LibGuides: Archives: Presbyterian Churches/Pastors/Records

Organizations That Might Have Records

Presbyteries/Synods:

We are in the Synod of Lakes and Prairies; John Knox Presbytery. This does not include all of Iowa. See map here for all synods/presbyteries and links to contact info. Names have changed over time, we weren’t always John Knox.

http://oga.pcusa.org/section/mid-council-ministries/mid-council-ministries/

Presbyterian Historical Society – National Archives http://www.history.pcusa.org/

PC USA General: http://www.pcusa.org/

Presbyterian Seminaries: https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/theology-formation-and-evangelism/theologicaleducation/presbyterian-theological-seminaries-glance/

Dubuque Presbyterian Churches:

First Presbyterian: http://www.firstpresdbq.org/

Westminster: http://wpcdbq.org/

Journals:

-The Journal of Presbyterian History and predecessor journals (1901 to 2 years ago): http://www.jstor.org/publisher/phs **(Register for a free account to read selected articles.)

Print Reference Sources - Churches/Pastors

For information about Presbyterian pastors associated with UD or area churches, check the statistics volumes of the United Presbyterian Church General Assembly books (in reference – some are in the lower level depository area, others are near the reference desk). Use the index to search for pastors/churches, etc.

The statistics volume for a given year is generally “part 3”.

UD holds all published volumes (1789-current)

1789-1995 under this record in the catalog:

Title: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America

By: United Presbyterian Church in the USA General Assembly, Presbyterian Church in the USA

Call #: Ref BX 8951 .A1 (year)

1996-current under this record in the catalog:

Title: Minutes…General Assembly, Presbyterian Church (USA)

By: Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly

Call #: Ref BX 8951 .A1 (year)

We also have similar books for the Methodist Church:

Title in the catalog: General Minutes of the Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church

By: United Methodist Church (U.S.)

Call #: Ref BX 8382 A13 (year)

Older volumes are in the depository collection,we have back to the 1950s. Volumes from 2000-current are with the current reference.

Presbyterian Church/Pastor Statistics Online

Some Presbyterian General Assembly Minutes are online here: http://index.pcusa.org/nxt/gateway.dll?f=templates$fn=default.htm

Or here: http://oga.pcusa.org/section/churchwide-ministries/stats/

My testing shows these aren't complete, for example, 1950s UD President and pastor Gaylord Couchman isn't found, a Hopkinton, IA church that disbanded the 1970s isn’t listed, etc.

See publications by year here: http://oga.pcusa.org/section/ga/ga/publications/