Disciples Historical Society

Explore the history of the Stone-Campbell Movement

Congregational Materials

  • Legal Documents
  • Articles of incorporation and by-laws
  • Board minutes or proceedings
  • Financial records, specifically audited financial statements
  • Correspondence that documents legal transactions, policy, and the life of the congregation
  • Reports from ministers, departments and committees
  • Biographical information of ministers
  • Membership and baptismal records
  • Publications documenting congregational history: congregational histories, pictorial directories, pamphlets and flyers.
  • Bulletins for special occasions such as anniversaries, building dedication, installation of ministers, etc.
  • Photographs of events, buildings, groups and people (identified on the back with a soft pencil)
  • Audio/Visual recordings such as worship services, sermons, special events, oral history interviews
  • Rare books and periodicals
  • Old and fragile materials for safekeeping

General and Regional Ministry Materials

Materials of Permanent Historic and/or Legal Value.

Please send copies of the following to the Archives of the Disciples of Christ Historical Society. Records should be at least 5-7 years old.

  • Annual Audits
  • Annual Budgets or Fiscal Reports
  • Annual Reports
  • By-laws and Charters
  • Correspondence, Official (letters, memoranda, and messages that document your office’s major events, administrative structure, procedures, and policies)
  • Deeds and Property Records
  • Grants, Funded
  • Handbooks and Manuals (Policies and Procedures) produced by your office
  • Incorporation Records
  • Legal/Judicial Cases Records
  • Minutes and Reports of Committees, Task Forces, and Working Groups
  • Minutes and Reports of Governing Boards
  • Minutes of Staff Meetings
  • Photographs (please identify on back with a pencil)
  • Promotional Material (Brochures and similar items) produced by your office
  • Publications (Newsletters, Reports, Brochures, etc.) produced by your office
  • Videotapes / DVDs (please send 1 copy) produced by your office
  • Wills and Bequests

The above list is representative of the type of materials congregations should consider sending to the Disciples of Christ Historical Society. If you have questions about items that are not on this list, please contact us to discuss the items in question.

For more information contact:


Disciples of Christ Historical Society
7229 Main Street
P.O. Box D
Bethany, WV 26032
615-327-1444