Immanuel Baptist Church (Greenville, N.C.) Records

1915-2025
Manuscript Collection #1211
Portions of this collection are digitized (1 item)
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Creator(s)
Immanuel Baptist Church (Greenville, N.C.)
Physical description
12.15 Cubic Feet, consisting of minutes, ledgers, financial records, membership records, reports, correspondence, photographs, photograph albums, scrapbook, blueprints and drawings, and building specifications.
Preferred Citation
Immanuel Baptist Church (Greenville, N.C.) Records (#1211), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Repository
ECU Manuscript Collection
Access
No restrictions

Official records (1915-2025) of Immanuel Baptist Church, Greenville, N.C., including correspondence, minutes of Board of Deacons and Church Conferences, financial records, membership and donation records, photographs, building records for the church building on Elm Street, and several church record books.

Biographical/historical information

In 1915 Immanuel Baptist Church was formed out of a group of 37 charter members. The official organization is credited to Rev. George J. Dowell of Ayden, NC. In a hall located above the Express Company, at the corner of West Eighth Street and Dickinson Avenue in Greenville, NC, the first meeting occurred. The first pastor called to the church was Rev. John E. Ayscue in 1916, serving until 1920. In 1917 a new church location was sought, and land was bought on West Eighth Street, a location where they would remain for the next fifty years. A milestone occurred in 1927 during Rev. L. R. O'Brian's tenure when women were first elected as deacons. Rev. Irby Jackson took over as pastor in 1956 and served for 21 years. Under his guidance, the church began to grow. In 1977 Dr. Gene Adams became Senior Pastor and served until 1981. The next pastor, Rev. Hugh A. Burlingdon, Jr. served from 1981-2005 making him the longest to serve as pastor at the church. In 1999 the church was involved in the formation of a Korean Mission Church which shared their fellowship hall and educational space. From 2008-2016 Dr. Scott Conner was pastor of the church and was involved in projects with Belvoir School and Building Hope Community Life Center in Greenville during his tenure. The Korean Missions Church named Rev. David Nam as pastor of that church in 2009. In addition, in 2014 Rev. David Archer began serving as the Minister of Music and Administration. The current pastor of the main church, Rev. Asher J. Panton, began his tenure in 2017.

Source:

https://www.ibcg.org/about-us

Scope and arrangement

Included in the materials is a copy of the church's amended constitution. Also present are financial records for the church, a church enrollment book and donation record books documenting members' giving history. In addition are Board of Deacons minutes. These minutes document day-to-day functions and much of the history of the church. These include major purchases, the hiring of pastors and all church staff, property decisions and construction costs, development of a nursery school, parking issues, membership of other denominations, missionary work and collaboration with East Carolina Teachers College and later East Carolina University, including their Baptist Student Union.

Also included are bulletins (1991), directories (1977, undated), 1974 church history, and a 1996/1997 Annie S. Higgs Sunday School Class Yearbook.

Administrative information
Custodial History

August 19, 2014 2.0 cubic feet; Records (1915-1991) of Immanuel Baptist Church, Greenville, N.C., including minutes of Board of Deacons and Church Conference, financial records, membership records, and donation records. Donated by Beth Winstead.

March 19, 2021, (addition 1), 0.35 cubic feet; Bulletins (1991), Directories (1977, undated), 1974 Church History, and 1996/1997 Annie S. Higgs Sunday School Class Yearbook formerly belonging to church member Elva Smiley. Donated by John Stevenson "Steve" Smiley, Sr.

November 10, 2023, (unprocessed addition 2), 2 items; May 11, 1952, bulletin containing Treasurer's Report for April 1952. [Formerly part of Roanoke Baptist Association Forty-Fourth Annual Session.] Transferred from North Carolina Collection.

May 27, 2025, (unprocessed addition 3), 9.8 cubic feet; This addition (1915-2015) includes the remaining official records of the Immanuel Baptist Church congregation; the church closed in 2023 and the building was sold to another church. Included are building specifications, blueprints and drawings and other papers (1952-1971) documenting the process of deciding to build a new building and the work involved in actually building the church at 1101 S. Elm Street and subsequent 1987 addition; correspondence; minutes of the Church Conference, Deacons Board, and Mission Council; photographs and photograph albums; church histories, newsletters, bulletins, clippings, and constitution and bylaws and articles of incorporation. Also included are the Perfect Church Record Book (1915-1945), Guest Book (1967-2001), Marriage Register Book (1967-1981), Book of Remembrance (1932-1969), and Treasurer's Records Book (1945-1950). Donated by Beth Winstead.

Source of acquisition

Gift of Beth Winstead

Gift of John Stevenson "Steve" Smiley, Sr.

Transferred from North Carolina Collection

Processing information

Processed by Dale Sauter, January 2020.

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
Immanuel Baptist Church (Greenville, N.C.)
Topical
Baptists--North Carolina--Greenville
Church records and registers--North Carolina--Greenville
Container list
Box 2 Folder a Board of Deacons minutes for 1925-1935
Box 2 Folder b Board of Deacons minutes for 1948-1950
Box 2 Folder c Board of Deacons minutes for 1951-1952
Box 2 Folder d Board of Deacons minutes for 1953-1955
Box 2 Folder e Board of Deacons minutes for 1955-1959
Box 2 Folder f Board of Deacons minutes for 1960-1964
Box 2 Folder g Loose letters and documents found in Board of Deacons minutes books, 1954-1961, no date. 1917 Church Program
Box 3 Folder a Board of Deacons minutes for 1969-1970
Box 3 Folder b Board of Deacons minutes for 1971-1974
Box 3 Folder c Church Conference Minutes for 1982-1985
Box 3 Folder d Church Conference Minutes for 1986-1989
Box 3 Folder e Church Conference Minutes for 1990-1991
Box 3 Folder f Mission Ministry Report 1991
Box 4 Folder a Donation Records Book for 1922
Box 4 Folder b Donation Records Book for 1923-1924
Box 4 Folder c Donation Records Book for 1941
Box 4 Folder d Donation Records Book for 1942
Box 4 Folder e Donation Records Book for 1943
Box 4 Folder f Donation Records Book for 1944
Box 4 Folder g Donation Records Book for 1945
Box 5 Folder a Directories (1977, undated), bulletins (1991), a church history (1974), and Annie S. Higgs Sunday School Class Yearbook, 1996/1997
Box 5 May 11, 1952, bulletin containing Treasurer's Report for April 1952. [Formerly part of Roanoke Baptist Association Forty-Fourth Annual Session.]
Box 6 Folder a Church History material, 1915-1926
Box 6 Folder b Church History material, 1927-1939
Box 6 Folder c Church History material, 1940-1949
Box 6 Folder d Church History material, 1950-1951
Box 6 Folder e Church History material, 1952
Box 6 Folder f Church History material, 1953-1955
Box 6 Folder g Church History material, 1956
Box 6 Folder h Church History material, 1957
Box 6 Folder i Church History material, 1958-1959
Box 6 Folder j Church History material, 1960
Box 6 Folder k Church History material, 1961-1963
Box 6 Folder l Church History material, 1964-1965
Box 6 Folder m Church History material, 1966
Box 6 Folder n Church History material, 1967
Box 7 Folder a Church History material [bulletins], 1968
Box 7 Folder b Church History material, 1968
Box 7 Folder c Church History material [bulletins], 1969
Box 7 Folder d Church History material, 1969
Box 7 Folder e Church History material [bulletins], 1970
Box 7 Folder f Church History material, 1970
Box 7 Folder g Church History material [bulletins], 1971
Box 7 Folder h Church History material, 1971
Box 7 Folder i Church History material [bulletins], 1973
Box 7 Folder j Church History material, 1973
Box 7 Folder k Church History material [bulletins], 1974
Box 8 Folder a Church History material, 1974
Box 8 Folder b Church History material [newsletters], 1975
Box 8 Folder c Church History material, 1975
Box 8 Folder d Church History material [bulletins], 1976
Box 8 Folder e Church History material [newsletters], 1976
Box 8 Folder f Church History material [bulletins], 1977
Box 8 Folder g Church History material [newsletters] , 1977
Box 8 Folder h Church History material [bulletins], 1978
Box 8 Folder i Church History material [newsletters], 1978
Box 9 Folder a Church History material, 1979
Box 9 Folder b Church History material [bulletins, letter, history booklet], 1980
Box 9 Folder c Church History material [newsletters], 1980
Box 9 Folder d Bulletins, 1982-2001
Box 9 Folder e Newsletters, 1985-2012
Box 9 Folder f Official 1915-1975 History of Immanuel Baptist Church Plus Yearly Supplements 1977-1978 through 1981-1982
Box 9 Folder g Other histories of Immanuel Baptist Church: 1915-1980 "Did You Know," 1974 history by J. O. Derrick, 1986-1987, 1987-1988, and one in 2000 by Elizabeth Bridgers Wilkinson
Box 9 Folder h Documents regarding the Church providing lunch payments and blankets for children attending Belvoir Elementary School, 2007-2008
Box 9 Folder i Documents related to Mission work by the Church for Belvoir Elementary School: Back Pack Pals and Christmas gifts, 2009
Box 9 Folder j Documents related to Mission work by the Church for Belvoir Elementary School: Back Pack Pals, 2010
Box 9 Folder k Christmas party at Belvoir Elementary School sponsored by the Church. Images printed from a computer, 2011
Box 9 Folder l Mother's Day luncheon sponsored by the Church to raise funds for Belvoir Elementary School. Images printed off a computer, 2011
Box 9 Folder m Expenses encountered by the Church while participating in Back Pack program for Belvoir Elementary School, 2011
Box 9 Folder n Christmas Party at Belvoir Elementary School sponsored by the Church. Images printed off computer, 2012
Box 9 Folder o Expenses encountered by the Church while participating in the Back Pack Program at Belvoir Elementary School, 2012
Box 10 Folder a Correspondence related to purchasing a lot for and planning for building a new Immanuel Baptist Church on Elm Street in Greenville, North Carolina, 1957-1959
Box 10 Folder b Correspondence related to planning and building the Immanuel Baptist Church building on Elm Street, 1960-1971
Box 10 Folder c Legal agreements related to building the new church on Elm Street, 1957-1958
Box 10 Folder d Documents related to the decision to build the new church building on Elm Street and the cost estimates per the Building, Finance, and Steering Committees, 1952-1970
Box 10 Folder e Contract changes, cost, disbursements related to building the new church on Elm Street, 1963-1969
Box 10 Folder f Booklets written to support the proposals to building a new church (1962) and an addition to that building (1986), 1962, 1986
Box 10 Folder g Steering Committee Minutes, 1956-1970
Box 11 Folder a Building Specifications for Church building on Elm Street, 1963-1965
Box 11 Folder b Building Specifications for Church building on Elm Street, 1963-1965
Box 11 Folder c Building Specifications for addition to Church building on Elm Street, 1986-1987
Box 11 Folder d Dudley & Shoe, Architects, P.A. booklet showcasing their projects
Box 12 Folder a Mission Council Minutes, 2007-2015
Box 12 Folder b Church Conference Minutes (also contains receipts & disbursements figures), 1991-1995
Box 12 Folder c Church Conference Minutes (also contains receipts & disbursements figures), 1998-2001
Box 12 Folder d Church Conference Minutes (also contains receipts & disbursements figures), 2002-2004
Box 12 Folder e Church Conference Minutes (also contains receipts & disbursements figures), 2005-2007
Box 12 Folder f Church Conferences/Business Conferences, 2008-2024
Box 13 Folder a Memorials Committee notes and correspondence, 1963-1967
Box 13 Folder b Board of Deacons Meeting Minutes, 1938-1944
Box 13 Folder c Board of Deacons Meeting Minutes, 1945-1947
Box 13 Folder d Board of Deacons Meeting Minutes, June 7, 1961; 1964-June 1968
Box 13 Folder e Board of Deacons Meeting Minutes, July 1968-1969
Box 13 Folder f Church Directories, 1968-1977
Box 13 Folder g Church Directories, 1983-1988
Box 13 Folder h Church Directory, 1993
Box 13 Folder i Church Directory, 1998
Box 13 Folder j Church Directories, 2003, 2012, 2014
Box 14 Folder a Constitution (1981), Bylaws (2006,2017), and Articles of Incorporation (undated) Archival Object
Box 14 Folder b Constitution, 1997
Box 14 Folder c Church Covenant, undated
Box 14 Folder d Correspondence, 1926-1983
Box 14 Folder e Committee Handbook, 2006
Box 14 Folder f Programs for Special Services, 1946-2015, undated
Box 14 Folder g Church letters to the Roanoke Association, 1938-1943
Box 14 Folder h Church Profile , 2017
Box 14 Folder i Goals and Priorities, 1960-2011, undated
Box 14 Folder j Church Community Survey, 1973
Box 14 Folder k Tally Sheets and Surveys, 1982, 2008
Box 14 Folder l Involvement with Habitat for Humanity, 1998-2000, undated
Box 14 Folder m Clippings, 1967-2025, undated
Box 14 Folder n Pastor Selection Committee's Search , 1981-1982
Box 14 Folder o Policies concerning Music Committee and Music Staff Personnel, 1967
Box 14 Folder p Various Church Committee minutes and members lists, 1962-2001
Box 14 Folder q Girls Auxiliary programs (Coronation Service programs 1963, 1967 and State Girls Auxiliary Queen's Wonderland program 1959)
Box 15 Folder a Black and white photographs taken by Roy Hardee. Information accompanying the images indicate that they are of the original building site on 14th Street in Greenville. [The Elm Street site was chosen instead.]
Box 15 Folder b Black and white images of the Church groundbreaking and aerial views of the Elm St. site. Some were taken by Roy Hardee.
Box 15 Folder c Black and white proof sheets and negatives for the groundbreaking for the Church at Elm Street, 1965
Box 15 Folder d Pen and ink representations of proposed Elm Street Church building.
Box 15 Folder e Black and white snapshots and negatives of a large indoor gathering, 1958
Box 15 Folder f Black and white images of the Eighth Street location of the Church, 1940s
Box 15 Folder g Black and white images from the Elm Street location of the Church, 1960s-1970s
Box 15 Folder h Black and white images of early pastors at Immanuel Baptist Church
Box 15 Folder i Black and white images of later pastors at Immanuel Baptist Church.
Box 15 Folder j Images (not on photographic paper) of pastors to be used in a Directory, 1915-2008
Box 15 Folder k Color photographs to be used in a Directory.
Box 15 Folder l Color proof sheet images and negatives
Box 15 Folder m Color photographs
Box 15 Folder n Color photographs
Box 15 Folder o Color photographs taken at May 1999 Habitat for Humanity Fair.
Box 16 Folder a Loose Church Conference minutes found in the Perfect Church Record Book, June 1943-November 1944
Box 16 Folder b Loose documents related to Church Conference minutes found in the Perfect Church Record Book, 1931-1942
Box 17 Youth Program Scrapbook with cover made of wood , 1974
Box 18 Folder a Large negative and accompanying color photograph of the church at Elm Street, black and white interior image of the same building, and large printed drawing of the church at Elm Street created by architects Dudley and Shoe.
Box 19 Marriage Register Book (made of parchment-like paper and using calligraphy), 1967-1981
Box 20 Photograph Album
Box 21 Photograph Album and a Plaque
Box 22 Photograph Albums
Box 23 Brick from the Eighth Street Immanuel Baptist Church, Greenville, North Carolina, which was demolished in September 2000
Oversize Folder os1 Blueprint of July 2, 1957, Proposed Site of new Church building by Haskins & Rice Architects; December 3, 1957, Preliminary Study Plan for new Church building by Dudley & Shoe Architects; and undated Hand-drawn plot (footprint of new Church building) showing neighboring identified properties.