“Presbyterian Historical Society: What’s That?”
As the fall approaches and I prepare for another round of annual minute reviews with our Clerks of Session, I was inspired to focus this month’s “Spotlight on Polity” on something that doesn’t get enough attention in the life of our churches, but just as important as anything else when it comes to our Polity. You may have heard it called “Record Retention,” a process in which we organize and preserve important documentation within our denomination, but for the historical enthusiast like me, it’s much more than just that.
According to Book of Order, G-3.0108, each higher council is required to review all the proceedings and actions of all lower councils, etc, to ensure proper documentation of proceedings and to make sure councils are doing things in good order and in adherence to our constitution, therefore, Annual Minute Reviews. While some documents need only be retained for a certain number of years at a time, some have what you call permanent retention status, due to their high historical significance, and must be kept and preserved indefinitely. Such permanent records include documents such as Session/Council Minutes, Annual Reports, Newsletters, and certain financial documents, etc.
So, the question is, as these documents begin to stack up over the years and overtake our storage capabilities, what are churches to do with all these permanent records? When a church closes and turns over all their records and documents to Presbytery in order to preserve their history and legacy, where do those records go? According to the Book of Order, G-3.0107, Councils are encouraged to permanently safekeep their records with the Presbyterian Historical Society.
A single mention within the entire Book of Order, I was curious to learn more about this entity of our Denomination. This past summer, in a decision to “feed two birds with one scone” as our Presbytery Leader is found of saying, I decided to use a week of Continuing Education to make a make a trip out to Philadelphia, PA, to visit the Historical Society to learn more about what they do, while simultaneously saving some money on postage and hand delivering records from the Presbytery; a total of 9 boxes worth prepared by our own History Team! Ask my wife, and she will tell you we almost didn’t have room for our luggage.
Arriving in Philadelphia, the Presbyterian Historical Society is located a mere 4 blocks from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, tucked away in the historical district of the city. I was surprised to learn that, though the building looks right at home among its historical neighbors, it was only recently built in the 1960s when the Historical Society moved to its present location. Founded in 1852 during a General Assembly meeting in Philadelphia, where the Presbyterian 
Church in the United States was also formed back in 1789, the society was organized to collect and preserve materials and promote the history and legacy of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. Having changed locations several times since its founding to accommodate its ever-increasing need for storage space, its current location sits at 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA.
What you first notice when you arrive is their beautiful courtyard containing several statues of notable Presbyterians relocated from previous locations, one being John Witherspoon, one of 12 Presbyterians and the only clergy member to sign the Declaration of Independence! Also located in front of the building is a wonderful exhibit dedicated to the History of the Black Presbyterian Churches in the United States.
Entering the building, you almost feel like stepping into a scene from Alice and Wonderland with the black and white checkered tile and a grand old clock, which interesting enough, was the personal clock of Rev. Witherspoon brought over from Scotland in 1768. Past the entrance on the main floor is a quaint little library space, but hey, some pictures with familiar faces.
While you could probably spend a rather peaceful day in the library, the real fun for the History enthusiasts is underground below the building. According to their website (https://pcusa.org/historical-society) :
“The society’s holdings include more than 250,000 titles reflecting the 
history of the Presbyterian tradition in America and over 40,000 cubic feet of official records and personal papers. These include records of congregations, presbyteries, synods, and national agencies of the current and some predecessor Presbyterian and Reformed denominations in America.”
Let me tell you, they aren’t exaggerating when they say this. While the building itself is rather modest in size, the underground Archives comprise the entire city block. Located next door to a youth center, you can hear the kids running up and down the floors from below. Our tour guide, Archivist David Staniunas, took us all through the underground areas, showing all kinds of old bibles, statues, furnishings, 
and records. If you are not careful, it would be easy to get lost down there. So obviously a great place for record safeguarding, and if your church is need of clearing up some space, let me know and we’ll get you in touch with the society!
Overall, it was a great day, and I am thankful for the opportunity to visit this unique ministry of our denomination. It is interesting to note, the Presbyterian Historical Society is a department of the General Assembly at the national office, they are not supported by Per Capita giving. While they have a small budget that comes from the General Assembly, supplemented by grants and endowments, they are always grateful to our Churches, Presbytery, and Synods for their mission giving. So, if your church has a particular heart for the preservation of history, I encourage considering the Presbyterian Historical Society as a great way to use your mission dollars, and of course, take an
opportunity to visit this awesome ministry yourselves.
Lastly, it wouldn’t be a trip to Philadelphia without grabbing a classic Philly cheesesteak while you’re in town. The only challenge is to figure out among the claims, who is the original Philly cheesesteak and if that comes with provolone or cheese whiz! Luckily, there is a great place just around the corner from the Historical Society recommended by the staff!
A big thank you for allowing me to share about my summer adventure and this great ministry of our denomination for this edition of our “Spotlight on Polity” and until next time, stay decent and in good order!
Rev. Dr. Brandan Eddy
Stated Clerk
Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy
