The James Alfred Smith papers consists of two scrapbooks which document Smith's career between 1961 and 1983. They consist primarily of clippings relating to Smith's appointments and activities, his participation in conferences, his publications, and the history of Allen Temple Baptist Church during the seventies. In addition, they contain programs from services and events, announcements for speeches given by Smith and for special events, and correspondence relating to his teaching, pastoral, and community activities.

James Alfred Smith was born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1931 and graduated from R. T. Coles High School in 1948. He attended the Western Baptist College of Kansas City, where he received a B.S. in education in 1952. After graduation, he began work on his Bachelors of Divinity and Th.M. degrees at the School of Religion at the University of Missouri at Columbia. His first assignments as a minister included a Baptist church in Huntsville, Missouri and the Second Baptist Church of Columbia, Missouri. He also worked briefly as principal of Lincoln Elementary School in Keytesville, Missouri.

1 linear foot (1 box)

Permission to publish from the James Alfred Smith Scrapbooks must be obtained from the African American Museum & Library at Oakland.

No access restrictions. Collection is open to the public.