]> PUBLIC "-//The New York Public Library//TEXT (US::NN::Sc Micro R-7090::Second African Baptist Church, Savannah, Ga. Records, 1812-1979)//ENG" "scmgsabc.xml" Inventory of the Second African Baptist Church, Savannah, Ga. Records, 1812-1979 Processed by Victory 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 Second African Baptist Church, Savannah, Ga. Records, 1812-1979 Sc Micro R-7090 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: Victory 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 Protect of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. The project, which was funded by the Lilly Endowment, was established to identify, preserve and acquire primary research materials essential for the documentation of African-American religious life.

Descriptive Summary Second African Baptist Church, Savannah, Ga. Records, 1812-1979 Sc Micro R-7090 Second African Baptist Church, Savannah, Ga. 3 reels of microfilm The New York Public Library Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture English History

Second African Baptist Church was founded in 1802 by members of the First Colored Church (now the First African Baptist Church of Savannah). In the early years of the 19th century the Savannah River Association, an organization of Baptist churches composed of one black and two white Baptist churches: the First Colored Church (black), the Newington Baptist Church and the Savannah Baptist Church, decided to strengthen the Association by organizing two additional black churches out of the membership of the First Colored Church which at the time had a membership of 850. The two black churches which were formed were Second Colored Church and the Ogeechee Baptist Church. Two hundred members were dismissed from the First Colored Church and joined with the African Americans who had been members in the white Savannah Baptist Church to constitute Second Colored Church.

Two African-American ministers were ordained to serve the new churches. Rev. Henry Cunningham, a former slave, became the first pastor of Second Colored Church and served for thirty-one years from 1802 to 1833.

The founding members of Second Colored Church were described as intelligent and industrious. Most of them worked as domestic servants or mechanics and lived in the area where the church was located. Many members who were slaves followed the example of their pastor and later purchased their freedom.

After its founding, Second Colored Church continued to have a close relationship with the First Colored Church. Following the death of Andrew Bryan, the second pastor of the First Colored Church, Second Colored Church furnished, in regular succession, pastors for the First Colored or mother church from 1812 to 1846.

The first of the pastors that went to First Colored Church from Second Colored Church was Andrew Cox Marshall in 1815. Rev. Marshall had joined Second Colored Church after he had been baptized by Rev. Cunningham.

In 1823 the First Colored Church and the Second Colored Church were renamed First African Baptist Church and Second African Baptist Church respectively by the Sunbury Association which had replaced the Savannah River Association.

The second pastor of Second African Baptist Church was Thomas Anderson. Rev. Anderson, one of the organizers of the original Second Colored Church, had been baptized by Andrew Bryan. In 1833 he was called to pastor the Third Colored Church, later renamed First Bryan Baptist Church, when it split from First African Baptist Church in that same year. Anderson pastored the newly constituted church then known as the Third African Baptist Church. After two years, in 1835, Anderson returned to Second African Baptist Church where he served until 1849.

Roster of Pastors of Second African Baptist Church after 1849 Rev. John Cox, 1849-1871. Rev. H.L. Simpson, 1871-1881 Rev. Alexander Ellis, 1883-1889. During his administration the church was remodelled. In 1889 Rev. Ellis was deposed following a disagreement between himself and members of the choir. A council of three white ministers met and rendered a decision which was not acceptable to Rev. Ellis. An election was held on December 13, 1889 and Ellis was deposed as pastor. Ellis and his supporters then formed Beth Eden Baptist Church. Rev. J. J. Durham, 1891-1902. Final payment for the remodelling of the church was made during his tenure. Rev. John H. May, 1903-1907. Rev. S. H. Smith, 1907. He only served six months during which time he suffered a stroke and had to resign. Rev. Ira De Reid or D. A. Reid, 1908-1914. He was a native of the West Indies. A pipe organ was installed and the church was renovated during his administration. Rev. W. Boliver Davis, 1915-1918 Rev. P. W. Wrenn, 1919-1922. Rev. S. D. Ross, 1923-1928. Rev. Ross organized the church into fifteen departments. The church building was completely renovated following a fire in 1926. Rev. Miles A. Hunter, 1929-1931. Rev. Clifton Norman Perry, 1931-1934. Rev. Perry was noted as a good gospel preacher. Rev. Ivory W. Collins, 1935-1937. While serving as a waiter at the DeSoto Hotel Ivory W. Collins was selected as a supply minister. It was noted that although he did not have the training of previous pastors he had a natural gift and talent for the ministry. Rev. Collins was later accepted as pastor and served two years. He left to continue his studies in the ministry. Rev. C. L. Hawk, 1938-1942 Rev. Lewis Llewellyn Scott, 1942-1949 Rev. Edgar Perry Quarterman, 1947-1983. During Rev. Quarterman's tenure the church was renovated and a heating and cooling system installed. Rev. James H. Cantrell, 1983-Present (1997) Scope and Content

The records of Second African Baptist Church, Savannah, GA were microfilmed by the The Preservation of the Black Religious Heritage Project (PBRHP) of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture during the month of June 1992. Originals were retained by the church. The records were arranged for microfilming broadly following the survey questionnaire. Some additional material made available during the course of microfilming were also arranged accordingly. Pages of bound ledgers were microfilmed sequentially as they appear.

Bibliography Unpublished Notes by Deacon W. S. Roundfield on the History of Second African Baptist Church 1802-1935. Container List 1 Church Minutes, 1872-1901

The Church Minutes, 1872-1901, series embraces records of membership, minutes of meetings with action taken on disciplinary cases and re-admissions or dismissals. Most cases deal with members charged with “licentious” behavior and dancing.

1 Members' Records, 1872-1875 1 Disciplinary Case Records, 1874-1879 1 Minutes Of Meetings, 1889-1901 1 Church Roll, 1874-1879 1 Conference Meetings Minute Book, 1889-1901 1 Membership Dues Book, 1892 1 Legal Documents, 1812-1922

The Legal Documents, 1812-1922, series consists of papers on the purchase and sale of property by Henry Cunningham to the church and abstracts of conveyance. A charter amendment dated December 1922 is also included.

1 Property Purchase And Sale, 1812-1922 1 Abstract Of Conveyance, 1854-1922 1 Charter Amendment, 1922 1 Church Rolls, Minute Books And Annual Reports, 1891-1978

The Church Rolls, Minute Books And Annual Reports, 1891-1978, series is comprised primarily of recorded lists and rosters of committee members, conference meetings and miscellaneous correspondence. Minutes of the joint sessions of the official boards, 1934-1937 also appear.

1 Minutes Of The Saint Paul Club Association, 1891 1 Roll Of Committees, 1922-1932 1 Conference Meetings, 1924-1978 1 Annual Reports, 1947-1948 1 Miscellaneous Correspondence And Meetings, 1951-1963 1 Roll Book, 1912-1914 1 Pastor And Deacons Council Meetings Minute Book, 1922- 1932 1 Official Boards Joint Sessions Minutes, 1934-1937 2 Financial Records, 1879-1973

The FINANCIAL RECORDS, 1879-1973, series contains treasurer's books with detailed expenditures, collections and annual reports.

2 Treasurer's Book For Sunday School, 1879-1883 2 Treasurer's Book, 1883-1891 2 Dues And Payment Book, 1884-1892 Also Contains Christian Loving Society Minutes, 1887 2 Members And Dues Paid, 1892-1893 2 Expenses And Collections, 1895-1906 2 Treasurer's Book, 1906-1915 2 Financial Book, 1918-1919 2 Payments And Disbursements, 1921-1930 2 Members And Dues Paid, 1926-1933 2 Treasurer's Report, 1934-1935 2 Annual Report, 1947-1948 3 Members' Names, Addresses, And Pledges, 1925-1942 3 Financial Reports, 1933-1963 3 Salary Accounts, 1932-1933 3 Annual Report, 1963, 1973 3 Sunday School Records, 1922-1948

The Sunday School Records, 1922-1948, series consists of minutes with attendance, collections and dues noted. Details such as hymns and bible verses used during classes are given.

3 Attendance And Collections, 1922-1923 3 Journal, 1928 3 Minute And Record Book, 1929-1948 3 Record Of Drivers' Day And Night Shifts, 1923-1941 3 Church Organizations' Minutes, 1932-1973

The Church Organizations' Minutes, 1932-1973, series is comprised of minutes of meetings of the deacons, deaconesses, brotherhood and church officers. A resolution by Adeline Graham to establish an orphanage for colored children, dated June 4, 1944, is included.

3 Conference And Board Meetings Minutes, 1942-1946 3 Deacons And Deaconesses Meetings, 1932-1973 3 Annual Deacons Meetings, 1941-1968 3 Record Of Wards, 1973 3 Deaconess Board Report, 1950, 1962 3 Brotherhood Meetings, 1951-1959 3 Officers Meetings, 1953-1967 3 Church History, Printed Matter, Miscellaneous, 1892-1979

The Church History, Printed Matter, Miscellaneous, 1892-1979, series contains anniversary journals and programs, one of which is the istallation program for Edgar P. Quarterman in December 1949. An essay by Deacon W. S. Roundfield which constitutes a history of Second African Baptist Church from 1802 to 1935 is included.

3 Legal Documents, 1892-1948 3 Anniversary Journals, 119th, 145th 3 Programs, 1966-1979

Notes by Deacon W. S. Roundfield on the history of Second African Baptist Church history, 1802-1935