The Finding Aid of the Palo Alto Church of Christ Records 0203
Lucy Perrin
Pepperdine University. Special Collections and University Archives.
June 2022
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu 90263-4786
Business Number: (310) 506-4434
Fax Number: (310) 506-4117
kelsey.knox@pepperdine.edu
Contributing Institution:
Pepperdine University. Special Collections and University Archives.
Title: Palo Alto Church of Christ Records
Identifier/Call Number: 0203
Physical Description:
5 Linear Feet
(9 Hollinger boxes, one 4" X 4" X 28" box)
Textual materials, scrapbooks, and photographs.
Date: 1961-2019
Abstract: The Palo Alto Church of Christ met in Palo Alto, California from 1961-2017. This collection contains financial and various
church records, materials from the church's 25th and 50th anniversary celebrations, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, and photos.
Physical Location: Calabasas (gated area)
Language of Material:
English
.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder# or item name], Palo Alto Church of Christ Records, Collection no. 0203, Churches of Christ Heritage Center, Boone
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Pepperdine University.
Arrangement
The Palo Alto Church of Christ Records is arranged into four series: 1) Anniversary Celebrations 2) Financial Records 3) Records
(Various) 4) Scrapbooks and Photos.
Biographical / Historical
The Palo Alto Church of Christ on Middlefield Road in Palo Alto, California began meeting on February 5, 1961, in a building
built with the volunteer labor of their members. The Daily Palo Alto Times reported on Saturday, October 22, 1960 that members
of the Church of Christ in Redwood City expected to finish the building sometime in December of that year and form the new
Palo Alto congregation. The Redwood City Church of Christ would continue to function on Madison Avenue in Redwood City. Billy
G. Jackson would be the first full-time minister at the Palo Alto Church of Christ, having formerly served churches in Oakland
and Sacramento and studied at Harding College in Searcy, Arkansas. Other ministers who served with the church in the following
years included Doug Qualls, Steve Ink, Edward Pennington, Les Bennett, Lewis Greer, and Scott Falkowski. The church held an
annual summer church camp at Sierra Bible Camp near Lake Almanor and started a Joy Bus ministry in the 1970's. In November
1983, the church suffered a fire which damaged their building and a bus, but rebuilt and reopened in June of 1984.The church
partnererd with Palo Alto City Homeless Effort known as Hotel de Zink, and hosted services of Chinese Church in Christ, The
Way Church (Korean Methodist), and Mission Mount Church (Hispanic). Palo Alto Church of Christ completed a merger with The
Highway Community in 2017, joining services and activities. The Palo Alto Church of Christ was legally dissolved in 2018.
In August 2019, the church held a celebration of Palo Alto Church of Christ with founding member Joy Swift and long-time members,
Howard and Sally Peters.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Howard Peters donated the records to Churches of Christ Heritage Collection in Boone Special Collections and University Archives
at Pepperdine University, May 2022. He was a longtime member of the Palo Alto Church of Christ, 1963-2018.
Howard Peters
Cupertino, CA
Contact info on file.
Scope and Contents
These records document the Palo Alto Church of Christ which began in 1961 in Palo Alto, California. The church merged with
The Highway Community in 2017 and officially dissolved in 2018. The materials range in date from 1961-2019. The collection
contains records from the church's 25th and 50th anniversary celebrations, financial and other various records, and scrapbooks
and photos.
Conditions Governing Access
Advance notice required for access.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright restrictions may apply.
Processing Information
The collection was arranged and described by Lucy Perrin, June 2022.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Churches of Christ
Churches of Christ -- History -- 20th century
Lay ministry--Churches of Christ
California -- History
Restoration movement (Christianity) -- History
Busing in church work
box 1, box 2, box 10
Series 1:
Anniversary Celebrations
1986-2011
Physical Description: .7 Linear Feet(1 Hollinger box, one 4" X 4" X 28" box)
Arrangement
Folders retain creator's original titles or are titled according to document type. Folders are arranged alphabetically by
folder title.
Scope and Contents
Series one contains anniversary scrapbooks, photos, newspaper clippings, and correspondence. It also contains a church directory
and a history timeline of the Palo Alto church.
box 1, folder 1
25th Anniversary Celebration Program
1986
box 1, folder 2
25th Anniversary Scrapbook
1986-1987
box 1, folder 3
50th Anniversary Correspondence
2011
box 1, folder 4
50th Anniversary Scrapbook and Photos
2001
box 1, folder 6
Letters and Photos from Former Members
1986
box 1, folder 8
Newspaper Clippings
1986-1987
box 2, box 3, box 4
Series 2:
Financial Records
1961-2016
Physical Description: 1 Linear Feet(2 Hollinger boxes)
Arrangement
Folders are arranged by year.
Scope and Contents
Series two contains church financial records dated 1961 - 2016.
box 2, folder 2
Financial Report
1961-1963
box 2, folder 3
Financial Report
1963-1969
box 2, folder 4
Financial Report
1969-1981
box 2, folder 5
Financial Report
1983-1985
box 4, box 9
Series 3:
Records (Various)
1960-2017
Physical Description: .5 Linear Feet(1 Hollinger box)
Arrangement
Folders retain creator's original titles or are titled according to document type. Folders are arranged alphabetically by
folder title.
Scope and Contents
Series three contains a church directory, guestbook, benevolence materials, materials related to Chinese Church in Christ,
an operating handbook, women's class prayer book, state of California and other records.
box 9, folder 6
Benevolence Guide
undated
box 4, folder 2
Bread and Asphalt (Hotel de Zink inspiration)
1989
box 4, folder 3
Church Address Labels
2018
box 4, folder 4
Chinese Church in Christ
1989
box 4, folder 5
Church Guest Book
1965-1970
box 4, folder 6
Church Library Books List
2002
box 4, folder 7
Directory Names List
undated
box 4, folder 8
Easter Service Brochure
2010
box 4, folder 9
Guest Follow-up Binder
2003
box 4, folder 11
Orientation to Purpose Statement Formation Process
1997
box 4, folder 12
Pennington Employment Agreement
1987
box 4, folder 14
State of California Documents
1992-1993
box 4, folder 15
Women's Class Prayer Books
1995-2007
box 5, box 6, box 7, box 8, box 9
Series 4:
Scrapbooks and Photos
1960-2006
Physical Description: 2.5 Linear Feet(5 Hollinger boxes)
Arrangement
Folders retain creator's original titles or are titled according to document type. Folders are arranged alphabetically by
folder title.
Scope and Contents
In addition to photos and scrapbooks, Series four contains materials from the 2019 celebration of the Palo Alto Church of
Christ and materials from the fire which damaged the church building and bus in 1983.
box 5, folder 1
Celebrations of Palo Alto Church of Christ
2019
box 5, folder 3
Fire Damages Palo Alto Church
1983
box 5, folder 5
Scrapbook Before 1990
pre-1990
box 7, folder 3, box 8, folder 1
