Dorchester, Boston, Mass. Second Church records, 1770-1991.

Collection

Identifier: RG0069

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection contains numerous items split up into multiple series and sub-series. Included in this are written materials such as correspondences and writings, legal information such as pew and court records, institutional records such as vital statistics and meeting minutes, financial information such as accounts and receipts, information on over two dozen auxiliary organizations, records for pastors across all of Second Church’s history, records of Harvard Congregational Church and Central Congregational Church and finally records of events such as plays, anniversaries and picnics.

Dates

1770-1991

Creator

Second Church (Dorchester, Boston, Mass.) (Organization)

Restrictions on Use

Items in this collection are subject to U.S. Copyright Law. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine the copyright status of collection items and to secure any permissions necessary for their reproduction and publication. Requests for permission to publish material must be discussed with the archivist or librarian.

Historical Note

The Second Church in Dorchester was first organized on January 1, 1808 by 64 members of First Church of Dorchester. These 64 members included 27 men and 37 women who had decided to split from the “Mother Church”. On January 19, 1810 the group voted to name the new church South Church in Dorchester. This name only lasted two years when on April 3, 1812 they renamed the church “Second Church”. The expansion into a new church was mainly meant to tackle the expanding population of the area. The first official pastor for the newly formed Second Church was Dr. John Codman. Codman was a member of an influential family and graduated from Harvard. His pastorate continues to be the longest for the church and during this time was regularly visited by Daniel Webster and (on occasion) John Adams. Reverend Codman would die on December 23, 1847. Before his death, he indicated to a fellow friend his intention to donate a field near the parish so that it would be a cemetery, Codman being its first occupant. The next year, Baker’s Corner was officially named Codman Square. The next pastor was Reverend James H. Means who saw Second Church through the Civil War. Next was Reverend Edward N. Packard who facilitated that building of the parsonage. Following Packard was Reverend Arthur Little who organized the Chinese Sunday School as well as purchasing the church organ. The next pastor, Reverend Jason Noble Pierce would take the church through WW1. Second church had 203 men and women leave for the armed forces and Pierce would serve time as Senior Chaplain for the Second Division. Reverend Vaughn Dabney, taking over for Pierce, oversaw the formation of the official corporate “Second Church”. He also oversaw the reuniting of Harvard Congregational back into Second Church. During WW2, Reverend Andrew Richards oversaw the parish as well as the 163 individuals who left to fight. Next, Reverend Frank T. Jensen would help oversee the reuniting of Central Congregational Church back to Second Church. Reverend Thomas G. Jones became the ninth pastor in 1979 and during his ministry the church celebrated the 175th anniversary in 1980. The last pastor of Second Church in Dorchester was Reverend Donald P. Brickley. He facilitated the transfer of the church to the Church of the Nazarene in 1990. The Church of the Nazarene still exists today and carries with it the history of Second Church.

List of Ministers

Rev. John Codman, D.D.
: 1808-1847
Rev. James Howard Means, D.D.
: 1848-1878
Rev. Edward N. Packard, D.D.
: 1879-1887
Rev. Arthur Little, D.D.
: 1889-1912
Pastor Emeritus
: 1912-1915
Rev. Jason Noble Pierce, D.D.
: 1914-1920
Rev. Vaughan Dabney, D.D.
: 1920-1931
Rev. Andrew Richards, D.D.
: 1932-1966
Rev. Frank T. Jensen, D.D.
: 1967-1979
Rev. Thomas G. Jones
: 1979-1984
Rev. Donald P. Brickley
: 1988-1990

Extent

25.59 Cubic Feet (33 cases)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Second Church in Dorchester was first organized on January 1, 1808 by 64 members of First Church. The first official pastor for the newly formed Second Church was Dr. John Codman. Codman was a member of an influential family and graduated from Harvard. His pastorate continues to be the longest for the church and during this time was regularly visited by Daniel Webster and (on occasion) John Adams. The last pastor of Second Church in Dorchester was Reverend Donald P. Brickley. He facilitated the transfer of the church to the Church of the Nazarene in 1990. The Church of the Nazarene still exists today and carries with it the history of Second Church. The collection contains written material, finances, auxiliary organizations, incorporated churches, events, pastoral, legal and institutional records.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into 8 series and 81 sub-series, with each sub-series representing a different topic or individual. Within each sub-series the records are arranged chronologically.

Series 1: Written materials, 1770-1981

Sub-series 1: Correspondence, 1770-1981

Sub-series 2: Writings, 1806-1811, 1827, undated

Series 2: Legal, 1774-1987

Sub-series 1: Pew records, 1774-1925, 1969

Sub-series 2: Church land and construction, 1808-1929, 1966-1987

Sub-series 3: Court records, 1824, 1921-1931, 1974-1987

Sub-series 4: Estates and wills, 1923-1984

Series 3: Institutional records, 1805-1987

Sub-series 1: Vital statistics, 1805-1980

Sub-series 2: Meetings, 1806-1810, 1848-1967

Sub-series 3: Incorporation and by-laws, 1807-1986

Sub-series 4: Church records, 1807-1987

Sub-series 5: Publications, 1848-1995

Sub-series 6: Photos and phonographs, 1882-1883, 1955

Sub-series 7: Board of deacon's records, March 19, 1905 - September 22, 1984

Sub-series 8: Church committee records, 1918-1972

Sub-series 9: Board of trustees reports, 1921-1983

Sub-series 10: Annual reports, 1922, 1935, 1968-1987

Sub-series 11: Secretary reports, 1978-1987

Series 4: Finances, 1806-1989

Sub-series 1: Accounts, 1806-1988

Sub-series 2: Records, 1807-1837, 1867-1988

Sub-series 3: Receipts, 1820-1878, 1972

Sub-series 4: Treasurer, 1867-1986

Sub-series 5: Banking, 1904-1925, 1960-1987

Sub-series 6: Donations, 1925, 1960-1982

Sub-series 7: Weekly offerings, 1928, 1982-1989

Sub-series 8: Trust fund, 1946-1981

Sub-series 9: Quarterly returns, 1962-1971

Sub-series 10: Income, 1963-1988

Sub-series 11: Budgets, 1968-1986

Series 5: Auxiliary organizations, 1813-1984

Sub-series 1: Dorchester Female Benevolent Society, 1813-1855

Sub-series 2: Sunday School, 1818-1980

Sub-series 3: Sabbath School, 1820-1878, 1914-1933

Sub-series 4: Ladies Missionary Association, 1826-1871

Sub-series 5: Home Missionary Society, 1828-1832

Sub-series 6: Ladies Home Missionary Society, 1828-1899

Sub-series 7: Foreign Missionary Society, 1828-1867, 1930-1935

Sub-series 8: Maternal Association, 1851-1881

Sub-series 9: Dorchester Women's Missionary Society, 1870-1895

Sub-series 10: Social Bible Class, 1885

Sub-series 11: Young People's Society, 1886-1890

Sub-series 12: Codman Guild, 1893-1949

Sub-series 13: Dorcas Society, 1894-1915

Sub-series 14: Ladies Foreign Missionary Society, 1895-1909

Sub-series 15: Junior Christian Endeavor Society, 1897-1911

Sub-series 16: Young Ladies Missionary Society, 1898-1916

Sub-series 17: Music Department, 1898-1923

Sub-series 18: Women's Home Mission Auxiliary, 1899-1920

Sub-series 19: Baraca Class, 1905-1929

Sub-series 20: Chinese Sunday School, 1909, 1934-1935

Sub-series 21: Men's Club, 1909-1920

Sub-series 22: Codman Class, 1909-1951

Sub-series 23: Teacher's Club, 1911-1935

Sub-series 24: Philathea Class, 1912-1916

Sub-series 25: Dorchester Gentlemen's Driving Club, 1913-1915

Sub-series 26: Monday Missionary Society, 1916-1961

Sub-series 27: Boys' Brass Band, 1917-1920

Sub-series 28: Second Church Auxiliary, January 1918 - May 1922

Sub-series 29: Women's Association, 1922-1984

Sub-series 30: Bumpus Memorial Class, 1925-1932

Sub-series 31: Codman Glee Club, February 22-23, 1927

Sub-series 32: Phi Sigma Phi, 1928-1976

Sub-series 33: Couples Club, 1943-1953

Sub-series 34: Adult Fellowship, 1953-1957

Sub-series 35: Dorchester Women's Club, February 1963

Sub-series 36: Religious Education Committee, 1979-1981

Sub-series 37: Missionary Committee, 1981

Sub-series 38: NEPCO Senior Citizens, 1981-1982

Sub-series 39: Bible Club of Boston, undated

Sub-series 40: Mutual Admiration Society, undated

Series 6: Pastoral records, 1830-1982

Sub-series 1: Rev. Dr. John Codman, 1830-1839

Sub-series 2: Rev. James H. Means, 1848-1873

Sub-series 3: Records about other church pastors, 1868, 1952, 1967, 1982

Sub-series 4: Rev. Edward N. Packard, April 8, 1879

Sub-series 5: Rev. Arthur Little, 1888-1916

Sub-series 6: Reports and letters, 1896-1987

Sub-series 7: Rev. Jason Noble Pierce, 1914-1947

Sub-series 8: Rev. Vaughn Dabney, 1924-1929

Sub-series 9: Rev. Andrew Richards, 1926-1969

Sub-series 10: Rev. Frank T. Jensen, 1967-1968

Sub-series 11: Rev. Thomas G. Jones, 1978-1981

Series 7: Incorporated churches, 1888-1991

Sub-series 1: Harvard Congregational Church, 1888-1940, 1988-1991

Sub-series 2: Central Congregational Church, 1902-1973

Series 8: Events, 1900-1985

Technical Requirements

Edison Diamond Discs are available for viewing but are not available for playing due to their fragility. Talk to the archivist to find digital versions of the songs through YouTube.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Original collection was donated in 1963 and was not accessioned until it was converted into a gift in 1989. No accession number was given at the time. A second deposit of materials were gifted to the Congregational Library & Archives by Second Church of Dorchester in January 2019; accession number 2019-02.

Bibliography

"History." Second Church in Dorchester. March 23, 2019. Accessed June 24, 2019. http://secondchurchdorchester.org/about-us-2/history/.

Processing Information

This collection was first processed in 1989. Additional material arrived in 2019 from Second Church. As a result, collection was re-processed by William McCarthy in June 2019.