The archives at Eden Theological Seminary collects, preserves and makes available the historical records and manuscripts related to Eden Theological Seminary and the Evangelical Synod of North America, a predecessor denomination of the United Church of Christ.
The archives are accessible by appointment and located on the lower level of Press Hall on the Eden campus.
Click here to access a series of stories emerging from the archives, highlighting when past meets present.
This Week in Eden’s History
For more information contact:
Scott Holl, Archivist
Phone: 314-252-3141
[email protected]
The Eden Theological Seminary (ETS) Collection
The ETS Collection is comprised of materials relating to the faculty, students and staff of Eden Theological Seminary during its history in three different locations: Marthasville, Missouri, 1850-1883, Wellston, Missouri, 1883-1924, and Webster Groves, Missouri, 1924-present. The collection includes documents, papers, manuscripts, publications, photographs and artifacts pertaining to:
- Institutional development
- Academic programs
- Faculty and students
- Governance
- Buildings and grounds
The Archives has the following sources for those doing parish or family history research:
Church Records
The Archives has the records of some United Church of Christ congregations, most of which were founded by the Evangelical Synod of North America in the St. Louis metropolitan area, Missouri, and southern Illinois.
Most church records held by the archives have been microfilmed and are available for research at the St. Louis County Library History and Genealogy Department. The library staff will also do lookups. Call (314) 994-3300, ext. 2070 or contact the library by email at [email protected] for more information. Please provide the name of the person, the name of the church, and the specific record you are looking for. Church records usually include baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and deaths. The Archives accepts requests for lookups in church records not held by St. Louis County Library.
Congregation History Files
The Archives maintains files for most congregations with roots in the Evangelical Synod. Contents of files vary, but typically include written histories, membership directories and other materials of general historical interest.
Clergy Biography Files
The Archives can provide at least basic biographical data and lists of congregations served for most pastors in the Evangelical Synod of North America.
The Evangelical Synod of North America (ESNA) Collection
The Evangelical Synod of North America was founded in 1840 as Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchenverein des Westens (German Evangelical Church Society of the West) in Mehlville, Missouri, near St. Louis. It merged with the Reformed Church in the United States in 1934 to form the Evangelical and Reformed Church, which in turn merged with the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches to form the United Church of Christ in 1957.
The ESNA Collection is comprised of the records of the Evangelical Synod of North America from 1840 to 1934, and includes records, manuscripts, publications, photographs and artifacts relating to:
- Historical antecedents
- Pastors, lay ministers, and denominational leaders
- Congregations
- Church governance, including districts and general conferences
- Denominational ministries, including education, publication, mission, specialized work and charities
- Denominational institutions
- Foreign missions
The archives continues to collect records and information about United Church of Christ congregations and institutions originating in the ESNA to present.
Other archives related to the United Church of Christ
Congregational Library
Holds records of the Congregational Church and the later Association of Congregational Christian Churches from the 17th to the 20th centuries. The collection includes the records of many United Church of Christ congregations originating in the Congregational Church, especially in New England.
Elon University Archives
The Elon University Archives holds records for the southern branch of the Christian Church, which merged with the Congregational Church in 1931 to form the Association of Congregational Christian Churches.
Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society
Holds the records of the German Reformed Church, 1725-1934, and of the Evangelical and Reformed Church, 1934-1957. The collection includes the records of many United Church of Christ congregations originating in the German Reformed Church (before 1934) or Evangelical and Reformed Church (after 1934), especially in Pennsylvania.
United Church of Christ Archives
Preserves the official denominational records of the United Church of Christ but has no records of congregations.
Resources for churches from the Eden archive.
Part 1 Records Management Eden
