EELK Philadelphia Kogudus (Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) records
Abstract
Collection consists of correspondence, minutes, letters of membership applications and membership lists, the congregation's bulletins, booklets and sheets of church services and newspaper clippings. There are also documents from the Estonian mixed choir in Philadelphia, photos from the Subjugated Nations' Day in Philadelphia and booklets from other institutions.
Dates
- 1952-2003
Creator
Language of Materials
Estonian, English
ACCESS RESTRICTIONS
Open for use in the Elmer L. Andersen Library reading room.
OWNERSHIP & LITERARY RIGHTS
This collection may be protected by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code). It is the user's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and to obtain all necessary permissions prior to the reproduction, publication, or other use of any portion of these materials. Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair use provision of the copyright law.
HISTORICAL SKETCH
EELK (Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church) Philadelphia Conregation was officially formed in 1953. Services in the Estonian language had been held since 1949 in Philadelphia by pastors Mihkel Soovik and Juhan Suurkivi. Reverend Valter Koppermann took over after incorporation and Alfred Kivisepp was elected as the chairman of the Church Council. The congregation was housed in St. Marcus Church until 1959 when pastor Koppermann was replaced by pastors Suurkivi and Hans Rebane. In 1963 Evald Rink was elected as the new head of council and with the help of his wife Hildegard Rink, the congregation in Philadelphia became the central point of national and cultural activities among local Estonians. Starting from 1982 the church has been holding services at St. Matthew's which used to be named Old Zion Lutheran Church. In 1997 Markus Vaga was appointed as the resident pastor. Philadelphia Congregation was permanently dissolved in December 2006.
Extent
1.5 Linear Feet
PROVENANCE
Collection transferred to the IHRC from the Estonian Archives in the U.S.A. (EAU) in 2003-2005. It was processed as part of a collaborative project between the Estonian Archives in the USA (Lakewood, New Jersey), the National Archives of Estonia (NAE), the BaltherNet non-profit network, and the IHRC Archives in May 2014. Birgit Nurme and Pille Aguraiuja of the National Archives in Tallinn, Estonia, worked with IHRC staff on the project.
RELATED COLLECTIONS
IHRC3784 - Kopperman, Valter, IHRC3589 - Rink, Evald ja Hildegard
- Community life Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Displaced persons Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Estonian Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Religious life Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Inventory of the EELK Philadelphia Kogudus (Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) records.
- Author
- IHRC Archives
- Date
- 2016
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding Aid in English
Collecting Area Details
Contact The Immigration History Research Center Archives Collecting Area
