Jesse B. Norviel Notebooks, 1915-1916 | Illinois History and Lincoln Collections

Scope and Contents:

The notebooks document his work as Conference Superintendent, a position in which he oversaw ministry at churches in the conference. One notebook consists primarily of financial information such as travel expenses and pastors' contracts and salaries. It also contains lists such as "pastors to be" and licenses granted. The other notebook, which is missing fifty of its pages, contains a list of lay delegates and other brief notes.

Biographical/Historical Context:

Norviel was pastor of the United Brethren in Christ Church in Urbana, Illinois, and served as Itinerant and Superintendent of the United Brethren's Lower Wabash Conference from 1915 to 1916. The Lower Wabash Conference was a supervisory body that oversaw United Brethren in Christ churches in eastern Illinois and western Indiana.

Acquisition Source: Dennis F. Walle purchased the notebooks at an estate sale of Ethel Lemay, Norviel's daughter, and donated them to the Illinois Historical Survey, predecessor to the Illinois History and Lincoln Collections, in 1973.