Photographs of African American religious and masonic life in Pasadena California, approximately 1954-1970

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Summary

Abstract:
A collection of materials, predominantly 8 x 10 inch black-and-white photographs of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church (Pasadena, California) members and events. Also included are images of congregants associated with the Silver Leaf Chapter No. 7 Order of the Eastern Star (O.E.S.) and the King Solomon No. 10 Masonic Lodge.
Extent:
0.21 Linear Feet (1 box)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Photographs of African American religious and masonic life in Pasadena, California, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection spans approximately 1954 through 1970 and includes one program from the September 8, 1963 Bethel Baptist Church Ground Breaking Service and 18 black-and-white photographs (8 x 10 inches) of Bethel, Freemason, and Order of the Eastern Star members and events. This includes images of the Bethel members and presumably Reverend Freeman S. Stevens attending the church's Ground Breaking Service, images of the Bethel building located at 1972 North Fair Oaks Avenue in Pasadena, California, and the 1970 National Baptist Convention in Shreveport, Louisiana. Other photographs depict members of Bethel's 9:00 O' Clock Men's Club, a large gathering of several Masonic organizations outside of a Masonic Grand Lodge in California, the men and women of the Silver Leaf Chapter No. 7 Order of the Eastern Star, two portraits of Chapter No. 7 treasurer Louise T. Butler at the King Solomon Lodge No. 10, and one photograph of the July 15, 1964 Grand Chapter Order of the Eastern Star Grand Session at the El Cortez Hotel Banquet Room in San Diego, California. Also within the collection is one black and white image of a well-dressed African American man posing on a rooftop patio, the verso reads "Mr. Kincaid". The majority of images include descriptive information on the verso.

Biographical / historical:

Bethel Missionary Baptist Church was founded in February 1959 under the leadership of Reverend Freeman S. Stevens and was formally recognized as a constituted Baptist Church the following June. The church moved to its new location at 1972 North Fair Oaks Avenue in Pasadena, California on September 8, 1963. Certain congregants were also members of the King Solomon Masonic Lodge No. 10 (currently the South Pasadena Masonic Lodge) and the Silver Leaf Chapter No. 7 of the Order of the Eastern Star (O.E.S.), an appendant body of the Freemasons.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Caroliniana Rare Books, January 2023.
Processing information:

Processed at the time of accessioning by Nichole Manlove in March 2023.

Arrangement:

Arranged by format.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Photographs of African American religious and masonic life in Pasadena, California, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2129
reference@huntington.org
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