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Record Creator: | Ransom, Reverdy Cassius |
Title: | Reverdy Cassius Ransom Papers |
Title: | Ransom Papers |
Date Span: | 1886-1949 |
Abstract: | Reverdy Cassius Ransom (1861-1959), African Methodist Episcopal Bishop, was born in Flushing, Ohio, on January 4, 1861. He was elected to the episcopacy from the editorship of the Church Review in 1924. He delivered the invocation at the Democratic National Convention in 1940 and was a founder of the famous Niagra Movement, the forerunner of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Ransom’s papers reflect four different topics: African-American church history with an emphasis on the African Methodist Episcopal Church and its social beliefs, the role of the clergy, racism and travels |
Extent: | 0.45 cubic feet |
Resource ID: | drew.ms.2416 |
Reverdy Cassius Ransom (1861-1959), African Methodist Episcopal Bishop, was born in Flushing, Ohio, on January 4, 1861. He was educated at Wilberforce University, where he graduated in theology in 1886, and at Oberlin College. He was converted in 1881, licensed to preach in 1883, ordained deacon in 1886 and elder in 1888. He held pastorates in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Massachusetts and New York. He was elected to the episcopacy from the editorship of the Church Review in 1924. Bishop Ransom was an outstanding exponent of the Social Gospel. He delivered the invocation at the Democratic National Convention in 1940 and was a founder of the famous Niagra Movement, the forerunner of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Ransom’s papers reflect four different topics: African-American church history with an emphasis on the African Methodist Episcopal Church and its social beliefs, the role of the clergy, racism and travels. Their is a history of the church in the Manuscripts folder along with a number of other works covering a plethora of topics related to Ransom's ministry and viewpoints. A separate manuscript folder talks about his vision for the role of clergy in the ministry during the 1930's. Two documents on the AME Social Creed reflects part of Ransom’s influence in this area on the denomination. Part of the correspondence revolves around his work in the church as editor and pastor but the main body centers on a 1906 race incident Ransom experienced on a Pullman car in Tennessee. Though the letters do not reveal the specific incident, they do document the outrage it produced amongst friends and the legal community. Correspondence to Emma, his wife, is a travel log of his 1901 trip to Europe where he traveled with other AME leaders on a lecture tour.
Materials have been arranged in the following manner.
Material is arranged by record type.
When citing material from this collection please use the following format: Direct reference to the item or its file folder, Reverdy Cassius Ransom Papers, Methodist Collection - Drew University, Madison, New Jersey. Do not make use of the item's call number as that is not a stable descriptor.
There are no restrictions regarding this collection. Copyright still owned by Drew. Permissions to publish must be directed to Drew.
Detailed use restrictions relating to our collections can be requested from the office of the archivist at the General Commission on Archives and History. Photocopying is handled by the staff and may be limited in certain instances. Before using any material for publication from this collection a formal request for permission to publish is expected and required.
Bishop Reverdy C. Ransom collection, Payne Theological Seminary
Reverdy C. Ransom collection, Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library, Emory University
Index Terms |
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Subject Topics | ||
Church and social problems | ||
Ministry | ||
Racism | ||
Travel | ||
Subject Geographic | ||
Europe | ||
United States | ||
Genre | ||
Correspondence | ||
Manuscripts |
Call Number | Folder Title | Date(s) |
2132-3-5: 1 | General Correspondence | 1886-1918 |
2132-3-5: 2 | Letters To Wife From Europe | 1901 |
2132-3-5: 3 | Ephemera | 1920 |
2132-3-5: 4 | Social Creed of the African Methodist Church | Undated |
2132-3-5: 5 | Social Role of The Negro Minister, The | 1932 |
2132-3-5: 6 | Manuscripts | 1898-1949 |