First United Church of Christ’s sesquicentennial Guest Book, 1978 Oct

The records in this collection document the membership and activities of Dayton’s First United Church of Christ. The collection features a guestbook, two membership record books, and a ledger containing records about Sunday school attendance and church offerings.

The Church Register and Record book, which begins circa 1955, features an alphabetical list of members’ names, a sheet recording active members’ names and birthdays, and a record for one marriage. Some of the names in this book appear in records from the Walnut Hills Christian Church/First Christian Church (MS-619).

The ledger documents weekly attendance for the various Sunday school classes offered for children, teenagers, and adults. General attendance records cover 1957-1978, and records for specific classes date from 1960-1978. The ledger also includes financial data about general funds and weekly offerings from 1956-1978. Additionally, the ledger contains annual summaries of enrollment and offerings statistics from 1946-1977. These annual reports include historical attendance and offerings records covering 1932-1945.

The guestbook from the church’s 1978 sesquicentennial includes the names and addresses of church attendees. Attendees came from Dayton, from surrounding areas in Ohio, as well as from out-of-state. Some members recorded their roles within the church.

The Church Membership Record book, from circa 1980, includes an alphabetical name list and the record for a 1980 marriage.