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News, events, updates, and tidbits from the Presbyterian Historical Society. Use tags to read related articles or sort by author for similar posts written by PHS staff members and volunteers.

African American Leaders: Shelton Bishop Waters

January 4, 2024

Shelton Bishop Waters at his desk, 1950s. From accession 23-0508.

Each month, the Presbyterian Historical Society is bearing witness to the lives of African American leaders throughout the history of the...

Author:

David S

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African American Leaders Series in 2023

December 18, 2023

This year, PHS kicked off its African American Leaders series, a blog series that celebrates the lives and work of Black Presbyterians. Each month in 2023, we've published biographies of African American ministers, educators, organizers, theologians, and human rights activists. And, included in each blog post is a free bulletin insert that churches can download and share with their congregation. Continue reading to learn more about these trailblazers and stay-tuned as we’ll...

Author:

Kristen

Tags:

African American History, African American Leaders Series, African American Presbyterians

African American Leaders: Mary McLeod Bethune

July 17, 2023

Each month, the Presbyterian Historical Society is bearing witness to the lives of African American leaders throughout the history of the denomination. Click here to learn how PHS is collecting records of the Black Presbyterian experience through the African American Leaders and Congregations Initiative.

Additionally, a free bulletin insert about each figure is available for download at the end...

Author:

Amalia

Tags:

African American Leaders Series, African American Presbyterians

African American Leaders: Warren Julius Nelson, Sr.

June 9, 2023

Warren Julius Nelson. Image from Black Presbyterians in ministry, 1978.

Each month, the Presbyterian Historical Society is bearing witness to the lives of African American leaders throughout the history of the denomination. Click here to learn how PHS is collecting records of the Black...

Author:

Allison

Tags:

African American Leaders Series, African American Presbyterians

First African Presbyterian Church

June 5, 2023

We've recently helped appraise, pack, and transport original records out of the historic First African Presbyterian Church, now home to New River Presbyterian Church. Organized in 1807 by John Gloucester, First African is the mother congregation of Black Presbyterianism--the first Black Presbyterian congregation in the United States.

Gloucester was born into slavery in 1776 and was manumitted by the Presbyterian missionary...

Author:

David S

Tags:

African American Presbyterians, Digitization