Zion United Church of Christ (Talmage, Neb.) [RG3066.AM]

NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID



RG3066.AM:  Zion United Church of Christ (Talmage, Neb.)



Records:  1884-1994

Talmage, Otoe County, Neb.:  United Church of Christ

Size:  2 reels of microfilm



HISTORICAL NOTE



The Zion United Church of Christ, Evangelical and Reformed, of Talmage, Nebraska, was incorporated on June 27, 1884. Services had been held since March 1, 1883, first in a room over the store of John Henry Damme, early settler in Otoe County and a charter member of the congregation. The membership was composed of a number of primarily Prussian Germans who had come to Nebraska from Missouri and Iowa. The first church was a building purchased in 1884 from the Methodists. This building was used until the present structure was purchased in 1899. The pastorate was served by traveling ministers until the arrival of A.D. Woth, who became the first resident pastor in 1894. The decision to obtain permanent service was made because the members wanted to join in the Evangelical Synod of North America, while maintaining the distinctive character of their preferred form of worship.



In 1895 the congregation voted that German would remain the language of their church as long as there were four members who wished it. The language question again arose in 1917, when Rev. Theo Hoefer began to conduct services in English. There was a basic conflict between the older, primarily German-speaking members, and the younger, English-speaking members. The problem was accentuated by the resolution of the county Civil Defense that all public meetings were to be conducted in English. The church conducted services in German until 1919, when it began to hold separate German and English services. This situation continued until 1922, after which time services have been held in English.



SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE



This collection consists of two reels of microfilm containing the records of the Zion United Church of Christ of Talmage, Nebraska. Five bound volumes and several loose items relate to the history of the church, dating between 1884-1994. The records include registers of marriages, births, baptisms, deaths, confirmations, finances, constitution and rules of the church, and minutes of meetings.



DESCRIPTION



Reel 1

Volume




    1. Church register, 1884-1922 including:

      Baptisms, 1884-1922, pp. 2-35 and pp. 276-277

      Confirmations, 1889-1922, pp. 100-107 [no confirmations were recorded for the years 1890-1893, 1900, 1902, 1911, 1916]

      Collections taken on Holy Days, 1884-1922, pp. 150-153 and p. 275

      Burials, 1888-1922, pp. 160-172

      Weddings, 1884-1921, pp. 200-208

      Accounts, receipts and expenditures, 1885-1920, pp. 250-274

      “Church papers paid,” n.d., pp. 287


    1. Secretary’s book [Protokolbuch], 1884-1922 including:

      Constitution and by-laws, pp. 1-7

      Minutes of meetings, 1884-1890, pp. 9-18

      Minutes of meetings, annual and special, 1891-1922, pp. 25-115

      Chronicle of the parish, with a brief history of Talmage, pp. 207-215, 218

      List of names of the heads of the church, p. 220


    1. Secretary’s book [Protokolbuch], 1924-1956 including:

      Minutes of meetings, 1924, p. 5

      Minutes of meetings, 1925, n.d., pp. 10-12

      Minutes of meetings, 1926, Jan., p. 13

      Minutes of meetings, annual and special, 1926-1956, pp. 15-262 [includes treasurer’s reports and letters]

      Records of Members for roll call purposes, 1946-1951, pp. 263-268

      Constitution and By-laws, rev. 1932, pp. 275-284

      Communicant members, pp. 284-290




Reel 1 (cont.)

Item




    1. Secretary’s notebook bearing entries dated 1932-1935, all of meetings of the church board. Apparently these notes were taken in the meetings and later transcribed elsewhere. 25 pp.

    1. History of the church, printed as part of the program of services of the 75th Anniversary service held August 16, 1959

    1. Constitution and by-laws, 1963 revision

    1. History of the church compiled by the church historian including:

      History of the church, 1883-1963, pp. 1-8

      List of marriages, 1923-1963, pp. 9-11

      List of baptisms, 1922-1963, pp. 12-17

      List of confirmation classes, 1923-1963, pp. 18-20

      List of deaths and burials, 1923-1963, pp. 22-25

      List of memorial gifts, mostly undated, pp. 26-27


    1. Comprehensive list of church officers, 1884-1922



Reel 2

Volume




    1. Church records, 1922-1994 including:

      List of baptisms, 1922-1994, pp. 1-26

      List of confirmation classes, 1923-1994, pp. 133-143

      List of marriages, 1923-1994, pp. 157-163

      List of deaths and burials, 1923-1994, pp. 193-209 and 240

      No. of services, in German and in English per year, 1922-1950, pp. 241-242

      List of special collections, 1922-1943, pp. 301-305

      List of members, 1923-1994, pp. 341-355


    1. Minutes, May 27, 1956 – Jan. 19, 1992



 



ADDED ENTRIES:



Evangelical Church in Nebraska

Evangelical and Reformed Churches in Nebraska

Germans in Nebraska

Otoe County (Neb.) — Churches

Talmage (Neb.) — Churches

United Church of Christ in Nebraska

Zion United Church of Christ (Talmage, Neb.)



 



Revised 06-12-2009   TMM

Become a Member!

Our members make history happen.

Join Now

You May Also Enjoy

The Story of Omaha Police Fingerprint Expert Emily Byram

The Story of Omaha Police Fingerprint Expert Emily Byram

Marker Monday: Cather Childhood Home

Marker Monday: Cather Childhood Home

Yutan Tornado – March 23, 1913

Yutan Tornado – March 23, 1913

About History Nebraska
History Nebraska was founded in 1878 as the Nebraska State Historical Society by citizens who recognized Nebraska was going through great changes and they sought to record the stories of both indigenous and immigrant peoples. It was designated a state institution and began receiving funds from the legislature in 1883. Legislation in 1994 changed History Nebraska from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Interim Director and CEO Jill Dolberg. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for History Nebraska.
Explore Nebraska
Discover the real places and people of our past at these History Nebraska sites.

Upcoming Events

View our new and upcoming events to see how you can get involved.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of History Nebraska members.

Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize prominent Nebraskans.

Listen to our Podcast

Listen to the articles and authors published in the Nebraska History Magazine with our new Nebraska History Podcast.

Nebraska Collections

History Nebraska's mission is to collect, preserve, and open our shared history to all Nebraskans.

Our YouTube Video Collection

Get a closer look at Nebraska's history through your own eyes, with our extensive video collections.

Additional Research Resources

History Nebraska Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.

Support History Nebraska
Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraska’s history. Gifts to History Nebraska help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of History Nebraska by donating to the History Nebraska Foundation today.

Volunteers are the heroes of History Nebraska. So much history, so little time! Your work helps us share access to Nebraska’s stories at our museums and sites, the reference room, and online.