MOUNT OLIVET BAPTIST CHURCH:

An Inventory of Its Records at the Minnesota Historical Society

Manuscripts Collection

OVERVIEW


	Creator:	Mount Olivet Baptist Church (Saint Paul, Minn.), creator.
	Title:	Church records,
	Dates:	1922-1998.
	Abstract:	Minutes, membership information, subject files, and other records of an African-American church located in the Frogtown neighborhood of St. Paul.
	Quantity:	3.0 cubic feet (3 boxes).
	Location:	See Detailed Description for shelf locations

Mount Olivet Baptist Church (known until 1932 as St. Paul Baptist Church) was formed in 1922 by former members of Memorial Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. T. J. Carr. The congregation met in Carr's home on St. Anthony Avenue in St. Paul at first, but soon moved to larger quarters in a storefront on Rondo Avenue and Kent Street. In 1923, the congregation broke ground for its first building at the corner of Central and Mackubin Avenues, but construction was not completed until 1951, when the building was finally dedicated. Under the leadership of Rev. James W. Battle, who served as pastor from 1972 to 1997, the church grew quickly. In 1974 the congregation erected a new building, and added an education wing in 1992. After Battle's retirement in 1997, the length of Central Avenue between Western and Dale Streets was renamed Reverend Dr. James W. Battle Avenue.

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SCOPE AND CONTENTS

Minutes, financial records, newspaper clippings, membership information, weekly bulletins, newsletters, history and background information, photographs, and subject files of an African-American church located in the Frogtown neighborhood of St. Paul.

Although the minutes, membership information, and some of the financial data date back to the founding of the church in 1922, much of the material in the collection dates from 1972 to 1997, the dates during which Rev. James W. Battle was the church's spiritual leader.

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ARRANGEMENT

These documents are organized into the following sections:


		Administrative Records
		History, Publicity, and Publications
		Subject Files

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ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here].Mount Olivet Baptist Church Records. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples

Accession Information:

Accession number: 15,551

Processing Information:

Processed by: Lara D. Friedman-Shedlov, April 2000

Catalog ID number: 990017363360104294

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION

ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS

Location

Box

152.C.16.1B

Articles of incorporation, 1973.

Membership record books, 1977-1991. 4 folders, including 4 volumes.

Includes name and address of members and the date they joined the church, and sometimes dates of birth and baptism.

Membership directories, undated and 1987, 1995.

Minutes, membership information, and other data, 1922-1955. 4 folders, including 4 volumes.

These volumes include minutes of monthly business and other church meetings, financial data, and lists of members. Some also include lists of marriages and consecrations performed. The last volume, which consists primarily of minutes from 1949 to 1955, also includes membership information up to 1972.

Minutes, 1951-1958. 2 folders, including 7 volumes.

Minutes, 1971-1976, 1983-1986. 1 volume.

Minutes for 1983 to 1986 are of the Spiritual Board.

Minutes: Spiritual Board, 1978. 1 volume.

Location

Box

152.C.16.2F

Receipts and disbursements, 1953-1978. 3 folders, including 3 volumes.

Annual reports and financial statements, 1974, 1981.

Annual reports, 1989-1992, 1995-1998.

Rules and policies, undated and 1967-1997.

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HISTORY, PUBLICITY, AND PUBLICATIONS

Location

Box

152.C.16.2F

Church history.

Church building dedications, 1951, 1973-1974, 1986, 1992.

Church anniversaries, 1968-1998.

Newspaper clippings regarding Mount Olivet Baptist Church, undated and 1951, 1976, 1992.

Newspaper clippings regarding Rev. Battle and family, undated and 1972-1998.

Rev. Battle and family: Memorabilia, 1972-1996.

Rev. Battle anniversary celebrations, 1972-1997.

Location

Box

152.C.16.3B

Newsletters, 1980, 1982, 1991-1993.

Weekly bulletins, 1945, 1961, 1972-1998.

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SUBJECT FILES

Location

Box

152.C.16.3B

Black history celebrations, 1979-1998. 2 folders.

Black Ministerial Alliance, 1978-1979, 1992.

Choirs:

Handbooks, newsletters, and other miscellaneous records, 1996-1998.

Concert programs, 1982-1998.

Church schools and scholarships, undated and 1981-1996.

Construction of new church building: Correspondence and related records, 1973-1974.

Homecomings, 1963, 1972, 1978-1996.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, 1982, 1984, 1994.

Memorials (funeral services), 1976-1997.

Includes programs for memorial or funeral services of many members of the church.

Men's and women's days, 1978-1998.

Minnesota State Baptist Convention, 1984-1988, 1993.

Ordinations and installations, 1984-1985, 1994.

Revivals, 1973, 1982-1998.

Special events and celebrations: Programs, undated and 1973-1998.

Weddings, anniversaries, and retirements: Programs, 1983, 1988-1997.

Miscellaneous, undated and 1947-1998.

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RELATED MATERIALS

The Loretto Harvey papers, which include information about Mount Olivet Baptist Church, are separately cataloged in the Minnesota Historical Society manuscript collections.

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CATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:: Church records and registers -- Minnesota.; Baptist church buildings -- Minnesota -- Saint Paul.; Choirs (Music) -- Minnesota -- Saint Paul.; African American Baptists -- Minnesota -- Saint Paul.; Baptists -- Clergy.

Persons:: Battle, James W.

Document Types:: Photographs.

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