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Riverside United Methodist Church records

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-205

Scope and Contents

This collection includes directories, scrapbooks, building plans, postcards, publications, certificates, news clippings, programs, photographs, artifacts, audio recordings, and video recordings from Riverside United Methodist Church in Muncie, Indiana ranging from 1902 to 2003 regarding the church's history, the congregation, and church activities and events.

Dates

  • 1902-2003

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Archives and Special Collections, Ball State University Libraries, Muncie, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Archives and Special Collections.

Administrative History

In 1900, what became the Riverside United Methodist Church began as a Sunday School class led by Henry Marsh at the Old Mound School House that stood across the street from the present church. After Reverend G.H. Hammond and Dr. J.T. Roberts (superintendent of the White River Conference of the United Brethren Church) led a revival in the winter of 1902-1903, the congregation decided to hold regular worship services. Jackie Wills provided his bakery (later known as Wills' Chapel) at 913 Wheeling Avenue as a meeting place in the fall of 1902, and 28 charter members organized the church the following spring. Riverside's first pastor, H.S. James, began his ministry preaching at Wills' Chapel.

Using funds provided by its members, and with the assistance of the Ball brothers, the congregation expanded and improved its properties. In 1917, the congregation purchased a parsonage on Wheeling Avenue for $3,000. The Ball brothers later donated $10,000 to the congregation and funded the addition of a slate roof. Individually, W.C. Ball contributed $1,100 and a grand piano, and G.A. Ball gave $1,000 and velvet drapes.

Beginning as member of the United Brethren denomination, the congregation joined the Evangelical Church in 1946, and the Methodist Church in 1968. After joining the Methodist Church, the congregation officially changed its name to the Riverside United Methodist Church. Since its founding, the church continues to grow.

Extent

5.4 Cubic Feet (14 boxes, 3 oversized folders, 1 VHS tape)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in the following series:

Series 1: Riverside United Methodist Church subject files, 1917-2003

Series 2: Riverside United Methodist Church scrapbooks, 1903-1983

Series 3: Riverside United Methodist Church artifacts, undated

Series 4: Riverside United Methodist Church puzzle and scrapbooks, 1947-1961

Series 5: Riverside United Methodist Church certificate, 1916

Series 6: Riverside United Methodist Church photographs, 1902-1999

Series 7: Riverside United Methodist Church negatives, undated

Series 8: Riverside United Methodist Church Congregation photographs, 1929, undated

Series 9: Riverside United Methodist Church oversized photographs, undated

Series 10: Riverside United Methodist Church audio cassettes, 1971-2001

Series 11: Riverside United Methodist Church ECI Renaissance audio reels, undated

Series 12: Riverside United Methodist Church VHS cassette, undated

Series 13: Riverside United Methodist Church website archive, 2019-2020, 2022-

Custodial History

This collection was received by Archives and Special Collections as a donation. Addition was received 2003/11/12 by Tony Huffer.

Accruals

No further additions are expected.

Processing Information

EAD finding aid created 2012/06/05 by Lisa Barney. EAD finding aid revised 2012/06/19 by Bethany Fiechter.

Title
Riverside United Methodist Church records
Status
Completed
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Stoeckel Archives of Local History Repository

Contact:
Alexander M. Bracken Library
2000 W. University Avenue
Muncie Indiana 47306 USA