United Society of Shakers, Mount Lebanon, New York, Church Family, Elders Records, 1814-1925, bulk 1840-1910.

Scope and content

Records include journals by Elder Timothy Rayson (1894-1909) and Eldresses Polly Reed (1855 1864) and Augusta Stone (1885 1888); a signed Church covenant (1814-1822) and probationary covenant book (1883-1922); the Millennial Laws (1845) and other regulations for the Sisters; commonplace books of Shaker autobiographies, funeral orations, religious essays and moral guidelines; bound volumes and booklets of visions; gift drawings; and manuscript hymnals and programs of music. Included also are medicinal recipe books of the physicians and a journal kept by Elisha D. Blakeman, Caretaker of boys, (1867 1872). Organization: The records are divided into the following series: 1) Journals 2) Covenants and regulations 3) Correspondence 4) Legal and financial records 5) Shaker history, biography and theology 6) Visions 7) Music 8) Physician’s records 9) Caretaker’s records

Historical notes

In 1792 an order of Elders (also called the “Elders lot”) was created at New Lebanon to take over the spiritual care of the family from the Ministry. A lot was composed of two men and two women each in charge of their respective male and female line or side of the family. Appointed by the Ministry, they were charged with the spiritual administration and governance of the family, giving counsel and guidance to members, hearing confessions, leading family worship, and in union with the Ministry, appointing Deacons, Trustees, and other officers of care. In cases of dispute, they were also placed first in order over the Deacons and trustees in temporal affairs. For 33 years in the second half of the 19th century, Daniel Crosman was the leading Elder of the Church Family, succeeded by Calvin Reed and Timothy Rayson. Prominent Eldresses of the 19th century were Betsy Blake, Polly Reed, and Augusta Stone, all of whom later became members of the Ministry. The last Church Family Elder, Alonzo Hollister, died in 1911. When the last the last Eldress died in 1929, the family was placed under the care of the remaining Trustees, Emma J. Neale and Sarah A. Neale. A complete list of the Church Family Elders order is available.