Iowa City Public Library DHP

First Presbyterian Church

Collection Guide

    This collection represents a sample of the First Presbyterian Church's archive of materials from throughout its history. The Church celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2015, culminating in events over the weekend of September 11-13, 2015. The ICPL Digital History Project is very excited to be able to share these materials with community, and extends its thanks to the Church, and Dwight Miller, for its willing collaboration and assistance.

    Please join us in congratulating the Church on its anniversary! These items tell part of the story of the Church, but also of our community; you'll find the names of many people who were important to the founding and building of Iowa City, along with names and stories related to the congregation and city at large.

    We hope you enjoy the collection. If you have any information that you'd like to share about the items here, please use the comments box at the bottom of every page, or contact csmith@icpl.org or mdworak@icpl.org

    1842 Photocopy of Certificate of Organization
    1842 Photocopy of Founding Letter
    1844 Letter and envelope from Theodore Sanxay to Rev. Michael Hummer
    1844 Envelope from Rev. Michael Hummer
    1847 Constitution of the First Presbyterian Church
    1847 Rev Hummer’s Collection Ledger, 1847 & Expense Ledger, 1847-1850
    1847 Rev. Michael Hummer’s Church Book, 1845-1847
    1851 Response to Bill of Complaint brought by Rev. Hummer against the Church
    1851 Cross Bill filed by the Board of Trustees of the First Presbyterian Church against Rev. Hummer
    1853 Report to the Board of Trustees of the First Presbyterian Church
    1853 Report to the Board of Trustees of the First Presbyterian Church
    1853 Letter from Rev. Hummer to Rev. Crozier
    1853 Rev. Hummer’s Proposed Settlement with the First Presbyterian Church
    1853 Receipt for $91.00 received by Rev. John Crozier, for services as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church
    1853 Request for Rev. Michael Hummer to be paid $490.00
    1855 Subscription ledger for a bell for the North Presbyterian Church in Iowa City
    1855 Subscription ledger for a bell for the North Presbyterian Church in Iowa City
    1855 Receipt for $600 received by Rev. F.A. Shearer, for services as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church
    1858 Resignation letter of the North Presbyterian Church Board of Trustees
    1860 Sheriff’s Certificate—N. Oakes vs. Presbyterian Church
    1860 Receipt for $905.85 received by Rev. Oliver O. McClean, for services as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church
    1868 Church pew rent ledger
    1868 Pew rent agreement
    1868 Pew rent booklet
    1869 Church bell subscription ledger
    1869 Contract for the building of a spire for the First Presbyterian Church
    1869 Warranty contract for Sheets & Adams to the Board of Trustees of the Church
    1870 Document detailing Stone Church property
    1872 Receipt for payment of salary to Pastor Samuel M. Osmond
    1873 Sunday School Attendance
    1874 Sunday School Records
    1890 Letter from Rev. O. O. McClean regarding the Church’s 50th anniversary celebration
    1890 First Presbyterian Church Jubilee Anniversary Program
    1890 Letter from John Shoup to Rev. Dr. Barrett
    1890 Letter from Rev. Crozier to Rev. Barrett
    1911 Letter from George Gibbs to Walter Davis about the Church’s missing bell
    1911 Letter from Rev. Schell to Rev. Wylie about the Church’s missing bell
    1911 Letter from Andrew Meneely of Meneely & Co. to Rev. Wylie, about the bell that the foundry made for a church in Iowa City in 1849.
    1911 Letter to Meneely & Co.
    1912 Letter from Andrew Meneely to Rev. Wylie about bells
    1911 Letter from Rector Williams to the First Presbyterian Church
    1915 Program for the Church’s 75th anniversary service
    1923 Land Patent Record for the First Presbyterian Church (copy)
    1934 Proposal for installing new organ at the church
    1934 Letter from HA Walker of the Austin Organ Company to Henry Fisk regarding special features and attributes of Austin Organs
    1934 Tabulated Quotations on Organ Specifications
    1934 Memorandum of Agreement between First Presbyterian Church of Iowa City and the Austin Organ Company
    1934 Memorandum for shipment of organ parts from Hartford, CT to Iowa City
    1934 Letter from H.A. Walker to Henry L. Fisk, regarding the shipment of organ parts
    1934 Letter from Henry Fisk to Willis Mercer regarding the installation of the new organ in the Church
    1934 Letter from BG Austin to WW Mercer of the First Presbyterian Church regarding the receipt of payment and invoice for the new organ
    1934 Specification of the new organ at the Church
    1940 First Presbyterian Church of Iowa City Centennial Celebration program
    1940--History of First Presbyterian Church of Iowa City, 1840-1940
    1940 Letter regarding Barnes genealogy
    1940 Letter from Guy L. Barnes detailing McCready genealogy
    1941 A Pioneer Bell
    1941 Letter from J. Kirkwood Craig to Mr. A. J. Larew
    1941 Letter from J. Kirkwood Craig to Dr. J Van Der Zee
    1941 Letter from Alvin F. Smith to Rev. J. Kirkwood Craig
    1941 Letter from John H. Taylor to J. Kirkwood Craig
    1942 Letter from J. Kirkwood Craig to Jacob Van der Zee
    1943 Letter from J. Kirkwood Craig to Jacob Van der Zee and photocopied portrait of Elder Shoup
    1944 Letter from J. Van der Zee to Mr. Sherman McCready
    1944 Letter from H. S. McCready
    1940s New Year's Day Recalls 3 Bells of Olden Times
    1940s Hummer's Bell
     Chronicles of the Bell, A. D. 1848
    1940 Letters requesting assistance in finding missing information
    1940 Letter to Rev. Harvey H. Mullan
    1940 Letter from Ilion T. Jones to Jacob Van der Zee
    1950 Nails from floor of Old Brick
    1956 Service Booklet
    1956 Litany of dedication booklet
    1956 Festival Service Commemorating the Centennial of the Building
    1964 Letter from West Music Company to Rev. Zerwas
    1965 125th Anniversary History booklet
    1974 First Presbyterian Church groundbreaking press release
    1975 Pipe Organ removal contact
    1977 Organ dedication program
    [1800s]  Letter from CM Galkin to Murray re: Bell
    [1960s] Property description for 530 Ferson Avenue
    1965 "Consider the Days of Old": First Presbyterian Church anniversary sermon
    1850 Sermon from the dedication of First Presbyterian Church
    1865 Receipt for stained glass
    1865 Receipt for payment of stained glass windows
    1865 Receipt for carpet
    1869 Receipt for hardware from J.P. Sanxay
    1865 Receipt for payment for building part of the church cornice
    1868 IOU from Joseph Barker
    1869 Receipt for building part of the Presbyterian Church of Iowa City
    1869 Receipt for building the First Presbyterian Chruch spire
    1869 Receipt for building First Presbyterian Church spire
    1869 Receipt for building First Presbyterian Church spire
    1869 Receipt for brick work on First Presbyterian Church
    1869 Receipt for building spire at First Presbyterian Church of Iowa City
    1869 Receipt for building spire at First Presbyterian Church of Iowa City
    1869 Receipt for building spire at First Presbyterian Church of Iowa City
    1869 Receipt for building spire at First Presbyterian Church of Iowa City
    1869 Receipt for building spire at First Presbyterian Church of Iowa City
    1869 Receipt for building spire at First Presbyterian Church of Iowa City
    1869 Receipt for building spire at First Presbyterian Church of Iowa City
    1869 Receipt for building spire at First Presbyterian Church of Iowa City
    1869 Receipt for building spire at First Presbyterian Church of Iowa City
    1869 Receipt for building spire at First Presbyterian Church of Iowa City
    1869 Receipt for building spire at First Presbyterian Church of Iowa City
    1869 Receipt for building cornice at First Presbyterian Church of Iowa City
    1869 Receipt for bricks for First Presbyterian Church of Iowa City
    1923 Board meeting minutes for First Presbyterian Church of Iowa City
    1923 First Presbyterian Church officers meeting minutes
    1923 First Presbyterian Church officers meeting minutes
    1923 First Presbyterian Church officers meeting minutes
    1931-1932 Building fund bond coupons
    1937 Letter from custodians about issues in the First Presbyterian Church
    1971 Letter about First Presbyterian Church demolition
    1971 Letter regarding purchasing First Presbyterian Church building
    1971 Request to sell First Presbyterian Church building
    1971 Letter about selling the First Presbyterian Church building to the University
    1973 Letter about purchasing First Presbyterian Church building
    1974 Letter about the sale of the First Presbyterian Church building
    1974 Letter offering to purchase First Presbyterian Church building
    1974 proposal for creating The World Friendship Center
    1975 Information and policies for First Presbyterian Church materials auction
    1975 Letter offering to purchase the First Presbyterian Church building
    1976 Specifications for receiving bids to demolish church building
    1976 Bid from Gordon Russell Inc. to demolish church building
    1977 Letter about selling First Presbyterian Church fixtures to Old Brick Associates
    1976 Document seeking to block demolition of First Presbyterian Church building
    1923 Letter from A.B. Walker to Rev. Robert Reed regarding church property
    Date unknown: Specifications for the Presbyterian Church spire