Wesleyan Bible Class Records

Abstract

The collection primarily consists of promotional materials for the class. The Wesleyan Bible Class was organized in 1880, but is best known for the years (1896-1945) it was led by Frank L. Wood. Under his leadership, the class numbered some 900, with an average attendance of 626 per meeting in 1940. The focus of the class was on Bible study. It was interdenominational and designed to serve all churches on the West Side. The collection contains newsletters, programs, invitations and anniversary brochures.

Biographical/Historical

The Wesleyan Bible Class was founded in 1880 by Calla Scott Willard, with twelve boys as members. Over the next sixteen years, the class was taught by six different teachers and then disbanded. In September, 1896, the class was reorganized under Frank L. Wood (1864-1945) with 27 members. Wood continued to lead and teach the class until his death 48 years later. At its height, the class numbered some 900, although membership included persons in forty states and twelve foreign countries. Nevertheless, attendance was large, being on the average 626 per meeting in 1940. The motto of the class was "Search the Scriptures" and throughout its history the emphasis remained that of Bible study. Rather than being linked to one congregation, it was designed to serve churches on the West Side of Chicago. While Wesleyan / Methodist in doctrine, the class stressed an interdenominational character. The class met on Sunday afternoons so as not to conflict with Sunday school and church programs. From its founding until 1929, the class met at the Western Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church on the Near West Side at the corner of Western Avenue and Monroe Street. When that church building was closed, the class moved to the Olivet Methodist Episcopal Church at the corner of Adams and Keeler in the West Garfield Park neighborhood.

Following the death of Frank L. Wood in 1945, the class officially disbanded and a "Wesleyan Association" was founded to keep the members together via occasional social fellowship. But not many months had gone past before the class members had reorganized and prevailed upon the current pastor of Olivet Methodist Church to teach it. The Wesleyan Bible Class was instrumental in starting other Wesleyan classes, and in its annual "Other Class Sunday" program invited all these other classes to join it for a day, and attendance at these events often numbered 800.

Scope and Contents

This collection primarily contains materials produced by the Wesleyan Bible Class to advertise its meetings. The collection documents the heavy publicity campaign which the class used to make itself known in the church community and to the public in general.

Of particular note are programs in the Anniversaries section which are elaborate paper cuts. Included are programs in the shape of a maple leaf (1:3), a writing pen (1:6), a fishing basket with fish (1:10), a sailboat (1:11), a star of David (1:12), an American flag (1:13), a bell (1:17), the number 4 (1:18), a palette (1:19), a radio microphone (1:22), a hatchet (1:25), and a shoe (1:27).

News clippings, The Wesleyan newsletter, programs and photographs also appear. Photos 1.1 to 1.15 are postcards, produced in the first decade of the 20th century. Photos 2.1 to 3.9 are 3.5" x 5.5" black and white snapshots. Photo 4.1 is a 6 3/4" x 8 1/2" print.

Arrangement

Items are arranged alphabetically by subject or name. They are chronological within.

Subjects

• Wood, Frank L., 1864-1945.
• Wesleyan Bible Class (Chicago, Ill.)
• West Garfield Park (Chicago, Ill.)

Related Materials

• Frank L. Wood Scrapbooks
• West Garfield Park Community Collection, especially Box 4, Folder 9 and Box 1, Folder 15
• West Side Historical Society Records

Separated Materials

The following materials have been removed from the Collection and transferred to the locations listed below:

• Transferred to the Chicago City-Wide Collection (Supplement 4)-Biography: Gunsaulus, Frank Wakely (1856-1921)-Memorial Service program
• Transferred to the Suburbia Collection: Irving Park-Churches-Presbyterian Reformed Church-The Church Bell; July 1910

Collection Inventory