First Christian Church Membership Record, 1923-1937

The collection contains four record books and a 16-millimeter film that document membership, activities, and meetings in Dayton’s First Christian Church and the related Walnut Hills Christian Church. Materials in this collection date between 1908 and 1957.

The Walnut Hills Christian Church and First Christian Church membership records are written in pre-printed volumes designed to contain data about the church, its members, and its governance. Pages designed for membership information include spaces for the members’ names, addresses, and occupations, details about their baptisms and marriages, and the dates and reasons they joined and left the church. The volumes’ printers include suggested instructions for use, which can be used to interpret the data in the records.

Walnut Hills Christian Church’s 1908-1917 membership record contains a historical note about the church, including a transcription of the church’s covenant. It also contains a church membership roll from circa 1909, as well as several revised rolls. Some names are recorded in the membership record section. Meeting minutes and some newspaper clippings appear in the final section of the book.

The 1909-1927 membership record includes information and newspaper clippings about church events, including a description of the church’s Rally Day. Names in the Membership Record section appear to be recorded chronologically based on when an individual joined the church. Meeting minutes from 1918-1924 include decisions like the 1922 effort to construct a new church building.

The First Christian Church’s 1928-29 membership record contains an index of names, as well as a membership record supplemented by lists of non-resident and inactive members. The last new member joined the church in 1929, but members’ statuses were updated until 1937.

Walnut Hills Christian Church’s 1932-1957 membership record contains an index of names, a membership record, and a record of baptisms for 1938 onward. Some individuals appearing in this book also appear in records for the First United Church of Christ (MS-620).

The 16-millimeter film documents the 1929 Rally Day held by Walnut Hills Christian Church.