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North Topeka Baptist Church Records

COLLECTION SUMMARY
1.1 Introduction/Abstract
The North Topeka Baptist Church collection contains records created by the church staff and their members from their founding in 1869 to their closure in 2022. The records reflect the activities, community involvement, and administrative aspect of the church. North Topeka Baptist created multiple organizations and committees within the church especially for women, youth, and to maintain their presence in Topeka, the state, and nation. They were also a part of national Baptist associations. The bulk of their material, though, details their business meetings and finances along with their sermons, anniversaries, staff and members. The manuscript materials were received as a gift on March 23, 2023, to the Kansas State Historical Society.


The collection varies in format and material type. Those include membership cards, photographs and scrapbooks, AV material, blueprints, business records, directories, church histories, publications, bulletins, clippings, correspondence, daybooks, and financial records.

1.2 Dates
1869-2022


1.3 Quantity
26 cubic feet


1.4 Creator
North Topeka Baptist Church


1.5 Title
North Topeka Baptist Church records


1.6 UID and/or Call #
UID# 524529


1.7 Language
English


1.8 Notes
This finding aid describes materials held by the Kansas State Historical Society. Materials may be used in the Research Room in the society’s Center for Historical Research during regular research hours. Support for telephone, mail, and online research and reference is limited.


In a continuing effort to improve the completeness and accuracy of finding aids, revisions are made as more or new information becomes available. Consequently, this finding aid may differ slightly from what appears in the collection or on the Kansas State Historical Society’s website.


1.9 Repository
Kansas State Historical Society (Topeka)


2 BIOGRAPHY OR HISTORY
Rev. J. A. Barrett founded the North Topeka Baptist Church as the Indian Creek Baptist Church in 1869. One year later, the name was changed to its current one because of Topeka’s population increase. The congregation began with 12 members. Under Rev. Barrett’s 14-year leadership, membership grew to 394.


Almost 100 years later, after already a couple building relocations, the church survived a flood in 1951. During reconstruction, members went to service at Bethel Covenant Church. The parsonage on West Gordon Street was torn down due to the amount of damage and used for a parking lot, while the Sunday School annex had damage to windows, doors, and heating. By 1952, the church was nearly repaired with an educational annex, which replaced the former Sunday School annex, now affixed to their current building off NE Gordon Street.


The educational annex housed the offices of the ministers and secretaries, a chapel, a meeting room for 30 people, 15 school classrooms, and a nursery. Additionally, one of the few pipe organs in Topeka, Kansas was in their main building. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011. Information on its historic registry as well as detailed descriptions of the building and church can be found on the Kansas Historic Resources Inventory site.


It officially closed in 2022 and was donated to the Topeka Rescue Mission with limitations on its usage due to its historic registry status. Although no official reason for the closure was announced or noted by the church, a few of the remaining members highlighted a shrinking congregation and limited funds to continue operations. Annual church reports appear to support these statements. In 1971 they had a $36,520 proposed budget with 353 members and in 2021 they had a $80,000 proposed budget (which is equal to about $10,000 in 1971) with around 200 members in 2021 according to their shepherding list count.


A church newsletter was mailed out each week containing all the functions of the church for the following week, a column written by the minister or a layman in the church, information concerning members, historical remembrances, and information about the church, community, and other areas of interest. Business meetings happened quarterly in April, July, and October, as well as, annually on the second Wednesday of January.


The church established various organizations including the Women’s Missionary Society, boys' youth fellowships (B.Y.F), a choir, and a church school with 25 teachers for 20 classes. According to the Daily State Journal, most of the church’s success (in the early 1900s) was due to 31 years of William Van Ness’ choir leadership. Many musical directors and soloists went out across the country with what they learned from Mr. Van Ness. He composed and arranged entire church services. During that same time, enrollment for Sunday School was at 250 students compared to the range of 1 to 6 students in 2021. For more information on Rev. Barrett, the choir, and other organizations please see Baptist church clippings volume 1 pages 58 and 85 in the Kansas Historical Society collection.


In the 1960s, a mission goal was to increase the ministering spiritual needs of the senior citizens in the community and to establish a ministry to persons in Mobile Home Developments. In addition, the church participated in multiple recreational activities sponsoring a softball team and a basketball team in the YMCA Church league and a six team couples bowling league at Gage Bowl North Lanes. By 1974, they created the Topeka North Outreach, a bus service, prayer groups, Lay Witness Mission as well as a library and a health clinic in the church.


Most of these activities were coordinated through a committee. There was the athletic committee, auditing committee, finance committee, flower committee, hospitality committee, music committee, nominating committee, and the pulpit committee. Moreover, the church nominated representatives for two outside societies: Topeka Baptist Mission Society and the Topeka Council of Churches.


The paid staff of the church included the minister, church secretary, custodian, choir director, and organist. The church had the following officers: moderator, vice-moderator, church clerk, church treasurer, financial secretary, director of Christian Education, and chief usher. The church also had multiple boards including the board of deacons, board of deaconesses, diaconate board, board of trustees, and the board of Christian Education. The Advisory Council consisted of the pastor, moderator, church clerk, church treasurer, financial secretary, chairmen of the boards of deacons, deaconesses, and trustees, the director of Christian Education, the president of the Women’s Missionary Society, the presidents of the Men’s Fellowship, one senior B.Y.F. advisor, and one junior high B.Y.F. advisor.

3 SCOPE AND CONTENTS
The collection encompasses the years 1869-2022 with the bulk of the material spanning from the 1920s to the 1990s. Most of the collection is dated except the photograph series and a few files in the administrative series. The documents reflect the church’s various activities, thus there are a wide array of document types including administrative, financial, correspondence, photographs, clippings, publications, blueprints, etc. The bulk of the documents are under the publication, financial, and administrative series taking up 14 out of 26 boxes in the collection.


There are many individuals who come up in the collection. A few, though, have specific files pertaining to them or their role in the church. Mrs. Inez M. Starbird’s (1902-1981) files are related to her role as head teacher. She has various items throughout the series. Her husband, Mr. Chester P. Starbird (1903-1989), was the church school treasurer. Her son, Mr. James E. “Jim” Starbird (1936-2009), was a 60- year member. There are also documents regarding Mary F. Schenck, the financial secretary; Gary Deeter, pastor; Lawrence Waters, deacon, and Mrs. Lawrence Waters, Sunday School superintendent; Dr. George Wise, executive secretary; and Jeanette Emerts, either the church secretary or clerk.


The collection is arranged into nine series: Meeting minutes & reports, Publications, Financial records, Administrative records, Correspondence, Clippings, Photos & scrapbooks, Blueprints, and Church services & activities. Within each series, there are multiple subseries that relate to the specific activities and events of the church under the broad category of the series title. Within the subseries, most of the items are arranged in chronological order. Items with no date are placed at the beginning of the subseries.


When KHS staff went to pick up the collection, it was arranged by box number, unnumbered and unarranged oversized items, and some unnumbered boxes labeled by subject. The KHS staff created a preliminary sheet describing the physical and intellectual arrangement of the collection. On the sheet, there was mention of the table, or area, where the box was collected. However, the boxes did not denote the table number after box 1. There was a total of 25 numbered boxes of various sizes, 3 unnumbered but subject labeled boxes, and 19 individual oversized items. Within the boxes, most of the collection was arranged at the folder level.

4 CONTENTS LIST

Box 1
  Series 1 - Meeting minutes & reports

   Subseries 1.1 - Annual reports and business meetings, 1945-2021, Folders 1-13

  • Folder 1 – 1945-1950
  • Folder 2 – 1951-1954
  • Folder 3 – 1955-1959
  • Folder 4 – 1954-1959, bundled record with extra notes.
  • Folder 5 – 1960-1963
  • Folder 6 – 1964-1969
  • Folder 7 – 1970-1974
  • Folder 8 – 1975-1979
  • Folder 9 – 1980-1984
  • Folder 10 – 1985-1989
  • Folder 11 – 1990-1994
  • Folder 12 – 1995; 1998-2000; 2003-2010
  • Folder 13 – 2012-2021

   Subseries 1.2 - Quarterly reports, 1958-2021, Folders 1-5

  • Folder 1 – 1958-1959
  • Folder 2 – 1960-1962
  • Folder 3 – 1963-1964
  • Folder 4 – 1965-1968
  • Folder 5 – 1969-1970

 

Box 2
  Series 1 - Meeting minutes & reports

   Subseries 1.2 - Quarterly reports, 1971-2021, Folders 6-14

  • Folder 6 – 1971-1973
  • Folder 7 – 1974-1979
  • Folder 8 – 1980-1984
  • Folder 9 – 1985-1989
  • Folder 10 – 1990-1994
  • Folder 11 – 1995-1999
  • Folder 12 – 2000-2010
  • Folder 13 – 2011-2021
  • Folder 14 – Cassette recordings of business meetings. One is dated October 2, 1993.

   Subseries 1.3 - Church clerk, 1889-1929, Folders 1-3

  • Folder 1 – 1889-1902
  • Folder 2 – 1902-1914
  • Folder 3 – 1915-1924

 

Box 3
  Series 1 - Meeting minutes & reports


   Subseries 1.3 - Church clerk, Folders 4-7

  • Folder 4 – 1925-1929
  • Folder 5 – Annual report forms submitted by the church clerk.
  • Folder 6 – Bundled records.
  • Folder 7 – Individual files ranging from 1958-1981.

   Subseries 1.4 - Trustee board, 1973-1993, Folders 1-4

  • Folder 1 – Introductory note to a report that was not attached.
  • Folder 2 – 1973-1979
  • Folder 3 – 1980-1983
  • Folder 4 – 1986-1989; 1990-1993


   Subseries 1.5 - Advisory council, 1974-2013, Folders 1-5

  • Folder 1 – Bundled records.
  • Folder 2 – Church officers and offices and appointed standing committees.
  • Folder 3 – 1974-1978
  • Folder 4 – 1979-1985
  • Folder 5 – 1986-1993; 2004; 2009-2013

   Subseries 1.6 - Deacons, 1925-2022, Folders 1-3

  • Folder 1 – Lists of deacons and individual files
  • Folder 2 – Bundled records
  • Folder 3 – 1925-1936
  • Folder 4 – 1975-1979

 

Box 4
  Series 1 - Meeting minutes & reports, Folders 5-7

   Subseries 1.6 - Deacons

  • Folder 5 – 1980-1986
  • Folder 6 – 1987-1994
  • Folder 7 – 2011-2022


   Subseries 1.7 - Committees and organizations, Folders 1-5

  • Folder 1 – Nominating committee; Pulpit committee; Committee reports on strategy study of church location; Long range planning committee; Music committee; Report of committee on change of calendar year; Youth report; Fact finding committee
  • Folder 2 – Organization committee; World Wide Guild; Tri-River Baptist Association
  • Folder 3 – Builder class
  • Folder 4 – Christian education; Leader class
  • Folder 5 – Kansas River Baptist Association

  Series 2 – Publications

   Subseries 2.1 - Bulletins, 1926-1929; 1952-1994, Folders 1-16

  • Folder 1 – 1926
  • Folder 2 – 1927
  • Folder 3 – 1928-1929
  • Folder 4 – 1952
  • Folder 5 – 1953
  • Folder 6 – 1954
  • Folder 7 – 1955
  • Folder 8 – 1951-1955
  • Folder 9 – 1956
  • Folder 10 – 1957
  • Folder 11 – 1958
  • Folder 12 – 1959
  • Folder 13 – 1960
  • Folder 14 – 1961
  • Folder 15 – 1962
  • Folder 16 – 1963

 

Box 5
  Series 2 – Publications

   Subseries 2.1 - Bulletins, Folders 17-38

  • Folder 17 – 1964
  • Folder 18 – 1965
  • Folder 19 – 1966
  • Folder 20 – 1967
  • Folder 21 – 1968
  • Folder 22 – 1969
  • Folder 23 – 1970
  • Folder 24 – 1971
  • Folder 25 – 1972
  • Folder 26 – 1973
  • Folder 27 – 1974
  • Folder 28 – 1975
  • Folder 29 – 1976
  • Folder 30 – 1977
  • Folder 31 – 1978
  • Folder 32 – 1979
  • Folder 33 – 1980
  • Folder 34 – 1981: Two copies. One has all inserts and children’s bulletins.
  • Folder 35 – 1982
  • Folder 36 – 1983
  • Folder 37 – 1984
  • Folder 38 – 1985

 

Box 6
  Series 2 – Publications

   Subseries 2.1 - Bulletins, Folders 39-47

  • Folder 39 – 1986
  • Folder 40 – 1987
  • Folder 41 – 1988
  • Folder 42 – 1989
  • Folder 43 – 1990
  • Folder 44 – 1991
  • Folder 45 – 1992
  • Folder 46 – 1993
  • Folder 47 – 1994


   Subseries 2.2 - Northern lights, 1959-1967, Folders 1-9

  • Folder 1 – 1959: First issue (vol.1, no.1)
  • Folder 2 – 1960
  • Folder 3 – 1961
  • Folder 4 – 1962
  • Folder 5 – 1963
  • Folder 6 – 1964
  • Folder 7 – 1965
  • Folder 8 – 1966
  • Folder 9 – 1967


   Subseries 2.3 - Northern news, 1968-1995, Folders 1-2

  • Folder 1 – 1968
  • Folder 2 – 1969

 

Box 7
  Series 2 – Publications

   Subseries 2.3 - Northern news, Folders 3-28

  • Folder 3 – 1970
  • Folder 4 – 1971
  • Folder 5 – 1972
  • Folder 6 – 1973
  • Folder 7 – 1974
  • Folder 8 – 1975
  • Folder 9 – 1976
  • Folder 10 – 1977
  • Folder 11 – 1978
  • Folder 12 – 1979
  • Folder 13 – 1980
  • Folder 14 – 1981
  • Folder 15 – 1982
  • Folder 16 – 1983
  • Folder 17 – 1984
  • Folder 18 – 1985
  • Folder 19 – 1986
  • Folder 20 – 1987
  • Folder 21 – 1988
  • Folder 22 – 1989
  • Folder 23 – 1990
  • Folder 24 – 1991
  • Folder 25 – 1992
  • Folder 26 – 1993
  • Folder 27 – 1994
  • Folder 28 – 1995

 

Box 8
  Series 2 – Publications

   Subseries 2.4 - Visitor: North Topeka Baptist monthly news, 1952-1953, 1 Folder

  • Folder 1 – 1952-1953


   Subseries 2.5 - Baptist informer, 1948-1951; 1967, 1 Folder

  • Folder 1 – 1948-1951; 1967


   Subseries 2.6 - Single issues, 1 Folder

  • Folder 1 - Includes these titles in chronological order: Choir leader, News flashes and convention highlights, Way of life, The Baptist briefs, Thoughts for life/living, North community news, From grandma with love: a collection of original poetry and prose, Historic news, Youth talk, Northern beacon

There is a smaller box in box 8 that contains the mailing addresses and names of those who subscribed to Northern news.

  Series 3 - Financial records

   Subseries 3.1 - Church Treasurer records and reports, Folder 1-6

  • Folder 1 – 1906-1921; 1931-1933
  • Folder 2 – 1921-1930: World Wide Guild
  • Folder 3 – 1923-1934; 1936-1943: annual reports
  • Folder 4 – 1947-1967
  • Folder 5 – 1949-1968
  • Folder 6 – 1979-1992

 

Box 9
  Series 3 - Financial records

   Subseries 3.2 - Financial Secretary records and reports, Folders 1-3

  • Folder 1 – 1900s-1974
  • Folder 2 – 1900s-1920s: bundled records
  • Folder 3 – 1930s: bundled records

   Subseries 3.3 - Ledgers, Folders 1-20

  • Folder 1 – 1883
  • Folder 2 – 1902-1903
  • Folder 3 – 1903-1904
  • Folder 4 – 1904-1905
  • Folder 5 – 1906-1908
  • Folder 6 – 1923-1925
  • Folder 7 – 1926-1927
  • Folder 8 – 1927-1928
  • Folder 9 – 1928-1929
  • Folder 10 – 1929-1930
  • Folder 11 – 1930-1931
  • Folder 12 – 1931-1932
  • Folder 13 – 1925-1932
  • Folder 14 – 1932-1933
  • Folder 15 – 1933-1934
  • Folder 16 – 1934-1935
  • Folder 17 – 1935-1936
  • Folder 18 – 1936-1937
  • Folder 19 – 1937-1938
  • Folder 20 – 1938-1944

 

Box 10
  Series 3 - Financial records

   Subseries 3.3 - Ledgers, Folders 21-23

  • Folder 21 – 1941-1944: The last 3 years that Mary Schenck was financial secretary.
  • Folder 22 – 1939-1944
  • Folder 23 – 1944-1947

1 ledger (1939-1944) is located at 018-014-06-03. It has information on and a photo of Mary F. Schenck, the financial secretary.

   Subseries 3.4 - Deeds and mortgage receipts, Folders 1-4

  • Folder 1 – 1907-1929: an abstract of title is at the beginning of the folder
  • Folder 2 – 1936-1955
  • Folder 3 – 1922, #2-36: mortgage bonds
  • Folder 4 – 1922, #37-70: mortgage bonds


   Subseries 3.5 - Receipts and transactions, Folders 1-5

  • Folder 1 – 1867-1911: related to property.
  • Folder 2 – 1908-1968
  • Folder 3 – 1973-1991: building repair and maintenance.
  • Folder 4 – 1990-1991: parking lot
  • Folder 5 – 1936; 1988-89: pipe organ


   Subseries 3.6 - Loans, Folders 1-4

  • Folder 1 – 1922-1961: many statements from the American Baptist Home Mission Societies
  • Folder 2 – 1985: application to U.S. dept. of housing and urban development Kansas City regional office for direct loan
  • Folder 3 – 1985, copy 2: has extra notes and additional papers.
  • Folder 4 – 1987: application to U.S. dept. of housing and urban development Kansas City regional office for direct loan


Box 11
  Series 3 – Financial records

   Subseries 3.6 - Loans, Folder 5

  • Folder 5 – 1987, copy 2: has extra notes and additional papers.

   Subseries 3.7 - Donation registers and offer slips, 1 Folder

  • Folder 1 – 1927-1928; 1981-1982

  Series 4 - Administrative records

   Subseries 4.1 - Constitution and By-Laws, Folders 1-4

  • Folder 1 – no date-1992
  • Folder 2 – NTBC constitution: was in a folder.
  • Folder 3 – Church constitution, 1985; 1: was in an accordion folder.
  • Folder 4 – Church constitution, 1985; 2: was in an accordion folder.


   Subseries 4.2 - History, Folders 1-2

  • Folder 1 – no date-1991
  • Folder 2 – From an envelope noted as duplicate copies.


   Subseries 4.3 - Directories, Folders 1-3

  • Folder 1 – no date-1924
  • Folder 2 – 1959-1977
  • Folder 3 – 1982-2009

   Subseries 4.4 - Membership and staff registers, Folders 1-2

  • Folder 1 - no date: has pledge $ amount.
  • Folder 2 – 1909-2009: baptism and dismissal lists.

 

Box 12
  Series 4 - Administrative records

   Subseries 4.4 - Membership and staff registers: Member files that include more detailed information with inclusive dates.

 

Box 13
  Series 4 - Administrative records

   Subseries 4.4 - Membership and staff registers
There are 5 books. Two range from 1955-1977 and 1961-1986 with a list of members. One ranges from 1996 to 2022 with baptisms and deaths noted including the date, place, and place of burial. One book lists staff from 1944 to 1958 with notes next to entries. The fifth book lists both staff (with their position title and date they began) and members from 1952 to 1993. It also includes additional miscellaneous information about business meetings.


Box 14
  Series 4 - Administrative records

   Subseries 4.4 - Membership and staff registers
There were three small filing boxes with index cards noting members. They are now in two small archival boxes. They were separated into “old membership records” and “membership records.” The separation was kept and marked with archival paper. Within those two categories the cards are filed alphabetically. Additionally, there is a large register of individual members’ donations from 1961 to 1965.


Box 15
  Series 4 - Administrative records

   Subseries 4.4 - Membership and staff registers, Folders 3-5

  • Folder 3 – no date: 1945 servicemen and a primary member list.
  • Folder 4 – no date: 1940s deacon census; some staff personnel files; and choir member list
  • Folder 5 – Jeanette Emerts records

There was a small filing box labeled as “Jeanette Emerts’ records.” She was the church secretary or church clerk. It was transferred to a small archival box. It has index cards in alphabetical order noting members with inclusive dates and detailed information. There were also a couple of miscellaneous papers that are in folder 5. Although they may not be about members, they were in the same box, so were kept together.

  Series 4 – Administrative records

   Subseries 4.5 - Church Secretary and Church Clerk, Folders 1-4

  • Folder 1 – 1869-1889
  • Folder 2 – 1869-1922: attendance with offering amount
  • Folder 3 – 1938-1978: Sunday School finance lists and organization attendance.
  • Folder 4 – 1959-1990: attendance with offering amount

 

Box 16
  Series 4 – Administrative records

   Subseries 4.5 - Church Secretary and Church Clerk, Folders 5-9

  • Folder 5 – 1991-1996: attendance with offering amount
  • Folder 6 – 1957-1986, 1: part 1 of files originally from a binder noted as church clerk records.
  • Folder 7 – 1957-1986, 2: part 2 of files originally from a binder noted as church clerk records.
  • Folder 8 – Dr. Wise: files originally in a folder noted as Dr. Wise, Executive Secretary.
  • Folder 9 – Directory edits


   Subseries 4.6 - Presidents’, Folders 1-2

  • Folder 1 – 1980s, 1: part 1 of files originally from a binder noted as president’s book.
  • Folder 2 – 1980s, 2: part 2 of files originally from a binder noted as president’s book.

   Subseries 4.7 - Board of Trustees, Folders 1-3

  • Folder 1 – 1947-1952, 1: part 1 of files originally bundled together.
  • Folder 2 – 1947-1952, 2: part 2 of files originally bundled together.
  • Folder 3 – 1947-1952, 3: part 3 of files originally bundled together.

   Subseries 4.8 - Women’s societies, Folders 1-5

  • Folder 1 – n.d.-1899: cookbook; notes of meetings
  • Folder 2 – 1913-1922: notes of meetings
  • Folder 3 – 1920s: files originally bundled together noted as WWA, 1920s.
  • Folder 4 – 1940s-1950s, 1: part 1 of files originally from a binder.
  • Folder 5 – 1940s-1950s, 2: part 2 of files originally from a binder.

 

Box 17
  Series 4 – Administrative records

   Subseries 4.8 - Women’s societies, Folders 6-13

  • Folder 6 – 1970s-1980s: files originally from a binder.
  • Folder 7 – 1980s, 1: part 1 of files originally from a binder labeled as ABW secretary.
  • Folder 8 – 1980s, 2: part 2 of files originally from a binder labeled as ABW secretary.
  • Folder 9 – 1980s, 3: part 3 of files originally from a binder labeled as ABW secretary. Includes volumes of the Information Bulletin newsletter (Jul/Aug 1982-Nov/Dec 1986).
  • Folder 10 – 1990s: files originally from a binder.
  • Folder 11 – programs
  • Folder 12 – Blue Angels, 1: part 1 of files originally from a binder labeled as Blue Angels.
  • Folder 13 - Blue Angels, 2: part 2 of files originally from a binder labeled as Blue Angels.

   Subseries 4.9 - Bundled records, Folders 1-9

  • Folder 1 – Charles Spencer
  • Folder 2 – 1900s
  • Folder 3 – 1920s
  • Folder 4 – 1940s
  • Folder 5 – 1950s, 1
  • Folder 6 – 1950s, 2
  • Folder 7 – 1950-1955
  • Folder 8 – 1960s
  • Folder 9 – 1970s

 

Box 18
  Series 4 – Administrative records

   Subseries 4.9 - Bundled records, Folders 10-13

  • Folder 10 – 1980s, 1
  • Folder 11 – 1980s, 2
  • Folder 12 – 100th Anniversary
  • Folder 13 – Flood


   Subseries 4.10 - Job descriptions and training, Folders 1-2

  • Folder 1 – guides
  • Folder 2 – guidebooks


   Subseries 4.11 – Community, 1 Folder

  • Folder 1 – Multiple files on a retired citizen’s apartment as well as Girl Scouts, an Ottawa University scholarship, community study, and a few other single items.


   Subseries 4.12 - Miscellaneous, Folders 1-6

  • Folder 1 – 7 items: prayer request card, “Looking to the future!” pamphlet, “pastor’s presentation program” report, North Topeka business alliance, inc. 5-year strategic plan (Aug 2006), Chairman of Spiritual Growth files, National register of historic places files, list of board members and member churches
  • Folder 2 – RESTRICTED: “Laotian family” files and list of board members and member churches
  • Folder 3 – staff: Lucy Agnes Kirkpatrick, Gary Deeter, James E. Starbird, Joanne Barrand
  • Folder 4 – unpublished material: The joy and spirit of Christmas, Dessert first, Unfinished business, What the bible says about...(18 topics)
  • Folder 5 – Pilgrim Baptist Church
  • Folder 6 – Kansas Baptist Convention

  Series 5 – Correspondence

   Subseries 5.1 - Church letter requests, Folders 1-7

  • Folder 1 – 1951-1955: files originally from a folder noted as church letters request.
  • Folder 2 – 1952-1953: files originally from a folder noted as church letters request.
  • Folder 3 – 1953-1954: files originally from a folder noted as church letters request.
  • Folder 4 – 1954-1956: files originally from a folder noted as church letters request.
  • Folder 5 – 1957-1959: files originally from a folder noted as church letters request.
  • Folder 6 – 1960s: files originally from a folder noted as church letters request.
  • Folder 7 – 1960s: files originally from a folder noted as church letters request. Includes a small folder with letters dated in 1954.

 

Box 19
  Series 5 – Correspondence

   Subseries 5.1 - Church letter requests, Folders 8-10

  • Folder 8 – Inclusive dates: files originally from a folder noted as church letters request.
  • Folder 9 – Inclusive dates: files originally from a folder noted as church letters request.
  • Folder 10 – 1963-1993: booklets

   Subseries 5.2 - From the Church, 1 Folder

   Subseries 5.3 - Financial, 1 Folder

   Subseries 5.4 - From members and community, 1 Folder

   Subseries 5.5 - Thanksgiving services, 1 Folder

   Subseries 5.6 - Flood, 1 Folder


  Series 6 – Clippings

   Subseries 6.1 - Church, 1 Folder: Includes information about members, administration, and the church itself (i.e.- dedication ceremonies, building changes).

   Subseries 6.2 - Outreach, 1 Folder: Includes information on multiple events, activities, and programs sponsored by the church including a senior housing development and health clinic.

   Subseries 6.3 - Flood, Folders 1-2

  • Folder 1 – Inclusive dates: files originally in a non-archival protective sleeve. Also has material on the 1966 tornado.
  • Folder 2 – Inclusive dates: files originally in a non-archival protective sleeve.


  Series 7 - Photos & scrapbooks

   Subseries 7.1 - Anniversaries, Folders 1-3

  • Folder 1 – 90th
  • Folder 2 – 100th
  • Folder 3 – Homecoming, 1984


   Subseries 7.2 - World Wide Guild, Folders 1-2

  • Folder 1 – 1923
  • Folder 2 – 1925-26


   Subseries 7.3 - Vacation bible school, Folders 1-2

  • Folder 1 – n.d. - 1972
  • There are slides in three small slide boxes between folders 1 and 2.
  • Folder 2 – 1980s

 

Box 20
  Series 7 - Photos & scrapbooks

   Subseries 7.3 - Vacation bible school, Folders 3-5

  • Folder 3 – n.d. ~ 1990s
  • Folder 4 – 1990-1999
  • Folder 5 – 2008


   Subseries 7.4 - Activities and events, Folders 1-11
This includes 10 folders that were originally 10 framed posters. They can be viewed on Kansas Memory. The posters were taken apart for preservation reasons. 8 posters span from 1869 to 2022. The church divided the years and showcased the different activities and events put on by the church and the societies within it. 2 “family” collage posters have wallet sized photos of members and staff.

  • Folder 1 – n.d. - 1962
  • There are slides in two small slide boxes between folders 1 and 2.
  • Folder 2 – Scrapbooks, 1
  • Folder 3 – Scrapbooks, 2: Originally in a binder.
  • Folder 4 – Scrapbooks, 3: Originally in a binder.
  • Folder 5 – 1970s
  • Folder 6 – 1980s
  • Folder 7 – 1990s
  • Folder 8 – 2000s
  • Folder 9 – 2000s
  • Folder 10 - Framed poster 1, Family
  • Folder 11 – Framed poster 2, Family


Box 21
 Series 7 - Photos & scrapbooks

   Subseries 7.4 - Activities and events, Folders 12-19

  • Folder 12 - Framed poster 3, 1869-1889
  • Folder 13 - Framed poster 4, 1890-1910
  • Folder 14 - Framed poster 5, 1911-1931
  • Folder 15 - Framed poster 6, 1932-1952
  • Folder 16 - Framed poster 7, 1953-1973
  • Folder 17 - Framed poster 8, 1974-1994
  • Folder 18 - Framed poster 9, 1995-2015
  • Folder 19 - Framed poster 10, 2016-present

There are print blocks of staff members, the church building, organizations, and activities in a small shoe box within box 21.


Box 22
  Series 7 - Photos & scrapbooks

   Subseries 7.5 - Church building, Folders 1-3

  • Folder 1 – Scrapbooks
  • Folder 2 – n.d.
  • Folder 3 – Inclusive dates: There are slides in one small slide box showing presentation slides about the Church.


   Subseries 7.6 - Members and staff, Folders 1-8

  • Folder 1 – Unknown lists: These came from a tub with no photos attached. They will be kept in case missing photos are found. They have some names, activities, and titles listed.
  • Folder 2 - Scrapbooks 1
  • Folder 3 - Scrapbooks 2
  • Folder 4 - Scrapbooks 3
  • Folder 5 - Scrapbooks 4
  • Folder 6 – Cards
  • Folder 7 – Directory
  • Folder 8 – Inclusive dates

 

Box 23
  Series 7 - Photos & scrapbooks

   Subseries 7.7 - Oversize
This includes an anniversary collage poster of a cookout, a World Wide Guild society poster made in 1922, 4 Vacation bible school collage posters, a “International Sunday School Association" certificate, 90th anniversary photos, and 5 group photos of organizations within the church.


Box 24
  Series 8 – Blueprints
There are blueprints for the pipe organ, its design and placement, as well as for various parts of the church building and parking lot.


Box 25
  Series 9 - Church services & activities:

   Subseries 9.1 - Programs and pamphlets, 2 Folders: Includes obits/In Memoriams

   Subseries 9.2 - Bibles, hymnals, and scripted sermons, 1 Folder

   Subseries 9.3 - Guest books, 1 Folder

   Subseries 9.4 - Dedication ceremonies, 1 Folder: Includes files on the pipe organ

There is a VHS tape of the dedication ceremony for the pipe organ.

   Subseries 9.5 - Certifications, 1 Folder

   Subseries 9.6 - Vacation bible school, 1 Folder

   Subseries 9.7 - Sunday school, Folders 1-5

  • Folder 1
  • Folder 2
  • Folder 3 – 1880s-1890s
  • Folder 4 – 1920s-1930s
  • Folder 5 – 1940s-1960s

 

Box 26
  Series 9 - Church services & activities:

   Subseries 9.7 - Sunday school, Folders 6-7

  • Folder 6 – 1970s-1990s
  • Folder 7 – 1970s-1990s

There are 5 lesson plan binders created by Mrs. Inez M. Starbird.

   Subseries 9.8 - Mother-Daughter banquet, 2 Folders



5 RELATED MATERIALS
• Wanamaker Road Baptist Church (Topeka, Kan.) records [microform], 1966-1978, MS 1007.06 (UID 48924)
• Topeka West Side Baptist Church records [microform], 1881-1981, MS 1112-MS 1115, (UID 48993)
• Baptist church records, 1857-1948, MS 14- MS 15, (UID 48514)
• Melvina M. Williams collection, 1998-2006 (bulk 1998-1999), Ms. Coll. 815 (UID 43190)
• First Baptist Church (Lindsborg, Kan.) records, MF 7188-MF 7189, (UID 44838)
• Minutes of the ... annual meeting / Kansas River Baptist Association, KSHS Library-- K 286 K13r, Microfilm-- LM 114 (ATLAS)
• Central region life, Kansas newspapers



6 BIBLIOGRAPHY
• Cormack, Clayton H. (1952, Jul. 12). American Baptist churches serve two communities. Topeka Journal. In Kansas Historical Society, Baptist Church clippings, vol. 2, p.172.
• Daily State Journal. (1915, Mar. 17). In “early days.” Daily State Journal. In Kansas Historical Society, Baptist Church clippings, vol. 1, p.58.
• Topeka Capital. (1949, Nov. 24). North Topeka Baptist Church will mark 80 years service. Topeka Capital. In Kansas Historical Society, Baptist Church clippings, vol. 2, p.91.
• Topeka Capital. (1951, Sep. 15). First post-flood services Sunday at N. Topeka Baptist. Topeka Capital. In Kansas Historical Society, Baptist Church clippings, vol. 2, p.144.


7 INDEX TERMS/SUBJECT HEADINGS/ACCESS POINTS
• Baptists. Kansas River Association
• North Topeka Baptist Church (Topeka, Kan.) -- History
• Topeka (Kan.)
• North Topeka (Kan.) -- History
• Baptists – Kansas
• Church records and registers -- Kansas – Topeka
• Topeka (Kan.) -- Church history
• Floods -- Kansas -- 1951
• Floods -- Kansas -- Topeka
• Floods -- Kansas -- Topeka -- 1951


8 ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
  8.1 Restrictions on access
Restrictions: Under KSA 75-3520, Box 18 - 4.12 - Miscellaneous - Folder 2 is restricted due to Personally Identifiable Information.


  8.2 Restrictions on use
Notice: This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code). The user is cautioned that the publication of the contents of this collection may be construed as constituting a violation of literary property rights. These rights derive from the principle of common law, affirmed in the copyright law of 1976 as amended, that the writer of an unpublished letter or other manuscript has the sole right to publish the contents thereof unless he or she affirmatively parts with that right; the right descends to his or her legal heirs regardless of the ownership of the physical manuscript itself. It is the responsibility of a user or his or her publisher to secure the permission of the owner of literary property rights in unpublished writing.


  8.3 Custodial History/ Provenance
This collection contains records created by the North Topeka Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas. In 2023, the church donated the collection as a gift to KHS due to their closure.


  8.4 Alternate forms
10 framed posters on Kansas Memory (UID: 529920). The materials on the posters were taken off and put into the collection.


  8.5 Preferred citation
Note: [document and/or series description, date], North Topeka Baptist Church records collection, Kansas State Historical Society.
Bibliography: North Topeka Baptist Church records collection, Kansas State Historical Society.


  8.6 Acquisition information (Accession #)
Accession #2023-162
UID #524529


  8.7 Processing information (Processor name)
Olivia Banzet (Irwin), archivist, 2023-2024

Index Terms

Subjects

Baptists. Kansas River Association
North Topeka Baptist Church (Topeka, Kan.) -- History
Topeka (Kan.)
North Topeka (Kan.) -- History
Baptists -- Kansas
Church records and registers -- Kansas -- Topeka
Floods -- Kansas -- 1951
Floods -- Kansas -- Topeka
Floods -- Kansas -- Topeka -- 1951

Creators and Contributors

North Topeka Baptist Church (Topeka, Kan.)