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Ebenezer A.M.E Church Records

Descriptive Summary

Title
Ebenezer A.M.E Church Records
Identifier
BMRC.SHOREFRONT.EBENEZER_AME
Repository
Shorefront Legacy Center
Language
English
Size
4.63 Linear feet
Predominant Dates
Bulk, 1942-1987
Dates
1909-2007
Abstract
The Ebenezer A.M.E. Church was the first African-American church established in Evanston, Illinois. The collection includes meeting minutes, publications, newspapers clippings, reports, ledgers, photographs, and audio-visual recordings. Although not complete, the collection is especially strong in holdings documenting the Ebenezer A.M.E. Church Gospel Choir.

Historical Note

The Ebenezer A.M.E. Church was the first African-American church established in Evanston, Illinois. Formed in 1882, it grew out of a prayer meeting at the home of Richard Day and developed into a full religious program, including a number of choirs (Senior, Gospel, Youth, and Children's) as well as strong community involvement. Still functioning, the Ebenezer A.M.E Church's history, from its founding to its recent history, is chronicled in this collection.

Cited Sources

  • History of Ebenezer A. M. E. Church. 1965. 40p.

Scope and Contents note

The Ebenezer A.M.E. Church records are organized into five series: “Church Records,” “Ebenezer Gospel Choir,” “Sheet Music,” “Recordings,” and “Artifacts.” The collection spans from 1909 to 2007, but the bulk of material dates between 1942 and 1987. The collection includes meeting minutes, publications, newspapers clippings, reports, ledgers, photographs, and audio-visual recordings. Although not complete, the collection is especially strong in holdings documenting the Ebenezer A.M.E. Church Gospel Choir.

Related Archival Materials note

Anna Belle Frazier papers, Shorefront Legacy Center; Berniece Ball Perry papers, Shorefront Legacy Center; Evanston Obituary collection, Shorefront Legacy Center.

Processing Information note

Processed by CLIR funded Black Metropolis Research Consortium “Color Curtain Processing Project.” Processor: Dustin Witsman.

Indexed Terms

Inventory

Series I. Church Records,
1909-2007
Scope and Contents note

“Church Records” is comprised of material relating to the historical and organizational aspects of Evanston, Illinois' Ebenezer A.M.E. Church. It includes correspondence, publications, newspaper clippings, ledgers, reports, and bulletins.

Box 1
Folder 1
Title
History of Ebenezer A.M.E. Church,
Dates
1909-1965
Box 1
Folder 2
Title
Correspondence,
Dates
1918-2007
Box 1
Folder 3
Title
Stationery,
Dates
undated
Box 1
Folder 4
Title
Meetings, Reports, Notes,
Dates
1944-1982
Box 1
Folder 5
Title
Planning Conferences,
Dates
1963-1971
Box 1
Folder 6
Title
The Trumpet,
Dates
1960-1977
Box 1
Folder 7
Title
Holmes-Moore-Jackson Family Reunion Club,
Dates
1984-1990
Box 1
Folder 8
Title
The Jackson Report,
Dates
1975
Box 1
Folder 9
Title
Economy Sewing Club,
Dates
1970-1985
Box 1
Folder 10
Title
Play Scripts,
Dates
1979, undated
Box 1
Folder 11-19
Title
Event Publications,
Dates
1942-2007
Box 1
Folder 20
Title
Certificates,
Dates
1913-1984
Box 1
Folder 21
Title
Newspaper Clippings,
Dates
1918-2004
Box 1
Folder 22-23
Title
Ebenezer A.M.E. photographs,
Dates
undated
Series II. Ebenezer A.M.E. Gospel Choir,
1930-1987
Scope and Contents note

This series contains material relating to the Ebenezer A.M.E. Gospel Choir, its members, and its history.

Box 2
Folder 24
Title
Reports, Events, Schedules, Announcements,
Dates
1930-1987
Box 2
Folder 25
Title
Membership,
Dates
1990, undated
Box 2
Folder 26-27
Title
Anniversary Programs,
Dates
1954-1961
Box 2
Folder 28
Title
Ebenezer A.M.E. Gospel Choir Photographs,
Dates
1945-1982
Box 2
Folder 29-33
Title
Ebenezer A.M.E. Gospel Choir Ledgers,
Dates
1946-1981
Box 2
Title
Slides,
Dates
undated
Box 2
Title
Audio Cassette Recordings,
Dates
1984, undated
Series III. Sheet Music,
circa 1930-1955
Scope and Contents note

This series contains sheet music and piano lesson books used by Ebenezer A.M.E. Church.

Box 3
Title
Sheet Music and Booklets,
Dates
1937-1955
Box 4
Title
Piano Lesson Books, Oversized Sheet Music,
Dates
circa 1930-1950
Series IV. Recordings,
1942, undated
Scope and Contents note

This series contains 78 rpm recordings made by Ebenezer A.M.E Church as well as a few commercially available records.

Box 5
Title
78 rpm records,
Dates
1942, undated
Series V. Artifacts,
circa 1909-2007
Scope and Contents note

This series contains various physical artifacts from or related to Ebenezer A.M.E Church.

Box 2
Folder 34
Title
Napkins, Pins,
Dates
2007, undated
Box 2
Title
2 New Testament Volumes,
Dates
circa 1909, circa 1933
Box 2
Title
Woolen Bag of Wooden Masks,
Dates
undated
Series VI. Scrapbook,
1952-1991
Scope and Contents note

This series is comprised of loose, laminated pages of a scrapbook containing newspaper clippings concerning Ebenezer A.M.E. Church.

Box 6
Title
Scrapbook: “Ebenezer A.M.E In the News,”
Dates
1952-1991