New York State Historical Records Survey Inventory of Church Records

Organized into two subseries: 1. Inventory Forms, 1937-1942, 5 cubic feet; 2. Condensation Cards, 1942, 1 cubic foot.

Alphabetic by county within subseries.

This series consists of two subseries containing field workers' forms describing churches and church records, and cards containing condensed versions of the information on the forms.

Subseries 1: Inventory Forms. This subseries contains manuscript and typed versions of the "Church Archives Form" (form 20 HR) completed by field workers. One form for each church surveyed gives the following information about the church: date of survey; name of field worker; name and location of church; dates organized and lapsed (if defunct); denomination; names and tenure of first and current clergyman; narrative history - often several pages describing milestones in the church's development (e.g. organization, first clergy, first building, subsequent buildings, description of existing building, description of manse or cemetery); bibliography of works specifically about the church and general works referring to the church; occasionally a sketch map of the church's location is attached; and rarely a photograph of the church is attached. The same forms describe the following characteristics about the church's records: title; dates; number of volumes; contents (briefly described); and name, title, and address of records custodian. The records described on each form are: minutes; registers; financial records; miscellaneous records; and deeds and incorporations (as found in local public records). The completeness of information on individual forms varies considerably.

Subseries 2: Condensation Cards. This subseries consists of 5"x 8" cards containing information abstracted from the survey forms. The cards were prepared by the church archives editor and give the following information about churches: name and address; summary history; and summary of extant records. Not all churches or counties are represented.

Records were transferred to the State Library by the WPA in 1942 and later transferred to the Archives as old collection #550C, accession number -372.

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.