s0782 BUSH, REV. DAVID V., PAPERS, 1917-1957
7 FOLDERS

STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MISSOURI RESEARCH CENTER-ST. LOUIS
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-ST. LOUIS

Reverend David V. Bush presided over the Memorial Congressional Church in St. Louis between 1917 and 1921. The church, known as the church with the “revolving, flaming cross” fixed on top of the building, was located at the corner of Victoria and Graham. According to a field report from 1918, the average congregation attendance was 121 people.

In addition to presiding over the Memorial Congregational Church, Bush also served as Religious Director for the St. Louis Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) and Minister of the Central People's Church located at the corner of Grand and Finney. Bush was also a Lyceum and Chautauqua lecturer, as well as a poet. He had a least three poetry publications to his credit.

Bush obtained his theological training at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. When faced with the decision to stay in Philadelphia or become a pastor in South Dakota, Bush chose "extreme pioneer work" and claimed he was a better man for making this initial career-making decision. He began at a community church called Federated Church of Faith. Six denominations shared one church building and pastor, but contributed separately to their respective church boards and missions.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

Most of this collection contains correspondence from dated from 1917 to 1921 regarding everyday congregational matters, such as finances and the church community. However, one folder contains a few pieces of correspondence from 1957 regarding Bush serving as a booster for World Poetry Day.

FOLDER LIST

BOX 1

1. Correspondence, 1917
2. Correspondence, 1918
3. Correspondence, 1919
4. Correspondence, 1920
5. Correspondence, 1921
6. Correspondence, 1957
7. Correspondence, n.d.

INDEX

Bush, Rev. David V.
Federated Church of Faith
Memorial Congregational Church
Poetry
YMCA


STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MISSOURI RESEARCH CENTER-ST. LOUIS
222 THOMAS JEFFERSON LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-ST. LOUIS
ONE UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD
ST. LOUIS, MO 63121
(314) 516-5143
whmc@umsl.edu