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The Diocesan Archives provide historical records
of a wide variety. It also provides memory of details
not only of what has happened, but also of was thought
or said. Most historical records are paper - letters,
photographs, minutes, agendas, bulletins, programs,
leaflets, or newspaper clippings. They can be entire
folders, kept originally by committees and chairpersons.
The Archives has multiple files of
material that relate to clergy, parishes, committees,
and commissions on the diocesan and parish levels.
It has folders that keep material written by and about
the bishops of the diocese. Also available is some
material from the dioceses of which this diocese was
once a part: the Diocese of New York when it encompassed
the whole state (1788 to 1837), and the Diocese of
Western New York, which spread from Utica and Ithaca
to the Niagara Frontier (1837 to 1931). Of course,
it contains extensive material from the Diocese of
Rochester, established in 1931.
If you, or your congregation, keep
any records that would interest a researcher in succeeding
generations, then when they are old enough, they may
"graduate" into the Archives. None of us
will ever REALLY know what went on without both formal
records and other documents that tell the wonderful
stories of life in our congregations. Last year's
records give us the details which our minds are too
limited to remember. Last years events and stories
give the chance to give joy to those who follow us.
Also available are:
- bound volumes of the Diocesan Journal of the annual
conventions, back to 1788.
- parish registers for congregations no longer active
so that genealogists and other researchers can develop
family histories by looking up baptisms, marriages,
and burials.
- photographs of people and buildings, many of them,
unfortunately, completely unlabelled! I bring such
photographs to the Diocesan Convention each year,
and some people now have names.
Perhaps you or your congregation could
make good use of some the treasures in the Archives.
A curious person could gather for information about
congregations, former clergy, wonderful events, and
sometimes the troubles that life brings. Genealogists
are welcome to search for records of their ancestors
in the registers of inactive congregations. (Of course
the active congregations still maintain their own
registers.)
Curious?
Contact:
David Sisson
935 East Avenue
Rochester NY 14607
Email: DavidS@rochesterepiscopaldiocese.com
Phone: 585-473-7780
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