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Finding Aid to the
Oscar H. Elmer Papers
Elmer, Oscar H., 1844-1904
Oscar H. Elmer Papers, 1869-1901
.4 linear ft.
Collection number: Mss 245
Biography
Scope and Content
Box and Folder List
OVERVIEW
Access: The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.
Provenance: Donated by Charles K. Elmer, 1954 (Acc. 245), Mary T. Elmer, and Julia A. Duff,
1954 (Acc. 260)
Property rights: The Institute for Regional Studies owns the property rights to this collection.
Copyrights: The Institute does not own the copyrights.
Citation: [Identification of item]. Oscar H. Elmer Papers, MS 245. Institute for Regional Studies,
North Dakota State University, Fargo.
BIOGRAPHY
Rev. Oscar Henry Elmer was born August 27, 1844 at Unionville, New York. He attended Hamilton
College at Clinton, New York from where he graduated in 1865. From 1865 to 1868 he attended Union
Theological Seminary in New York City. He was ordained January 28, 1869 in the St. Paul, Minnesota
Presbytery. His first pastorship was at Sauk Centre, Minnesota where he served from 1868 to 1871. In
1871, Rev. Elmer was sent, by the Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian Church, to Moorhead,
Minnesota. He arrived in October of 1871. He conducted his first service on October 22, 1871 and on
December 17, he conducted the first religious service in Fargo in a tent near the banks of the Red River.
Rev. Elmer became the first pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Moorhead when it was organized in
Mss 245 Oscar H. Elmer Papers Page 2 of 3
1872. He was also instrumental in organizing churches at Fargo, Grand Forks, Casselton, Wheatland,
Tower City, and Mapleton. On May 2, 1878, he married Caroline Knight at Monroe, New York. She was
born there on June 18, 1850. They resided in Moorhead until 1886 when Rev. Elmer became pastor of the
Presbyterian Church at Crookston, Minnesota. They resided there until 1893 when he became pastor at
the Warrendale and Knox Presbyterian Churches in St. Paul, Minnesota. He retired in 1901 although he
remained active in church work until his death on August 15, 1904 at St. Paul. His wife died on May 18,
1904. They were both buried in Monroe, New York.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
The Oscar H. Elmer Papers consists chiefly of his diary and several register books containing various
vital statistics on ministerial acts performed by Rev. Elmer. The several letters are from his children in
connection with obtaining Rev. Elmer’s papers.
The Journal Series, the main portion of his papers, is a typescript copy of the diary Rev. Elmer kept from
1869 until 1889 which he himself called a Journal. There are almost daily entries with only several
substantial gaps. The entries basically relate to his daily activities and travels with mention of many
people.
The Subject Files Series includes several marriage certificates completed for several marriages
performed by Rev. Elmer. There are only two newspaper clippings which mention Rev. Elmer. The
Registers contain information on various ministerial acts performed during Rev. Elmer’s career. The main
volume includes sermons, baptisms, communicants received, marriages, and funerals. For particular
years, see the Shelf List. The other two Registers are of marriages and sermons.
SEPARATION RECORD
The following non-manuscript items were removed from the Rev. Oscar H. Elmer Papers and have been
sent to the section indicated.
Photographs (Institute photograph collection)
 Rev. Elmer, his wife Caroline, and home in Moorhead, Minnesota (3)
Books (Institute book collection)
 50th Anniversary, First Presbyterian Church, Grand Forks, North Dakota, 1929
BOX AND FOLDER LIST
Box/Folder
Content
1/1
Biographical material, and finding aid
Mss 245 Oscar H. Elmer Papers Page 3 of 3
Correspondence Series
1/2
1954
Journal (Diary) Series
1/3
1/4
1/5
1/6
1/7
1/8
1/9
1/10
1/11
1/12
1/13
1/14
1/15
1/16
1/17
1/18
1/19
1/20
1/21
1/22
1/23
1/24
1869
1870
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
Synopsis, 1868-1874
Subject Files Series
1/25
1/26
1/27
1/28
1/29
Marriage certificates, 1870-1872
Newspaper clippings
Register of Sermons (1878-1880), Baptisms (1869-1893), Communicants
Received (1872-1869), Marriages (1869-1886), and Funerals (1869-1893).
Register of Marriages, November 1887 - October 1901
Record of Sermons preached, 1900
Copyright 2009 by Institute for Regional Studies & University Archives,
North Dakota State University Libraries