Items

• Membership Letter, F. Bleax, Pastor
  Recommendation Letter for Deacon Ebenezer Williams. The Deacon's pastor, Pastor Bleax, writes a letter of support summarizing his character, service and contribution to Westbury African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church of Westbury, Long Island, NY. Though not specifically stated, it is believed that the intended recipient of the letter would have been in church leadership at Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, PA.
• The diary of Sallie Sanders Venning (1890)
  The diary presented here is the first of three diaries written by Sallie Sanders Venning between 1890-1892. Sarah Sanders Venning, known as Sallie, was born in Philadelphia on March (or August)13, 1872. She was the daughter of Julia Sanders and Edward Y. Venning. She was a substitute teacher during the time the diary was kept. She married William B. Holden in 1903 and was widowed in 1928. She was active in St. Thomas African Episcopal Church and in various women's clubs. She died in 1959.
• Dedication Service of Communion Drapes, Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church
  This ceremony documented a church dedication service at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) on January 6, 1952. Located on Rittenhouse Street in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, the program celebrated the consecration of new communion drapes. The service blended liturgy with community devotion, invoked the Trinity and called all generations to gather in unity.
• Flyer for Vacation Bible School
  This is a flyer for a daily Vacation Bible School held in the Sunday School Auditorium at the Mother Bethel AME Church from July 20-31st, 1959.
• The A.M.E Minister's Wives Alliance of Philadelphia and Vicinity Fellowship Christmas Dinner
  This program is for The A.M.E. Ministers’ Wives Alliance of Philadelphia and Vicinity Fellowship Christmas Dinner held on Thursday, December 28, 1950 at 6:30pm. The event “To Us A Child Of Hope Is Born” was held at the Pyramid Club Dining Room at 1517 Girard Avenue, Philadelphia.
• David's Rock program
  This three-page program is for a rock opera called “David’s Rock” directed, written, and choreographed by Claude A. Boyd from 1983. The program provides a synopsis of the opera, includes a complete list of the characters, musicians, production staff, special thanks, and list of future performances.
• Gospel Songs and Spiritual Poetic Poem Book
  The book “Gospel Songs and Spiritual Poetic Poem Book” by Rev. J. F. Hamlette has four parts and is 56 pages. It has handwritten inscriptions of Ada and George Hightower's names on cover and inside, who were members of the First Colored Church in Hopewell, NJ and were among the first African Americans to live on Columbia Avenue in Hopewell.
• Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church Sunday School
  This photograph of the Bethel African Methodist Episopal Church Sunday School of Pennington, NJ features nineteen children, some siblings. All of the children in the photograph have been identified by Patricia (née True) Payne (see reverse).
• Organ at Mt. Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church
  Pump organ, pre-1917. Made by the Cornish Company in Washington, NJ, which ceased organ production around 1922. The organ was played at the First Baptist Church in Pennington..
• Paper and rattan church hand fans, 6 fans, 11 sides (Front View)
  A sampling of paper and rattan hand fans, mid-20th century. The fans have religious imagery on the front and advertisements for funeral home services on the reverse. Church fans used at Mt. Zion African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church.