The First African Baptist Informer

]> PUBLIC "-//The New York Public Library//TEXT (US::NN::Sc Micro R-7087::First African Baptist Church. Records, 1873-1977)//ENG" "scmgfabc.xml" Inventory of the First African Baptist Church Records, 1873-1977 Processed by Victor Smythe; Machine-readable finding aid created by Apex Data Services; revised by Terry Catapano.

Text converted and initial EAD tagging provided by Apex Data Services, April 1999. Revised by Terry Catapano May 2000 Description is in English October 16, 2006 EAD v1.0 finding aid converted to EAD 2002 using UC Berkeley's eadv1to2002.pl perl script. Inventory of the First African Baptist Church Records, 1873-1977 Sc Micro R-7087 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture The New York Public Library New York, New York Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. New York Public Library. 515 Malcolm X Boulevard New York, NY 10037-1801 (212) 491-2224 scmarbref@nypl.org http://nypl.org/research/sc/scm/marb.html Processed by: Victor Smythe Date Completed: 1995 Encoded By: Apex Data Services; Terry Catapano

Preface

This inventory was prepared under the auspices of the Preservation of the Black Religious Heritage Project of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. The project, which is funded by the Lilly Endowment, was established to identify, preserve and acquire primary research materials for the documentation of African-American religious life.

Descriptive Summary First African Baptist Church Records, 1873-1977 Sc Micro R-7087 First African Baptist Church. Savannah, Georgia 5 reels of microfilm The New York Public Library Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture English History

First African Baptist Church of Savannah, Georgia is said to have been officially “born” on May 20, 1775, the day Rev. George Liele was ordained. Liele, who had obtained his freedom on August 7, 1777, noted in a covenant that the church began in December 1777. In 1782 or 1783, before leaving for Jamaica, West Indies, he baptized slaves on the Brampton plantation owned by Jonathan Bryan. One of these newly baptized, Andrew Bryan, then organized the congregation into the first black missionary Baptist Church on January 20, 1788. Two years later, in May 1790, the First African Baptist Church was admitted into the Georgia Baptist Association.

On September 4, 1793 Andrew Bryan secured a lot on West Bryan Street which he sold to the church. This lot is said to be the oldest piece of real estate owned continuously by black people in the United States.

Andrew Cox Marshall, nephew of Bryan, was named pastor of First African Baptist Church in 1812. He later purchased property on Franklin Square for a larger church to accommodate the growing congregation.

A schism occurred in 1832 when Marshall allowed a white minister advocating a new faith to preach at First African Baptist Church. The matter came before the association of Georgia Baptist churches, known as the Sunbury Association, in November of that year and the church was condemned and its membership with the Association dissolved. Subsequently, the majority of the congregation (2,640 members) sided with Marshall and moved to the new location on Franklin Square. About one hundred fifty-five members, under Deacon Adam Johnson, remained at the original site which later became First Bryan Baptist Church.

The dispute about which church could lay claim to being the oldest African-American church organized in the state was brought to the State Missionary Baptist Connection of Georgia in 1888. The question was referred to a committee which presented a unanimous report in favor of the First African Baptist Church over First Bryan Baptist Church.

The present building of First African Baptist Church was erected in 1859 by the members, who at the time were slaves. The first black Sunday school in North America was established in 1826 at this church.

Roster of Pastors of the First African Baptist Church of Savannah George Liele, 1775-1782 Andrew Bryan, 1788-1812 Andrew Marshall, 1812-1856 William J. Campbell, 1857-1877. During his tenure the present building was completed in 1859. George Gibbons, 1878-1884 Emanuel K. Love, 1885-1900. An adjoining lot was acquired and the church building was extended. Rev. Love led the movement to establish Savannah State College and to select its first president. He wrote the first complete history of the church in 1888, History of the First African Baptist Church, from its organization, January 10th, 1788, to July 1st, 1888. (SC Rare 286-L) James W. Carr, 1901-1907. A new Baptist pastorium was acquired. Oak pews were purchased and electric fixtures were installed. Willis L. Jones, 1909-1913. All church debt was eradicated. T.J. Goodall, 1915-1922. Active participation was maintained in the National Sunday School and Baptist Young Peoples Union Congress. Edgar G. Thomas, 1923-1928. Rev. Thomas reviewed the facts pertaining to the origins and claims of the church. He wrote a second history, The first African Baptist Church of North America, in 1925. (SC 286-T) Mack T. Williams, 1929-1931 J. Alfred Wilson, 1931-1939 Ralph Mark Gilbert, 1939-1956. Rev. Gilbert was also president of the Savannah branch of the NAACP and first president of the Georgia State Conference of the NAACP. He organized the West Broad Street YMCA and established the Greenbriar Children's Center, Inc. He was a leader in the political life of blacks in Georgia. The first credit union in a church in Georgia was organized under his pastorate in 1954. He also fought for the equalization of teacher's salaries. Curtis J. Jackson, 1957-1961. He led demonstrations at the Board of Education and to desegregate public facilities. William Franklin Stokes, 1963-1973. Under his leadership the church was airconditioned and the lower auditorium was partitioned for classrooms. Lawrence McKinney, 1973-1980. The permanent museum was established during his period. He was active in local ministerial organizations. Thurmond Neill Tillman, 1982-present. Additional property has been acquired. Outreach ministries including local high schools and colleges have been established. Scope and Content

The records of First African Baptist Church, Savannah, GA were microfilmed by The Preservation of the Black Religious Heritage Project (PBRHP) of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, during the month of February 1992. Originals were retained by the church. The collection had been arranged previously in chronological-numerical order, in series, by college students working under the supervision of the Georgia State Historical Society. No attempt was made to re-arrange the collection prior to microfilming. The assigned numbering system which appeared on ledgers, folders and boxes was not changed. The church records are housed in closed cabinet shelves in the museum room. Some records are displayed on tables and in glass cases for easy viewing by visitors.

Container List 1 1 Church Minutes, 1883-1887

The CHURCH MINUTES, 1883-1887, series is comprised of a single large ledger of early church minutes. Begun during the tenure of Pastor George Gibbons, it primarily covers letters of dismission and disciplinary proceedings. The last entries cover the early years of Rev. Emanuel King Love's pastorate.

April 30, 1883-September 6, 1887 (barely legible) Financial Records, 1889-1921, 1962-1963

The FINANCIAL RECORDS, 1889-1921, 1962-1963, series includes minutes on the organization of the Reformation Association for Youth of the Colored Race by Pastor Love in July 1894 and discussions on its guidance and objectives. Minutes of the executive board of Mount Olive Baptist Association's joint meeting with the Zion Association on November 21, 1894 also appear in these ledgers. Details of salary paid to the pastor and sexton and loan payments are entered. Contributions, donations and expenses made in 1962 to 1963 are included in ledger book 5.

2 1 May 15, 1889-Dec. 22, 1919, also Loose Receipts, 1921 3 1 Collection and Expenses, Jan. 1, 1891-March 26, 1903 4 1 Poor List, May 1891 (revised March 11, 1900) 5 1 Contributions, Donations and Expenses, Jan. 5, 1904-Oct. 1907 Names and Contributors, March 18, 1962-Dec. 29, 1963 6 1 Expenses, Jan. 1904-Jan. 1908 7 1 Rally Book, March 17, 1907-January 1910 8 1 Receipts and Disbursements, May 1910-September 4, 1921 8 2 Oct. 3, 1915-Aug. 29, 1921 9 2 130th Anniversary Rally, Jan. 12, 1911-Jan. 20, 1918 Membership Records, 1915-1926

The MEMBERSHIP RECORDS, 1915-1926, series is comprised of two register books with members' names and disposition, i.e., method of joining and leaving as well as pledges made. Included is information on baptisms; accessions, i.e., members joining through transfers by letters or Christian experience; reinstatements and deaths, etc.

10 2 Church Members, Names and Disposition, Feb. 22, 1915-(?) 11 2 Membership Pledges, March 12, 1924-Jan. 1926 Deeds, Leases and Legal Papers, 1873-1972

The DEEDS, LEASES AND LEGAL PAPERS, 1873-1972, series has various deeds and property papers, loan agreements, and leases. Petitions by heirs of Rev. Emanuel K. Love for salary and cash loaned to the church corporation representing indebtedness at the time of his death is an example of other matters contained therein.

1A 1 Deeds and Property Papers, Jan. 24, 1873-March 23, 1903 1A 2 Loans and Indebtedness, April 1900-Dec. 1960 1A 3 Lease, August 30, 1930 1A 4 Miscellaneous Receipts, Papers, etc., June 29, 1907 to 1972 1B Volume 2 Minutes of Boards and Associations, 1892-1959

The MINUTES OF BOARDS AND ASSOCIATIONS, 1892-1959, series contains various minute books of deacon ward reports, monthly church conferences, board of deacons, and church organizations, including ushers association and First African Baptist Church Brotherhood. Most issues dealt with are dismission, restoration, disciplinary actions against members, election of officers and call for resignation of pastor, etc. A daily journal of Rev. Curtis Jackson (1957-61) has listing of appointments and activities with some commentary; the writing is mostly indecipherable. (See also Reel 5.)

1B 12 2 Minutes-Discipline Meetings, June 12, 1892-April 9, 1893 1B 13 2 Deacons Ward Reports, March 21, 1910-Aug. 22, 1910 1B 14 2 Minutes-Regular Monthly Church Conferences, Sept. 17, 1917-Feb. 12, 1933 1B 15 2 Minutes-Board of Deacons, Feb. 11, 1918-March 5, 1934 1C 16 2 Watch Care, January 1921 1C 17 2 Minutes-Ushers Association, June 18, 1911-Dec. 31, 1916 1C 18 2 Roll-Young Men's Ushers Association, 1913-1914 1C 19 2 Minutes-Ushers Association, March 28, 1916 1C 20 2 Roll-Names and Addresses, 1934 1C 21 2 Minutes-F.A.B.C. Brotherhood, Jan. 9, 1929-Jan. 8, 1930 1C 22 2 Minutes-F.A.B.C. Brotherhood, Dec. 8, 1952-Nov. 12, 1956 1C 23 2 Standard Daily Journal of Rev. Curtis Jackson, 1959

(The writing is mostly indecipherable)

3 Sunday School Records, 1896-1971

The SUNDAY SCHOOL RECORDS, 1896-1971, series is comprised of minutes and roll books listing teachers, names of enrollees, attendance, and dues paid. There are several gaps in entries for the years indicated.

1 Sunday School Minute Book 1 1 3 March 4, 1896-Oct. 17, 1897 1 2 3 October 24, 1897-Dec. 24, 1899 Roll Book 1 3 3 October 24, 1897-Dec. 24, 1890 Sunday School Minute Book 1 4 3 February 17, 1901-April 13, 1902 1 5 3 December 6, 1903-February 25, 1906 1 6 3 September 12, 1909-June 31, 1912 1 7 3 November 30, 1913-June 18, 1916 8 Miscellaneous Receipts, 1915-1918 Teachers Minute Book 1 8 3 March 12, 1913-January 9, 1918 2 Sunday School Minutes 2 9 3 May 9, 1915-Aug. 27, 1916 2 10 3 Jan. 1-June 4, 1922 2 11 3 Sept. 17, 1916-Dec. 9, 1917 2 12 3 Minutes of Teachers Meetings Jan. 16, 1918-March 14, 1923 2 13 3 Sunday School Minutes Oct. 17, 1920-July 6, 1919 2 14 3 Jan. 2, 1921-Jan. 22, 1922 2 15 3 Jan. 1, 1922-Jan. 21, 1923 2 16 3 Jan. 7-Dec. 30, 1923 3 17 3 Jan. 11-Feb. 8, 1925 3 18 3 March 1, 1925-Jan. 31, 1926 3 19 3 Jan. 5-Nov. 16, 1930 Sunday School Records 3 20 3 Jan. 4, 1931-Dec. 23, 1934 3 21 3 Jan. 6, 1935-Aug. 9, 1936 3 22 3 Sunday School Minutes Jan. 5, 1941-April 5, 1942 3 23 3 Oct. 5, 1941-Jan. 17, 1943 3 24 3 Jan. 23, 1944-Jan. 14, 1945 3 25 3 Individual Class Rolls August 1945-Easter 1948 (Incomplete) 5 34 3 Sunday School Minutes March 2-December 21, 1952 5 35 3 Nov. 9, 1952-Nov. 22, 1953 5 36 3 June 4-Dec. 20, 1953 5 37 3 Nov. 1, 1953-Oct. 24, 1954 5 38 3 Jan. 3-Oct. 17, 1954 5 39 4 Oct. 24, 1954-Sept. 18, 1955 4 26 4 Jan. 21, 1945-Jan. 13, 1946 4 27 4 Jan. 20-Dec. 29, 1946 4 28 4 Jan. 4, 1947-Dec. 12, 1948 4 29 4 Dec. 19, 1948-Dec. 11, 1949 4 30 4 March 7, 1950-Nov. 13, 1951 4 31 4 Dec. 18, 1949-Nov. 26, 1950 4 32 4 Dec. 3, 1950-Nov. 11, 1951 4 33 4 Nov. 4, 1951-Nov. 2, 1952 4 40 4 Oct. 31, 1954-Oct. 30, 1955 4 41 4 Sept. 25, 1955-Aug. 19, 1956 6 42 4 Nov. 6, 1955-Oct. 21, 1956 6 43 4 Jan. 6, 1956-Dec. 29, 1957 6 44 4 Jan. 5, 1958-Oct. 19, 1958 6 45 4 June-September 1958 6 46 4 Nov. 22, 1959-Nov. 27, 1960 6 47 4 Dec. 4, 1960-Jan. 21, 1962 6 48 4 Dec. 3, 1961-Dec. 16, 1962 7 50 4 Sunday School Attendance April 4-Aug. 29, 1971 7 51 4 Names, Cradle Roll, Beginners, Junior Dept., etc., n.d. Baptist Young Peoples Records, 1913-1961 1

The BAPTIST YOUNG PEOPLES RECORDS, 1913-1961, series has brief minutes including song, prayer, biblical verse, subject for following Sunday with comments such as, “interesting discussion, and “program was very nice!”

Baptist Young Peoples Minutes 7 100 4 April 6, 1913-Nov. 22, 1914 7 101 4 Jan. 17-Sept. 12, 1915 7 102 4 Nov. 21, 1915-July 9, 1916 7 103 4 Sept. 17, 1916-April 19, 1917 7 104 4 June 3-Dec. 16, 1917 7 105 4 Jan. 3, 1918-Aug. 17, 1922 7 106 4 Jan., 18, 1931-May 22, 1932 7 107 4 April 8, 1934-Jan. 17, 1937 7 108 4 June 2, 1960-May 16, 1961 Workers Council Records, 1943-1961

The WORKERS COUNCIL RECORDS, 1943-1961, series covers minutes of meetings, devotional readings and discussions of biblical passages and verses with members commentaries and their experiences. Some loose pages of trustees minutes and a deacons' ordination council meeting in 1956 are among these records.

1 Workers Council Minutes 1 113 4 Oct. 19, 1943-Aug. 7, 1945 1 114 4 Jan. 29, 1946-Jan. 13, 1948 1 115 4 March 14, 1950-Jan. 22, 1952 Loose pages-Feb. 21, 1961 5 Workers Council Minutes 5 March 25, 1952-Dec. 20, 1955 5 Jan. 3, 1956 5 Feb. 9, 1960-May 29, 1962 5 Trustees Minutes 5 Oct. 3, 1958-Dec. 23, 1977 5 Deacons Meeting Minutes 5 1919-Dec. 1974 5 Discipline Meetings Minutes 5 Mar. 15, 1920-Mar. 1, 1956 5 Church Histories, Printed Matter and Miscellaneous, 1871-1989

The CHURCH HISTORIES, PRINTED MATTER AND MISCELLANEOUS, 1871-1989, series contain books on the church's history, articles, a sesquicentennial journal and an historical sketch. A few copies of the church's publication The First African Baptist Informer created by Rev. Ralph M. Gilbert are included. Church constitutions and death lists also appear here.

Article by Yancey, Wanda, In Savannah, First African Baptist Church Means <emph render="italic">First.</emph> August 1989

5 Historical sketch 5 Sesquicentennial Journal, 1788-1938 5 Thomas, Rev. Edgar Garfield. First African Baptist Church of North America 5 Constitutions of 1893 and 1920 5 Death List, 1885-1888 5 Church Conferences, 1871-1876 5 The First African Baptist Informer, Vol. 1, No. 3, Nov. 1942; No. 7 & 8, April/May; Vol. 2, No. 1, Sept. 1943 5 Typescript, History of Sunday School of First African Baptist Church, July 23, 1933 5 Letter of acceptance, Mar. 22, 1915, Rev. T. J. Goodall 5 Installation Services- Ralph M. Gilbert, Oct. 7, 1940