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Trinity Baptist Church of St. Paul, Minnesota collection, 1878-2023

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-Chu-MN-4

Content Description

The Trinity Baptist Church collection covers 82 boxes, as well as some external items and digital files.

The photographs series covers 14 boxes and spans a century and a half. There are three flat storage boxes of large, oversize photographs, usually mounted to a cardboard backing. Seven boxes contain plate prints with wooden backings, which were used to print photographs on a large scale. One large black folder is external, and primarily contains large poster-sized photographs of youth trips from the late 20th century.

The Men folder contains correspondence and newsletters concerning men's groups, as well as program for Father and Son banquets.

The Women folder primarily contains records from women's groups and events, such as the Ladies Aid Society and the cassette from the Sewing Circle. It is followed by several series from various women's groups, such as Philathea Class, White Cross Society, the Women's Mission Society, and the Dorcas Society. The Ebenezer Society grew out of the Sewing Society.

The Christian Education series mostly holds records from Sunday School, such as attendence, correspondence, programs and lessons. It also contains materials from various other aspects of Christain Education for all ages, from infancy to adulthood. The Christain Education Board series is primarily made up of mintues guiding the decisions of Sunday School and other educational programs.

The Executive Committee folder holds meeting minutes from the 1970s and 1980s.

The Steering Committee folder's title comes from donor. The committee worked toward ministry expansion during the 1890s.

The Homebuilder's Class binder holds meeting minutes, financial lists, and lists of members from the 1940s to the 1950s.

The Board of Stewards are meeting minutes ranging in date from 1897 to 2015.

The Trinity 2000 Task Force was organized in the 1990s to analyze the situation of the church and prepare for a new millenium.

The Memorial Committee was organized to make financial decisions about the memorial funds that were left to the church from the deceased.

The Search Committees were formed to look for people to fill vacant church leadership positions, especially pastors. These folders hold minutes, as well as summaries of the church and its goals, which includes "One Body of Believers" document.

The Deacon Board series spans the years from the 1930s to the 1980s. The majority of the series consists of meeting minutes. The Shepherding Committee folder dates to 1983-1985, and was designed to encourage deacon discipleship amongst assigned families from the church.

The Minutes series contains meeting minutes from the Combined Board meetings, the church Business meetings, the Constitutional Committee, the Finance Committee, and other groups.

The Church History series contains written histories about the church's founding and past events. Much of the series is made up of scrapbooks, particularly in the Swen Bernard subseries. Swen Bernard was the church historian, and he created large scrapbooks of newspaper clippings, correspondences, photographs, and other church materials. The John Ongman subseries contains a black notebook presented to the Historical Room of Trinity by Herb and Ruth Engdahl, which holds a handwritten biography of the first pastor of the church. Three printed copies of the same biography follow. This translation into English was done for the Centennial celebration by Maude Ahlstrom.

The Anniversaries series mostly contains bulletins and programs, but also holds correspondence, planning notes, and newspaper clippings. The Centennial Committee has meeting minutes to plan the 100th anniversary. Several bound copies of A Century of God's Grace, 1873-1973 describes the church history, organizations, and show photographs of members. The cassette tape of Milton Lindberg, son of O.S. Lindberg, describes his father's groundwork for the church prior to 1873. The recipe book was created for the 125th anniversary in 1998 by the Women's Mission Society, and compiles recipes from church women.

The Events series contains Christmas service planning, flyers for an organ concert, the United States Bicentennial event in 1976, the Madrigal dinner, and other events. Pastor Bob Struck's ordination took place in 2005, and the folder holds CDs from the event. The Thai Christian Fellowship and Primera Iglesia Bautista, groups affiliated with Trinity, folders hold CDs with photographs of the events on them.

The CDs and DVDs hold photographs and videos of events and computer backups. CD A holds photos of the Casa Presentation, documenting a mission trip, and a presentation of a Yucatan mission trip in 2006. CD B holds the 2006 photos of a Youth Fundraiser at Trout Lake, the Ukraine Fundraiser and Women's Brunch, a youth Spaghetti and Pie event, a preschool program, and a power point of the Lord's Prayer. CD C holds documents of the adult ministry, attendence statistics, baptisms, church business, class lists, copier codes, donations, financial information, forms and templates, graphics, homebound ministries, job descriptions and offer letters, material from Maridee, memorial gift note cards, ministerial licenses, personnel and procedures and policies, and the wedding coordinator information. CD D holds the church's publications, including annual reports, brochures, the bulletin, directories, missions, table signs, the Trinity Times, and wall signs. CD E holds information from departments, forms, graphics, job descriptions, photographs, office information, slide clipart, staff information, and information for the wedding coordinator. CD F is labeled IBHFC and holds an advertisement of the musical "I'll be Home for Christmas." The Copper Top Social CD holds a few photographs of the church's copper roof from 1999, and some outdoor activities. The Trinity 2000 CD holds photographs of the Christmas Concert, missions, and the sunday school. The Choir, Staff, Children's Choir CD dates to 2000, and holds photos from staff, Vacation Bible School, and various choirs. The Madrigal Dinner DVD dates to December 11, 2004, and is video of a costume dinner and show celebrating Christmas. The Madrigal CD holds photographs from the event. Most of the photos are located only on the CD, with only a few able to transfer copies to the Archivist Drive. The Trinity Treasures DVD is from October 8, 2005, and records stories from women from Trinity history.

The church Calendars have handwritten events, visitors, and meetings recorded.

The Advertising and Publicity folder contains drafts of advertisements, postcards, brochures, newspaper clippings, and bumper stickers.

The Publications and Clippings folders hold newspapers, magazines, and other writings collected by the church, including the Baneret, the Standard, East Side Review, St. Paul Dispatch, and Star Tribune. Topics usually include the church or church members. One article features Ethel Ruff, and early female pastor at the church.

The Memorials folder holds correspondences acknowledging financial gifts given in memorium of the deceased. The index cards record the financial information given to the church. Three In Memoriam books remember church members who died.

Four Red Guest Books date to the 1960s and 1970s and record people who visited the church for services.

The Membership series documents the members of the church, first through the annual church directories. The Envelope folder holds the contents of an envelope containing membership requests, correspondences, and dismissals. The membership forms were filled out for membership or a request to transfer or dismiss membership. The Red Folder file contains the original folder's contents, including membership lists, baptisms, and membership reports. The Clear Folder files hold the original contents of that folder, including membership statistics, membership applications, and correspondences. Two boxes and two file drawers are original to the church and contain index cards listing members.

Box 49 holds information from daughter or mission chapels of this church. The North St. Paul Chapel was organized in 1955, and the Wheelock Parkway Baptist Chapel was organized in 1914. Wheelock Parkway includes minutes and financial accounts from the Sunday School.

The Bulletins series spans ten boxes and covers 1905 to 2015. Most of the earlier bulletins are loose, with the later decades bound into volumes.

The Annual Reports detail the activities and financial status of the church from 1944 to 2020, with some of the later years missing.

The Midweek Messenger was a newsletter sent out from the church. The majority of these are bound into volumes. In 1996, the title changed to the Trinity Times. These newletters combined date from 1956 to 2012.

The Swedish flag likely was used at the First Swedish Baptist Church. The World War I service flag represents 62 people serving in the military or as nurses. The four casualties were Anna M. Dahlby, Esther Kirbach, Alice E Ostergren, and Ernest Skooglun. The World War II flag represents 120 people who served. The five dead were Gerald Tell, Thomas Keane, Walter Young, Harold Lindlof, and Edward Lundholm. The Korean War service flag represents 25 people who served. The World Sunday School Association flag reads "BY THIS SIGN CONQUER." The coffee set is engraved "WMS", standing for the Women's Mission Society. Many of the other artifacts came from Rev. and Mrs. Yuichi Kawano from Japan, as gifts of appreciation when they studied at Bethel Seminary. The Cameroon stitching was presented to the women of Trinity by Fern Sandberg in 1986. Various plaques recognize Trinity and its members for various services or achievements, including one from the Minnesota governor at the centennial celebration in 1973.

The Music files include programs from concerts, information about the organ, correspondence with the choir, the choir's constitution, and minutes from the Music Committee. The hymnal scrapbook holds clippings of hymns, primarily in Swedish.

The Visitation folder holds memos and directions for ministering to people through visitation, as well as lists of names and handdrawn maps. The Sick Visitation Ledger is in Swedish and dates to early in the church's history.

The Missions series holds information regarding both home and foreign missions. Much of the series contains correspondence and newsletters, with publications to increase support for missions. The Missions Committee's minutes dates to the 1980s. The scrapbook pages primarily focus on the Ahlquist family in Assam, India, showing photographs and correspondence.

The Licenses folder holds mostly marriage licenses, but also includes inspection licenses and general corporate licenses.

The Schools folder contains a yearbook from Johnson High School, 1921, a shool lease from 1967, correspondences, and rental information.

Trinity was broken-into on July 9, 1967. This folder contains photographs of vandalism, as well as notes describing losses, and police information.

The U.S. Military Service folder holds mostly service bulletins for military related events. There is also a correspondence mentioning a new service flag commissioned with the statehood of Alaska, and a list of service men and their addresses during World War II. The scrapbook "An American Soldier" from World War I is labeled "Section Two: Army Carpenter." It was created by Ernest M. Skooglund during training at Fort Snelling and the William Hood Dunwoody Industrial Institute. Ernest died in the service. The scrapbook contains photographs, lesson notes, family history, correspondence, and newspaper clippings.

The Reports from 1910 folder contains Swedish language documents, primarily yearly reports from the church and its groups.

The Correspondence series holds letters to and from the church to parishioners, pastors, and other people. The References folder contains mostly recommendations for church membership.

The Bethel College folder contains programs, newsletters, and a certificate from the Bethel Bridge Association of Churches from Bethel Academy, College, or Seminary.

The Baptist General Conference folder holds newsletters, programs, and publications from the church's denomination. The Estes Park, Colorado, folder holds programs, reports, and notes from the annual meeting held in 1969.The Program Manuals and Book Lists were prepared by the Literature and Missionary Education Committee of the Board of Women's Work, Baptist General Conference of America.

The Minnesota Baptist Conference folder includes publications, materials involving the Greater Twin Cities Extension Committee, correspondences, programs and agendas for the annual meeting held at Payne Avenue Baptist Church in 1959, and its constitution and by-laws.

The Legal Property Documents series contains information regarding mortgages, architecture contracts, insurance information, and titles. There are a few blueprints included. The series covers the three main buildings that housed the church over its history.

The Trinity Trumpet newsletter first began in 1980. It is unclear if the newsletter continued after 1981, the last issue in the collection.

Weekly Programs and Services is recorded in a ledger, spanning the dates from 1907-1915. It lists various speakers and events that were held at the church. The ledger is in Swedish.

The Statistics and Ballots folder contains statistical reports from church, as well as ballots electing church leaders to committees and boards. The Nominating Committee put together the ballots for church elections.

The Building Fund subseries contains records involving the building of the church on Edgerton Street. The bulk of the documents date between 1960 and 1964 when the church was dedicated. The pledge cards date around 1960 during the funding campaign. This subseries also includes advertisements for various furnishings and building materials.

The rest of the Finance series consist of more general financial records from the church's history. The General folder holds various materials, such as financial lists, statements, budgets, minutes from the Ad Hoc Revenue Committee from 1983, the Bethel Scholarship Fund information, retirement plans from the Baptist General Conference, the piano warranty, invoices, and other documents. Many of the Financial Correspondence are from the church treasurer or financial secretary, but also include fundraising letters. The Bank Records are from First State Bank of Saint Paul, Saint Paul Federal Savings and Loan Association, Twin City Federal Savings and Loan Association, Northern Federal Saving, Northwestern State Bank, and the Swedish-American State Bank of Saint Paul, and contain receipts and tellers records. The Payne Avenue State Bank folder holds mostly balance sheets from the Ebenezer Society. The First Federal Savings and Loan Association folder holds a bank book, correspondence, and bank statements. The Jubilee Fund dates to 1927 for the 50th anniversary of the church. Many of the insurance documents come from Northwestern Insurance Agency. The majority of the Board of Trustees folders contain correspondence and meeting minutes. The Treasurer Reports date between 1911 and 1975. The Finance Committee minutes range from 1936 to 1983, with some duplicates over two boxes. This series contains 36 ledgers, some without covers in folders, dating from 1876 to 2007, detailing general finances and more specific funds, such as the Parsonage Fund, the Bethel Aid Fund, and missions funds.

The LifePoint Church Update emails were transferred to the History Center via email from Parnell Kingsley, church business manager, on May 30, 2023. These updates span from October 2022 to April 2023 and primarily deal with church closure updates. Only digital, these exist on the Archivist Drive.

Dates

  • 1878 - 2023

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researcher use.

Historical note

First Swedish Baptist Church of St. Paul was established in 1873 by Rev. John Ongman with twelve members. Originally they rented a space in the American Baptist Church on Wacouta Street, and later in a building on Seventh Street, but in 1876, they built a chapel on Kittson Street. In 1878, they moved to the corner of Tenth and Canada Streets. By 1882, the church on Burr and Collins Streets was built.

In 1884 to 1886, the Swedish American Bible Seminary, later Bethel Theological Seminary, held classes in the church after its move from Chicago and before its departure to Stromsburg, Nebraska.

In 1899, the new church building on Payne Avenue and Sims Street was opened. They renamed the church to Payne Avenue Baptist Church in 1943, reflecting the gradual shift from the Swedish language to English. Ethel Ruff was ordained that year, becoming the Swedish Baptist General Conference's first female pastor.

In 1963, the congregation broke ground for a new building at 2200 Edgerton Street, and the church was renamed Trinity Baptist Church. The building was dedicated in 1964. The church changed its name to LifePoint Church in 2017. LifePoint closed in April 2023 after their 150th anniversary celebration.

Extent

93 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Swedish

Arrangement

The majority of this collection was arranged by the archivist. The index cards in their original boxes and drawers remain in their original order.

Custodial History

This collection was housed at LifePoint Church on Edgerton Street until winter and spring 2023, when it was brought to the History Center in multiple stages by Ross and Tracy Rud, church members.

Author
Rebekah Bain
Date
Spring/ Summer 2023
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the The History Center: Archives of Bethel University and Converge Repository

Contact:
3900 Bethel Drive
Arden Hills MINNESOTA 55112 United States