Author: Olivia Englehart, Archival Field Fellow
As an Archival Field Fellow with the Roving Archivist Program, I was paired with Central Congregational Church (Central) in Newburyport, Massachusetts, to process the Rev. Samuel Spring Papers, a collection documenting over two centuries of religious, civic, and theological life. My project focused on bringing order and preservation to a hybrid collection that combines eighteenth-century manuscripts with modern research, ephemera, and administrative records reflecting the legacy of Rev. Spring and Central.
Rev. Samuel Spring (1746–1819) was a Revolutionary War chaplain, a co-founder of the Massachusetts Missionary Society and Andover Theological Seminary, and an influential early minister at what was then known as the North Congregational Church. The collection contains early church records, handwritten sermons, theological writings, correspondence (including a letter from James Madison), and more recent interpretive materials created by church members.
When I arrived, much of the material had been gathered and safeguarded by two longtime church historians, Jill St. Onge and Amantha Moore. They had spent years conducting research on Rev. Spring and collecting church records, photographs, and commemorative publications. Their work provided essential context and continuity during the project, and I was fortunate to collaborate with them each week over the course of four months.
My initial steps involved conducting a thorough survey of the materials, identifying preservation concerns, and drafting a processing plan modeled after guidance from my MA SHRAB advisor, Sarah-Jane Poindexter. We rehoused materials in acid-free folders and boxes, replaced deteriorating storage elements, and began shaping a chronological and thematic structure that reflected the collection’s depth and use potential.
The collection is now organized into four series:
Series 1: Rev. Samuel Spring and Early North Church Documents, 1768–1818
Series 2: Research and Scholarship on Rev. Samuel Spring, 1775–2024
Series 3: Administrative and Religious Records of the North Congregational Church, 1768–1891
Series 4: Photocopies of Rev. Samuel Spring and Early North Church Documents, 1768–1818
One of the more nuanced challenges was balancing the historical materials with the modern additions—many of which were the result of Jill and Amantha’s dedicated research efforts. Their contributions, however, ultimately deepened the value of the collection, making it not just a record of the past, but a living resource for ongoing inquiry.
Working closely with Jill and Amantha was one of the highlights of the project. Though I am not a member of the congregation, they welcomed me without hesitation, and their enthusiasm for the history of Central and its early leadership was inspiring. They provided institutional knowledge, thoughtful feedback on arrangement decisions, donuts, and a clear sense of the collection’s value to the church and the wider community.
By the end of the project, the Rev. Samuel Spring Papers had been stabilized, restructured, and made ready for long-term stewardship. The collection stands as a testament not only to the historical significance of Rev. Spring and Central, but to the ongoing efforts of dedicated community historians. I’m grateful to MA SHRAB and the Roving Archivist Program for supporting this opportunity and to Jill and Amantha for their trust, collaboration, and commitment to preserving their church’s legacy.
The Archival Field Fellowship is a grant offered by the Roving Archivist Program. The Fellowships increase hands-on assistance to Massachusetts repositories and provide emerging archivists with professional experience and mentorship. In 2024-2025, three institutions representing a diverse cross-section of archival repositories are hosting field fellows. As the fellowships are completed, field fellows share reflections and insights about their site experience on the MA SHRAB blog. This program is funded through support from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
