HISTORICAL NOTE
It is believed that Unitarians and Universalists have lived in Amherst as early as the 1820s. They first organized in 1887 with the founding of the First Universalist Parish of Amherst, with Rev. James Harry Holden as its first minister. In 1893 a meetinghouse, designed by architects Loring and Phipps, was constructed on Pleasant Street. First Universalist disbanded circa 1897 after the Massachusetts General Universalist Convention withdrew its financial assistance. The building was bought by the American Unitarian Association in 1898, and in the same year the fellowship was incorporated as Unity Church of Amherst. Major physical plant changes were made in 1924-25 (prompted by an extensive fungus growth that had attacked the floors and beams of the building), and again in 1959. In 1961 the American Unitarian Association merged with the Universalist Church of America to form the Unitarian Universalist Association. In 1962 the name of the local community was changed to The Unitarian Society of Amherst. In May 1985 it became known as The Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst.
See also: Amherst - First Universalist Church
FILE LIST
Adult Education, 1981-1984
American Unitarian Association - Correspondence, 1927-41
Annual Reports, 1955-85
Bulletins, 1936-39, 1943-45, 1948, 1956, 1958-1969,1973-88
Bylaws
Calendars, 1925, 1936-37, 1952-63, 1965-87
Channing-Murray Club
Clippings
Committees
Conn. Valley District of Unitarian Universalist Assoc., 1962-68
Conn. Valley Associate Alliance of Women
Conscientious Objectors
Dedication, 1893
Events - Amherst Common Forum, 1976-81
Events - Attendance, 1922-35
Events - Miscellaneous
Events - Sharing Growth Program
Events - Field Education Program
Finances - Budget
Finances - Canvassing, 1929-85
Finances - Miscellaneous
Finances- Treasurer
Flower Fund
General Alliance - Publications
Gifts
Guest Books, 1945-67, 1965-71, 1971-79
History
Incorporation, 1898 [oversize]
Kindergarten & Preschool
Laymen's League
Meetinghouse - Windows
Meetinghouse - Architecture
Meetinghouse - Renovation
Membership - Directories, 1956-84
Membership - Eulogies & Memorial Services
Membership - Miscellaneous
Men's Club
Merger
Ministers - Ackley, Barton T.
Ministers - Ackley, Barton T. - Sermons
Ministers - Argow, Waldemar
Ministers - Campbell, Jeffrey - Biographical
Ministers - Campbell, Jeffrey - Correspondence
Ministers - Campbell, Jeffrey - Installation
Ministers - Campbell, Jeffrey - Miscellaneous
Ministers - Campbell, Jeffrey - Photos
Ministers - Chronology
Ministers - Holt, Robert
Ministers - Housing - Parsonage, Property
Ministers - Ives, Henry G.
Ministers - Jones, John Paul
Ministers - Kimpel, Ben
Ministers - Lauriat, Nat
Ministers - Miscellaneous
Ministers - Olds, Mason
Ministers - Olds, Mason - marriages
Ministers - Robins, Sidney S.
Ministers - Taylor, John
Ministers - Westwood, Arnold
Ministers - Whittaker - Johns, Barbara
Miscellaneous
Missions
Music
Name Change, 1957-85
Newsletters
Officers/Committees
Outreach
Outreach - College
Pamphlets
Parish Meetings - Annual
Parish Meetings - Miscellaneous
Photographs
Property - Amherst Redevelopment Authority
Property - Deed
Property - 1st National Stores
Property - Miscellaneous
Property - Mortgage
Property - Parking Lot
Property - Parsonage
Publicity
Radio Programs
Records
Meeting House Rededication, 10/4/1925
Social Concerns
Southern New England Unitarian Council
Sunday School - Attendance, c. 1921-33
Sunday School - Miscellaneous
Surveys
Trustees Meetings Minutes, 1923-86
Trustees - Miscellaneous
United Universalist Association
Viet Nam - Surveys
Woman's Alliance Records - Meetings, 1922-36, 1940-48
Woman's Alliance Records - Meetings, 1948 -66
Woman's Alliance Records - Membership & Financial, 1919-40
Woman's Alliance - Miscellaneous
Woman's Alliance Yearbooks
Last updated on December 15, 2000