Leon Gardiner collection of American Negro Historical Society records

Date created 1715-1962
Creator Gardiner, Leon, 1892-1945
Abstract The American Negro Historical Society was established in 1897 in Philadelphia with the purpose of collecting and preserving materials relating to African American history. The materials include the records of many prominent African Americans, including William Octavius Catto, Frederick Douglass, and William Still, as well as a number of black associations, such as the Pennsylvania State Equal Rights League and the Banneker Institute. Membership to the Society was open to both men and women, and members would assemble on a monthly basis to discuss issues regarding race and the preservation of Society materials.
Additional Description The Leon Gardiner collection contains material from the First African Presbyterian Church. Initially called the First Colored Presbyterian, the church was founded in 1807 by John Gloucester, a former slave from Tennessee who had traveled to Philadelphia after he was freed. In addition to being the first African American Presbyterian congregation in the United States, it was also the fourth church in Philadelphia founded by the African American community. Some of the prominent Church members include William Still, a conductor of the Underground Railroad and Octavius Catto and Jacob C. White Jr., co-founders of the Philadelphia Pythians baseball club. The church records in the Leon Gardiner Collection are made up of meeting minutes, correspondence, and financial documents. Also within the Leon Gardiner collection are two volumes of the Daughters of Africa, a women-led association of 'mutual relief.' The group helped raise money to support community members in need. The volumes include meeting minutes and an order book.
Size 8.5 linear feet
Full collection description Home repository description for Leon Gardiner collection of American Negro Historical Society records
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Local identifier HSP 0008
Contributing institution Historical Society of Pennsylvania