First Presbyterian Church

This congregation was founded at Fort Dearborn (Wacker and Michigan) in 1833. Was at Indiana and 21st in 1912. Moved to 41st and Grand Blvd. (Now Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive) in 1918. At present location since 1926.

The Church on the Frontier: An Historical Discourse Delivered in the First Presbyterian Church, Chicago, Ill. On November 3rd, 1878. Chicago: First Presbyterian Church, 1878. Call No. D28962.58.

Choir Journals (church bulletins). Call No. Case MS D28962.16357. The collection covers Jan. 1875–Aug. 1803; Jan 1898–Dec. 1900.

Church Programs. Call No. D28962.16362. Weekly church bulletins spanning Jan 7, 1912–June 27, 1926.

Curtis, Harvey. Secession Considered as a Means of Reformation: A Sermon Preached in the first Presbyterian Church, Chicago, Illinois, July 13, 1851. Chicago, 1951. Call No. Graff 955.

Directory of the First Scotch Presbyterian Church…Containing the Reports for the Centennial Year, a Complete List of the Membership, Alphabetically Arranged, A List of All the City Presbyterian Churches, and Other Matters… Chicago: James Barnet, 1877. Call No. D28962.1634. Includes addresses of members.

A History of the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago, 1833–1941. Chicago: The First Presbyterian Church of Chicago, 1941. Call No. D28962.985. Compiled by workers of the Writer’s program of the Work Projects Administration in the state of Illinois.

Jubilee Services, June 24–27, 1883. An Account of the Celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Organization of the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago. Chicago: First Presbyterian Church, 1883. Call No.D28962.1636.

Otis, Philo Adams. The First Presbyterian Church: A History of the Oldest Organization in Chicago, With Biographical Sketches of the Pastors and Copious Extracts From the Choir Records. Chicago: 1900. Call No. D28962.65. Includes photographic portraits, biographies of pastors, some biographical information about members and a name index.

Otis, Philo Adams. The First Presbyterian Church, 1833–1913: A History of the Oldest Organization in Chicago, With Biographical Sketches of the Ministers and Extracts From the Choir Records. 2nd rev. ed. Chicago: F. H. Revell co., 1913.Call No. D28962.651. A revision of the 1900 book (see above). Two copies. One copy includes handwritten notes by Philo Otis and correspondence.

Unveiling of Tablet in memory of Rev. John Blatchford, D.D., and Frances Wickes Blatchford, his Wife, October 21, 1905. Chicago: First Presbyterian Church, 1906. Call No. D28962.1627.

With These Walls: 50th Anniversary, Men’s Bible Class, 1951. Chicago: First Presbyterian Church,1951. Call No.D28962.16372.

Parish records. The Newberry Library has a large but unprocessed collection of parish records. Contact Special Collections to view.