ARCHIVES

Old First has significant historical material, which is saved from its 300 years of ministry in the city of Philadelphia, from the five Sanctuary buildings (plus a few other buildings) and three properties that have housed us. That’s thousands of people’s lives and different neighborhoods touched. And it’s tons and tomes of ministry completed.

Our member records are also fairly complete, except for a period during the Yellow Fever Outbreaks. (In those days, the Pastor kept the membership records, and two of our pastors died from Yellow Fever.)

Much of our oldest archival material has been transferred to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, where it can be better stewarded and preserved. Some of that material has also been converted to microfilm format.

Original copies of Old First’s oldest documents/records are housed at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. All other, subsequent original Old First records and copies of documents are stored in the archives of Old First Reformed UCC.

Please contact the church’s Archivist first if you want to learn more about any of these materials. We can help you access information held by the Historical Society. For materials held at the church, you can work with the Archivist to plan a visit to view them.

These records include, but are not limited to:

• Membership rolls
• Legal documents
• Physical and digital records of Old First committees/organizations
• Financial records
• Records of the church school
• Records of other church organizations
• Photographs
• Sound recordings
• Artwork
• Regalia – physical objects of historical interest/value

Historical or genealogical questions?

Contact the church office at 215-922-4566 or admin@oldfirstucc.org so we can connect you with the church’s Archivist.