St. James African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Collection

1926-1934, undated
Manuscript Collection #1078
Creator(s)
St. James African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (Snow Hill, N.C.)
Physical description
0.255 Cubic Feet, 1 box, a ledger, loose reports, notes, financial accounts, lists of church officers and members, minutes of church meetings and committees and printed materials
Preferred Citation
St. James African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Collection (#1078), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Repository
ECU Manuscript Collection
Access
Access to audiovisual and digital media is restricted. Please contact Special Collections for more information.

Collection of church records, including a ledger (1926-1934, undated) and loose reports, notes, financial accounts, lists of church officers and members, minutes of church meetings and committees, and printed materials, etc.


Biographical/historical information

The first name of St. James A.M.E. Zion Church was Snow Hill Zion Church, named in 1867. There is no other history pertaining to the founders. Miss Rachael A. Wright of New Bern, N.C., organized the first Sunday school in Snow Hill in 1873. She was a teacher in the public schools. The first Superintendent was Mr. Luke Shepard of Snow Hill. Sunday school and bible class teachers were Rachael Wright, Violet Coward, Martha Blount and Allen Taylor. The first librarian was Martha Blount. The library contained 15 bibles, 26 testaments, 24 songbooks and a large Catechism.

With many youth and no other church in this little town, a place was secured and called Keys Temple Zion Church. This occurred around 1875. It is assumed the Key Temple started from a prayer meeting with Richard Edwards and his wife Rosa, Jacob Best, Jacob Edwards, R.B. Ellison, Fayette Wade and his wife, Bob Coward and his wife Adline, Tome Best, Sr. and Ella Wood. Upon growth of this work, Reverend Simmons, the pastor and his wife helped to organize the church.

In 1880 R.D. Beamon, Register of Deeds of Greene County, made a deed to Jacob Best, Chairman, with Richard McKinney and Jacob Edwards serving as Trustees. This deed was recorded as A.M.E. Zion Church. Sidney Busbee and family were paid $40.00 for the land. On May 3, 1882, the land was paid in full. D.W. Patrick was Clerk of Court and John Dixon was Register of Deeds. This information can be found in Book 8, page 186.

On January 19, 1900, the following were elected: Superintendent: Johnnie McKinney Harper, Treasurer: A.C. Coward, and Sick Committee: J.E. Blount, A.D. Murphy and Pearl Britt. Some time later, the small sized church was built about midway toward the cemetery. The pulpit was large enough for about six ministers, the choir was on the left, and Amen corner was on the right.

On March 16, 1902, the name was changed from Keys Temple to St. James A.M.E. Zion Church and was dedicated in 1908. Sister Ross St. James A.M.E. Zion Church (Present) McKinney chose this name. The church was renovated in 1979 under the leadership of Rev. C.E. Council. The chairman of Trustees was Henry Elliot, and Richard McKinney Edwards assisted with securing the loan. The next renovation project began in 1994 under the leadership of Rev. Nathaniel Mitchell. The chairman of Trustees was Arlander Paige, Jr. More renovations are planned and some underway. The present Pastor is Rev. Jerome Fraiser.

Source: Greene County Heritage, North Carolina, Submitted by St. James A.M.E. Zion Church. F262.G86 G73 2009 (Joyner NC Stacks Oversize and Joyner NC Reference Oversize)


Scope and arrangement

This collection contains a ledger, loose reports, notes, financial accounts, list of church officers and members, minutes of church meetings and committees, and printed materials.


Administrative information
Custodial History

August 24, 2006 0.255 cubic feet; Collection (ca. 1926-1930, 1932-34, undated) of Snow Hill, North Carolina African American Zion Church records, including a ledger, 1926-1930, and loose reports, notes, financial accounts, lists of church officers and members, minutes of church meetings and committees, and printed materials, etc. Donor: William E. "Mickey" Elmore

Source of acquisition

Gift of William E. "Mickey" Elmore

Processing information

Encoded by Lindsay Flood, April 1, 2008

Processed by Brittany Mitchell April 2010

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.


Key terms
Corporate Names
St. James African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (Snow Hill, N.C.)
Topical
Church records and registers--North Carolina--Snow Hill

Container list
Box 1 Folder b Intermediate-Senior Quarterly Sunday School Book, Vol. 48, no. 4 (Oct. - Dec. 1932) Published by the A. M. E. Zion Publishing House, Charlotte, N.C. 1 item. 18 p. Note: contains notes on the lessons and the actual lessons
Box 1 Folder c Item 1 Pennies Collected for the Year of 1933 (1933) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p
Box 1 Folder c Item 2 Stewardship Board Expenses (undated) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p
Box 1 Folder c Item 3 Internment ceremony at the home of a Mrs. Ellis (23 Jan. 1933) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p
Box 1 Folder c Item 4 Report to the General Board, Snow Hill., N.C. (25 July 1933) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p
Box 1 Folder c Item 5 J.A. McGowan, President of the Poor Stewards (10 April 1933) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p
Box 1 Folder c Item 6 Usher Board Report, Snow Hill, N.C. (12 August 1933) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p
Box 1 Folder c Item 7 Dortch Class Pastor's Receipt (undated) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p
Box 1 Folder c Item 8 Report of Buds to Rev. T. W. Vebble (undated) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p. Note: "Rev. G. W. Vebble pastor; A. D. Whitley Sect."
Box 1 Folder c Item 9 Willing Working Club Report (23 January 1933) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p
Box 1 Folder c Item 10 Pulpit Ade [sic] Society Report; membership list (23 January 1933) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p
Box 1 Folder c Item 11 Fourth Sunday Collections (January 1933) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p
Box 1 Folder c Item 12 Blount & Lewis, Undertakers, Snow Hill, N.C. (ca. 1920s) Memo letterhead. 1 item. 3 p
Box 1 Folder c Item 13 Pastor's Salary & Expense Notes (undated) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p
Box 1 Folder c Item 14 Trustees Quarterly or Annual Report (May–August 1932) Printed form. 1 item. 1 p
Box 1 Folder c Item 15 Pastor's Salary & Expense Notes (1930) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p
Box 1 Folder c Item 16 Sumter Casket Company, Sumter, S.C. (1932) Postcard & Envelope addressed to Messrs. Blount & Blount, Snow Hill, N.C. 1 item. 2 p. Note: Blank
Box 1 Folder c Item 17 Paper. Entitled "J. Blount" with a preceding list of names
Box 1 Folder c Item 18 The News & Observer Pattern (2 April 1933) clipping. 1 item. 1 p
Box 1 Folder c Item 19 Service Program (undated) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p
Box 1 Folder c Item 20 Expenses Notes. 3rd Quarter (undated) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p
Box 1 Folder c Item 21 Jake's Variety Store, Snow Hill, N.C. (undated) Printed envelope. 1 item. 1 p
Box 1 Folder c Item 22 Bessie Ellis' Stewards' Report (30 January 1934) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p
Box 1 Folder c Item 23 Offering Receipt (undated) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p
Box 1 Folder c Item 24 Pastor's salary & Expenses (1930) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p
Box 1 Folder c Item 25 Member Meeting Minutes (undated) Holograph. 1 item. 2 p
Box 1 Folder c Item 26 Choir Members, Membership Meeting Minutes, Grade Roll & Business Meeting Minutes (5–9 December 1932) Holograph. 1 item. 2 p. Note: Ledger pages 157-160
Box 1 Folder c Item 27 Trustees Report for Feb. & March; Paid Pastor (February–March [1932]) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p
Box 1 Folder c Item 28 Service Program (26 November 1933) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p
Box 1 Folder c Item 29 Offering Receipts (1933) Holograph. 1 item. 8 p
Box 1 Folder c Item 30 Trustees Collection (undated) Holograph. 1 item. 4 p. Note: Names & amounts
Box 1 Folder c Item 31 Stewards Report to Board (undated) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p
Box 1 Folder c Item 32 Aid Society Reports (undated) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p
Box 1 Folder c Item 33 Collection Receipts (27 April–9 November [1932]) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p
Box 1 Folder c Item 34 A. D. Hill, Leader Report, Snow Hill, N.C. (30 January 1934) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p
Box 1 Folder c Item 35 Poor Steward's Report (undated) Holograph. 1 item. 1 p