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Father Divine photograph collection

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Description
The collection depicts the activities of Father M.J. Divine's Peace Mission Movement from the 1940s through the mid-1960s, though mainly on the American West Coast (1940s-1950s) and in New York State (ca. 1940s). The collection consists of studio portraits and candid shots of Divine and his second wife, Mother Sweet Angel Divine; a candid shot of first wife Peninniah "Mother S.W. Divine"; candid shots of Divine's followers; views of dwellings, real estate holdings, businesses, and automobiles owned by Father Divine; and views of religious gatherings, banquets, anniversary celebrations, and table settings. Depictions of Divine's Philadelphia activities are limited; activities before the 1940s are not depicted.A major portion of the collection consists of spiritual and patriotic themed ephemera (1940s-1960s) comprised of greeting cards, anniversary announcements, pamphlets, and postcards, as well as business cards for the Peace Mission. Many items incorporate images of Father and Mother S.A. Divine. Some items depict residences and properties in Sayville, N.Y. and Philadelphia, Pa., as well as the Woodmont Estate in Gladwyne, Pa.Some of Divine's New York State activities (ca. 1940s) are compiled in a photo album. Depictions of the Crum Elbow estate in Ulster County, N.Y. include views of buildings and grounds, views of peace mission farmers and livestock, and images of Divine's mostly female followers. Depictions of Harlem, New York City, include street scenes around Divine's Harlem peace mission, images of his female followers, and views of his luxury automobiles.West Coast activities of the Peace Mission Movement consist of various wedding anniversary "review" celebrations for Father and Mother Divine, in Oakland, Ca. (ca. 1952-1956); views of peace mission home gatherings, possibly in Seattle, Wash. (ca. 1940s), that include festive dinners and a wire recording session of followers making statements and performing music; and views of other peace mission activities in California and Washington State.Also depicted are the residents and facilities of the Divine Lorraine Hotel, in Philadelphia (ca. 1950s); and some candid shots of Father and Mother Divine at the Woodmont Estate (1961-1962).
Names
Father Divine (Collector)
Ruland, A.O. (Photographer)
Dates / Origin
Date Created: 1940 - 1965 (Questionable)
Library locations
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division
Shelf locator: Sc Photo Father Divine Collection
Topics
Father Divine
Peace Mission Movement
African American religious leaders
Cults -- United States
Banquets -- 1940-1959
anniversaries -- 1940-1959
Religious gatherings
Manners and customs
Dwellings -- United States
Business enterprises -- United States
Genres
Photographs
Notes
Content: Title taken from the Father Divine Collection.
Content: One photograph bears photographer's hand stamp. Some items bear handwritten captions on verso; some items bear printed captions on verso and/or recto. Some items are mounted to photo album pages; some items are attached or mounted to greeting cards and announcements. Some items are duplicates.
Biographical/historical: Father Divine, ca. 1880-1965, an African American religous leader, founded the Peace Mission Movement during the 1920s. Using Christian scripture to proclaim his own divinity, Divine's philosophy of positive thinking attracted both African American and white followers to his movement based on communal living, economic self-reliance and a chaste lifestyle. Though Divine would acquire numerous properties and show displays of conspicuous wealth, his missions provided his followers with low cost housing, in hotels refered to as "heavens"; offered job seeking services; opened successful budget business enterprises; and held free weekly banquets. Divine reached the height of popularity during the Great Depression (1930s). However, by the late 1940s through the 1950s, membership in the movement declined.
Content: Forms part of the Father Divine Collection, 1932-1992.
Physical Description
Extent: 320 items (.7 cubic ft., 3 boxes)
Extent: 75 photographic prints :gelatin silver, black and white, some hand colored ;21 x 26 cm and smaller.
Extent: 122 photographic prints :gelatin silver, black and white, some color ;10 x 10 cm and smaller.
Extent: 14 photographic prints :color ;9 x 13 cm and smaller.
Extent: 9 photographic postcards :gelatin silver, black and white ;14 x 9 cm and smaller.
Extent: 8 photomechanical prints :black and white, some color ;8 x 13 cm and smaller.
Extent: 3 postcards :photomechanical, color ;9 x14 cm
Extent: 1 photographic album (41 photographic prints) ;31 x 37 cm
Extent: 15 transparencies :color ;7 x 7 cm
Extent: 73 negatives :gelatin silver, black and white ;11 x 7 cm and smaller.
Type of Resource
Still image
Identifiers
RLIN/OCLC: 1273430777
NYPL catalog ID (B-number): b22609916
Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 4047a550-6cef-013f-07fa-0242ac110003
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