Rev. Herman J. Hahn papers
Scope and Contents
This collection documents the Salem Evangelical Church (later renamed Riverside-Salem United Church of Christ), Buffalo, New York, and its pastor from 1922-1948, Herman J. Hahn. It consists of scrapbooks and printed copies of radio addresses. The scrapbooks document the activities of the Salem Evangelical Church. Material in the scrapbooks dates from 1922 to 1983, but primarily concerns the period between 1922 and 1937. The radio addresses were delivered by Rev. Hahn on WGR and WEBR in Buffalo, New York, between 1930 and 1934.
Dates
- 1923-1983
- Majority of material found within 1922-1937
Creator
- Hahn, Herman J. (Person)
Language of Materials
Collection material in English.
Terms of Access
The Rev. Herman J. Hahn papers are open for research.
Copyright
Please note the collection contains photocopies of scrapbooks that are held by Wayne Alt.
Copyright of papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns. Researchers must obtain the written permission of the holder(s) of copyright and the University Archives before publishing quotations from materials in the collection. Most papers may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures unless otherwise specified.
Biographical Note
Herman J. Hahn was born on January 31, 1888 in Kansas and studied at Elmhurst Illinois College and Eden Theological Seminary, St. Louis. Before coming to Buffalo, he was a pastor at churches in New Orleans, Louisiana, Valley City, Ohio, and Toledo, Ohio. In 1922, he became pastor of Salem Evangelical Church located in the Riverside neighborhood of Buffalo, New York. He continued in that position until his death in 1948. Hahn was active with the Socialist Party in Buffalo and was associated with the Revolutionary Policy Committee of the Socialist Party. He ran for various local and state offices on the Socialist ticket, including mayor of Buffalo in 1933, 1937, and 1945.
Hahn protested against war and social injustice and made substantial contributions to the labor struggle in Buffalo in the 1920's, 30's and 40's. In 1927, Hahn was briefly jailed and was fined for his participation in the protests in the Sacco-Vanzetti trial in Boston, Massachusetts. During a time when such action was unpopular, Hahn remained committed to a church that was politically and socially aware and looked out for those that were subject to discrimination. After a year long illness kept him from much activity, Hahn died in June of 1948 in the town of Tonawanda, New York.
Church Chronology
The Riverside Salem United Church of Christ as it is known today, was founded in January of 1892 by thirteen German-speaking families. The church was located at Garfield and Calumet Streets in the Riverside area of Buffalo and was built the following year in 1893. Under Hahn's leadership, the church became an important voice for social justice and continues that commitment today.
- 1892
- Organized, January 24
- 1893
- Church built at Calumet and Garfield Streets in Buffalo, New York. Rev. Kohler, pastor
- 1894-1899
- Rev. Peter C. Bommer, pastor
- 1895
- Addition built
- 1899
- Rev. Nussman becomes pastor
- 1904
- Rev. Sandresky becomes pastor
- 1914
- Rev. Oberkirker becomes pastor
- 1916
- Rev. Grotefend becomes pastor
- 1917
- Parsonage built at 23 Calumet Street
- 1920-1922
- No pastor
- 1922
- Fire, not major. Repairs to church and rededication. Purchased three lots on Tonawanda Street behind church
- 1922-1948
- Rev. Herman J. Hahn, pastor
- 1950
- Congregation acquires Three Arrows Cabin on Grand Island, New York
- 1950-1953
- Rev. Alan B. Peabody, pastor
- 1955
- Rev. Robert T. Adams becomes pastor
- 1956
- Mary Lou Bischmann becomes associate pastor
- 1957
- Major fire on February 10
- 1958
- Church rebuilt on same site. Renamed Riverside-Salem United Church of Christ (Evangelical and Reformed)
- 1959
- Bischmann becomes pastor of Riverside-Salem United Church of Christ and St. Peter's
- 1960-1962
- Bischmann, interim pastor
- 1963
- Rev. James D. Hakes becomes pastor
Extent
6.25 Linear Feet (15 manuscript boxes)
Abstract
Collection documents the work of Herman J. Hahn as pastor of the Riverside-Salem United Church of Christ. Included are radio addresses given by Hahn (1930-1934) and copies of scrapbooks created by Irvin Alt, educator and Riverside-Salem United Church of Christ parishioner. The scrapbooks contain clippings about Herman J. Hahn and the Riverside-Salem United Church of Christ, where Hahn was pastor from 1922-1948.
Arrangement
This collection is divided into six series: I. Activism, II. Church and ministry, III. Personal, IV. Writings, V. Scrapbooks, and VI. Peabody materials.
Acquisition Information
The University Archives received a small amount of material in 1984 from Wayne Alt and Mia Boynton. Alt retained the original scrapbooks, but allowed photocopies to be made and deposited in the Archives for research use.
The bulk of the collection was donated to the University Archives in July 2009.
Accruals and Additions
No further accruals are expected to this collection.
Processing Information
Original accession processed by Mark McGuire, March 2006.
Second accession processed by Devon Kramer, April 2010.
- Buffalo (N.Y.) -- Church history Subject Source: Local sources
- Clergy -- New York (State) -- Buffalo Subject Source: Local sources
- Hahn, Herman J. -- Archives
- Salem Evangelical Church (Buffalo, N.Y.)
- Scrapbooks Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Speeches (documents) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- United Church of Christ -- New York (State) -- Buffalo
Source
- Alt, Irvin (Contributor, Person)
- Peabody, Alan B. (Contributor, Person)
- Salem Evangelical Church (Buffalo, N.Y.) (Contributor, Organization)
- Title
- Finding Aid for the Rev. Herman J. Hahn papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Mark McGuire.
- Date
- 2011
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the University Archives Repository
420 Capen Hall
Buffalo New York 14260-1674 US
716-645-2916
716-645-3714 (Fax)
lib-archives@buffalo.edu