Religion Collections in Libraries and Archives: A Guide to Resources in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia Table of Contents - Preface/Acknowledgements - Abbreviations Lists of Entries: District of Columbia - Maryland - Virginia

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Virginia Synod
Synodical Archives

Access Policies

Most materials may be photocopied.

Reference Policy:

Telephone and mail questions are answered. The Archives is not equipped to do research on genealogical questions.

Borrowing Privileges:

Collection is non-circulating.

Networks/Consortia:

None.

Background Note:

The Virginia Synod and its predecessor church bodies date back to 1820.

Description of Collections

Books and monographs:

Approximately 75 published books written primarily in the 20th century concerning the Lutheran Church in the southeast. These include synod, seminary, congregational histories, and biographies of important church leaders.

Archives, manuscripts, correspondence, and oral histories:

44 boxes of materials with inclusive dates from 1832 to the present. Highlights include synod minutes for the Virginia Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and its precursor groups. These include the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Virginia; Southeast Virginia Synod; Holston Synod; Lutheran Synod of Virginia, ULCA; and the Virginia Synod, LCA.

The archival collection also includes records of church and synod organizations, newsletters, conference and pastoral minutes, information on local and international missions, and parish registers.

Vertical files:

Five file cabinets of materials from 1832 to the present. This collection contains congregational archives and files along with biographical information on pastors who have served in Virginia.

The collection is filed alphabetically by congregation and pastor.

Other holdings not mentioned above:

10 boxes of religious artifacts such as offertory plates, communion ware, deeds, and Bibles.

Subject Headings