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Religion

Religion Research Guide

America to 1900

Moravian mission records among the North American Indians [microform]
Material from the Archives of the Moravian Church, whose mission to Native Americans lasted from 1735 to 1900. Consists of letters, diaries, and church registers. Much of the material is in German, but there is also material in English.

Papers of John Ettwein 
Ettwein was President of the Governing Board of the Moravian Church in America in the Revolutionary War era. Originals in the Archives of the Moravian Church, Bethlehem, Pa

Millerites and Early Adventists [microform]
This collection consists of books and pamphlets that document the Millerites and early Adventists. It also includes the correspondence of William Miller, a New York farmer, who prophesied that the Second Coming of Christ would occur on October 22, 1844. The Millerites were the original nucleus of today’s Seventh-Day Adventists and other Adventist churches. Covers c. 1840 to c. 1870.

Microfilm edition of the Winthrop papers
The Massachusetts Historical Society in Boston holds this collection of the American Family Manuscripts. These are private and public papers that come from many sources. The majority of the manuscripts came from the Winthrop family, and include the journal of Governor John Winthrop (1588-1649). 

Sunday School Movement and Its Curriculum

From the Congregational Library and Archives, Boston, MA

Correspondence relating to the North American colonies, 1701-86 [Society for Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts]
The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel was chartered in 1701 to do missionary work on behalf of the Church of England. This collection consists of records dating from 1702-1737, including three series of letters and papers concerning the Society’s missionary work in North American colonies. The originals are held by the Society for Propagation of the Gospel in London.

Journal, annual sermons and reports of the Society for Propagation of the Gospel: Journals, 1701-1850 
The journal, 1701-1870, records the proceedings of the Society and includes extracts or copies of letters from missionaries in North America, Virginia, the Bahamas, the Leeward and Windward Islands, Canada, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Utah and the Mormons
This collection reproduces books and pamphlets from the second half of the 19th century, on Mormons and Utah. It also includes a number of Mormon periodicals.

American Missionary Association archives
Edition of the American Missionary Association archives at the Amistad Research Center. See also American Missionary Association archives as a source for the study of American history.  The American Missionary Association began as an abolitionist organization and became an advocate for civil rights and education for African-Americans. Covers 1846-1882. 

The holdings of Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church Historical Museum in manuscript and print [microform]
 

 

 

20th century America

Library of American church records
"This microfilm set includes yearbooks, annual reports, minutes and other reports from the 19th and 20th centuries, for the following denominations: American Baptist Convention, 1914-1969; Assemblies of God, 1914-1965; Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, 1803-1970; Brethren in Christ Church, 1871-1970; Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ), 1848-1964; Church of Christ, 1906-1963; Congregational Church, 1854-1961; Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1810-1966; General Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists, 1867-1970."

Harlan Paul Douglass Collection of religious research reports
Available through interlibrary loan from the Center for Research Libraries.
"The Douglass Collection includes church-related field research reports contributed voluntarily to the National Council of Churches Department of Research by various denominational and ecumenical researchers. This set includes 2,270 documents dealing with social and ecclesiastical conditions of religion in America and including reports, case studies, pamphlets and fugitive papers. Most of the papers date from the period 1950-1970, although there are some earlier materials. The collection is also cited as Social problems and the churches."

FBI file: Waco/Branch Davidian compound
Transcripts of FBI negotiations with members of the Branch Davidian sect in Waco, Texas, in 1993.