Detroit: Religion: Clergy and other Persons
Billy Graham with Michigan Governor G. Mennen Williams, Bishop James Pike, Nancy Williams, and Bishop Richard Emrich, Briggs Stadium (later Tiger Stadium), Detroit, 1953. Photograph by Press Picture Service (Richard S.M. Emrich papers, Box 1) image bl004015
Bury family.
- Bury family papers, 1831-1931.
- 0.4 linear ft.
Family of Rev. Richard A. Bury (1792-1875), Episcopal priest, rector of St. Paul's Church, Detroit, and later a farmer at Grosse Ile, Michigan; and his son Richard Augustus Bury (1830-1901), of Adrian, Michigan.
Includes notebook of Rev. Richard A. Bury (and Antoinette E. Gregory and E. B. Gregory) on sermons heard in Detroit, and Albany, New York, 1831-1833, and of lectures of John Lord at Lane Seminary in Cincinnati, 1852; journal of farm activities at Grosse Ile, 1834-1859; diary, 1853, of Richard Augustus Bury describing boat trip from Detroit to the Straits of Mackinac and Eagle River with comments on northern Michigan copper mining.
Cleage, Albert B.
- Albert B. Cleage Jr. papers 1949-2005
- 19 microfilm reels.
Detroit, Michigan clergyman, pastor at St. Mark's Presbyterian Church, which later became Central Congregational Church. In the 1960s, Cleage and his congregation began restructuring the church's rituals, programs, and theology to conform to the Black Christian Nationalist philosophy. In 1970, the church was renamed the Shrine of the Black Madonna.
The collection contains correspondence, sermons, and writings of Albert B. Cleage, Jr. (his name would later be changed to Jaramogi Abebe Agyeman); records of the shrine of the Black Madonna; papers of individuals within the church who assisted Cleage; and records of the National Office of the Shrine.
Finding aid available in library
Cooper, David M. (David Mack), 1827-1908
- David Mack Cooper papers, [ca. 1812]-[ca. 1908].
- 1 item and 2 volumes.
Presbyterian clergyman in Saginaw, Grand Haven, Albion and Detroit, Michigan.
Two scrapbooks, one containing business accounts of father, David Cooper, a tax roll for War of 1812 damages, documents signed by President John Q. Adams, and some correspondence, including two letters from William Woodbridge and one from Henry Schoolcraft sent from Washington, D.C., 1819, via the Walk-in-the-Water; the other containing clippings pertaining to his ministerial activities plus scattered manuscript articles; also a letter, 1848, to his father listing his expenses for one term at the University of Michigan.
Coughlin, Charles E. (Charles Edward), 1891-1979
- Charles E. Coughlin photograph series, 1934-1936
- 1 folder
Detroit area priest known for his opposition to President Franklin Roosevelt and his New Deal programs.
Photographs, accumulated from different sources, of Coughlin speaking in Detroit and in Twin Cities of Minnesota; also exterior view of the Shrine of the Little Flower in Royal Oak, Michigan.
Crane, Henry Hitt, 1890-1977.
- Henry Hitt Crane papers, 1902-1977 (bulk 1938-1958).
- 32.5 linear ft. and 1 film reel.
Methodist clergyman, pastor of the Centre Methodist Church in Malden, Massachusetts, the Elm Park Methodist Church in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Central Methodist Church in Detroit.
Correspondence, 1938-1958, subject reference file, ca. 1902-1966, name reference file, 1938-1958, sermon file, 1925-1958, scrapbooks, 1928-1958, church bulletins and newsletters from churches at which Crane served, sound tape recordings of messages.
Duffield family.
- Duffield family papers, 1839-1884.
- 0.4 linear ft.
Detroit and Lansing, Michigan family.
Notebook of sermons, notes and miscellaneous receipts of George Duffield, Sr., Presbyterian minister and regent of the University of Michigan; account book, 1871-1875, letter book, 1855-1884, and religious notebook of George Duffield, Jr., minister in Adrian, and Lansing, Michigan, later regent of the University of Michigan.
Emrich, Richard S. M. (Richard Stanley Merrill), 1910-
- Richard Stanley Merrill Emrich paper, 1942-1984.
- 5.6 linear ft. and 2 oversize volumes.
Episcopal bishop of Michigan.
Scrapbooks and notebooks containing newspaper clippings and photographs relating to his church career, and clippings of newspaper columns containing his views on current events.
Fisher, Frederick Bohn, 1882-1938.
- Frederick Bohn Fisher sermons, 1937-1938.
- 1 folder.
Pastor of Central Methodist Church, Detroit.
Franklin, C. L. (Clarence LaVaughn), 1915-1984.
- C. L. Franklin papers, 1957-1991 (bulk 1963-1984).
- 0.5 linear ft.
African-American clergyman active in the civil rights movement in the 1960s; pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit. Collection consists of photocopies and copy prints of originals in donor's possession.
Papers accumulated by Franklin's daughter, Erma Franklin, relating to the life and career of her father; include biographical information, transcripts of oral interviews; scattered sermons and correspondence, including letters from daughter Aretha and from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; topical files about his church and civil rights activities; and photographs.
Franklin, Leo Morris, 1870-1948.
- Leo M. Franklin papers, [ca. 1906-ca. 1941].
- 3 volumes.
Detroit rabbi and Jewish leader.
Manuscripts of sermons, and discourses on literary matters.
Haass family.
- Haass family papers, [ca. 1898]-[ca. 1941].
- 0.2 linear ft.
Detroit family.
Papers, 1898, of Charles W. F. Haass, Lutheran clergyman, including church program, and notes and prayer in German; scrapbooks, 1913-1931, of Julius H. Haass, Detroit banker, containing obituary notices of family members; and papers, 1936-1941, of Walter F. Haass concerning banking in Detroit, and the career of his father, Charles Haass. (Charles W. F. Haass materials largely in German)
Harris, Samuel Smith, 1841-1888
- Samuel Smith Harris papers, 1878-1889.
- 2 linear ft.
Episcopal bishop of Michigan.
Sermons, lectures, correspondence and miscellanea; also include volumes of sermons.
Hill family.
- Charles A. Hill family papers, 1917-1981 (bulk 1939-1970)
- 2.7 linear ft.
Charles A. Hill was pastor of Hartford Memorial Baptist Church (formerly Hartford Avenue Baptist Church) in Detroit, 1920-1969.
Papers of Charles A. Hill and family pertaining to his church activities and to his involvement in various political and civil rights causes; includes minute book to the meetings of the Detroit chapter of the NAACP, 1944-1947; collected material on Hill and his activities gathered by the Detroit Police Department; and scrapbooks of clippings and photographs of Hill relating to his role as a pastor.
Hilliard, William Alexander, 1904-
- William Alexander Hilliard papers, 1946-1980 (scattered dates).
- 0.5 linear ft.
Pastor of St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church, Detroit, 1947-1959; bishop of A.M.E. Zion Church, 1960-
Church reports written by Hilliard and his wife Edra Mae Hilliard, programs, published A.M.E. Zion Church materials, biographical information, and photograph.
Hopper, William F., 1949-2003.
- William F. Hopper papers 1990-2003 (scattered)
- 0.5 linear ft.
Pastor of St. Andrew Redeemer Lutheran Church, Detroit, Michigan.
Sermons, clippings, and miscellaneous; also sound cassettes of some services.
Kresge, Stanley Sebastian, 1900-
- Stanley S. Kresge papers, 1909-1985.
- 11 linear ft., 2 oversized volumes, and 1 oversized folder
Businessman with the S. S. Kresge Company (later K-mart Corporation) and philanthropist.
Business records, materials relating to philanthropic activities, notably documenting the work of the Kresge Foundation, and family materials; also organizational materials, speeches, and photographs.
Lemon, William Philip, 1882-1967.
- William P. Lemon papers, 1908-1966.
- 18 linear ft.
Presbyterian clergyman, pastor of Calvary Presbyterian Church, Newark, New Jersey, 1915-1921, of Andrew Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1921-1931, of the First Presbyterian Church of Iowa City, Iowa, 1931-1934, and the First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1934-1951.
Correspondence, copies of essays and book reviews written for religious periodicals, sermons and addresses, mimeographed study notes of talks given in Detroit before the Men's Club for the Study of Religion, religious and literary notebooks, and travel journals; also photographs.
Lyster, William Narcissus.
- William N. Lyster papers, 1839-1861.
- 1 microfilm reel.
Missionary at large of the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan.
Sermons, poems, and reports; also drafts of letters to his family in Ireland, Bishop Samuel McCoskry and other colleagues, primarily concerning his work and the communities to be visited.
Martin, George Urquhart, 1896-1961.
- George Urquhart Martin papers, 1939-1940.
- 0.1 linear ft.
Pastor of First United Presbyterian Church, Detroit, Mich.
Correspondence and other documents relating to a proposed conference on church architecture to be held in Detroit; contains correspondence with Michigan architects including Alden Dow; also responses to an architecture survey from about 20 Detroit area churches.
McCoskry, Samuel Allen, 1804-1886.
- Samuel Allen McCoskry diary, 1836-1840.
- 1 volume
Pioneer bishop of the Michigan Episcopal Church.
Description of the placement of clergy in the Michigan diocese; and photographs.
Meally, John Edward, 1864-
- John E. Meally papers, 1893-1949.
- 1 linear ft.
Methodist minister and secretary of the Board of Stewards of the Detroit Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Correspondence and financial materials relating to his work on behalf of retired ministers; report, 1944, of the Peoples' Congress of Applied Religion.
Monteith, John, 1788-1868.
- John Monteith papers, 1797-1885.
- 2 linear ft.
Presbyterian minister in Elyria, Ohio, Detroit and Blissfield, Michigan; professor at Hamilton College and first president of the University of Michigan.
Correspondence between Monteith and other family members, 1817-1885, concerning current events, travels, temperance reform, slavery, and banking failures; annual report, November 1818, of John Monteith to governor and judges of Michigan Territory concerning the university; diaries, 1808-1838, notes on his library, sermons and sermon outlines, speeches, notes on class lectures, account books, notebook, 1820, containing a Chippewa-English vocabulary; student notes, 1797-1798, taken by Alexander Monteith at Dickinson College; and manuscript play, entitled, "The Raging Firelands" composed by John Monteith, Jr.; biographical sketch of Abigail Monteith written by Edwin Harris Monteith; correspondence of Monteith's wife Abigail, his daughter Sarah and his sons George, John Jr., Charles and Edwin; letters concerning George Monteith's service as an officer in the Fourth Michigan Infantry during the Civil War; and photographs.
Morrison, Minnie T.
- Minnie T. Morrison papers, 1920-1957.
- 0.5 linear ft.
Resident of Detroit.
Scattered correspondence, three scrapbooks, reminiscences of Redford and Detroit, Michigan, histories of various Detroit organizations, especially women's clubs and St. Paul's and St. Christopher's Episcopal churches.
Nissen family.
- Nissen family papers 1954-[ongoing]
- 0.1 linear ft.
Papers of the Eugene Nissen family of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Letter, 1982, from Beth Nissen, Latin American correspondent for Newsweek concerning conditions in Nicaragua; family Christmas letters; histories and other materials relating to St. Andrew-Redeemer Lutheran Church in Detroit.
Olert, Frederick H.
- Frederick H. Olert papers ca. 1956-1972
- 5 items
Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Detroit, Michigan, and Central Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Sermons.
Page, Herman, 1866-1942.
- Herman Page papers, 1900-1942.
- 1 linear ft.
Episcopal bishop of diocese of Michigan and diocese of Northern Michigan.
Correspondence, sermons, and scrapbooks concerning his life in Fall River, Massachusetts, Chicago, Illinois, Spokane, Washington, and Detroit, Michigan, especially relating to Episcopal City Mission and Mariners' Church in Detroit.
Potts, Robert L.
- Robert L. Potts papers, 1966-1992.
- 4 linear ft.
Episcopal priest, member of the executive committee of the Metropolitan Detroit Citizens Development Authority, civic organization established with the goals of improving the economic, social, educational, cultural and general welfare of the people of the city of Detroit; also coordinator of the Youth Opportunity Council of Detroit.
Executive committee minutes, financial statements, and miscellaneous papers relating to his activities; also writings of his son, Randolph Potts and sound recordings of sermons given by Potts.
Regal family.
- Regal family papers, 1834-1905.
- 0.9 linear ft.
Macomb, and Washtenaw County, Michigan family.
Correspondence, sermons, diaries, and other papers of Eli Regal, Disciples of Christ clergyman in Michigan and Ohio; papers of his wife, Sarah Jane, and their children, Ellen, Abel, and Eli, Jr.; contain papers written from Detroit, Richmond and Ypsilanti, Michigan.
Rennells, Charles S. (Charles Stephen), 1873-1962.
- Charles S. Rennells papers, 1890-1960.
- 1 linear ft. and 1 oversize item.
Hickory Corners, Michigan, Wesleyan Methodist clergyman.
Includes collected historical documents relating to churches in Detroit and Romulus, Michigan.
Richard, Gabriel, 1767-1832.
- Gabriel Richard papers, 1792-1832.
- 0.2 linear ft. (photostats, microfilm, typescripts, and originals).
French Catholic priest and missionary in Detroit; also co-founder of the Catholepistemiad (or University of Michigan).
Copies of documents, transcripts of letters, and scattered original documents collected from various sources and relating to Richard's activities.
Rohland, Richard M., 1919-1993.
- Richard M. Rohland papers, 1950s-1960s.
- 1 folder.
Detroit minister and founder of Protestant Youth Organization, a social service organization.
Biographical and other miscellanea and photographs.
Salvatore, Nick, 1943-
- C. L. Franklin oral history project 1998-2002
- 47 transcripts of interviews and 117 audiocassettes (in 3 boxes).
Professor of history at Cornell University.
Recordings and transcripts of interviews conducted in the course of his research into the life and career of C. L. Franklin, African American clergyman, long-time pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan, and active participant in the civil rights movement.
Smith, William, 1846-1889.
- William Smith papers, 1889.
- 20 items.
Pastor of the Palmer Memorial (Methodist) Church.
Letters to family written from Europe describing travels and state of health; newspaper obituaries; and miscellanea.
Studley, William Sprague, 1823-1893.
- William Sprague Studley papers, 1846-1910.
- 0.6 linear ft.
Methodist Episcopal minister in Detroit and Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Evanston, Illinois.
Correspondence; diaries, 1860 and 1873, of trips through Florida and Europe; scrapbook, newspaper clippings concerning activities of Studley family, 1855-1910.
Titus, Sam W.
- Sam W. Titus marriage record books 1845-1907
- 3 v.
Baptist clergyman.
Record of marriages performed in Flint, Grand Rapids, and Detroit, Michigan.
Van Dyke, Ernest.
- Ernest Van Dyke papers, 1886 and 1918.
- 1 folder.
Detroit Catholic priest.
Clippings from scrapbook, 1918, commemorating both his ordination and his years as priest at St. Aloysius Church in Detroit.
Waddles, Charleszetta, 1912-
- Charleszetta Waddles autobiography, [ca. 1975].
- 1 folder.
Pentecostal minister and founder of the Perpetual Mission for Saving Souls of All Nations in Detroit.
The autobiography describes her mission work and other aspects of her life.
Willard family.
- Willard family scrapbooks, [ca. 1870-ca. 1910].
- 3 volumes
George W. and Carrie May Thurston Willard family of Detroit.
Scrapbooks of clippings of a general nature on St. John's Episcopal Church of Detroit, state politics, and miscellaneous subjects.
Williams, Charles David, 1860-1923.
- Charles David Williams papers, 1878-1923.
- 3 linear ft.
Episcopal bishop of Michigan.
Correspondence concerning personal and church affairs and the social gospel movement, including correspondence with Walter Rauschenbush, Samuel Mather, and Lucretia Garfield; also sermons and addresses, 1885-1923, journals of European trips, 1896, 1917, and 1921, notebooks on social and labor problems, material on the 1908 forest fire at Metz, Michigan (Presque Isle County), and material on the Trinity Cathedral, Cleveland, Ohio, in 1898; biographical writings by his sons, Benedict Williams, his wife, Lucy V. Williams, and his secretary, Charles O. Ford; letters of condolence from fellow clergy, including Reinhold Niebuhr; also photographs.
A Sunday School group, Church of the Cross Lutheran Mission, St. Jean St., Detroit, ca. 1965 (Lutheran Church in America, Michigan Synod records) image bl004017