Society of Church Workers of the First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, Tennessee minute book, 1897-1914 (bulk 1897-1899)
(Document/manuscript/pamphlet/archival material)

Materials housed in Special Collections Division of the Main Library, Nashville Public Library.

Housed in Small Collections Box 4.

In library use only. Available by appointment.

Scope and content: Minute book of the Society of Church Workers of the First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, Tenn., from 1897 to 1914, with the vast majority of entries from 1897-1899. No entries exist outside of this two year span except for very brief entries for 1910 and 1914. The front of the book indicates it is volume 4, but no other volumes are in the holdings of the Nashville Public Library. The constitution of the organization appears at the front of the volume, along with election of officers and their responsibilities. Minutes include reports of individuals and committees, such as activities to aid the poor, visiting the sick and welcoming strangers, providing flowers for the altar, and various charitable activities, including financial contributions to the Second Presbyterian Church in Columbia and the Monroe Harding Orphanage in Nashville, Tenn. Illnesses and absences of members are recorded, as is a 25th wedding anniversary tribute to Rev. F. B. Webb and his wife, the former Miss Mary Paxton. The minutes recorded by secretary Mrs. Annie White are detailed with sometimes flowery and extravagant prose. Besides documenting the numerous activities of the organization, she includes sentimental comments, reports on the weather, and sometimes refers to activities of other members or groups in the church, including the pastor, the Young Ladies Society, and others. She also makes occasional reference to activities outside of the church in the broader community at large. The back portion of the book includes several memorials for deceased women, ranging from simply their name inscribed upon a page, to full obituaries clipped from a newspaper. Many do not provide a date of death; the first entry is dated 1899.

Memorials include: Mrs. Hettie Thompson Rains; Miss Emma Wilson; Mrs. Sarah Frierson; Mrs. Andrew Dale; Mrs. Mary Harriet Higley; Mrs. Susie Daniel Towler.

Cite as: Society of Church Workers of the First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, Tennessee Minute Book, Special Collections Division, Nashville Public Library

This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code)

Source of acquisition unknown;,Acc. RT-100.

The First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, Tenn. was organized in 1811 and is the oldest Christian congregation in Columbia, Tenn. The church was founded by Gideon Blackburn, who established several churches in the area. Mrs. James K. Polk was an early member of the church. The original building was at the corner of Garden and West 6th Streets. It burned but the church was rebuilt on the same location. In 1915, the second building burned, after which the congregation moved to West 7th and High Streets. A new structure was dedicated in 1916.

The Society of Church Workers was apparently organized at this church in 1888. The 1897 constitution of the group states its purpose was to "promote the interests of Our Savior's Kingdom, in connection with our beloved Church." The women's group was active in a variety of charitable work, including welcoming and visiting strangers and newcomers to the community and church; visiting the sick; gathering clothing for the poor; supporting the church's Young Ladies Society; collecting money for the support of the organization, the church, and for charitable giving in the community, including making donations to the Monroe Harding Orphanage in Nashville, Tenn.

In English

Unknown provenance.

Rehouse;,2007;,Linda Barnickel;,removed from Churches Ephemera Subject Files.

No further accruals are expected.