Guide to the First African Methodist Episcopal Church (Oakland, Calif.) Collection
Guide to the First African Methodist Episcopal Church (Oakland, Calif.) Collection
Collection number: MS 173
African American Museum & Library at OaklandOakland, California
- Processed by:
- Jennifer Pickens
- Date Completed:
- 2014-12-31
- Encoded by:
- Jennifer Pickens
Biography / Administrative History
Senior pastors of the First A.M.E. Church of Oakland:
- Reverend John Lane 1863-1874
- Reverend J.B. Sanderson 1874-1884
- Reverend James Grisby 1884-1896
- Reverend J. Alen Viney 1896-1900
- Reverend Oscar E. Jones 1900-1910
- Reverend F. Jesse Peck 1910-1915
- Reverend J.M. Brown 1915-1922
- Reverend Nelson Pryor 1922-1927
- Reverend T. Dean Scott 1927-1932
- Reverend Daniel G. Hill 1932-1943
- Reverend Pearl Bryant 1943-1945
- Reverend Justus E. Roberts 1945-1949
- Reverend Dr. H. Solomon Hill 1949-1960
- Reverend J. Russell Brown 1960-1971
- Reverend Edward S. Foust 1971-1977
- Reverend George R. Reid 1977-1981
- Reverend L. Fisher Hines 1981-1986
- Reverend Dr. Frederick Ormonde Murph 1986-1996
- Reverend Dr. Harold R. Mayberry 1996-
Scope and Content of Collection
A Synopsis of the Early History of the Church; transcript of speech by Lydia Flood Jackson presented at Pioneer Day Program 1940-06-23
Map of Northern California African Methodist Episcopal Churches and locations 1943
Clipping from a Centennial Souvenir Program about Reverend H. Solomon Hill 1958
History of the Oakland First A.M.E. Church undated
Display card for exhibit on the 1902 First A.M.E. Church undated
Research paper excerpt on the First A.M.E. Church in Oakland undated
Typed note referring to a history of the First A.M.E. church written by Lydia Flood Jackson in the Library of University of California undated
Article written by Rev. H. Solomon Hill about First A.M.E. Church founder Richard Allen, titled "In Which the Customers Do the Work: The Slave Who Converted His Master" undated
Typed note about Rev. O. E. Jones undated
Photocopy of an article titled "Expansion of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Oakland, California" undated
Typed note about a 1913 meeting of the State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs at First A.M.E. Church of Oakland undated
History of the First A.M.E. Church on church letterhead undated
Biographical Sketch of Dr. Frederick O. Murph undated
Correspondence
Series Scope and Content Summary
Memo by Reverend J. Russell Brown regarding Men’s Day 1964 theme, speaker, and financial goal 1964
Postcard to Mr. and Mrs. Eugene P. Lasartemay from Rev. J. Russell Brown 1962
Letter to church members from Board of Trustees, Renovation Committee, and the Pastor 1965
Renovation Committee Report 1967
Correspondence from Rev. H. Solomon Hill about the Annual Conference program 1960
Letter to church members from Pioneer Families' Day Committee 1954
Handwritten letter to Minnie Fletcher from Dot 1930
Letter addressed to “co-workers” from Sada J. Anderson (Cleveland, Ohio) on Woman’s Parent Mite Missionary Society letterhead 1933
Letter to Minnie Fletcher from Sada J. Anderson on Woman’s Parent Mite Missionary Society letterhead 1934
District Missionary Bulletin 1936
Handwritten letter to Minnie Fletcher with a list of elected officers from E. Foreman 1936
Letter to Minnie Fletcher from Christine S. Smith on Woman’s Parent Mite Missionary Society letterhead 1936
Trustees of Western University School of Religion undated
Letter to Minnie Fletcher from Christine S. Smith on Woman’s Parent Mite Missionary Society letterhead 1936
Handwritten letter addressed to “friend” from E. M. Miller on Avery Chapel A.M.E. Church (Oklahoma City, OK) letterhead undated
Lay Organization circa 1960
Series Scope and Content Summary
Relocation Services scrapbook 1958
Series Scope and Content Summary
Published material
Newsletters and patron lists
The Christian Register v.1 n.7, September 1923, pages 1 and 2 [reproduction] 1923
Messenger February 3, 1935
Messenger September 21, 1941
Messenger June 19, 1955
The Voice newsletter with members’ donations list March 29, 1972
Church newsletter, The Voice April 9, 1972
Steward Board bulletin, volume 2, series 8. Business Directory 1947
List of donors and individual donations March 1963
List of Patrons: Calendar Tea April 9, 1972
Patrons list undated
Church service bulletins
Church service bulletins 1947-1979 (bulk 1979)
Church service bulletins 1980-1988
Church service bulletins 1992-1999
Church service bulletins 2000-2015
The Intercultural Interfaith Fellowship church service bulletins 1970, 1979
Events programs
First A.M.E. Dedication of Renovated Edifice 1969
Fifth Episcopal District Educational Chautauqua 1955
Seventy-ninth Session California Conference 1943
The California Conference 110th Session 1974
Cornerstone Laying & Dedication Services 1992
Church Mortgage Burning Ceremony 1974
Women’s Missionary Society California Conference Branch annual convention 1965
Souvenir program for Relocation Service and Dedication Service 1954
Inspirational Community Guild Tea 1960
Connectional Laymens Organization 65th Session 1957
William Hannibal Means in Concert 1974
Come and Worship with Marion 1963
Recital featuring Mrs. Katie R. Lewis 1975
Program for Jessie Coles Grayson presented by the Women’s Council 1936
History of the Negro in Music presented by the Men’s Club undated
Pioneer Day 1940
Unveiling Service of the $8000 Pipe Organ and Week of Music [reproduction] 1926
First Annual King and Queen Coronation 1965
The Usher Boards Second Anniversary 1956
Dine-O-Rama Banquet 1962
Revival 2007
Celebration of a New Year 2007
Installation of Officers 2008
Witness in the Word Week undated
Centennial Souvenir Program 1958
Cornerstone Laying and Dedication Services 1992
Women’s Day 1992
Organ Recital by Ruth Dean 1952
Inspirational Community Guild 3rd Annual Historical Tea 1956
Portrait Tea circa 1965
Organ Chancel Improvement Dedication Services 1963
The Youth Fellowship of the First A. M. E. church presents A Baby Contest 1970
“A Peek at an Angel” Debutante Tea 1972
Church Mortgage Burning Ceremony 1974
Annual Palm Sunday Breakfast 1980
Wednesday Morning Choral Club presents A Christmas Choral Program 1980
Jubilee Singers of Fisk University October 22, 2000
The California Conference Ministerial Alliance Celebrating the Legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 2002
Lay Organization and Melba B. Woods Women Missionary Society present A Prayer Breakfast 2003
Closing Worship and Commissioning Service, 139th Session of the California Annual Conference 2003
Waymaker’s Club 4th Annual Appreciation Dinner 1979
Pastor’s Appreciation Celebration 2005
10th Appreciation Celebration Luncheon 2006
The Gospel Choir presents Chester Russelle in Concert 1965
The Gospel Choir presents their 3rd Annual Calendar Tea 1972
Eighteenth Anniversary Gospel Choir 1965
25th Anniversary Gospel Choir 1972
Chancel Choir presents James Gillis and Robert Morris in concert 1984
Eightieth Anniversary of the church souvenir program [reproduction] 1938
140th Church Anniversary Celebration 1998
143rd Church Anniversary Celebration 2001
The Frederick Ormonde Murph Mass Choir presents its 20th Annual Galaxy of Stars in Song 1993
The Frederick Ormonde Murph Mass Choir presents its 21st Annual Galaxy of Stars in Song 1994
The Frederick Ormonde Murph Mass Choir presents its 22nd Annual Galaxy of Stars in Song 1995
The Frederick Ormonde Murph Mass Choir presents its 23rd Annual Galaxy of Stars in Song 1996
Voices of FAME presents A Galaxy of Stars 25th Anniversary 1998
The 26th Annual Willa C. McGee Galaxy of Stars presented by the Voices of FAME 1999
The 27th Annual Willa C. McGee Galaxy of Stars presented by the Music Department 2000
The 29th Annual Willa C. McGee Galaxy of Stars presented by the Voices of the FAME Choir 2002
The 30th Annual Willa C. McGee Galaxy of Stars presented by the Voices of the FAME Choir 2003
The 34th Annual Willa C. McGee Galaxy of Stars presented by the Voices of the FAME Choir 2007
Rev. Cheryl Denise Ward celebrating 35 years in ministry 2014
Conference reports
Conference Year Planning Guides 1990-2005
Annual Conference Reports 1991-1997
Quarterly Conference Financial Reports 1957-2007
Annual Pastoral Reports 1997-2007
FAME Christian Academy Schedule of Classes 2005-2006
Women's Mite Missionary Society
The Sarah Allen W.M.M.S. officers and agenda 1938
Year Book of Sarah Allen Women's Mite Missionary Society 1938
Women’s Mite Missionary Society California Conference Branch monthly program for auxiliary societies 1922-23
Women’s Mite Missionary Society California Conference Branch annual convention program 1936
Resource Directory 2004
Ephemera
Annual financial report 2010
Women's Day Services flyer 1972
Women's Day Services flyer 1973
March for Jesus Unity Rally flyer 1993
Lay Organization brochure 2003-2004
Men on a Mission Weekend flyer 2005
142nd Annual Session of the California Conference visitor's information 2006
Spring Revival flyer 2006
Book Drive flyer 2007
The A.M.E. Church Structure and the Role of the Episcopal Committee Workshop flyer 2007
Welcome Visitors brochure 2000
Welcome Visitors church information flyers and sermon on CD 2006
Brochure and ticket stub for The Meeting: A One Act Play 2004
Funeral service program for Lottie Isabell Richards 1958
Funeral service program for Anna Sereptha Hill 1967
Invitation for East Africa (Kenya): Its People and its Culture symposium 1960
Invitation for The Waymakers Club Fifth Recognition Dinner honoring William Byron Rumford 1980
Invitation for Reception honoring the marriage of Reverend Dr. Harold R. Mayberry and Mary Mayo-Mayberry 1997
Annual Debt Retirement Drive pledge card undated
Offering envelope undated
Tithing commitment card circa 1980s
Tithing Commitment card undated
Napkins from 140th Church Anniversary Homecoming Day dinner 1998
Souvenir ribbons, 140th Church Anniversary 1998
Souvenir bookmarks, 140th Church Anniversary 1998
Help Our Children! Call to boycott and meeting information undated
Poster for 29th Annual Galaxy of Stars 2002
Souvenir journal advertisement agreement for 29th Annual Galaxy of Stars 2002
Photographs
Series Scope and Content Summary
Loose leaf page of photographs: Portrait of J.E. Edwards, B.D., First A.M.E. Church, Oakland, California. Exterior of First A.M.E. Church, Fifteenth Street, Oakland, California [001] undated
Fifteenth Street Church pastor, choirs, Board of Directors, and congregation [002] 1952
Choir entering church sanctuary [003]. Attached note: "October 1978. Oakland, California. Rev. George Ransom Reid, Pastor" 1978
Renovation after 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake on church exterior [004] circa 1990
Newly restored exterior with scaffolding. Side view of church [005] circa 1991
Renovated pulpit and choir loft. North wall after repairs [006] circa 1991
Side view of church exterior with partial view of roof. South side of the church exterior with refurbished way-side pulpit [007] circa 1991
Church sanctuary [008]. Attached note: "August 1992. Oakland, California. Rev. Frederick O. Murph, Pastor." 1992
Photograph of a drawing of the First A. M. E. Church building and first schoolhouse for minorities [009] 1954
Dedication plaque on church column [010] 1958
Two senior choirs of past years [011] circa 1958
Senior choir posed in church sanctuary. Pictured: Reverend H. Solomon Hill, Director F.E. Younge, Organist Grace Jefferson, Presiding Elder T.A. Patterson, Pierre Roan, Dewitt Perkins, Earl Powell, Herbert Roan, Corrine Osby, Pha Edwards, Stella Mae Douglas, Will Hickerson, Ormonde Wilson, Solomon P. Hill, Thelma Watson, Miss T. Watson, Rosa Powell, Myrtle Dwight, Mrs. Willie Sharpe, Elizabeth Matthews Bernice Proctor, Carol Smith, Ella Averett, and President Johanna Longley [012] 1949
Church service pictured from above, showing pastor, choir, and first few rows of the congregation [013] circa 1950s
Tom Thumb Wedding. Pictured: LaVerne Freeman, Roy Jean Miller, Gloria Johnson, Barbara Freeman, Vann Miller, James Freeman, and fifteen other unidentified children [014] circa 1950s
Church building, front view [015] circa 1980s
Church building with scaffolding, front view [016] circa 1990
Church building, front view [017] undated
Group of children assembled in church hall with adult church members standing in aisles and rear [018] circa 1950s
Church interior from above, with 100th Anniversary banner over the pulpit [019] 1958
Gospel choir with pastor. Pictured: James Butler, Edna Smith, Eva Barnes, Bertie Mack, Willie Waller, Toy Turney, William Waller, Susan Brownfield, Mary McAdoo Cook, Charles Cook, Joseph Henry, Robert Butler, Bessie Lewis, Mattie Hill, Gladys Freeman, Reverend H. Solomon Hill, Pianist Bennie Perry, Rachael Cox Battiste, Julia Ella Munn, Flora Fisher, Henrietta Douglas, and Eunice Crews [020] 1949
Henrietta Douglas, Birdie Mack, Willa Howard, Mrs. Barnes, Gladys Freeman, and other unidentified adults seated at dining table in Walker Hall [021] 1956
Group of unidentified women standing in line [022] 1956
Six women seated at dining table [023] circa 1950s
Group of adults posed standing outside with two boys in front [024] circa 1950s
Rev. and Mrs. H. Solomon Hill and sons Solomon Paisley Hill, Henry Alexander Hill, Walter Andrew Hill, Augustus Ormonde Hill, and John Dickson Hill [025] circa 1950s
Portraits of Reverend H. Solomon Hill, Reverend J. Russell Brown, and Reverend Edward Sneed Foust [026] undated
Photographic reprint of page 12 from the 1958 Centennial Souvenir Program. Photos: Stewards Board, picturing Reverend H. Solomon Hill, Andy Smith, Charles Cook, W.O. Matthews, T.E.A. McCurdy, James Butler, Floyd Randolph, Ormonde Wilson, Phil Johnson, Joseph Butler, Ed Lewis, Willie Griffin, Charles Jones, J.S. Walker. Portrait of Reverend Nelson Pryor. Portrait of Reverend D.G. Hill [027] undated
Group portrait in the church sanctuary. Pictured: Bishop R.R. Wright, Reverend H. Solomon Hill, and three unidentified adults [028] undated
Reverend H. Solomon Hill with three unidentified men [029] undated
Gospel choir posing with Reverend J. Russell Brown in the church sanctuary [030] 1963
Group of children posed for the Annual Tom Thumb Wedding [031] 1957
Portrait of Reverend Edward S. Foust [032] circa 1960s
Portrait of Reverend J. Russell Brown [033] circa 1960s
Reverend George R. Reid seated at desk [034]. Handwritten on back: "Died 1994 Rev Reid" circa 1980s
Portrait of Trustee Raymond Richards beside donated commercial range [035] 1954
Destruction to church exterior, right side view, after Loma Prieta earthquake [036] circa 1989-1990
Destruction and repairs to church exterior, right side view, after Loma Prieta earthquake [037] circa 1989-1990
Repairs to church exterior, front and left side view, after Loma Prieta earthquake [038] circa 1989-1990
Destruction to church exterior, right corner view, after Loma Prieta earthquake [039] circa 1989-1990
Church building interior under construction [040] circa 1990
Mass choir of First A. M. E. Annual Conference [041] 1992
Polaroid snapshot of Reverend Frederick O. Murph [042] undated
Reverend Frederick O. Murph posed with church members [043] circa late 1980s-early 1990s
Reverend Frederick O. Murph posed with church members wearing all white clothing with purple sashes [044] circa late 1980s-early 1990s
Six unidentified adults posed outside church building [045] 1998
Front and left side exterior of Pioneer Memorial Methodist Church [046] circa early 1950s
Congregation posed in front of 15th Street church with a sign welcoming the 89th Annual Session California Conference [047] 1953