Guide to the St. John's Episcopal Church Of Ithaca Records,
1822-1906.

Collection Number: 6058

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library

Contact Information:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
2B Carl A. Kroch Library
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
(607) 255-3530
Fax: (607) 255-9524
rareref@cornell.edu
http://rmc.library.cornell.edu
Compiled by:
S.L.
B.D.
Date completed:
May 1979
EAD encoding:
Andrea Hektor, June 2004

© 2004 Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library

DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
St. John's Episcopal Church of Ithaca records, 1822-1906.
Collection Number:
6058
Creator:
St. John's Episcopal Church of Ithaca (Ithaca, N.Y.)
Quantity:
1 reel microfilm
Forms of Material:
Microfilm.
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library
Abstract:
Two parish registers (1831-1837, 1843-1870) which list baptisms, confirmation, membership, marriage and burial records and one volume of vestry meeting minutes (1822-1906) which record the organizaiton of the church, vestrymen elected, and discussion of parish finances and affairs.
Language:
Collection material in English

ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY

St. John's Episcopal Society was organized on April 8, 1822 at a meeting held in the Methodist chapel. Prior to then the Reverend Dr. Babcock and a Father Nash had ministered to the Episcopal community in a missionary capacity. In 1824 the church purchased a lot on the corner of Seneca and Cayuga Streets where they built a house of worship. Bishop Hobart consecrated the building on September 11, 1826. In 1844 the church was altered and enlarged, and in 1855 a parsonage was purchased. The church was torn down in 1860 and a larger building was constructed.
For further details and the names of ministers consult the History of Tompkins County, p. 8l or "A Brief History prepared for the Sesquicentennial Celebration" in the accessions folder.
COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

The collection contains two parish registers (1831-1837, 1843-1870) which list baptismal, confirmation, membership, marriage and burial records and one volume of vestry meeting minutes (1822-1906) which record the organization of the society, vestry men elected, and discussion of parish finances and affairs.
SUBJECTS

Names:
St. John's Episcopal Church of Ithaca (Ithaca, N.Y.)

Subjects:
Church records and registers--New York (State)--Ithaca.
Episcopal Church--New York (State)--Ithaca.
Anglican church buildings.

Places:
Tompkins County (N.Y.)--Religious life and customs.
Ithaca (N.Y.)--Religious life and customs.

Form and Genre Terms:
Minutes.
Baptismal certificates.
INFORMATION FOR USERS

Cite As:
St. John's Episcopal Church of Ithaca records, #6058. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
CONTAINER LIST

Description
Container
Parish Register, 1831-1837 .
Item 1
Contains baptismal records (pp. 1-15) including names of individuals baptised, name of sponsors, date and location of baptism; confirmation records (pp. 70-73) including names of those confirmed, name of official performing the sacrament; list of communicants (pp. 140-163), marriage records (pp. 210-217), and burial records (pp. 270-279).
Parish Register, 1843-1870.
Item 2
Contains a table of contents; baptismal records (pp. 60-117) listing the individual's name, date of birth, parents, witnesses and date of baptism; confirmation records (pp. 160-170) including name, date, and presiding bishop; list of communicants (pp. 171-193) including date of admittance, method of reception and where the individual was from, when and how the individual left the church; marriage records (pp. 269-299) including date and location of ceremony and names of the individual; and burial records (pp. 334-70) including date of burial, age of the individual and location of the burial.
Vestry Records, 1822-1906 .
Item 3
Minutes of quarterly meetings record the organization of the society (April 8, 1822); names of wardens and vestrymen; attendance; pew rental records and discussion on how to collect overdue rent; records of hiring pastors, their names and salaries; the selection of delegates to the annual Protestant Episcopal Diocesean Conventions, the rebuilding of the church (1859), resolutions concerning clergy and members of the congregation; the churches financial difficulties in the l860-70's; Mrs. Jennie McGraw Fiske's bequest of $10,000 to the church including $5,000 for the Inlet mission, and telegrams received on the occasion of the death of Dr. lynnett on September 3, 1905.