The records of the Congregational Christian Church General Council were first transferred to the Congregational Library and Archives during the mid-1960s. While the bulk of the collection covers the mid-twentieth century, records extend into the nineteenth century with records from the National Council of Congregational Churches and some documents from the Christian Church prior to merging with the Congregational Churches to form the Congregational Christian Church. The Collection was reappraised in 1992, during which the collection was reduced by thirty-four percent. Much of the removed portion was duplicated information and materials deemed to lack enduring value to the Congregational Library and Archives, including: transportation schedules, bids from conference host cities, travel and hotel bookings, routine announcements, requests for materials from the General Council, and blank mimeograph sheets. The General Council served as the leaders of the Congregational Christian Church from 1931 to 1957, but continued in joint capacities until the United Church of Christ General Synod permanently replaced the Council. The General Council of the Congregational Christian Church oversaw the churches nationwide meetings, programs, associations, and conferences while still allowing a high level of independence characteristic of the Congregational structure. The General Council succeeded the National Council of the Congregational Church after that organizations merger with the Christian Church in the 1920s. During the twenty-five year period the General Council oversaw church activities, they dealt with a series of national issues that eased the recent merger and avoided any major issues when the Congregational Christian Church first came into existence. The Great Depression and World War II outweighed many church initiatives to expand, spread their message, and provide a stable future for the Church. However the newly created Church did embrace more inter-faith work, helping to found the World Council of Churches, joined the National Council of Christian Churches in the United States of America, and continued the work of the International Congregational Council. After the end of the war, talks quickly began to merge the Congregational Christian Church with the Evangelical and Reformed Church. Much of the collection covers this period from the proposal to merge in 1943, to the efforts around the Basis of Union and church approval beginning in 1948 and stretching into the 1950s, and, finally, to the establishment of the United Church of Christ in 1957. This merger resulted in several lawsuits by member churches against both the Congregational Christian Church and the Evangelical and Reformed Church; neither of which proved successful. This process also caused a schism in the Congregational churches, and several did not embrace the United Church of Christ and formed the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches. The General Council and Congregational Christian member churches’ relationship during this time was mostly of financial operations, the merger, and the rise of social programs (led by the Council on Social Action) as a form of outreach. The post-war period saw much work to assist refugees and returning servicemen. There also exists during the merger period discussions on race, racism, and how the new church can combat the segregationist feelings in the Southern Conferences to create a truly united church. While the General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches handed off duties to the United Church of Christ in 1957, it continued to operate into the 1960s to insure a smooth transition of governance and a satisfactory adoption of a constitution and by-laws of the newly created church.