Adam Clayton Powell, Sr.
Adam Clayton Powell, Sr. (1865-1953)
clergyman, author
photo by James Van der Zee
Reverend Powell was born in Franklin County, Virginia, on May 5, 1865. His parents, Anthony and Sally Dunning Powell had been slaves. He was one of the most famous African-American churchmen of his time. Converted in 1885, he decided to study law and politics. He attended Virginia Union University from 1888 to 1892 and graduated from the theological and academic departments. He pastored several churches in various cities such as St. Paul, Philadelphia, and New Haven, where he was a special student at Yale Divinity School before being named pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York City, in December of 1908.
He was a charismatic preacher and managed to increase the congregation of the Abyssinian Church substantially. In 1920, Powell bought land in Harlem for the church at West 138th St. By 1923, a new church building had been constructed. Powell was also responsible for building one of the first community recreation centers in Harlem. He established a social/religious education program, and by the mid-1930s, Abyssinian Baptist Church, boasting 14,000 members, had one of the largest Protestant congregations in America. During the Depression, he campaigned to feed the poor and for better jobs and city services.
Reverend Adam Clayton Powell, Sr., was actively involved in the struggle against racism, and he lectured on race relations at Colgate University, City College of New York and Union Theological Seminary. He was a founder of the National Urban League, an early leader in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and was one of the organizers of the Silent Protest Parade. Reverend Powell was a proponent of racial pride and believed in education and hard work. His son, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., was the first African-American to represent New York in Congress. The photograph depicts Reverend Powell with his Sunday School class of 1926.
There were several large churches established in Harlem in the early 1900s. These institutions played a pivotal role in the development of Harlem's culture. Mother AME Zion Church and St. Philips Episcopal Church were two important religious organizations. There were also other historically important religious movements in the 1920s and 1930s. The African Orthodox Church was established by Marcus Garvey in 1921, and Father Divine's Peace Mission, a cult led by George Baker, were two of the most popular. Founded in 1936, the Academy of Islam was also a gathering place for those of the Muslim faith in Harlem. All of these institutions served Harlem's community.
clergyman, author
photo by James Van der Zee
Reverend Powell was born in Franklin County, Virginia, on May 5, 1865. His parents, Anthony and Sally Dunning Powell had been slaves. He was one of the most famous African-American churchmen of his time. Converted in 1885, he decided to study law and politics. He attended Virginia Union University from 1888 to 1892 and graduated from the theological and academic departments. He pastored several churches in various cities such as St. Paul, Philadelphia, and New Haven, where he was a special student at Yale Divinity School before being named pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York City, in December of 1908.
He was a charismatic preacher and managed to increase the congregation of the Abyssinian Church substantially. In 1920, Powell bought land in Harlem for the church at West 138th St. By 1923, a new church building had been constructed. Powell was also responsible for building one of the first community recreation centers in Harlem. He established a social/religious education program, and by the mid-1930s, Abyssinian Baptist Church, boasting 14,000 members, had one of the largest Protestant congregations in America. During the Depression, he campaigned to feed the poor and for better jobs and city services.
Reverend Adam Clayton Powell, Sr., was actively involved in the struggle against racism, and he lectured on race relations at Colgate University, City College of New York and Union Theological Seminary. He was a founder of the National Urban League, an early leader in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and was one of the organizers of the Silent Protest Parade. Reverend Powell was a proponent of racial pride and believed in education and hard work. His son, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., was the first African-American to represent New York in Congress. The photograph depicts Reverend Powell with his Sunday School class of 1926.
There were several large churches established in Harlem in the early 1900s. These institutions played a pivotal role in the development of Harlem's culture. Mother AME Zion Church and St. Philips Episcopal Church were two important religious organizations. There were also other historically important religious movements in the 1920s and 1930s. The African Orthodox Church was established by Marcus Garvey in 1921, and Father Divine's Peace Mission, a cult led by George Baker, were two of the most popular. Founded in 1936, the Academy of Islam was also a gathering place for those of the Muslim faith in Harlem. All of these institutions served Harlem's community.
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