Conference Commission on Archives & History
The Desert Southwest Conference Commission on Archives and History is responsible many Discipline-mandated duties, including: collecting, preserving, and making accessible the historically significant records of the annual conference and its agencies; encouraging and assisting the local churches in preserving their records, compiling their histories, and celebrating their heritage; providing for the permanent safekeeping of the historical records of discontinued churches; and much more.
Helping you Discover, Preserve and Share Church History
What’s in the Conference Archives?
- Church Histories
- Church Photographs
- Conference Journals
- Conference Records
- District Records
- Histories of Methodism
- Pastoral Records
- Records of Closed Churches
- United Methodist Women Archives
- and much more!
DSC Book of Resolutions
Digital Archives
coming soon!
Archives & History Book Catalog
View the catalog of books housed at Archives & History. These include histories of the United Methodist church, local church histories, books written by clergy, biographies of clergy, and much more.
Annual Conference Journals
Desert Southwest Conference, United Methodist Church, 1985-
By action of the 1984 Western Jurisdictional Conference, the former Pacific & Southern Conference was split into two new conferences. The Desert Southwest Conference covers Arizona (except parts of Apache and Navajo counties), southern Nevada, and cities in California along the Colorado River. This new conference was formed in January 1985.
2021 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 37th Annual Session
2021 Historical Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference
2020 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 36th Annual Session
2019 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 35th Annual Session
2018 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 34th Annual Session
2017 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 33rd Annual Session
2016 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 32nd Annual Session
2015 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 31st Annual Session, Volume 2
2015 Journal, Volume 1 – Pre-Conference Reports
2014 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 30th Annual Session, Volume 2
2014 Journal, Volume 1 – Reports
2013 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 29th Annual Session, Volume 2
2013 Journal, Volume 1 – Reports
2012 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 28th Annual Session, Volume 2
2012 Journal, Volume 1 – Pre-Conference Reports
2011 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 27th Annual Session
2010 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 26th Annual Session
2009 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 25th Annual Session
2008 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 24th Annual Session
2007 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 23rd Annual Session
2006 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 22nd Annual Session
2005 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 21st Annual Session
2004 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 20th Annual Session
2003 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 19th Annual Session
2002 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 18th Annual Session
2001 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 17th Annual Session
2000 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 16th Annual Session
1999 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 15th Annual Session
1998 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 14th Annual Session
1997 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 13th Annual Session
1996 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 12th Annual Session
1995 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 11th Annual Session
1994 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 10th Annual Session
1993 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 9th Annual Session
1992 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 8th Annual Session
1991 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 7th Annual Session
1990 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 6th Annual Session
1989 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 5th Annual Session
1988 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 4th Annual Session
1987 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 3rd Annual Session
1986 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 2nd Annual Session
1985 Journal of the Desert Southwest Conference, 1st Annual Session
Pacific & Southwest Conference, United Methodist Church, 1977-1984
The Pacific & Southwest Conference was organized in 1977 with the merger of the Southern California-Arizona Conference and the Hawaii Mission Conference.
1984 Journal of the Pacific & Southwest Conference, 134th Annual Session
1983 Journal of the Pacific & Southwest Conference, 133rd Annual Session
1982 Journal of the Pacific & Southwest Conference, 132nd Annual Session
1981 Journal of the Pacific & Southwest Conference, 131st Annual Session
1981 Historical Journal of the Pacific & Southwest Conference
1980 Journal of the Pacific & Southwest Conference, 130th Annual Session – Volume I, Reports
1980 Journal of the Pacific & Southwest Conference, 130th Annual Session – Volume II, Proceedings and Directory
1979 Journal of the Pacific & Southwest Conference, 129th Annual Session – Volume I, Reports
1979 Journal of the Pacific & Southwest Conference, 129th Annual Session – Volume II, Proceedings and Directory
1978 Journal of the Pacific & Southwest Conference, 128th Annual Session – Volume I, Reports
1978 Journal of the Pacific & Southwest Conference, 128th Annual Session – Volume II, Proceedings and Directory
1977 Journal of the Pacific & Southwest Conference, 127th Annual Session – Volume I, Reports
1977 Journal of the Pacific & Southwest Conference, 127th Annual Session – Volume II, Proceedings and Directory
Southern California-Arizona Conference, United Methodist Church, 1968-1976
The United Methodist Church was form in 1968 with the merger of the Methodist Church and Church of the United Brethren. The Southern California-Arizona Conference of the United Methodist Church was made up of the former Conferences: Southern California-Arizona Conference, Methodist Church and California Conference, Church of the Evangelical United Brethren. The latter did not fully merge into the new denomination and conference until 1969.
1976 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 126th Annual Session
1975 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 125th Annual Session
1974 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 124th Annual Session
1973 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 123rd Annual Session
1972 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 122nd Annual Session
1971 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 121st Annual Session
1970 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 120th Annual Session
1969 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 119th Annual Session
1969 Journal of the California Conference, 107th Annual Session
1968 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 118th Annual Session
1968 Journal of the California Conference, 106th Annual Session
California Conference, Church of the Evangelical United Brethren, 1950-1968
Southern California-Arizona Conference, Methodist Church, 1939-1967
1967 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 117th Annual Session
1966 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 116th Annual Session
1965 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 115th Annual Session
1964 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 114th Annual Session
1963 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 113th Annual Session
1962 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 112th Annual Session
1961 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 11th Annual Session
1961 Historical Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference
1960 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 110th Annual Session
1959 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 109th Annual Session
1958 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 108th Annual Session
1957 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 107th Annual Session
1956 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 106th Annual Session
1955 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 105th Annual Session
1954 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 104th Annual Session
1953 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 103rd Annual Session
1952 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 102nd Annual Session
1951 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 101st Annual Session
1950 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 100th Annual Session
1949 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 99th Annual Session
1948 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 98th* Annual Session
(*numbering now from start of Pacific Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, South)
1947 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 9th Annual Session
1946 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 8th Annual Session
1945 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 7th Annual Session
1944 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 6th Annual Session
1943 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 5th Annual Session
1942 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 4th Annual Session
1941 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 3rd Annual Session
1940 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 2nd Annual Session
1939 Journal of the Southern California-Arizona Conference, 1st Annual Session
Arizona Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 1922-1938
The Arizona Conference was formed in 1922 with all of the Arizona churches of the former Los Angeles Conference.
1938 Arizona Conference, 17th Annual Session
1937 Arizona Conference, 16th Annual Session
1936 Arizona Conference, 15th Annual Session
1935 Arizona Conference, 14th Annual Session
1934 Arizona Conference, 13th Annual Session
1933 Arizona Conference, 12th Annual Session
1932 Arizona Conference, 11th Annual Session
1931 Arizona Conference, 10th Annual Session
1930 Arizona Conference, 9th Annual Session
1929 Arizona Conference, 8th Annual Session
1928 Arizona Conference, 7th Annual Session
1927 Arizona Conference, 6th Annual Session
1926 Arizona Conference, 5th Annual Session
1925 Arizona Conference, 4th Annual Session
1924 Arizona Conference, 3rd Annual Session
1923 Arizona Conference, 2nd Annual Session
1922 Arizona Conference, 1st Annual Session
Southern California Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, 1920-1938
The Southern California Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1876. In 1920 the Arizona Mission was discontinued and its churches moved under the Southern California Conference.
1938 Journal of the Southern California Conference, 63rd Annual Session
1937 Journal of the Southern California Conference, 62nd Annual Session
1936 Journal of the Southern California Conference, 61st Annual Session
1935 Journal of the Southern California Conference, 60th Annual Session
1934 Journal of the Southern California Conference, 58th Annual Session
1933 Journal of the Southern California Conference, 58th Annual Session
1932 Journal of the Southern California Conference, 57th Annual Session
1931 Journal of the Southern California Conference, 56th Annual Session
1930 Journal of the Southern California Conference, 55th Annual Session
1929 Journal of the Southern California Conference, 54th Annual Session
1928 Journal of the Southern California Conference, 53rd Annual Session
1927 Journal of the Southern California Conference, 52nd Annual Session
1926 Journal of the Southern California Conference, 51st Annual Session
1925 Journal of the Southern California Conference, 50th Annual Session
1924 Journal of the Southern California Conference, 49th Annual Session
1923 Journal of the Southern California Conference, 48th Annual Session
1922 Journal of the Southern California Conference, 47th Annual Session
1921 Journal of the Southern California Conference, 46th Annual Session
1920 Journal of the Southern California Conference, 45th Annual Session
1919 Journal of the Southern California Conference, 44h Annual Session
Arizona Mission, Methodist Episcopal Church, 1881-1919
The Arizona Mission was started in 1870, with the first Annual Conference being held in 1881. No Conferences were held in 1882 (no Bishop was able to travel to Arizona) and 1918 (the state was under quarintine due to the Influenza epidemic).
1919 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 37th Annual Session
1918 – no annual meeting held
1917 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 36th Annual Session
1916 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 35th Annual Session
1915 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 34th Annual Session
1914 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 33rd Annual Session
1913 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 32nd Annual Session
1912 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 31st Annual Session
1911 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 30th Annual Session
1910 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 29th Annual Session
1909 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 28th Annual Session
1908 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 27th Annual Session
1907 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 26th Annual Session
1906 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 25th Annual Session
1905 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 24th Annual Session
1904 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 23rd Annual Session
1903 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 22nd Annual Session
1902 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 21st Annual Session
1901 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 20th Annual Session
1900 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 19th Annual Session
1899 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 18th Annual Session
1898 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 17th Annual Session
1897 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 16th Annual Session
1896 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 15th Annual Session
1895 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 14th Annual Session
1894 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 13th Annual Session
1893 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 12th Annual Session
1892 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 11th Annual Session
1891 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 10th Annual Session
1890 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 9th Annual Session
1889 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 8th Annual Session
1888 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 7th Annual Session
1887 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 6th Annual Session
1886 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 5th Annual Session
1885 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 4th Annual Session
1884 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 3rd Annual Session
1883 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 2nd Annual Session
1882 – no annual meeting held
1881 Journal of the Arizona Mission, 1st Annual Session (1931 reprint)
Los Angeles Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 1870-1921
The Los Angeles Conference was formed in 1870. During the first Annual Conference a missionary was selected for Arizona; he left for the territory immediately following conference. In 1921 the Los Angeles Conference was disolved – the Calfornia churches joined the Pacific Conference and the Arizona churches formed a new Arizona Conference.
1921 Journal of the Los Angeles Conference, 52nd Annual Session
1913 Journal of the Los Angeles Conference, 44th Annual Session
1911 Journal of the Los Angeles Conference, 42nd Annual Session
1910 Journal of the Los Angeles Conference, 41st Annual Session
1905 Journal of the Los Angeles Conference, 36th Annual Session
1899 Journal of the Los Angeles Conference, 30th Annual Session
1898 Journal of the Los Angeles Conference, 29th Annual Session
1896 Journal of the Los Angeles Conference, 27th Annual Session
1889 Journal of the Los Angeles Conference, 20th Annual Session
1888 Journal of the Los Angeles Conference, 19th Annual Session
1887 Journal of the Los Angeles Conference, 18th Annual Session
1886 Journal of the Los Angeles Conference, 17th Annual Session
1885 Journal of the Los Angeles Conference, 16th Annual Session
1884 Journal of the Los Angeles Conference, 15th Annual Session
1883 Journal of the Los Angeles Conference, 14th Annual Session
1882 Journal of the Los Angeles Conference, 13th Annual Session
Records from Churches
Records of Active Churches
The churches below includes just some of the materials held in the Conference Archives and is an incomplete list.
Central United Methodist Church (Phoenix, Arizona)
Christ Community United Methodist Church (Avondale, Arizona)
Community United Methodist Church (Williams, Arizona)
El Mesias United Methodist Church (Nogales, Arizona)
First United Methodist Church (Bisbee, Arizona)
First United Methodist Church (Henderson, Nevada)
Journey United Methodist Church (Las Vegas, Nevada)
New Hope/Nueva Experanza United Methodist Church (Tucson, Arizona)
Primera Iglesia Metodista Unida (Phoenix, Arizona)
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church (Globe, Arizona)
Santa Clara United Methodist Church (Tucson, Arizona)
Records of Closed Churches
Below is a list of churches that have closed and whose records are located at the Conference Archives. This is an incomplete listing. The Book of Discipline mandates that these records:
Disposition of Property of a Closed Local Church– All the deeds, records, and other official and legal papers, including the contents of the cornerstone, of a closed local church shall be collected by the district superintendent and shall be deposited for permanent safekeeping with the annual conference commission on archives and history. (Book of Discipline ¶2549.4)
Records of a church that has merged are organized under the new church name. See tab above for Records of Active Churches.
Ash Fork Community Methodist Church (Ash Fork, Arizona), 1924-1968
Bethel United Methodist Church (Phoenix, Arizona), 1885-2001
Blythe Community United Methodist Church (Blythe, California), 1908-2015
El Buen Pastor United Methodist Fellowship (Tucson, Arizona), 1992-1999
Capitol-St. Paul’s United Methodist Church (Phoenix, Arizona), 1924-1979
Celebration! United Methodist Church (Henderson, Nevada), 1997-2006
Claypool United Methodist Church (Claypool, Arizona), 1920-2015
Clifton Methodist Episcopal Church, South (Clifton, Arizona), 1921-1930
El Divino Redentor Igelsia Methodista Unida (Flagstaff, Arizona), 1922-2004
Don Luis Methodist Episcopal Church (Bisbee, Arizona), 1906-1912
Faith United Methodist Church (Tucson, Arizona), 1987-1993
Faith Springs United Methodist Fellowship (Las Vegas, Nevada), 2005-2009
Ft. Thomas Methodist Church (Ft. Thomas, Arizona), 1921-1959
Garfield United Methodist Church (Phoenix, Arizona), 1923-1979
Hayden Community United Methodist Church (Hayden, Arizona), 1910-1994
Higley Federated Community Church (Gilbert, Arizona), 1930-1979
Miami Metodista Iglesia (Miami, Arizona), 1922-1957
Morenci Methodist Episcopal Church, South (Morenci, Arizona), 1914-1925
Mosaic United Methodist Church (Tucson, Arizona), 2001-2009
New Covenant Community United Methodist Fellowship (Las Vegas, Nevada), 1999-2009
Oasis in the Desert United Methodist Fellowship (Peoria, Arizona), 2000-2004
Peoria Methodist Church (Peoria, Arizona), 1923-1966
Pioneer United Methodist Fellowship (Phoenix, Arizona), 1999-2015
Pueblo Gardens United Methodist Church (Tucson, Arizona), 1950-1981
St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church (Mesa, Arizona), 1966-2003
Seligman Methodist Church (Seligman, Arizona), 1918-1968
Somerton Iglesia Metodista Unida (Somerton, Arizona), 1916-2017
South Bisbee Methodist Episcopal Church (Bisbee, Arizona), 1906-1912
South Mountain Community Church (Phoenix, Arizona), 1927-2016
Tombstone Methodist Episcopal Church (Tombstone, Arizona), 1880-1899
Wesley United Methodist Church (North Las Vegas, Nevada), 1955-2000
Records of Disaffiliated Churches
Records of other Ministries
coming soon!
