# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1956_S740
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

740 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

9) to offer suggestions in regard to keeping of church records;

10) to preserve the history of the local congregations for future
generations by keeping relevant materials on file, such as orders
of service, annual reports, constitutions, histories, pictures, etc.

11) to offer a safe place for the storage of original church
records, minutes of voter’s meetings (our stack room is air-condi-
tioned and humidity-controlled) ;

12) to offer transcript copies of manuscripts and documents
at a nominal fee.

Almost 1,000 people, congregations, boards, and commissions
avail themselves of these services annually. Many of these in-
quiries are handled by correspondence, while others prefer to use
the inviting facilities of our reference room. The only charge that
is made for these services is the price of the postage both ways
on materials borrowed from our library or archives.

The Institute’s library and archives contain valuable and ir-
replaceable books, pamphlets, and documents far in excess of
100,000. Many of these items in our care are collector’s items on
their own merit, even outside the Lutheran Church.

However, the Institute is no magical hat or cure-all for his-
torical problems. We are in a position to render services to Synod,
congregations, and individuals only to the extent to which we
receive the necessary source materials. During the past triennium
we point with deep gratitude to the more than 1,000 contributors
who have shared their historical treasures with us and have made
them a part of our permanent collection. Since the completion
of our new building in November 1952, the amount of materials
received, in comparison with previous years, has been staggering.
Thus, for instance, in 1953 we received three times as much mate-
rial as in 1952. In 1954 we almost doubled the amount received
in 1953. To our amazement in 1955 we have by far exceeded all
previous records. During this one calendar year we have received
more manuscripts, books, documents, and miscellaneous items than
in all 28 previous years combined. A weak link, however, has
been the fact that we have not been receiving as much “official”
material as might be expected.

To do an adequate piece of work, we need the constant con-
cern of all loyal Lutherans in keeping us supplied with the fol-
lowing:

1) printed and written histories of congregations and institu-
tions;

2) copies of past and present constitutions;

3) pictures of past and present buildings, as well as of the
pastors, teachers, and leaders;

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