Presbytery of Southern Kansas Records

Scope and content: Unfortunately, this collection of papers from these three churches of the Presbytery of Southern Kansas is lacking some of the most important records normally found in a church archives. This collection is heavy with Sabbath school records, and in some cases, financial records, but there are no minutes of meetings of the churches’ governing boards of any of the three churches represented in this collection. Of the three churches whose records are herein contained only one, the West Side Presbyterian Church, has any historical notes or essays. As far as definitive historical analysis is concerned, the curious researcher must carefully glean the Sabbath school records, financial records, Stafford United Presbyterian Church’s Congregational Statistics, or Westside Presbyterian Church's 75th anniversary memorabilia and make extrapolated inferences as to the historical development of these three churches.

Series 1: Saxman United Presbyterian Church records, 1913-1989.

Saxman United Presbyterian Church’s records consist almost exclusively in the form of Sabbath school attendance and financial records and also a few small bound volumes for the “cradle roll.” The cradle roll lists the names of new born infants and their birthdays.

Most of the bound volumes entitled "Sabbath School Attendance Record Books" record little more than the names of the classes, the attendance on each Sunday, and the amount of the offering for each week in each class. The first Sabbath School Attendance Record Book, 1913 – 1916, offers a bit more information. The typical Sunday entry will say something like: "Saxman Sabbath School, March 15, 1914. Opened by singing No. 8 & No. 42. Prayer was offered by Supt. Lesson was read by school," followed by a list of the names of each Sabbath school class, the number attending and the monetary collection.

The treasurer's ledgers, two volumes spanning from 1943 through 1989, offer the most detailed record of the Saxman Church. Income and expenses were charted each week with as much detail as possible. Offerings that could be attributed to an individual were so recorded. Expenses were equally well documented. Most accounts payable were dispensed to one or more minister. Other expenses were paid out to the Presbytery or Synod, flowers, building materials or hardware. More occasional expenditures were made to Sterling College, located just a few miles away. Other bound volumes in this series are records of attendance and offerings for other Sunday school classes, such as the Lamplighters, the Triple L Class, the True Blue Class, Vacation Bible School, and the Women's Progressive Class.

Series 2: Stafford United Presbyterian Church records, 1895-1984

The Stafford United Presbyterian Church records offer a broader and fuller cross - section of recorded documentation. While there are no minutes of the church governing board, there are extensive financial records, dating from 1895 to 1962, and Congregational Statistics, 1924 – 1943, which offer a unique and detailed profile of this congregation. Though this series lacks the board’s minutes, the remaining subseries are detailed enough to reveal the nature and essence of this congregation. For example, the Commitment to Abstinence Cards, reveal that at least a few of the members viewed alcoholic beverages as something to be avoided. These cards, dated 1956, bear a chronological relationship to the statewide issue of prohibition repeal. Prohibition, which had been on the books in Kansas since the 1880s, was repealed in Kansas in 1949, seven years prior to the use of these Commitment Cards.

Among the records most revealing in this series are the Treasurer’s Ledgers, 1895 – 1962. Not only do these ledgers indicate in detail exactly what money was received and spent (for what purpose and by whom) but also they offer the closest thing to a membership register in this series. These ledgers serve almost as an activity log, recording everything that happened that involved money.

Other revealing records are the file entitled "Construction Receipts, 1950 – 1960." Even without a church history, the researcher will surmise that Stafford United Presbyterian Church either built a new church, added onto, or substantially remodeled the existing structure.

Series 3: West Side Presbyterian Church (Wichita) records, 1907-1997

Unlike the first two series, this one is arranged chronologically, which is the most workable format in this series considering the nature of the material. Also, of the three series in this collection, the West Side Presbyterian Church record series is the only one containing historical essays. Copies of these essays are located in box 8, folders 5 and 6.

The most important file in this series, from a legal standpoint, is the first one. File one contains a variety of vital, legal documents, chronologically arranged from 1907 to 1962, such as deeds, charters, mortgage indentures and abstracts of title.

The file on the Board of the Church Erection contains records on such matters as insurance, the property documents in the previous file, the church manse, and other related items of church business.

The binder notebook entitled "In Remembrance" is a chronological listing, from 1959 to 1994, of all of the members who died each year.

Aside from the first folder containing assorted property records, the next most substantial and significant subseries is that commemorating the seventy - fifth building anniversary. This consists of two folders. The first is a list of contents in the time capsule which was placed in the church building cornerstone in 1916, as well as the contents themselves. The cornerstone, installed in 1916, contained a sampling of items and materials which the church members deemed important at the time, just as it does now, with its new cache, installed in 1991. The 1991 folder on the 75th Building Anniversary also contained a variety of photographs of the event. These photographs have been separated and removed to the Photo Section of the Kansas State Historical Society's Library and Archives Division. A VHS videotape of the event has been separated out and transferred to the A/V Section, as it is more fitting that these materials be stored in a more appropriate place. Separation sheets denoting their original and new locations are found in this file.

Contents: Ser. 1. Saxman United Presbyterian Church, 1913-1989 (boxes 1-3) -- ser. 2. Stafford United Presbyterian Church, 1895-1984 (boxes 4-7) -- ser. 3. West Side Presbyterian Church (Wichita, Kan.), 1907-1997 (box 8)

Other Finding Aid/Index: Finding aid available from the Kansas State Historical Society (Topeka) and on its website, http://www.kshs.org

Ownership/Custodial Hist.: Records transferred to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Presbytery of Southern Kansas, when the churches closed.