Timeline
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1886/01/01
1886
- Felix Adler addresses an organizational meeting of the Society for Ethical Culture of St. Louis
- Initial membership: 93 -
1887/01/01
1887
- Sunday school opens
- Joined the Union of the Societies for Ethical Culture
(later renamed the American Ethical Union)
- Expenses totaled $3,235 ($81,000 in 2018 dollars)
- Membership: 196 -
1895/01/01
- Housed in the basement of the St. Louis Museum and School of Fine Arts -
1896/01/01
1896
- First social event held by the Society, previously all events were focused on education
- Name changed to the Ethical Society of St. Louis -
1898/01/01
1898
- Operating budget: $4,461 ($127,000 in 2018 dollars)
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1902/01/01
- Membership grows to 360
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1907/01/01
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1910/01/01
- Purchased land on Washington Boulevard for the future home of the Society.
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1911/01/01
- Formed the first membership committee.
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1912/01/01
1912
- Sheldon Memorial Hall opened as the Society's first permanent home. Cost, including land, was $125,000 ($3.1m in 2018 dollars)
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1914/01/01
1914
- First woman elected to the Board
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1915/01/01
1915
- First all-member canvass (annual pledge drive)
- Membership: 515 -
1925/01/01
1925
- Sheldon Memorial, a valued community resource, hosts more than a dozen community organizations an average of forty-five meetings each month.
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1928/01/01
1928
- Fire damages building and organ, $6,000 in damages ($87,000 in 2018 dollars)
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1929/01/01
1929
- Voted to sell the Sheldon
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1930/01/01
1930
- Voted NOT to sell the Sheldon
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1946/01/01
1946
- Appointed a committee to locate and recommend possible building sites, centrally located in the county,
- Committee reported that prices on real estate were too high and advised postponing any action until a more favorable time,
- Special fund-raising to support a 60th anniversary celebration. Target set at $20,000 to $25,000 ($253,000 to $316,000 in 2018 dollars), -
1947/01/01
1947
- Added non-discrimination clause to membership rules
- Board members suggested that Sunday School put too much emphasis on Bible stories
- Sheldon mortgage paid off
- Spent $5,673 repairing Sheldon roof ($62,000 in 2018 dollars) -
1950/01/01
1950
- Created an endowment account
- Operating budget: $25,000 ($233,000 in 2018 dollars) -
1954/01/01
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1957/01/01
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1958/01/01
1958
- Purchased Clayton Road property for $35,000. ($299,000 in 2018 dollars)
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1959/01/01
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1960/01/01
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1961/01/01
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1965/01/01
1965
- Dedicated new building on Clayton Road
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1966/01/01
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1968/01/01
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1974/01/01
1974
- Sold Sheldon Memorial for $25,000 ($125,000 in 2018 dollars); later became the Sheldon Concert Hall
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1983/01/01
1983
- Membership: 450
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1990/01/01
1990
- Expanded the parking lot and put in new playground
- Operating budget: $361,000 ($682,000 in 2018 dollars) -
1997/01/01
1997
- Began full summer schedule of programs for adults
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1999/01/01
1999
- Construction completed on new wing and elevator at a cost of $733,000 ($1,085,000 in 2018 dollars)
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2001/01/01
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2003/01/01
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2005/01/01
2005
- Kate Lovelady hired as Leader
- Started online podcasts of Platform talks
- Legacy Committee and Estate Planning Funds started -
2007/01/01
2007
- Split collection Sundays started
- Hosted Youth of Ethical Societies national conference
- Adopted Senior Connections as Society-wide project -
2009/01/01
2009
- Ethical Society Mid Rivers becomes independent of the Ethical Society of St. Louis
- American Ethical Union (AEU) meets in St. Louis
- Young Ethicals group for 20- to 40-ish year-old members begins -
2011/01/01
2011
- Memory Garden dedicated
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2012/01/01
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2014/01/01
2014
- Began funding 4-year scholarships for girls at Ugandan Humanist Schools
- New governance structure implemented -
2015/01/01
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2016/01/01
2016
- American Ethical Union (AEU) meets in St. Louis
- Auditorium upgraded with new lighting and audio-visual systems -
2020/01/01
2020
- Kate Lovelady retires as Ministry Team and is appointed Leader Emeritus.
- James Croft hired as Ministry Team Leader
- Society Building closed in March due to COVID-19. Platforms and meetings are moved online. -
2020/01/01
2022
- James Croft leaves as Ministry Team Leader
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2020/01/01
2023
- Amy Miller, MSW begins as Interim Ministry Team Director
Leaders
Sheldon to Lovelady
Meeting Houses
Memorial Hall to today