00398 SAINT PHILIP'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH (SAINT PAUL, MINN.): An Inventory of Its Records at the Minnesota Historical Society Finding aid prepared by Lara D. Friedman~Shedlov. Minnesota Historical Society

St. Paul MN.

Manuscripts Collection

Finding aid encoded by Stephanie Grabowski, June 3, 1999.Finding aid written inEnglish August 2008Converted from EAD Version 1.0 to Version 2002 by Monica Manny Ralston, Daniel Sher, and Joyce Chapman. OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION Minnesota Historical Society Saint Philip's Episcopal Church (Saint Paul, Minn.). Records. 1900-1995 (bulk 1976-1995). Records of a predominantly African-American church located in St. Paul, Minnesota. 3.5 cu. ft. (4 boxes). See Detailed Description section for shelf locations. HISTORY OF ST. PHILIP'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

St. Philip's Episcopal Church traces its origins to 1868, when the Reverend T. H. N. Gerry organized a Black Episcopal congregation known as St. Mark's. With the death of Rev. Gerry a year later, the congregation disbanded. After a hiatus of twenty years, former members were spurred to revive the congregation by the arrival in St. Paul of Mrs. Elizabeth Tibbs, originally from Baltimore. Mrs. Tibbs and others petitioned the Bishop for the establishment of a mission in the Black community in St. Paul. Doubtful of the viability of such a mission, approval for the venture was not granted until 1894. On May 1st of that year (the feast of St. Philip), St. Philip's mission was organized by Archdeacon Appleby.

In 1905 the congregation purchased its first church building, which was destroyed in 1954 to make way for the present facility. The year 1905 also saw the appointment of St. Philips' first full time priest, Alfred H. Lealtad. Following Lealtad's retirement in 1934 the parish was served by the following priests: Edward James (1935-1938), Victor Holley (1938-1944), Llewellyn Williams (1944-1950), Denzil Carty (1950-1975), Phillip Jones and Jeannette Piccard (1975-1977), Chester Talton (1977-1981), David Weaver (1981-1983), Thomas Logan (1983-1987), Christopher Laing (1987-1990), and Melvin Turner (1990-).

SCOPE AND CONTENTS OF THE COLLECTION

Although St. Philip's Episcopal Church was founded in 1894, materials in the collection date primarily from the 1970s onwards. Records consist primarily of vestry records, including minutes and financial records dating from the 1970s to the 1990s; rectors' correspondence; and church bulletins, as well as a collection of subject files. Also included are membership-related records such as marriage certificates and related documents, letters of transfer, directories, and rosters.

ARRANGEMENT OF THE COLLECTION

These records are organized into the following sections:

Miscellaneous Administrative Records Vestry Records Publications Rectors' Correspondence Subject Files RELATED MATERIALS

The papers of Denzil Carty, Rector of St. Philip's Episcopal Church from 1950 to 1975, are available in the Minnesota Historical Society manuscript collections, cataloged separately.

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: African-Americans -- Religion -- Minnesota. African-American clergy -- Minnesota -- Saint Paul. Episcopal church -- Minnesota -- Saint Paul. Persons: Carty, Denzil A. Talton, Chester L. Turner, Melvin E. Organization: Union of Black Episcopalians. Types of Documentation: Marriage records -- Minnesota. Church records -- Minnesota -- Saint Paul. Occupation: Clergy -- Minnesota -- Saint Paul. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Restrictions:

Restricted, in part. With the exception of the publications series (see Box 2), access to materials less than 25 years old requires written permission.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. St. Philips Episcopal Church Records. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession numbers: 11,709; 11,924; 15,251; 15,418; 15,943

Processing Information:

Processed by: Lara D. Friedman~Shedlov, September 1998; Lynn Leitte, November 2002

Catalog ID number: 09-00320301

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION Miscellaneous Administrative Records (RESTRICTED, in part)

Records in this series provide information on the membership and history of the church.

144.E.19.7B 1 History and background materials, undated.

Includes bylaws, Canons of the Diocese of Minnesota, parish profiles, historical overviews of the church, and other background materials.

Photographs, undated. 34 prints, 1 negative, and some photocopies.

Includes pictures of the church building (mainly the interior of the new building), a portrait of Rev. Chester L. Talton, and pictures of Rev. Turner with unidentified people, and congregational members taking communion.

Correspondence, 1900-1987. Rosters and member lists: All Saints' Memorial, 1952-1967. Church school, [1967?]. Communicants, 1903-1936. "Cradle Roll," [1917-1919?]. Directories, undated and 1980, 1983. Guild of the Black Madonna phone directory, November 6, 1987. Little Helpers of St. Philip's, 1913-1933. Minnesota Missionary subscriptions, [1967?]. Information for visitors, undated.

Includes congregational hymn book.

Guest register, 1944-1968. Marriage certificates, 1947-1989. 2 folders. Marriage applications, marriage service programs, and related correspondence, 1965-1987. 2 folders.

Includes mainly applications made by divorced church members to the rector for remarriage in the church.

Funeral service programs, 1975-1979, 1988-1993. Letters of transfer, 1946-1990. Vestry Records (RESTRICTED, in part)

The vestry functions like a board of directors in the Episcopal Church. It is led by the rector (the head priest) and senior warden (elected head of the vestry), as well as other officers. The bulk of the vestry records consists of minutes and financial records. Also included are a few miscellaneous files on policies and training for new vestry members.

144.E.19.7B 1 Minutes, 1977-1993. 3 folders. Reports, correspondence, and other related documents, 1983-1993. 7 folders. Parochial reports and diocesan pledges, 1936-1946, 1976-1978, 1991-1992. 2 folders. 144.E.19.8F 2 Covenant with Reverend David E. Weaver, August 16, 1981. Budget and financial reports, undated and 1909, 1936, 1947-1956, 1974-1981. 3 folders. Financial pledges, 1967, 1984-1985. Finance committee, 1989-1992. 2 folders. Treasurer's file, 1991-1992. Correspondence, 1974-1993. Training, 1991. Vestry book (policies), 1979-1980. Annual meetings, 1979-1994. Publications

Church publications in the collection include weekly bulletins (certain years of which were titled The Episcopalian) and a church newsletter, The Parishioner. The bulletins contain the order or service for each week as well as announcements about events, thanks, and brief messages to the congregation. The newsletters contain longer articles on topics such as current events, church history, the church calendar, and profiles of church members.

144.E.19.8F 2 The Episcopalian church bulletin, 1950-1974. 9 folders. Bulletins, 1976-1979 (scattered), 1989-1993. Miscellaneous programs and flyers, undated and 1976-1978, 1990-1993. The Parishioner newsletter, 1976-1978, 1989-1990, 1992. SPEYC newsletter [St. Philip's Episcopal Young Churchmen], 1:1 (November 30, 1959). Rectors' Correspondence (RESTRICTED, in part)

This series consists of correspondence of three different rectors of the church, dating from the early 1970s to 1995. The correspondence includes letters of reference, announcements to the congregation, and letters of thanks, as well as communications with the priests of other churches in the area. Also included is one folder of 1970s correspondence between Rev. Talton and bishops of Minnesota, primarily Philip McNairy.

151.E.18.3B 3 Talton correspondence, 1973, 1976-1981. 3 folders. Logan correspondence, 1983-1987. 2 folders. Turner correspondence, 1990-1995. 6 folders. Correspondence with the bishop, 1976-1979. Subject Files (RESTRICTED, in part)

Subject files are arranged in alphabetical order and include material dating from 1950 to 1994. Topics of particular interest include the 1991-1992 boycott of department store Carson Pirie Scott and the church's centennial in 1994. Another highlight is the records pertaining to St. Philip's Gardens, a low-income housing project constructed under the auspices of the church in 1973. As of the early 1980s, it was the only Black-owned and managed housing complex in St. Paul.

St. Philip's also sponsored a chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians. Records of this organization include minutes, correspondence, memoranda, financial reports, and annual meeting materials.

151.E.18.3B 3 Acolytes, 1977-1979, 1989-1991. Aging, 1988-1993. Annual St. Philip's - St. Thomas picnic, undated and 1977, 1989, 1991. Book of Life, 1985. Carson Pirie Scott boycott, 1991-1992. Centennial, 1994. Church school, 1976-1979, 1988-1991. Construction of new church building, 1955-1971. Dedication of new church, 1955. Election of Bishop Jelinek, 1993. Episcopal Church Women: United Thank offering, 1977-1979. Episcopal Commission for Black Ministers, 1976-1978. Guild Auxiliary minute book, 1936-1938. Ladies Auxiliary scrapbook, 1943-1945. Lay readers' schedules, 1978-1980. Men's Club, 1978, 1989-1990, 1992-1993.

Mostly treasurer's reports.

151.E.18.3B 3 Metropolitan Council, 1991-1992. PAT (Putting it All Together), 1983-1985. 2 folders. Persian Gulf War, 1991. Prisons, 1984. Racism, 1979, 1993. Region VII Diocese of Minnesota Board minutes and related documents, 1976-1979. St. Philip's Gardens: Correspondence, reports, and other material, 1977-1987, 1991. Monthly income reports, 1980, 1983-1986. Financial audits, 1979, 1983-1985. 144.E.19.9B 4 Retreat, undated and 1988-1989. Summit-University Clergy, 1976-1980. Summit-University Crime Prevention Council, 1977-1980. 2 folders. Tri-parish activities, 1979. Union of Black Episcopalians, 1976-1979, 1989-1992. 2 folders. Voorhees choir concert, 1977-1978. Worship assistant consent forms, 1991. Young people, 1978. Miscellaneous, 1950-1993.