Congregational Library & Archives

10/22/2026

📰 Extra, extra! The United Church of Christ News’ Donna Jackson interviewed Librarian Meaghan Wright about the CLA’s collection of cookbooks for their article, “The good old church dinner gets reimagined as hunger and loneliness rise: Free meals are life-saving ministries.”

Thank you for highlighting the historic foodways of Congregational churches and the way churches respond to community need!

Click here to read the article for free:

She was one of many who came forward to the communion table, taking with her two tiny cups brimming with grape juice and a handful of bread cubes back to

10/20/2026

In our latest Q&A, CLA Archivist Zachary Bodnar talks about his career path, advice for aspiring archivists, and the unexpected discoveries that come with the job!

⭐️ The Basics:
- Job title: Archivist
- Hometown: Bethlehem, CT
- Education: BA in History and Psychology from Vassar College, 2015; MLIS from Simmons University, with a concentration in archives, 2018

⭐️ Digging Deeper:
Other libraries/archives have you worked at?
Bellamy-Ferriday House and Garden archive; Vassar College Special Collections; Harvard Law School Library; Harvard Botany Libraries

What made you pursue a career in archives?
"Having volunteered as a teen at a local historical society, I knew that I wanted to explore workplaces where I could not only help to preserve important history, but also work to make that history accessible for all sorts of people. Work at both the Bellamy-Ferriday House and Garden and Vassar's special collections only further cemented that desire while teaching me that archives was, in fact, the area I wanted to work towards."

What is the most rewarding experience you’ve had as an archivist thus far?
"Something of a collective experience, but working with Simmons interns and other early career archivists has been the most rewarding for me. It is important that we provide opportunities for experience and mentorship for the next generation of archivists and I'm so glad that I can be a part of that process.

What is one thing you wish people knew about archiving?
"Contrary to most pop-culture references, archivists do not hide in box-filled basements hoarding old stuff. Communication and liasoning with the public is actually a huge part of what archivists do!"

What’s the weirdest/coolest thing you’ve found in an archive?
"I've found a lock of hair from an already dead father to their child. That pretty much will always be the weirdest thing."

Any advice you would give to someone pursuing a career in archives?
"Find work in the field while getting the degree. Unfortunately, most entry level permanent positions will ask for 1-3 years of prior relevant experience. Getting that experience while working towards the degree will put you a leg above when looking for a job."

What projects are you currently working on?
"Among many things, the one discrete archival project I am currently working on the the processing of records from the New York Conference UCC which were originally given to the CLA in 1979."

10/19/2026

🎃💙Thank you to everyone who joined us for another hauntingly good evening at the CLA!

On Thursday, October 15, guests joined Dr. Tricia Peone for an evening exploring four centuries of supernatural history through some of the CLA’s rarest collections, then enjoyed a special behind-the-scenes tour of the stacks with Executive Director Dr. Kyle Roberts.

And in perhaps the spookiest moment of the night, one guest brought a ghost-hunting device that kept lighting up throughout the tour... we’ll let you decide what that means. 👀✨

As Dr. Tricia Peone shared, “This is my favorite tour of the year because it showcases some of our oldest and rarest collections, and we always get a great turnout of participants! Many people are surprised to learn that the CLA has been collecting materials about ghosts and witchcraft for such a long time.”

10/13/2026

NEW VIRTUAL EXHIBITION! ✨
On October 29, 7-8PM via Zoom, join Curator Rev. Dr. Kazimierz Bem (Pastor of First Church in Marlborough) for a virtual launch of a new online exhibition: Discovering Each Other: Immigrants and Congregationalists in America, 1826-1924. This is event is FREE. Registration required: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lN3sIS7lRBiEXVCoAu6Hpw #/registration

Discovering Each Other examines the encounter between Congregationalists and immigrant arrivals to the United States over a century that transformed religion and the nation The exhibition explores the motivations and actions of Congregationalists towards immigrants to the United States, and the reception they received over a century that saw a total transformation of the United States. Immigration is a complicated chapter in American history, marked by a conflicting mix of ideas, humanitarian and racist, evangelical and social gospel, secular and religious. By looking at people on both sides of this relationship, Discovering Each Other tells the story of the changing attitudes of Congregationalists, as well as what drew immigrants to a religious tradition different than the one from where they came.

10/09/2026

📂 Ever wondered what it really takes to digitize archival records? Join archivists Zachary Bodnar and Billy McCarthy on October 21 via Zoom as they explore the technology, planning, challenges, and benefits behind successful digitization projects.

➡️FREE to attend, registration required. Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vHwkdu6XRQmKgTK4VT7b6Q #/registration

The Congregational Library & Archives is committed to helping churches engage in effective records management through our Church Stewardship Initiative, a program of virtual webinars and in-person workshops designed to help churches develop their own stewardship programs. See all of our ✨ free resources✨ here: https://congregationallibrary.org/csi

10/08/2026

📸 Thank you to Program Director & Professor Jamin Creed Rowan and Brigham Young University American Studies students for visiting the CLA yesterday morning! Their week of travel in and around Boston is themed “America at the Crossroads,” and yesterday’s focus at the CLA was “America at the Crossroads of Religion.” Dr. Kyle Roberts and Dr. Tricia Peone were happy to share highlights of our recently concluded exhibition, Sacred Rebellion: Congregationalists in Revolutionary Massachusetts.

📧 Want to bring your group to tour the CLA? Send us an email: [email protected]

10/06/2026

October is !💙 Our archive preserves 400+ years of Congregational history, a religious tradition that has deeply informed American history and culture. Stay tuned this month to learn more and celebrate our archivists and collections… and see pretty pictures of our archives. 📸

09/30/2026

👻Don’t miss Spirits in the Stacks! Our popular Halloween tour.

Join Dr. Tricia Peone for chilling tales drawn from 400 years of Congregational history. Explore ghost stories, witchcraft, vampires, séances, haunted house sermons, and rare materials from the CLA collections as we uncover New England's supernatural past.

🖥 Virtual Tour: October 13, 1-2PM ET
🏛 In-Person Tour: October 15, 5:30-7PM ET

Tickets are $15 for members and $20 for non-members.

Space is limited for both events and tickets are selling fast! Secure your spot today.
Register for VIRTUAL TOUR: https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/CongregationalLibrary/virtualsprits.html

Register for IN-PERSON TOUR: https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/CongregationalLibrary/spiritsandstacks.html

09/28/2026

Explore newly released resources on King Philip's War / Metacom's Resistance during a virtual conversation with Brad Lopes, Tricia Peone, and Heather Wilson on October 7th.

Learn how the Massachusetts Historical Society, the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head Aquinnah Education Department Aquinnah Cultural Center), and the Congregational Library & Archives are making historical materials more accessible for research, teaching, and learning.

📅 Wednesday, October 7, 2026
⏰ 1-2PM ET
💻 Virtual via Zoom

Register & learn more: https://congregationallibrary.org/events/new-resources-for-king-philips-war

09/25/2026

💙 We're grateful to be at the halfway point of our Community Preservation Act-funded project to process and make accessible the records of two remarkable Boston organizations: the City Mission Society (1816-2023) and Seafarer's Friend (1827-present).

Thanks to this instrumental support, Processing Archivist Madison Bellew has completed processing the Seafarer's Friend collection and is now working through the extensive City Mission Society records.

Together, these collections document more than two centuries of efforts to improve the lives of Boston residents, from supporting sailors and their families to advancing education, social services, and civil rights initiatives.

Once processing is complete, the CLA will begin selective digitization of materials from both collections, making them freely available through our Digital Archive and helping ensure these stories remain accessible for generations to come.

Thank you to the Community Preservation Committee(City of Boston) and everyone who makes this work possible. We're excited to continue sharing updates and discoveries as the project progresses.

You can read more about Boston Seafarer’s Friend (Seafarer's Friend) in our finding aid:https://congregationallibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/BSFS-0776.pdf