| Repository: | Western Reserve Historical Society |
| Creator: | Greater Avery African Methodist Episcopal Church |
| Title: | Greater Avery African Methodist Episcopal Church Photographs |
| Dates: | 1927-2004 |
| Extent: | 0.20 linear feet (1 container) |
| Abstract: | Greater Avery African Methodist Episcopal Church was founded by Reverend James J. Price on April 21, 1918 in Cleveland, Ohio. As the membership of the church grew, Reverend Price lead the church to purchase property at 2363 East 28th Street in 1920. In 1953, Greater Avery purchased the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Bethlehem Church on Wade Park Avenue. The collection consists of approximately 150 color and black and white photographs depicting church buildings, church members, and church events. |
| Picture Group | PG 599 |
| Location: | closed stacks |
| Language: | The records are in English |
Greater Avery African Methodist Episcopal Church was founded by Reverend James J. Price on April 21, 1918 in Cleveland, Ohio. The original name of the church was Marion Mission, but it was changed to Avery Chapel later that year at the African Methodist Episcopal Church Annual Conference. Reverend Price named the church after one his mother had attended in Memphis, Tennessee, named after abolitionist Charles Avery.
As the membership of the church grew, Reverend Price lead the church to purchase property at 2363 East 28th Street in 1920. Following this purchase, Price retired in 1921. The church was not built right away, however, and the congregation gathered in a local community center for about four years. In 1924, Reverend Thomas W. Chryer became pastor of Greater Avery. Chryer was also a carpenter and contractor, and helped to push the congregation to finish the new church building on East 28th.
When the city of Cleveland began its urban renewal program, it became necessary for the church to seek another location. In 1953, Greater Avery purchased the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Bethlehem Church on Wade Park Avenue. It was after moving into this building that the church received its current name, Greater Avery African Methodist Episcopal Church.
The church continued to flourish at this location, and, in 1961, the church held a mortgage burning ceremony. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the church property expanded and improved. New land surrounding the building was acquired, and a complete remodel of the church was done.
Greater Avery celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2008 and is still a thriving Cleveland parish as of this writing.
The Greater Avery African Methodist Episcopal Church Photographs, 1927-2004 and undated, consist of approximately 150 color and black and white photographs depicting church buildings, church members, and church events.
This collection is of value to those studying the Greater Avery African Methodist Episcopal Church in Cleveland, Ohio, and the history of religion and the African American community there in the twentieth century and early twenty-first century. Of particular note is the photograph of church founder James J. Price's headstone. Those researching the African Methodist Episcopal Church in general may find the collection of use, particularly the views of church services and church events. Events depicted include community outreach, celebrations, fundraisers, and youth events.
None.
Related MaterialThe researcher should also consult MS 5234 Greater Avery African Methodist Episcopal Church Records.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
[Container ___, Folder ___ ] PG 599 Greater Avery African Methodist Episcopal Church Photographs, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
Gift of Darlene Thomas Murray, in honor of her mother, Mary Rehder Thomas, in 2011.
Processing of this collection was made possible by a gift from Gina Hamister. Processed by Jessica Marra in 2014.
Series I: Portraits 1927-2004 undated |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Group portrait, Beautina Hyman, Athena Finney, and Bernice Rivers undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 2 | Group portrait, church choir 1970 | |||||||||
| 1 | 3 | Group portrait, Lee Memorial AME Church congregation 1927 | |||||||||
| 1 | 4 | Group portrait, Reverend Ray Hutchinson and church members at mortgage burning ceremony 1947 | |||||||||
| 1 | 5 | Group portrait, St. Mary's AME Church congregation undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 6 | Group portraits, unidentified 1961 undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 7 | Individual portrait, Fisher, Osmond 1996 | |||||||||
| 1 | 8 | Individual portrait, Harris, Reverend James H. ca. 2004 | |||||||||
| 1 | 9 | Individual portrait, James, Reverend E.J. ca. 1962 | |||||||||
| 1 | 10 | Individual portrait, Johnson, Carl 1996 | |||||||||
| 1 | 11 | Individual portrait, Lively, Lucinda undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 12 | Individual portraits, unidentified undated | |||||||||
Series II: Views 1929-2003 undated |
|||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 13 | Church events 1967 1990 undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 14 | Church exteriors 1929 2001 2003 undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 15 | Church interiors 1983 undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 16 | Church services undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 17 | First Communion 1988 | |||||||||
| 1 | 18 | Headstone of James. J. Price, church founder 1950 | |||||||||