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The American Congregational Association was formed in 1851 as the Congregational Library Association. Two years later, reorganized and expanded, it rented rooms at the Tremont Street Temple in Boston, with a library of 56 books and pamphlets. The Association was formally incorporated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1854 “for the purpose of establishing and perpetuating a library of the religious history and literature of New England, and for the erection of a suitable building for the accommodation of the same, and for the use of charitable societies.” In 1864, the organization changed its name to the American Congregational Association in recognition of its broader scope.

Hours:Monday through Friday, 9am - 5pm and by appointment
Directions We are easily accessible by public transportation and encourage visitors to use the MBTA. The nearest subway stop is Park Street Station, at the intersection of the Red Line and Green Line. Upon exiting Park Street Station, turn left and walk up Park Street, toward the Massachusetts State House. Turn right on Beacon Street. The library is located on the second floor of 14 Beacon Street. It is less than a five-minute walk from the Park Street station. For those driving in, parking is available in several area garages. The best option is the Boston Common garage, which is a 10 to 15 min. walk from the library
Mission: Mission statement: The Congregational Library & Archives collects and preserves the records of American Congregationalism, one of the country’s oldest and most influential spiritual traditions, and makes its resources accessible and relevant to people around the world.
Founded: 1853
History of the Congregational Library and Archives: The Congregational Library began in 1853 when a small group of Boston clergymen donated 56 books from their personal collections. A century and a half later, it has become an internationally recognized resource for scholars, religious leaders, and local churches. Today the Congregational Library & Archives is a thriving center for researchers of all kinds, from professional historians to church members curious about their roots — anyone wanting to understand more about a religious tradition that has deeply informed American culture. The Congregational story is about ordinary people doing extraordinary things, beginning with the seventeenth-century Puritans and continuing on through nineteenth-century abolitionists and social reformers to the work of modern-day Congregational churches toward a just and open society.
Explore:
Congregational Library and Archives on-line catalog (our online catalog)
Series I: Church Records (digital content online)
Collection overview: The Congregational Library holds some 225,000 items, both archival and published, covering Congregational Christian history and a broad array of related topics. Our rare book section includes an unusually rich and complete representation of English and first-generation Puritan works, including an original copy of the Cambridge Platform of 1649. The Library’s archive of colonial-era church records is also extensive, containing many sets of seventeenth-century documents as well as full collections from large and historically significant modern churches like Boston’s Old South, established in 1669, and Park Street Church, formed in 1809. Many are available in digital form as part of our Hidden Histories collections, and accessible on our website. The Congregational Library also has a large sermon collection, some 15,000 individual pieces, covering the period from the late 1600s to the twentieth century, in both manuscript and printed form.
Permissions: •Send requests to publish to an archivist or librarian. •Credit line: Courtesy of the Congregational Library & Archives, Boston, Massachusetts (collection name, record group/mss. number and/or item identification, if available). ◦For photographs, if the photographer is identified, the credit line should read: Photograph by Jane Doe. Courtesy of the Congregational Library, Boston, Massachusetts (collection name, record group/mss. number and/or item identification, if available). This credit line must be included for each photograph reproduced.
Become a member: Contributor Student $25 Individual $50 Dual / Family $80 Supporter Individual $150 Dual / Family $200 All but $25 is tax deductible Sustainer $325 All but $25 is tax deductible
Donate online: Your monthly donation helps form a predictable source of income we can count on to fund the important work of keeping the Congregational story alive, relevant, and accessible to all. It's the easiest way to give and ensure that The Congregational Library and Archives receives your ongoing support. DONATE: be part of a growing network committed to our founding tradition, to advance democratic values and foster social justice.
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Congregational Library and Archives
14 Beacon Street, 2nd Floor Boston
Boston, Mass. 02108
Part of: American Congregational Association
Website: http://www.congregationallibrary.org/
Contact us via the web
Phone: (617) 523-0470
Fax: 617-523-0491
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