Trinity Episcopal Church (Columbus, Ga.) records

Descriptive Summary
Title: Trinity Episcopal Church (Columbus, Ga.) records
Creator: Trinity Episcopal Church (Columbus, Ga.)
Inclusive Dates: 1834-1974
Language(s): English
Extent: 20.8 Linear Feet 20 document boxes, 1 half box, 10 oversized boxes, 6 oversized folders
Collection Number: ms2543
Repository: Hargrett Library

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Collection Description

Historical Note

Trinity Episcopal Church was established in Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia in 1834.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of minutes, church registers containing communicants, baptisms, confirmations, marriages, burials, and lists of families, vestry minutes, registers of church services, attendance and pledge records, financial records, choir notes, and materials relating to the church's history. The collection also contains the record book of St. Mary's Episcopal Church (Columbus, Ga.) and printed material including the proceedings of the Protestant Episcopal Church Diocese of Georgia (1846-1878, with gaps) and the Diocese of Atlanta (1907-1921, with gaps)

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Trinity Episcopal Church (Columbus, Ga.) records, ms2543, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

Finding Aid Publication

Finding aid prepared on: 2009 July 31.

General Notes

Cataloged as part of the Georgia Archives and Manuscripts Automated Access Project: A Special Collections Gateway Program of the University Center in Georgia.

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Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

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Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

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1

1

Reverend William Douglas Cairns, 1837-1850

a sermon preached by him June 4, 1837

 

1	2	Reverend William Cunningham Hunter, 1871-1900
		listing of events during his tenure

 

1	2	Samuel Smith Harris (Bishop of Michigan, 1879), 1871
		correspondence into his history/family

 

1

3

Photographs - Bishop Harris, Bishop Scott, Mr. Hanks, and Reverend William Cunningham Hunter

 

1	4	Very Reverend Samuel Alston Wragg, 1907-1932
		some articles and notes about him, his children and grandchildren

 

1	4	Reverend Harry G. Walker, 1935-1945
		obituary

 

1	5	Reverend Colin Campbell, 1946-1966
		many articles, including work for the homeless boys' camp in Germany

 

1	5	Reverend Norman Siefferman, 1966-1979
		some articles

 

1	5	Church without a minister - correspondence, 1980-1981
		articles about some assistant rectors are also included

 

1

6

Peabody Family-prominent early family, notes and articles

 

1

7

Richard Finney, sexton-articles

 

1	7	Personalities, 1937-1973
		Trinity church members featured in various articles

 

1

7

War-time Efforts of Trinity Church-World War II

 

1	8	Memoranda of Johanne Lange (Miss)
		includes several photographs of Johanne Lange, her school diary dated September 1891-February 1892, and a written outline of the Bible in drama form

 

1	9	Memoranda of Johanne Lange (Miss)
		notes on the Cozy Tea Room and history of Trinity Church

 

1	10	Daisy Ticknor's writings
		poems, she was the Educational Director during the mid-1950s

 

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2

1

Boar's Head Trinity Film

 

2

2

General church history

 

2	3	Reverend Colin Campbell's History of Trinity
		rough drafts, notes

 

2

4

Georgia Review-"Bishop Stephen Elliot and the Confederate Episcopal Church"

 

2

5

Trinity Church bell history

 

2

6

Paintings in Trinity Church-history

 

2

7

Plans for stained glass windows

 

2	8	Architecture/Architects-articles
		including uncovering of the cornerstone

 

2	9	Blue prints of the church
		includes original plans for St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Columbus, Georgia

 

2

10

Building plans for church organ

 

2

11

Sara Louise Wise estate papers-money used to rebuild the church organ

 

2

12

History of the church, collected for 125th anniversary

 

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3

1

Individual records, A - H

 

3

2

Individual records, I - Ri

 

3

3

Individual records, Ro - Z

 

3

4

Individual records, A - Z

 

3

5

Individual records, A - Z

 

3	6	Correspondence regarding individual records
		These records contain church members' names, addresses, births, baptisms, confirmations, marriages, burials, and lists of family members primarily from about 1880 to 1945.

 

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4

1

Vestry minutes, 1940-1945

 

4

2

Vestry minutes, 1946-1951

 

4

3

Vestry minutes, 1955-1957

 

4

4

Vestry minutes, 1957-1959

 

4	5	Vestry minutes, 1967-1971
		The vestry minutes include discussion of changes to the buildings/grounds owned by Trinity, including the parish house, all actions that affect the finances of the church are presented, and yearly reports by the choir, woman's auxillary and guilds, and church school are included. The Trinity Church constitution and by-laws and discriptions for the guilds are here.

 

4	6	Guest register, 1955
		Includes name, address, phone number; several from Fort Benning

 

4

7

Guest register, 1960-1972

 

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5

1

General Accounts, 1937-1947

 

5

2

General Accounts, 1948-1949

 

5

3

General Accounts, 1948-1949

 

5	4	Record of Salaries, 1949
		Gross, withholding tax, net salaries for Richard Finney, Garnet Brunty, Reverend Colin R. Campbell, layworkers, organists and soloists

 

5

5

General Accouts, 1979

 

5

6

Taxes, 1979

 

5

7

Trinity Parish School-Tax and Insurance Forms, 1951-1952

 

5	8	Trinity Periodical Club
		Includes articles from 1918-1925, correspondence between Miss Lange and Alberta Sauls, Diocese of Atlanta, and resignation of Miss Lange

 

5

9

Deposit Record-Merchants and Mechanics Bank, 1946-1950

 

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6

1

Pledge records, 1947-1948

 

6

2

Pledge records, A - J

 

6

3

Pledge records, K - Y

 

6	4	Contributor records, 1949
		Records monies pledged for the church financial year by each member and the actual amounts returned

 

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7

1

Church School check book, 1944-1948

 

7

2

Church School check book, 1948-1950

 

7

3

Church School and Memorial fund, 1949-1950

 

7

4

Memorial fund/Thank offering fund checking account records, 1949-1956

 

7

5

Church School accounts, 1938-1946

 

7

6

Church School accounts, 1946-1949

 

7

7

Sunday School offering, 1945-1950

 

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8

1

Ledger-Altar Guild Accounts, 1904-1911

Names, dues paid, itemized receipts/expenditures

 

8	2	Ledger-Altar Guild Reports, 1903-1910
		Notes of meetings including lists of new members, resignation of Miss Lange in 1906

 

8

3

Ledger-Altar Guild Reports, 1911

 

8

4

Ledger-Altar Guild, 1912-1920

 

8	5	Ledger-St. Anne's Guild, 1938-1944
		Names, dues paid, itemized receipts/expenditures

 

8	6	Ledger-Women's Guild, 1905-1920
		All guilds report to women's guild, contains records regarding the Cozy Tea Room

 

8	7	Ledger-Women of Trinity Episcopal Church, 1960-1969
		Itemized receipts/expenditures, contains records about ballet and ballroom dance classes and the Boar's Head Festival

 

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9

1

Abstract of Title, 1909-1941

 

9

2

Warranty Deeds

 

9	3	Bond for Title-Virginia E. Garrett
		Purchase of land in 1908

 

9	4	Appraisal/Correspondence-Land at 1120 First Avenue
		Life estate conveyed to Bessie Heuer

 

9

5

Property papers-Wildwood Circle, Winchester Subdivision, and Wynnton Road

 

9

6

Mortgage, loan, lease papers

 

9

7

Gold bonds

 

9

8

Gold bonds

 

9

9

Gold bonds

 

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10

1

Choir notes, 1937-1939

 

10	2	Choir notes, 1940
		First annual attendance contest closes, transporation needs addressed

 

10

3

Choir notes, 1941

 

10	4	Choir notes, 1942
		Dedication of the new organ, beginning of notes about soldiers

 

10	5	Choir notes, 1943
		Letters from soldiers copied on back of notes, frequent names over the next four years include Maj. Arthur P. Evans, Capt. George E. Bushong, Sgt. Carroll Wolford, PFC Richard Dabney, and Clarence W. Doane

 

10	6	Choir notes, 1944
		Many notes about/from soldiers during WWII

 

10	7	Choir notes, 1945
		Letter from Y. Y. Tsu, Bishop of Kunming, China, death of Rev. Harry G. Walker in May, choir performs on the radio

 

10

8

Choir notes, 1946

 

10	9	Choir notes, 1947
		H. Wayne Patterson "President Pat" begins editing Choir notes

 

10	10	Choir notes, 1948
		Church bulletins are included with the notes

 

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11

1

Choir notes, 1949

Firth "Grandpa" Lockwood reminisces about Trinity-August 9; WWII Army choir members name, addresses, and notes

 

11	2	Choir notes, 1950
		Letter by Max D. Dexter recounting early 1900s church members; newspaper clippings of people/events at Trinity

 

11	3	Choir notes, 1951
		Church choir photograph, labeled

 

11	4	Choir notes, 1952
		Choir goes to Glenville, Alambama in May; ordination of Martin Dewey Gable, Jr.

 

11	5	Choir notes, 1953
		Death of Very Reverend Samuel Alston Wragg

 

11	6	Choir notes, 1954
		Organist resigns, photo of Carl Fudge-interim organist

 

11	7	Choir notes, 1955
		Deaths of "President Pat's" wife, Isobel Patterson, and "Grandma" Lockwood

 

11	8	Choir notes, 1956
		Includes photos of some of the choir members

 

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12

1

Choir notes, 1957

Anne Coulter's car is stolen; Walter Sitarz's marriage announcement; 10 year editorship by "President Pat" (9 July)

 

12	2	Choir notes, 1958
		Death of Wallace Barber; ordination of Mr. Lorraine Bosch; beginnings of St. Thomas Church mentioned

 

12	3	Choir notes, 1959
		Building of St. Thomas Church (September 15)

 

12	4	Choir notes, 1960
		Beginning of plans to renovate the organ; air conditioning first installed

 

12	5	Choir notes, 1961
		News from WWII veterans and other prior members; Israel Chalmers returns; H. Wayne Patterson marries Mrs. Mary Willis Wheat

 

12	6	Choir notes, 1962
		Rev. Colin Campbell out sick; letter from Bob Lindsey in Korea; many weddings announced; renewed organ

 

12	7	Choir notes, 1963
		"Grandpa" Firth Lockwood dies (July)

 

12	8	Choir notes, 1964
		Four downtown churches combine services

 

12	9	Choir notes, 1965
		Bob Spiller sends greetings from Vietnam; church begins new addition

 

12	10	Choir notes, 1966
		Bob Spiller (Maj. R. E. Spiller) sends greetings from Vietnam; choir photo (labeled) included

 

12	11	Choir notes, 1967
		Bishop Claiborne comes for confirmations; death of Evelyn Smith

 

12	12	Choir notes, 1968
		Assistant Rector Little leaves; Bruce Livengood resigns as choir director and Tommy Orr takes his place; several old-timers die including Col. Cecil L. Rutledge

 

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13

1

Choir notes, 1969

"President Pat" goes in the hospital; Cliff (VicePresident of the choir guild) and Lillie Woodhead leave the choir; choir photo (labeled)

 

13	2	Choir notes, 1970
		History of Trinity Choir in relation to the Springer Theater Co. presented; stained-glass window dedicated to "Grandpa" Firth Lockwood; choir photo (labeled)

 

13	3	Choir notes, 1971
		Florence C. Whitaker dies; Bishop Claiborne resigns; new organ dedicated; choir photo (labeled)

 

13	4	Choir notes, 1972
		H. Wayne "President Pat" Patterson resigns as president of Trinity Choir

 

13	5	Choir notes, 1973
		Picture of H. Wayne Patterson; death of Richard Finney, sexton; Mary Livengood returns

 

13	6	Choir notes, 1974
		Death of Annie Stevens Heard; "Choir Notes" goes on monthly schedule

 

13

7

Trinity Church Choir photos, 1973

 

13	8	Trinity Church music
		List of songs for Easter, 1940 and list of songs for choir's Spring Festival

 

13	9	H. Wayne Patterson's vacation at Point Vedre, 1946
		diary of his vacation

 

13	10	Choir-miscellanous notes
		H. Wayne Patterson resigns from the choir; letters regarding the death of "Grandpa" Firth Lockwood

 

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14

1

Choir Attendance Records, 1943-1952

 

14

2

Choir Attendance Records, 1953-1962

 

14	3	Choir Attendance Records, 1963-1972
		The choir attendance records contain the names of all members each month for the year indicated. It shows if the member was present or absent for rehearsal, Sunday morning service and evening vespers. Occassionally the reason for the absence is given.

 

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15

1

Diocese of Georgia - Journal of the Convention, 1846 1848 1851 1852 1870

The Journal of the Convention contains the names of delegates elected to attend the convention and indicates if they were present or not. Following the Bishop's address are the reports of individual churches, then the Episcopal Church constitution as it stands.

 

15	1	Diocese of Georgia - First Annual Council, 1864
		Held at Trinity Church, Columbus, Georgia

 

15	1	Address to Members and Friends, 1856
		Plans to establish a university for training pastors in the Episcopal church

 

15

2

Diocese of Georgia - Journal of the Convention, 1871-1878

 

15

3

Diocese of Georgia - Journal of the Convention, 1879-1903

 

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16

1

Missions Pamphlets

Domestic and world missions opportunities, 1934

 

16	2	Story of the Work of the Army and Navy Department of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew During the Great War, 1917-1919
		J. Nelson Frierson of Trinity Church in pictured here and mention of the church's involvement with Camp Jackson

 

16	3	Annual Report of the Board of Missions, 1915-1918
		Reports from the domestic and foreign mission fields of the Episcopal church

 

16	4	The Junior Annual of the Diocese of Atlanta, 1915-1917
		Contains essays/stories written by young girls in the Diocese of Georgia. Those from Trinity Church include Louise Alston Wragg (1915, 1916), Francis Marcum (1917) and Katherine Lind (1917).

 

16	5	Tradition and Tomorrow: Diocese of Atlanta Diocesan Development Fund
		Presented to establish a fund for missions, training of leaders, renovating Mikell Conference Center, and loan fund for area churches.

 

16	6	The Young Churchman, 1887-1896
		*Removed to oversize drawer, folder #4 Small newspaper presenting religious stories, sermons and news about various parishes/rectors

 

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17

1

Diocese of Atlanta-Journal of the Council

 

17

2

Diocese of Atlanta-Journal of the Council

 

17	3	Diocese of Atlanta-Journal of the Council
		Diocese of Atlanta was formed in 1907 by dividing Georgia into two separate dioceses. The journal presents the same format as the Diocese of Georgia journal.

 

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18

1

Baptisms, 1949-1953

 

18

2

Baptisms, 1954-1959

 

18

3

Baptisms, 1960-1969

 

18

4

Confirmations, 1957-1960

 

18

5

Confirmations, 1953-1956

 

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19

1

Confirmations, 1957-1960

 

19

2

Confirmations, 1961-1965

 

19

3

Confirmations, 1966-1969

 

19

3

Marriages, 1949-1969

 

19

4

Burials, 1947-1955

 

19

5

Burials, 1956-1969

 

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20

1

Memorial fund

 

20

2

Diocese of Atlanta 13th Annual Council Meeting (journal), 1920

 

20

3

Newcomers, 1958-1963

 

20

4

Transfers (out), 1936-1952

 

20

5

Transfers (out), 1953-1985

 

20

6

Transfers (out), 1957-1959

 

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21

1

Transfers (out), 1960-1964

 

21

2

Transfers (out), 1965-1969

 

21

3

Transfers (in), 1945-1952

 

21

4

Transfers (in), 1953-1957

 

21

5

Transfers (in), 1959-1962

 

21

6

Transfers (in), 1963-1969

 

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22

Record Book No. 1, 1834-1907

Contains the marriage, baptism, confimation, communicant and burial records for Trinity Episcopal Church.

 

22

Record Book No. 2, 1904-1927

Contains index, rectors, communicants, baptisms, confirmation, marriages, burials, and list of families for Trinity Episcopal Church. Baptism information includes the parents, sponsors, birth place and date, baptism place and date, and minister. Burial records include the name, sex, age, last residence, date of death, cause (if known), place of interment, date of burial and minister.

 

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23

St. Mary's Parish Record Book, 1903-1911

Contains index, rectors, communicants, baptisms, confirmations, marriages (1902-1912), burials (1901-1913), and list of families.

 

23

Record Book No. 3, 1928-1942

Trinity Episcopal Church records. Contains index, baptism, confirmation, marriage and burial records.

 

23

Record Book No. 4, 1942-1953

Trinity Episcopal Church records. Contains, index, baptism, confirmation, burial (1942-1967), and marriage records (1942-June 1950).

 

23

Personal Data Book, 1865-1936

Contains dates of birth, baptism, death, etc.

 

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24

Book of Common Prayer, 1662

Published 1891

 

24

Register of Church Services, 1934-1952

Includes date, type of service, place, time, attendance numbers, communions, offering, name of celebrant or officiant and memoranda. Memoranda consists of notes about the weather or other items of note. After 1935 there are fewer notes and no offering is indicated. The front of the book gives the names of pastors during the interim beween Very Rev. Alson Wragg and Rev. Harry G. Walker.

 

24

Register of Church Services, 1952-1955

 

24

Register of Church Services, 1955-1957

 

24

Register of Church Services, 1957-1961

 

24

Register of Church Services, 1962-1968

 

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25

Records of Trinity Church, Columbus, Georgia, vol. 1, 1834-1907

Inside front cover contains a map of the Diocese of Georgia, 1905. This record contains the minutes for the first meetings in which Trinity Church was organized and the original by-laws. The vestry minutes from 1834 through 1907 are recorded here. There were pew rents for 1837-1839 recorded. Also in the record book is a copy of the Parish Record, vol. 1, no. 1, April 3, 1888.

 

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26

Records of Trinity Church, Columbus, Georgia, vol. 2

Contains the vestry minutes for 1907 through February, 1939. In the vestry minutes are the letters/reports regarding the resignation of Rev. Geoffrey C. Hinshelwood and a register of all people attending the centennial celebration of Trinity Church. Included with the centennial celebration records are letters from Rev. Clarence S. Wood and the Very Rev. S. Alston Wragg and an 18-page typed history of Trinity Church. Also in this record book are a copy of the Parish Record, vol. 1, no. 2, April 17, 1888 and the Trinity Record, vol. XIII, no. 6, September 1920.

 

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27

The Duplex Individual Record books, 1926-1931

The records indicate each church member's name, address, pledges made and the actual amounts of monies returned to Trinity Episcopal Church for the year indicated.

 

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28

Treasurer's Fund (Financial Records), 1919-1920

 

28

Treasurer's Fund (Financial Records), 1920-1925

 

28

Treasurer's Fund (Financial Records), 1926-1927

 

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29

Treasurer's Fund (Financial Records), 1928-1929

 

29

Treasurer's Fund (Financial Records), 1925-1931

 

29

Treasurer's Fund (Financial Records), 1930-1935

 

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30

Treasurer's Fund (Financial Records), 1936-1944

 

30

Treasurer's Fund (Financial Records), 1945-1951

 

30

Treasurer's Fund (Financial Records), 1951-1961

 

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31

General Fund, 1955-1961

 

31

125th Anniversary Expansion Fund Scrapbook, 1959

 

31

125th Anniversary Expansion Fund Journal, 1959-1973

 

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3A

Blueprints

 

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5C

Blueprints

 

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6C

Blueprints

 

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2A

Records "The Young Churchman"

 

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1A

Newspaper articles

 

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4B

Deeds, Land Surveys, Abstract