Inventory
4.75 Linear Feet
September 2007
Brief History
In 1906, a group of settlers in the new city of Gary, Indiana organized the First Methodist Episcopal Church. The first meetings were held in the small school building near the old Lake Shore depot. Later services were held in various facilities until the first church building at 7th and Adams was built in 1910.
The United States Steel Corporation was convinced to join the Methodists in construction of a great community church at the corner of 6th and Washington in downtown Gary, later known as City Methodist Church. The corporation donated $385,000 in matching funds. The eventual cost of the church building, community house, and commercial space was to top $1 million.
The construction took 21 months. Built of Bedford limestone, it was Gothic in style with a 50-foot tall sanctuary nave and elaborate stonework.
The community house auditorium, Seaman Hall, was used for musical and dramatic presentations, community meetings, and various social and educational events. The commercial space was supposed to generate enough income to mitigate the enormous cost of maintaining the building, but failed.
During the 1950s, a boom in church membership saw the rolls reaching 3,000 but declined steadily thereafter. By the 1970s, Sunday attendance was closer to 100 and in 1975 the church disbanded and closed its doors.
Those interested in a fuller account of its saga are urged to read City of the Century by James B. Lane (Indiana University Press, 1978) and also The Protestant Experience in Gary, Indiana, 1906-1975: At Home in the City by James W. Lewis (University of Tennesse Press, 1992)
| Box |
File |
Description |
| 1 |
1 |
Various, Historical information, City Methodist Church, (1912-1978) |
|
2 |
Typescript, Methodism in Gary, n.d. |
|
3 |
Report, “First Methodist Episcopal Church, Gary, Indiana. Type of Ministry, Program, Organizations, workers, location, building,” by W. G. Seaman, ca. 1920 |
|
4 |
Typescript, The Proposed New First Church, Gary, n.d. |
|
5 |
Typescript, Program of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Gary, Indiana, (What does Methodism propose to do in Gary?), n.d. |
|
6 |
Correspondence, Regarding Methodism in Gary, ca. 1920s |
|
7 |
Booklet and correspondence, Methodism in Gary and Vicinity: a Study by the Bureau of Social and Religious Research, Garrett Biblical Institute, 1957 |
|
8 |
Survey, City Methodist Church, by Boston University School of Theology, October 19, 1959 |
|
9 |
Report, “The Calumet Region: Unusual Advantages for Industry”, by W. G. Seaman, n.d. |
|
10 |
Typescript, Industrial chaplaincy, n.d. |
|
11 |
Booklet, The City Church (United Methodist), n.d. |
|
|
|
|
|
SERIES: CITY CHURCH BUILDING |
|
12 |
Correspondence, Capital campaign and construction, (1908-1926) |
|
13 |
Promissory notes, Women’s Association, 1925) |
|
14 |
Correspondence, Regarding building of City Methodist (from Methodist Archives, DePauw University), (1916-1922) |
|
15 |
Resolution, U.S. Steel Corporation Finance Committee regarding payment to the Methodist Episcopal Church at Gary, Indiana for Lands and Various Buildings, May 27, 1924 |
|
16 |
Typescript, Gary Land Company quit claim for First Methodist Episcopal land, 1925 |
|
17 |
Report, “Symbolism used in Carvings of the City Church of Gary, Indiana”, 1925 |
|
18 |
Correspondence, Lighting, 1925-1926 |
|
19 |
Correspondence, Plastering, n.d., 1925 |
|
20 |
Correspondence, Interior decoration and windows, n.d., 1926 |
|
21 |
Correspondence, American Seating Company, 1926-1928 |
|
22 |
Planning documents, Stained glass windows (historical), 1926-1927 |
|
23 |
Various, Windows, (1950-1967) |
|
24 |
Lists/invoices, Furnishings and equipment, ca.1926 |
|
25 |
Correspondence, Community Hall equipment, 1926 |
|
26 |
Floor plan, City Church, Seaman Building, May, 1959 |
|
27 |
Seating charts, Worship unit, n.d. |
|
28 |
Speech transcript, “The Romance of City Church Architecture”, given before the WSCS by Mrs. Basil Clark, 1938 |
|
29 |
Paper, Architecture and symbolism of the worship unit of City Methodist Church, 1962 |
|
30 |
Pamphlet, Regarding repairs needed to church physical plant, ca.1966? |
|
31 |
Bulletins, Opening and Dedication, The City Church, First Methodist Episcopal, October 3, 1926 |
|
32 |
Booklets, “City Methodist Church”, 1951 (25th Anniversary) |
|
33 |
Booklets, “City Methodist Church (First Methodist Church), 1956 [Fiftieth anniversary] |
|
34 |
Correspondence, 50th Anniversary Window fund, 1956 |
|
|
|
|
|
SERIES: STATE OF THE CHURCH |
| 1 |
35 |
List, Emphases and objectives for remainder of conference year, October 12, 1954 |
|
36 |
Statistics, Pastor’s Report to Annual Conference, 1967-1968 |
|
37 |
Reports, City United Methodist survey, 1970 |
|
38 |
Report, State of the Church, Charge Conference, November, 1971 (includes membership numbers, 1961-1971) |
|
39 |
Report, “Where Do We Go From Here?”, Pastor’s Report to the Administrative Board, February 4, 1973 |
|
40 |
Correspondence and Related Materials, Attempt to Save City Methodist Church, 1974-1975 |
|
41 |
Resolutions, Regarding dissolving City Methodist Church, ca. 1974 |
|
42 |
Letter, Regarding distribution of furnishings at closing of the church, August, 1975
|
|
|
|
|
|
SERIES: MEMBERSHIP |
|
43 |
Directories, Membership, 1934, 1969? |
|
44 |
Agenda, Home Hearth Meetings, Commission on Membership and Evangelism, November 25, 1957 |
|
45 |
Lists, New members, 1955-1960 |
|
46 |
Lists, New members, 1960-1962 |
|
47 |
Lists, New members, 1962-1966 |
|
48 |
Various, New members dinner by Fellowship Friends, (1962-1963) |
|
|
|
|
|
SERIES: PROGRAMS AND LEADERSHIP |
|
49 |
Yearbook, City Church, 1937-1938 |
|
50 |
Calendar, Of birthdays and meetings, 1955 |
|
51 |
Booklets, “This Year’s Program at City Methodist Church, 50th Anniversary Year”, 1956-1957 |
|
52 |
Yearbook, “A Year of Opportunity for Every Age”, 1957-1958 |
|
53 |
Booklets, The Church Program, 1958-1959 |
|
54 |
Various, The Church Program, 1958-1959 |
|
55 |
Minutes, Official Board, (1920-1922) (photocopies from Methodist Archives, DePauw University) |
|
56 |
Minutes, Official Board, 1939-1940 |
|
57 |
Directory, Official Board, 1958-1959 |
|
58 |
Various, New Year’s Eve publicity, (1957-1964) |
|
59 |
Various, Official Family Retreats, Epworth Forest, North Webster, Indiana, (1966-1967) |
|
60 |
Various, Vocational Seminar for Girls, 1966 |
|
61 |
Correspondence, Methodist Committee on Interracial Problems, 1963 |
|
62 |
Correspondence, Interracial Home Visitation Day, 1963 |
|
63 |
Correspondence, Various topics, (1969-1971) |
|
|
|
|
|
SERIES: FINANCIAL |
|
64 |
Budget materials, 1971, n.d. |
|
65 |
Pamphlets, Budget projections, n.d., ca. 1961 |
|
66 |
Financial statements, (1919-1956) |
|
67 |
Financial report, First Methodist Episcopal Church (photocopy from Methodist Archives, DePauw University), 1922 |
|
|
|
|
|
SERIES: ADMINISTRATIVE |
|
68 |
Directories, Plans of organization, City Methodist Church, 1958-1959, 1959-1960 |
|
69 |
Minutes, Commissions, (1967-1968) |
|
70 |
Lists, Boards, committees, commissions, 1967-1972) |
|
71 |
Various, Biographical information on ministers, (1942-1969) |
|
72 |
Sermons, Rev. William E. Clark, (1940-1941) |
|
73 |
Various, Rev. William E. Clark, (1932-1946) biographical material, (n.d., 1942-1946, 1954) |
|
74 |
Various, Rev. and Mrs. Harvey R. DeBra biographical material, 1943, 1944 |
|
75 |
Various, Rev. Allen B. Rice biographical material, 1946-1953 |
|
76 |
Table, City Church staff schedule, 1957-1958 |
|
77 |
Various, Music, n.d., (1912-1943) |
|
78 |
Programs, Music ministry, n.d. (1951-1975) |
|
79 |
Various, Sunrise Service, (1959-1964) |
|
80 |
Correspondence, From membership secretary and various committees, (1966-1969) |
|
81 |
Job descriptions, Secretarial positions, n.d. |
|
82 |
Rules, Facilities rental, 1970 |
|
83 |
Lists, Supplies, n.d. |
|
84 |
Forms, Men Who Died in Service from City Church, (1944-1946) |
|
85 |
Report, Pastor’s Report, 1964 |
|
|
|
|
|
SERIES: WOMEN'S GROUPS |
| 2 |
1 |
Constitution, Women’s League of City Church, 1933 |
|
2 |
Minutes, Women’s Society of Christian Service, January 1948-December 1950 |
|
3 |
Minutes, Women’s Society of Christian Service, January 1951-May 1954 |
|
4 |
Yearbooks, Women’s Society of Christian Service, (1946-1968) |
|
5 |
Essay, Circles of the Women’s Society of Christian Service, 1961 |
|
6 |
Program, City Church United Methodist Women, Sacrificial Luncheon, March 21, 1974 |
|
7 |
Booklets, Mother-Daughter Banquet Programs, (1967-1971) |
|
|
|
|
|
SERIES: YOUTH GROUPS |
|
8 |
Various, Epworth League, 1908, 1923, n.d. |
|
9 |
Typescript, Regarding Sunday School, 1934 |
|
10 |
Directory, Your Quarters’ Worth, Church School Administration, ca. 1958 |
|
11 |
Letter, Regarding Methodist Youth Fellowship activity, November, 1957 |
|
12 |
Various, MYF Booth Festival, (1962-1964) |
|
13 |
Various, MYF Retreat, 1964, 1965 |
|
14 |
Various, Rally Day, (1961-1967) |
|
15 |
Notices, Youth activities, 1964 |
|
|
|
|
|
SERIES: OTHER ACTIVITIES |
|
16 |
Various, City Church Athletic Association, 1927-1929 |
|
17 |
List, City Club calendar, November, 1957 |
|
18 |
Various, Oxford League, 1964-1966 |
|
19 |
Poster, “The Hive” downtown youth center, n.d. |
|
20 |
Correspondence, Lim family sponsorship, 1956-1957 |
|
21 |
Various, Boy Scouts, (1961-1966) |
|
22 |
Conference materials, Senior Girl Scouts, n.d. |
|
23 |
Various, Northwest Indiana Conference of the Methodist Church, (1958-1959), n.d. |
|
24 |
Various, Sub-district Ministers, 1964-1966 |
|
25 |
Various, Committee on Jubilee, ca. 1956 |
|
|
|
|
|
SERIES: BULLETINS |
|
26 |
Bulletins, (1930-1950) |
|
27 |
Bulletins, 1949-1950 |
|
28 |
Bulletins, 1950-1951 |
|
29 |
Bulletins, 1950-1951 |
|
30 |
Bulletins, 1953 |
|
31 |
Bulletins, 1954 |
|
32 |
Bulletins, 1954-1955 |
|
33 |
Bulletins, 1955-1956 |
|
34 |
Bulletins, September 4, 1955 – August 26, 1956 |
|
35 |
Bulletins, January 1 – August 26, 1956 |
|
36 |
Bulletins, September 2 – December 30, 1956 |
| 3 |
1 |
Bulletins, September 2, 1956 – August 25, 1957 |
|
2 |
Bulletins, 1956-1957 |
|
3 |
Bulletins, January 6 – August 25, 1957 |
|
4 |
Bulletins, September 1 – December 29, 1957 |
|
5 |
Bulletins, January 5 – June 29, 1958 |
|
6 |
Bulletins, July 6 – December 31, 1958 |
|
7 |
Bulletins, January 4 – June 28, 1959 |
|
8 |
Bulletins, July 5 – December 27, 1959 |
|
9 |
Bulletins, 1960 |
|
10 |
Bulletins, 1961 |
|
11 |
Bulletins, 1962 |
|
12 |
Bulletins, 1963 |
|
13 |
Bulletins, 1964 |
|
14 |
Bulletins, 1964 |
|
15 |
Bulletins, June 1966 – May 1967 |
|
16 |
Bulletins, June 1967 – May 1968 |
|
17 |
Bulletins, June 1968 – May 1969 |
|
18 |
Bulletins, April 5 – July 26, 1970 |
|
19 |
Bulletins, August 2 – December 27, 1970 |
| 4 |
1 |
Bulletins, January 3 – June 27, 1971 |
|
2 |
Bulletins, July 4 – December 19, 1971 |
|
3 |
Bulletins, January – July, 1972 |
|
4 |
Bulletins, August – December, 1972 |
|
5 |
Bulletins, January – June, 1973 |
|
6 |
Bulletins, July – December, 1973 |
|
7 |
Bulletins, January – July, 1974 |
|
8 |
Bulletins, August – December, 1974 |
|
9 |
Bulletins, January – June, 1975 |
|
10 |
Bulletins, July – October 5, 1975 |
|
|
|
|
|
SERIES: NEWSLETTERS |
|
11 |
Newsletters, (3), The Church Promoter, vol. 1, no. 1, December 1, 1911; vol. 1, no. 7, June, 1912; vol. 1, no. 12, December, 1912 |
|
12 |
Calumet District News, The Sentinel, (1964-1966) |
|
13 |
Newsletters, City Church News, v.1, no. 1-4. 1956 |
|
14 |
Newsletters, Tower Talk, (1956-1960) |
|
15 |
Newsletters, Tower Talk, September 24, 1964 – May 26, 1965 |
|
16 |
Newsletters, Tower Talk, June 2, 1965 – May 25, 1966 |
|
17 |
Newsletters, Tower Talk, June 1, 1966 – May 24, 1967 |
|
18 |
Newsletters, Tower Talk, May 31, 1967 – September 18, 1968 |
|
19 |
Newsletters, Tower Talk, September 25, 1968 – June 25, 1969 |
|
20 |
Newsletters, Tower Talk, September 3, 1969 – March 25, 1970 |
|
21 |
Newsletters, Tower Talk, January 22, 1973 – February 5, 1975 |
|
|
|
|
|
SERIES: VARIOUS |
|
22 |
Pamphlet, Protestant Churches of Gary, Indiana, ca. 1957 |
|
23 |
Report, Reconnaissance Study of the Inner City, Gary, Indiana, Indiana Council of Churches, ca. 1964 |
|
24 |
Theatre program, “The Bishop’s Company”, 1964 |
|
25 |
Christmas card, Greetings on Behalf of City Church, n.d. |
|
26 |
Booklets, Campbell Friendship House, 1943 |
|
27 |
Roster, Gary Joint Hospital Fund, Professional Gifts Division, Clergy Section, n.d. |
|
28 |
Directories, Methodist ministers – Lake County [hospital chaplain’s roster of clergy by denomination, by town], n.d. |
|
29 |
Directory, Roster of Gary Civic, Professional and Fraternal Organization Presidents compiled by the Gary Chamber of Commerce, 1957 |
|
30 |
Various, Calumet Pastoral Care and Counseling Center, 1957-1959 |
|
31 |
Directory, Gary Community Welfare Council, 1958-1959 |
|
32 |
Booklet, Directory of Community Services for Lake County, Indiana, 1959 |
|
33 |
Various, Lake County Migrant Ministry, 1963 |
|
34 |
Typescript, Report Touching the Work of the Methodist Church with the Spanish Speaking Group in Gary, ca. 1927 |
|
35 |
Report, Work with the Spanish speaking, n.d. |
|
36 |
Various, Christian Commission on Social Concerns, 1962-1965 |
|
37 |
Various, Lake County and State Senators and Representatives (Social Concerns), (1961-1964) |
|
38 |
Meeting notice, Gary Inner City Churches, September 27, 1965 |
|
39 |
Various, Gary Fellowship of Ministers, (1965-1966) |
|
40 |
List, Greater Gary Chamber of Commerce membership, 1968 |
|
41 |
Various, Council of Churches, Northwest Indiana, 1964-1965 |
|
42 |
Booklet, Northwest Indiana Conference Appointments, 1967-1968 |
|
43 |
Booklet, Gary, Indiana: City of the Century, 1963 |
|
44 |
Statement of purpose, Christian Welfare Service, Northwest Indiana Council of Churches, 1965 |
|
45 |
Various, Downtown Community Council, n.d. |
|
46 |
Various, Youth Opportunity Center, 1200 Broadway, n.d. |
|
|
|
|
|
SERIES: ARTICLES |
|
47 |
Article, “The Day Nursery” [beginning of Campbell Friendship House], The Church Promoter, March, 1913 |
|
48 |
Article, “The Church School” (interface with the public schools), no ID, October, 1915 |
|
49 |
Article, “Mrs. Avann’s Work in the Local Church”, no ID, October, 1915 |
|
50 |
Newsarticles, (14), City Church history, Gary Post- Tribune, October 7, 1926, 195, n.d. |
|
51 |
Newsarticles, (17), Regarding City Methodist pastors, (1916-1970, n.d.) |
|
52 |
Newsarticle, “History of Methodism will be given by Cast of 160 in Pageant at City Church September 30”, no ID, September 19, 1927 |
|
53 |
Newsarticles, (23), News about church members, (n.d., 1939-1970) |
|
54 |
Newsarticle, “City Church Won’t Bless War, Official Board Decides; Will Respect Objectors”, Gary Post-Tribune, September 22, 1939 |
|
55 |
Newsarticle, “They’re on Church’s Cradle Roll”, Gary Post, October 9, 1939 |
|
56 |
Newsarticles, (3), “Pastor Comes to Gary to Aid Drive on Debt”, Gary Post-Tribune, October 31, 1940 |
|
57 |
Newsarticle, “Present Vase to Church” (Davitt), Gary Post, January 16, 1942 |
|
58 |
Newsarticles, (7), Biographical information, William Grant Seaman, 1942, 1943, n.d. |
|
59 |
Newsarticle, “Bishop Blake to Be Buried in Evanston”, Gary Post, May 27, 1943 |
|
60 |
Newsarticles, (2), “Laura Seaman Dies; Widow of Gary Pastor”, Gary Post, March 3, 1944; “Mrs. Wm. G. Seaman’s Memory Honored by Stewart House Gift”, Gary Post, July 21, 1944 |
|
61 |
Newsarticle, “City Church Building is 25 Years Old”, Gary Post-Tribune, October 13, 1951 |
|
62 |
Newsarticle, “City Methodist Church Early Vision of Seaman”, Gary Post-Tribune, May 20, 1956 |
|
63 |
Newsarticles, (6), Members activities, 1969, n.d. |
|
64 |
Newsarticle, “City Church Honors 23 as ‘Oldest’”, no ID, May 18, 1969 |
|
65 |
Newsarticle, “Gary Inner City: 13 Collegians Complete Work-Study Slate Here”, Post-Tribune, Summer, 1969 |
|
66 |
Newsarticle, “New Scout Camp Dedicated” (Camp Anderson), Post-Tribune, October 5, 1969 |
|
67 |
Newsarticle, “In NAACP banquet talk, Wilkins decries violence”, Post-Tribune, n.d. |
|
68 |
Newsarticle, “Methodists: On Move, Lauding Gary Future, Hatcher, Two Others Urge Social Action”, Post-Tribune, October 11, 1969 |
|
69 |
Newsarticle, “City Methodist WSCS Looks to Christmas”, Gary Post-Tribune, October 19, 1969 |
| 5 |
1 |
Newsarticles, (2), “Dream Goes Awry”, September 14, 1974 (pt.1); “City Church Needed a Miracle”, September 15, 1974 (pt.2), Post-Tribune |
|
2 |
Newsarticle, “Downtown landmark will close”, Post-Tribune, April 20, 1975 |
|
3 |
Letter to the editor, “Closing church no easy move”, Post-Tribune, June 10, 1996 |
|
4 |
Newsarticle, “Peering inside the region’s ruins”, The Times, April 4, 1999 |
|
5 |
Newsarticle, “True Grit: Gary’s Redevelopment plans could produce a Hollywood-style comeback”, Chicago Tribune, March 12, 2000 |
|
6 |
Newsarticle, “Era ends for Gary church”, Post-Tribune, June 7, 2005 |
|
7 |
Newsarticle, “Architect sees gutted church in Gary as a ‘ruins garden’”, Post-Tribune, June 18, 2006 |
|
8 |
Newsarticle, “Neglected Indiana Church Once an Engine for Change”, Chicago Tribune, February 27, 2007 |
|
8a |
Newsarticles, "Abandoned City Church to become a Public Park/Faithful Lament Building's Ruins," Post-Tribune, October 8, 2007 |
|
8b |
Newsarticle, "Creating Beauty from the Past," The Times, December 16, 2007 |
|
8c |
Newsarticle, "Fight for Ruined Church Rages," Post-Tribune, April 28, 2008 |
|
9 |
Newsarticles, 25th Anniversary, Post-Tribune, October 16, 1951, n.d. |
|
10 |
Newsarticle, [Golden Jubilee Celebration], Post-Tribune, n.d. |
|
11 |
Newsarticle, “Fond memories of another place that served us well”, Post-Tribune, n.d. |
|
12 |
Newsarticle, “How a New Church Has Set About Installing Christ in a City’s Heart”, no ID, n.d. |
|
13 |
Newsarticles, Methodist Hospital Auxiliary, n.d. |
|
14 |
Newsarticle, “Two Churches will Unite for Special Advent service, n.d. |
|
|
|
| 6 |
|
SERIES: OVERSIZE |
|
|
Poster, (1), Music from Wagner’s Parsifal, n.d. |
|
|
Posters, (3), Calumet Region Mission to America presenting Dr. Alan Walker, n.d. |
|
|
Posters, (2), A Gospel to Proclaim!, part of the 108th Session of the Northwest Indiana Conference, n.d. |
Subject Tracings
- Campbell House
- Churches, Gary
- City Methodist Church
- Gary, Ind.
- Methodism
- Race relations
- Religious organizations
|
