Methodism was one of the earliest Christian faiths to arrive in Ohio. Several prominent Ohioans belonged to the Methodist Church, including Thomas Worthington, one of Ohio's first United States Senators, and Edward Tiffin, Ohio's first governor. Ohio Weslyan University was established by the church in 1842. The two main denominations were the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Protestant Church. Some African-American members broke with the Methodist Church in the early 1800s after disagreements regarding slavery, and established the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The Methodist Episcopal Church split again prior to the American Civil War over the issue of slavery into the Northern Methodist Episcopal Church and the Southern Methodist Episcopal Church, both existing in Ohio. Methodists remained divided until the 1930s when the Northern Methodist Episcopal Church, the Southern Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Methodist Protestants reunited. In the 1960s, the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church joined together as the United Methodist Church.
Below are lists of select archival and library materials related to the Methodist Church, available for research at the Ohio History Connection Archives & Library. Review the catalog links below, or explore our Online Collections Catalog using a specific church name or related search terms for more information [example search terms: "Methodist", "Methodist Episcopal", "Methodist-Episcopal", "Methodist Church", "Methodism", "Methodist Episcopal Church -- Periodicals"].
Abstract of quarterly conference records, 1985 Oct. [VFM 4307]
Bethel Camp Meeting Association records [microform], 1913-1990. [MIC 167]
Church records, 1825-1867. [VOL 881-882]
Constitution and minutes, 1891-1897. [VOL 648]
Diaries, 1858-1867 (bulk 1858, 1864-1865). [VOL 996-997]
Diary, 1845 Aug. 13-1852 Feb. 5. [VOL 315]
First Methodist Episcopal Church Collection, 1918. [VFM 3540]
Methodist-Episcopal Church (Ohio) Records. 1853 JUL 30 [VFM 2255]
Methodist Episcopal Church. Ohio Records. 1804-1919 [MSS 231]
Ohio Board for United Ministries in Higher Education Records, 1952-1988. [MSS 1101]
History and directory of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, Findlay, Ohio, 1892. [287.6771 F493]
Historical sketch of Dayton methodism and Raper Methodist Episcopal Church, Dayton, Ohio [287.677173 B872h]
A century of Methodism in West Carrollton [287.677172 W52c]
History of the Wyandott Mission, at Upper Sandusky, Ohio, under the direction of the Methodist Episcopal Church [Vault 970.26676 F496h]
German Methodist Episcopal Church of Marietta Ohio : later known as Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church [R 929.377198 G317 2015]
The early history of Glenwood Methodist-Episcopal Church, 1893-1962 [287.677157 G793e 2013]
A history of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Salem, Columbiana County, Ohio [287.677163 H912h]
Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church Historical sketch. Golden anniversary, Sunday, November 24, 1895. [PA Box 462 6]
Walnut Street Methodist Episcopal Church Centennial jubilee celebration. October 7th to 14th, 1900. [287.6771821 C438c]
The Asbury visitor. [287.6771 C49a]
The Beauty of holiness and Sabbath miscellany. [Vault 234.805 B385]
The Christian advocate. [287.605 C462w]
The Christian witness, and Western Reserve advocate. [Vault 287.605 C461]
Cincinnati Church Extension Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church [287.6771 C49E]
Doctrinal preacher: a monthly periodical, devoted to the support and defence of theological truth [287.605 D659]
Year Book of First Methodist Episcopal Church, Lancaster, Ohio. [287.677158 L221Y]
The ladies' repository: a monthly periodical devoted to literature and religion. [051 L124]
Official journal and year book of the ... session of the Ohio Annual Conference of the Methodist Church. [287.09771 M566o]
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