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

1844 Letter and envelope from Theodore Sanxay to 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 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 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

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

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.

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 from Guy L. Barnes detailing McCready genealogy

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

1940s New Year's Day Recalls 3 Bells of Olden Times

1940 Letters requesting assistance in finding missing information

1940 Letter from Ilion T. Jones to Jacob Van der Zee

1956 Festival Service Commemorating the Centennial of the Building

1964 Letter from West Music Company to Rev. Zerwas

1974 First Presbyterian Church groundbreaking press release

[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 payment of stained glass windows

1869 Receipt for hardware from J.P. Sanxay

1865 Receipt for payment for building part of the church cornice

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 brick work on First Presbyterian Church

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

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