have been in the field of Christianity, other religious traditions are increasingly reflected, in step with Harvard Divinity School's evolving focus on global religious studies. Known as Andover-Harvard Theological Library since 1911, it was renamed the Harvard Divinity School Library in 2021.

Contact:
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Cambridge MA 02138-1911 USA
(617) 496-2485