Guide to the Sikes and Paisley Family Papers

This is a collection of papers of William Marion Sikes and of his maternal ancestors Samuel A. Paisley and William D. Paisley. William Marion Sikes’ papers include correspondence, 1927-1941, relating to work with African American communities of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S., particularly at Stillman Institute and in Snedecor Memorial Synod. Correspondence with Patrick H. Carmichael, John L. Fairly, and Henry W. McLaughlin, all members of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S. Executive Committee of Religious Education and Publication, concerns courses for Black Ministers, 1941, held at Stillman Institute. There is correspondence between Sikes and Henry Sweets, Edward D. Grant, and Homer McMillan, also members of PCUS Executive Committees. Correspondence with Hallie Winsborough of the Board of Women's Work relates to publication of a book on noted African-American Presbyterians of the PCUS. Materials related to Sikes’ interest in the “Negro work” of the PCUS include: biographical sketches of Dzandira Chiphe, Samuel Dailey, Thomas J. James, Annie Raymond Stillman, and William A. Young; and manuscripts and clippings related to the history of Black churches in the PCUS. Other materials in the collection include: Sikes’ pastor’s register, 1908-1926, and record book, 1919-1940; typed sermons, 1904-1941; several photographs; a privately published typescript by Sikes entitled, “The Sikes and Paisley Families”; and a 1970 manuscript by Annie Sikes entitled, “A Challenging Trial: A Story of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S. at Work Among the Negroes in the Southland.” Papers of the Paisley family date from 1793 to 1864, and include sermons of Samuel A. Paisley and William D. Paisley, a biographical sketch of Samuel Paisley, letters, notes, an indenture, and a photograph of Samuel A. and Eleanor Paisley.