Research Catalog

Details

Description

1. 11.2 lin. ft. (28 archival boxes)

Summary

1. The J. Alfred Smith, Sr. Papers primarily document Smith's roles as author, pastor of the Allen Baptist Temple Church (ATBC) and his activities with the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc (PNBC) as well as other church organizations. Over half of the papers document Smith's career during the 1970s and '80s as pastor of ATBC and president of the PNBC. Smith's papers include very little documentation on his career and professional activities during the 1950s and '60s, his vice presidency and presidency of the Progressive State Baptist Convention of California and Nevada headquartered in Los Angeles, or his first and second vice presidencies of the PNBC.
2. The Writings series (1942-1992, bulk 1980's) contains principally manuscripts and sermons. Manuscripts, 1982-1992 include drafts and galleyproofs of Smith's published books and unpublished writings with the broad themes being church-related. Several of the manuscripts are of guidebooks for teaching and preaching from the Bible, ministering and sermonizing, while others address the issues of pastor/deacon relations and church trusteeship.
3. Manuscripts for his books include: "Blessed Are They That Mourn - For they Shall Be Comforted: Understanding How to Minister to Those Who Experience Grief," "Deacons' Upholding the Pastor's Arms," "Making Sense of Suffering: A Message to Job's Children: A Guide to teaching and Preaching the Book," "New Treasures From the Old: A Guide to Preaching From the Old Testament," and "Preach On!," all published in the 1980s.
4. The Sermons, 1960, 1979-1991 focus on the mission of the church and his ministry, and advocate maintaining steadfastness and living a Christian life in the face of adversity. Interwoven throughout his sermons are discussions of current events. The Allen Street Baptist Church, 1965-1992 series contains Smith's correspondence and printed matter relating to the church and Smith's activities. There is correspondence between Smith and the ATBC staff, PNBC officials, and others regarding church events, invitations, and business matters. Printed matter consists of brochures, church bulletins, directories and handbooks, flyers, newsletters, programs, souvenir journals, clippings, and a workbook. The Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc., 1982-1991 series relates primarily to Smith's tenure as president of PNBC. The series consists of correspondence and printed matter dealing with the business and operations of PNBC and pertains to officers, committees and publications, activities, financial records and projects.
5. The General Professional Activities, 1957-1992, series contains correspondence and printed matter pertaining to Smith's involvement in other than PNBC or ATBC activities. Included in this series is correspondence with organizations with which Smith was active in an administrative capacity or as a member of the board of trustees.

Subject

1. African American churches
2. African American leadership
3. Oakland (Calif.) > Church history
4. Smith, J. Alfred (James Alfred)
5. African Americans > Social conditions
6. African American preaching
7. Sermons
8. Allen Temple Street Baptist Church (Oakland, Calif.)
9. Speeches
10. African Americans > Religion
11. Black author
12. African American clergy
13. African American Baptists > California > Oakland
14. African American Baptists > Clergy
15. African American churches > California > Oakland
16. African Americans > Civil rights
17. Sermons, American
18. Progressive National Baptist Convention

Genre/Form

1. Sermons.
2. Speeches.

Call number

1. Sc MG 366

Note

1. Photographs transferred to Photographs and Prints Division.
2. Artifacts transferred to Art and Artifact Division.
3. Audiotapes and videotapes transferred to Moving Image and Recorded Sound Division.
4. Books and magazines transferred to General Research and Reference Division.

Source (note)

1. James Alfred Smith, Sr.

Biography (note)

1. The Rev. Dr. James Alfred Smith, Sr. pastured to African-American Baptist churches in Missouri and California from 1960-2009. He was born in 1931 in Kansas City, and over a period of twenty years, he earned four college degrees, the last, a Doctor of Ministry (1975). In 1970 Smith became pastor of Allen Temple Baptist Church (ATBC), an African-American church with a high percentage of Latino members, located in Oakland, California. He relinquished his position of pastor of the ATBC to his son in 2009.
2. Smith gained local recognition through his pastoral duties at ATBC and activities in the local community. He administered over twenty-five community and family-oriented programs and services at ATBC, the congregation of which multiplied from less than 1000 members in 1970 to over 4,000 in 1989. Smith served several high administrative positions with the Progressive National Baptist Convention (PNBC), a convention of African-American Baptists emphasizing civil rights and social justice, following a path of political activism through "fellowship, progress and peace." From 1986-1988 Smith was president of PNBC. Additionally, Smith has written approximately twenty books and several articles, and continues an active speaking schedule at churches and other organizations throughout the United States.

Author

1. Smith, J. Alfred (James Alfred)

Title

1. James Alfred Smith, Sr. papers, 1942-1992 (bulk 1980-1989).

Biography

1. The Rev. Dr. James Alfred Smith, Sr. pastured to African-American Baptist churches in Missouri and California from 1960-2009. He was born in 1931 in Kansas City, and over a period of twenty years, he earned four college degrees, the last, a Doctor of Ministry (1975). In 1970 Smith became pastor of Allen Temple Baptist Church (ATBC), an African-American church with a high percentage of Latino members, located in Oakland, California. He relinquished his position of pastor of the ATBC to his son in 2009.
2. Smith gained local recognition through his pastoral duties at ATBC and activities in the local community. He administered over twenty-five community and family-oriented programs and services at ATBC, the congregation of which multiplied from less than 1000 members in 1970 to over 4,000 in 1989. Smith served several high administrative positions with the Progressive National Baptist Convention (PNBC), a convention of African-American Baptists emphasizing civil rights and social justice, following a path of political activism through "fellowship, progress and peace." From 1986-1988 Smith was president of PNBC. Additionally, Smith has written approximately twenty books and several articles, and continues an active speaking schedule at churches and other organizations throughout the United States.

Source

1. James Alfred Smith, Sr. Gift Feb. 1990 SCM 90-7

Connect to:

1. Finding Aid

Local subject

1. Black author.

Added author

1. Smith, J. Alfred (James Alfred). Deacons' upholding the pastor's arms.
2. Smith, J. Alfred (James Alfred). Making sense of suffering: a message to Job's children: a guide to teaching and preaching the Book.
3. Smith, J. Alfred (James Alfred). New treasures from the old: a guide to preaching from the old testament.
4. Smith, J. Alfred (James Alfred). Preach on!
5. Smith, J. Alfred (James Alfred). Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted: understanding how to minister to those who experience grief.

Research call number

1. Sc MG 366