- unitid
-
{"value"=>"20867", "type"=>"local_mss"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1865-1980", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1865/1980"}
- date_inclusive_start
-
1865
- date_inclusive_end
-
1980
- keydate
-
1865
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"Ebenezer United Methodist Church (Washington, D.C.) records"}
- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"simple", "value"=>"2 Reels of microfilm"}
- repository
-
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">The New York Public Library Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture</span>"}
- langmaterial
-
{"value"=>"English"}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"Ebenezer United Methodist Church (Washington, D.C.)", "type"=>"corpname"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p class=\"head\">The Mother Church</p> <p>The meeting place of the Methodist Episcopal Church is known to have been a dwelling located on Greenleaf Point, South Capitol and N Streets, Washington, D. C. in 1805. The membership consisted of sixty-one white and twenty-five black members. They moved to Dudley Carroll's barn on New Jersey Avenue, south of D Street, S.E. in 1807. In 1811 another move was made to a newly constructed church at Fourth Street, S.E. between South Carolina Avenue and G Street. This was the first church built by Methodists in Washington and was named the Fourth Street Station.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p>In 1837, the black membership had outgrown the galleries which were reserved for them in the Mother Church. With the help and guidance of the Mother Church a lot was located at the corner of Fourth and D Street, S.E. and purchased on April 27, 1838. A small frame church building was immediately erected under the supervision of the pastor of the Mother Church assisted by three local preachers. The church was named Little Ebenezer.</p> <p>The first black trustees, Alfred H. Perry, William Brown, Sr., William Brown, Jr., Benjamin Grant, Nathaniel Jackson, John Payne, James Hill, William Thomas and Noah Jones were appointed on October 18, 1860. The first black pastor, Rev. Noah Jones, was appointed in 1864. A choir was organized in the late 1860s to supplement the congregational singing which was the only form of musical worship at the time. Mr. William G. Miller, who had the idea to establish the choir, was appointed the first director.</p> <p>After the start of the Civil War large numbers of black refugees from the South migrated to the District of Columbia. Between 1860 and 1863 the local black population increased by over two thirds; an increase which could not be ignored. The New England Freedmen's Aid Society of Boston responded by sending a teacher, Miss Frances W. Perkins. Miss Emma V. Brown, a prominent African-American, was later employed by the District Government to teach and on March 1, 1864 the first public, government-sponsored school for black children in Washington, D.C. was established and housed at Ebenezer.</p> <p>In 1870, because of its progress and growth in the religious and civic actitivies in the southeast of Washington, D. C. the term `Little' was dropped from the church name and the church became known as Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church. Ebenezer was incorporated on September 28, 1891.</p> <p>The present church structure was dedicated on November 4, 1897. It was designated a Historical Landmark on April 29, 1975.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p>Noah Jones, 1864-1867. First public school for black children established at Ebenezer. Tillman Jackson, 1867-1870 C. G. Keys, 1870-1873. Second church was built and first organ installed. P. G. Walker, 1874-1875 Rev. Steele, 1875-1881 George Pinkney, 1881-1887. First Washington Annual Conference held at Ebenezer was in 1885. This was the 22nd Washington Annual Conference of black Methodist churches. William Draper, 1887-1890 Alexander Dennis, 1890-1896 Matthew W. Clair, 1896-1897 John Griffin, 1897-1903. Present church was completed in eight months. William T. Harris, 1903-1906 E. W. Peck, 1906-1907 Alexander Dennis, 1907-1910 Stewart Brown, 1910-1912. Annual conference held at Ebenezer once again. William Dean, 1912-1921. So much money was raised during his pastorate that at the close of one rally the bank was opened on Sunday to receive a deposit of $6,000. The church was redecorated and the envelop system installed. John W. Waters, 1921-1926. Young People's Choir and Ebenezer Athletic Club were organized. Property behind church was bought. R. W. Thomas, 1926-1931 Walter English, 1931-1935 Fairfax King, 1935-1942. Several church organizations were begun, including Women's Society of Christian Service. Telephone was installed. John Peters, 1942-1952. Parsonage, church and kitchen were renovated. Cecil B. LaGrange, 1952-1954 Richard H. Johnson, 1954-1964 J. B. A. Dyson, 1964-1968 Stanford Harris, 1968-1979 Alfonso J. Harrod, 1979-1993</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>The records of Ebenezer United Methodist Church were microfilmed by the <span class=\"emph\">The Preservation of the Black Religious Heritage Project</span>(PBRHP) of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture during the month of April 1992. Originals were retained by the church. The records were arranged for microfilming according to the existing church filing system. Pages of bound ledgers were microfilmed sequentially as they appeared. <div class=\"note\"> <p>Note: Some records are illegible, faded, stained and torn. Loose pages are not in alphabetical or chronological order. Bound volumes were not separated for microfilming.</p></div></p>"}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The Ebenezer United Methodist Church (Washington, D.C.) records are arranged in four series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/20867#c655528'>Trustee Record Books</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1866-1896</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The <span class=\"emph\">TRUSTEE RECORD BOOKS, 1866-1896,</span>series consists of the registers containing records of membership, which includes probationers and members in full connection, 1866-1895, as well as vital records, marriages, 1873-1896, baptisms 1872-1895, and deaths, 1873. Trustee meeting minutes, 1874-1895, are also recorded which include action taken on disciplinary cases, readmissions and dismissals.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/20867#c655552'>Financial And Vital Records</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1896-1950</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The <span class=\"emph\">FINANCIAL AND VITAL RECORDS, 1896-1950,</span>series comprise registers of financial records, 1896-1950, which also contain vital records of membership, 1899-1931, some trustees minutes, 1896-1950, and miscellaneous correspondence.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/20867#c655565'>Historical And Vital Register Books</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1865-1980</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The <span class=\"emph\">HISTORICAL AND VITAL REGISTER BOOKS, 1825-1980,</span>series contains registers with pastors' reports and comments, 1865-1907, property purchase documents and certificate of incorporation, 1891-1929. Vital records, 1865-1980; some trustees minutes, 1943-1947; and financial reports, 1950-1951, are also attached.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/20867#c655615'>Publications</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The <span class=\"emph\">PUBLICATIONS, 1904-1959,</span>series comprises church publications of annual financial statements, anniversary journals and programs. The church organ, <span class=\"title\">The Ebenezer Messenger</span>for the years 1957-1959 is included.</p></div></li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
- arrangement
-
{"value"=>"Records organized into four series: I. Trustee Record Books; II. Financial and Vital Records; III. Historical and Vital Register Books; and IV. Publications", "supress_display"=>true}
- acqinfo
-
{"date"=>"1992", "materials"=>"Microfilm", "source"=>"Originals in Ebenezer United Methodist Church", "address"=>"4th & D streets, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003", "value"=>"Microfilm: Originals in Ebenezer United Methodist Church, 1992"}
- userestrict
-
{"value"=>"<p>Permission from church is required to purchase copy of microfilm. Letter authorizing reproduction should be sent to the Curator of Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Book Division, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 515 Malcolm X Blvd., New York, NY 10037</p>"}
- originalsloc
-
{"value"=>"<p>Originals in Ebenezer United Methodist Church; 4th & D streets, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003</p>"}
- abstract
-
{"value"=>"The records of Ebenezer United Methodist Church are divided into four series: Trustee Record Books, Financial and Vital Records, Historical and Vital Register Books, and Publications."}
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"Ebenezer United Methodist Church (Washington, D.C.) records, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, The New York Public Library"}
- processinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Processed by Victor Smythe; Machine-readable finding aid created by Apex Data Services; revised by Terry Catapano.</p>"}
- date_start
-
1865
- date_end
-
1980