Finding Aid of the Thomas Kilgore, Jr. papers
0381
Finding aid prepared by Rebecca Hirsch and Sarah Guidas
The processing of this collection and the creation of this finding aid was funded by the generous support of the National
Historic Publications and Records Commission.
USC Libraries Special Collections
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California, 90089-0189
213-740-5900
specol@usc.edu
2011 January
Title: Thomas Kilgore, Jr. papers
Collection number: 0381
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
12.0 linear ft.
10 banker's boxes
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1962-1998
Date (inclusive): 1900-2000
Abstract: The collection consists of manuscripts, drafts of sermons, church and personal correspondence and photographs of Dr. Thomas
Kilgore, pastor of the Second Baptist Church of Los Angeles from 1963-1985 and a noted civil rights and civic leader.
creator:
Kilgore, Thomas, 1913-1998
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Acquisition
Gift of Jini Kilgore Cockroft, 2010.
Conditions Governing Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder# or item name], Thomas Kilgore papers, Collection no. 0381, Regional History Collection, Special Collections,
USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Organization
The Thomas Kilgore, Jr. Papers are organized into eight series: Series 1: Pastoral Duties; Series 2: Correspondence; Series
3: Celebrations; Series 4: Addresses, Workshops, Publications, and Lectures; Series 5: Baptist Organizations; Series 6: Civil
Rights Movement; Series 7: Ephemera, Photographs & Clippings; Series 8: Plaques, Awards & Citations.
Scope and Content
This collection contains the papers of Dr. Thomas Kilgore, Jr. These papers include his correspondence, manuscript and typescript
drafts of his sermons, awards and citations he received, drafts of his speeches and lectures, outlines of workshops in which
Kilgore participated, photographs, printed ephemera and two scrapbooks. Also included in this collection is a small amount
of material documenting Kilgore's involvement with the civil rights movement, including the program from Martin Luther King,
Jr.'s funeral and two planning documents for the 1963 march on Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Dr. Thomas Kilgore, Jr. was born February 20, 1913 in Woodruff, South Carolina to Thomas and Eugenia Kilgore. He graduated
from Morehouse College in Atlanta in 1935, did some graduate work at Howard University's School of Religion in 1944 and 1945,
and received a Master's of Divinity degree from the Union Theological Seminary in New York in 1957. He held pastorates in
North Carolina from 1936 to 1947 and at the Friendship Baptist Church in Harlem from 1947 to 1963, where he rose to prominence
in the civil rights movement.
Kilgore began his efforts for equality in the 1940's registering voters and organizing tobacco workers in North and South
Carolina. In Harlem, he worked to end segregation in the schools and in housing. In the 1950's and 1960's, he worked closely
with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and played a significant role in his Southern Christian Leadership Conference in
the South and on both coasts. He was a primary organizer of the Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom to Washington in 1957 and of
the civil rights March on Washington of 1963.
In 1963, Kilgore moved to Los Angeles to become the pastor at the Second Baptist Church. He was the first African-American
president of the American Baptist Convention (1969-1970) and also served two terms as the president of the Progressive National
Baptist Convention (1976-1978). Locally, Kilgore served as a special advisor on community affairs to the University of Southern
California president, spent many years on Los Angeles's Community Redevelopment Agency, and worked toward ecumenism and, particularly
after the 1992 riots, for dialogue across racial lines.
Kilgore retired in 1985 and passed away in 1998. He married his wife, Jeannetta, in 1936, and they had two daughters, Lynn
Elda and Jini Medina.
Separated Materials
Thomas Kilgore, Jr.'s memoir,
A Servant's Journey: The Life and Work of Thomas Kilgore (Judson Press, 1998), was removed from this collection and cataloged into USC's Special Collections book holdings.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A.--Archives
Progressive National Baptist Convention.--Archives
Second Baptist Church (Los Angeles, Calif.).-- Archives
University of Southern California.--History
Kilgore, Thomas, 1913-1998.--Archives
Kilgore, Thomas, 1913-1998.--Correspondence
Kilgore family.--Archives
King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1929-1968.--Archives
African American authors--California--Los Angeles--20th century--Archival resources
African American churches--California--Los Angeles--20th century--Archival resources
African American civic leaders--California--Los Angeles--20th century--Archival resources
African American civil rights workers--20th century--Archival resources
African American clergy--20th century--Archival resources
African Americans--20th century--History
Authors, American--California--Los Angeles--Archival resources
Baptists--Clergy--Archival resources
Civil rights--United States--20th century--Archival resources
Civic leaders--California--Los Angeles--20th century--Archival resources
Civil rights--United States--20th century--Archival resources
Clippings
Correspondence
Photographs
Printed ephemera
Programs (documents)
Realia
Typescripts
Los Angeles (Calif.)--History--Archival resources
Los Angeles (Calif.)--Photographs
March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Washington, D.C., 1963--Archival resources
Sermons, American--20th century--Archival resources
Sermons, American--African American authors--Archival resources
Speeches, addresses, etc., American--20th century--Archival resources
Pastoral Duties
1943-1997
Scope and Content
This series contains the files created and maintained by Kilgore while acting in his capacity as a pastor, including officiating
at weddings and funerals, writing letters of recommendation for members of his church and delivering sermons.
Sermons
Scope and Content
This sub-series contains manuscript and typescript drafts of Kilgore's sermons.
Box 1, Folder 4-9
Undated and/or Incomplete
Undated
Box 1, Folder 11
Sunday School Notes and Sermons
1960-1995
Box 1, Folder 17
1970s and 1980s
1979-1980
Box 2, Folder 1-2, Box 1, Folder 18-22
Box 2, Folder 6
Miscellaneous Sermons (mostly photocopies)
1960-1985
Box 6, Folder 8
Undated/Incomplete
Undated
Box 6
1/4" Recording of "Watergate--Who is Our God"
3 June 1973
Funeral Programs
Scope and Content
This sub-series contains funeral programs, mostly from funerals at which Kilgore was either the officiant or an attendee.
Also included in this series are Kilgore's notes for and drafts of eulogies.
Box 2, Folder 14-15
Correspondence, Programs and Eulogies
1952-1965
Box 3, Folder 1-13, Box 2, Folder 17-29
Correspondence, Programs and Eulogies
1970-1997
Recommendations
Scope and Content
This sub-series contains resumes and correspondence pertaining letters of recommendation Kilgore wrote, predominantly for
members of his congregation.
Box 2, Folder 11-12
Resumes and Letters
1980-1995
Box 6, Folder 7
Ephemera and Correspondence
1976-1991
Box 6, Folder 15
Marriage Licenses [RESTRICTED]
1975-1995
Correspondence
1962-2000
Scope and Content
This series contains the correspondence files maintained by Thomas Kilgore, Jr.
Box 5, Folder 4
Congratulations on Ebony and Community Redevelopment Agency Appointment
1984
Box 5, Folder 5
Condolences for Thomas Kilgore, Jr.
1998
Box 5, Folder 9
Correspondence with Martin Luther King, Jr. (photocopies)
1954-1992
Box 5, Folder 10
Dates Cancelled and/or Filled
1980
Box 5, Folder 11
Inventories of Thomas Kilgore, Jr.'s Papers and Effects
2000
Box 5, Folder 12
Miscellaneous
1932 - 1999
Box 9
Tribute from Gladys C. Kennedy
1993
Celebrations
1965-1996
Scope and Content
This series contains correspondence, ephemera and planning documents pertaining to various celebrations organized by or honoring
Thomas Kilgore, Jr, including his wedding and pastoral anniversaries and the biennial Kilgore family reunion.
Box 3, Folder 28
10th Anniversary at Second Baptist Church
1973
Box 3, Folder 29
90th Anniversary of the Second Baptist Church
1975
Box 4, Folder 1
15th Anniversary at Second Baptist Church
1978
Box 4, Folder 2-3
Los Angeles Tribute Dinner to Thomas Kilgore, Jr.
1980
Box 9
Los Angeles Tribute Dinner to Thomas Kilgore, Jr. (Mailgrams)
1980
Box 4, Folder 4
50th Ministerial Anniversary
1980
Box 4, Folder 5
20th Anniversary at Second Baptist Church
1983
Box 4, Folder 6
Retirement and Centennial of Second Baptist Church
1985
Box 3, Folder 14-23
Kilgore Family Reunions
1974-1990
Box 3, Folder 24
Miscellaneous Kilgore Family Celebrations
1965-1988
Box 3, Folder 25
Kilgores' 45th Wedding Anniversary
1968
Box 3, Folder 26
50th Wedding Anniversary
1986
Box 3, Folder 27
Kilgore Family Funeral Programs
1971-1996
Box 4, Folder 7
50th Reunion of Stephen Lee High School Class of 1930
1979-1980
Addresses, Workshops, Publications and Lectures
1958-1998
Scope and Content
This series documents the addresses, lectures and workshops given by Kilgore over the course of his career. It also includes
drafts of his memoir,
A Servant's Journey.
Box 4, Folder 8-9
Stewardship Workshops
1983-1990
Box 4, Folder 10-11
Bible Workshops
1971-1987
Box 4, Folder 12
Winter Workshop on Evangelism
1978-1984
Box 4, Folder 13
Miscellaneous Workshop Material
1973-1993
Box 4, Folder 14-15
Miscellaneous Workshops and Conferences
1977-1993
Box 4, Folder 18
Typescript Draft of
A Servant's Journey
1996
Box 4, Folder 19-20
Rough Draft of Autobiography [
A Servant's Journey]
Undated
Box 4, Folder 21
Partial Typescript Draft of
A Servant's Journey and 3.5" Floppy Disk
1996
Box 4, Folder 22
Memoir Drafts and Notes
1988-1997
Box 4, Folder 24-25
Lectures, Addresses and Poems
1966-1994
Box 4, Folder 26-27
Addresses and Lectures
1960-1992
Box 4, Folder 29
Lectures and Speeches about Martin Luther King, Jr.
1962-1987
Box 4, Folder 30
Addresses and Lectures (photocopies)
1958-1992
Box 9
Scrapbook Commemorating 1972 USC Commencement
1972
Baptist Organizations
1945-1997
Scope and Content
This series contains ephemera, notes, scrapbooks, and correspondence documenting Kilgore's involvement with various Baptist
organizations in the United States, including the national organizations the Progressive National Baptist Convention, the
American Baptist Convention, the Second Baptist Church in Los Angeles and the Friendship Baptist Church in New York City.
Progressive National Baptist Convention (PNBC)
Box 5, Folder 33-34
Alliance of Baptists
1992-1996
Box 9
The Atlanta Inquirer
1977 6 August
American Baptist Convention
Box 6, Folder 6
Itinerary of Travels as President
1969-1970
Box 9
The American Baptist Convention News
1970
Box 5, Folder 29-30
Second Baptist Church
1963-1997
Box 5, Folder 31
Position Papers for Second Baptist Church Members
1990
Box 5, Folder 32
"Church Administration in Black Perspective" by Floyd Massey, Jr. and Samuel B. McKinney
1975
Friendship Baptist Church (New York)
Box 5, Folder 28
Friendship Baptist Church
1945-1963
Civil Rights Movement
1900-1978
Scope and Content
This series contains papers of Kilgore's that pertain directly to the civil rights movement, including planning documents
for the 1963 march on Washington, D.C. and a program from Martin Luther King, Jr.'s funeral in 1968.
Box 5, Folder 24
Program for Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Funeral
9 April 1968
Box 5, Folder 26
Benjamin Elijah Mays
1978
Box 5, Folder 27
1963 March on Washington Planning Documents
1963
Ephemera, Clippings & Photographs
1935-1999
Scope and Content
This series contains printed ephemera, Kilgore's clippings files and his photographs.
Box 5, Folder 16
Thomas Kilgore Jr. Children's Computer Learning Center
1999
Box 5, Folder 17
Biographical Information
1985
Box 5, Folder 20-21
Newspaper and Periodical Clippings
1964-1998
Box 6, Folder 14
USC Baccalaureate Program
7 June 1972
Plaques, Awards & Citations
1964-1999
Scope and Content
This series contains the awards, plaques and citations received by Thomas Kilgore, Jr. over the course of his career as a
Baptist minister in Los Angeles.
Box 5, Folder 13
Awards and Citations
1964-1999
Box 7
Awards & Plaques
1974-1983
Box 8
Awards & Plaques
1969-1989
Box 9
Awards & Citations
1972-1993
Box 10
Awards & Citations
1980-1983
Box 11
Awards & Citations from USC
