Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions on use.

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for use without restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Box/folder, Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church records, M 57, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University

Biographical/Historical Information

The Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church was founded by Reverend John Jasper on September 3, 1867 and was the first church in Richmond organized by an African American. The congregation originally met in an abandoned horse stable on Brown's Island in the James River. In 1869, the congregation purchased land on Duval Street located in what is now Jackson Ward. The core of the present church building was erected in 1885 by George Boyd. The 1925 remodeling of the church in the Gothic Revival style was done by architect Charles T. Russell and builder I. Lincoln Bailey. The church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

Source: Virginia Department of Historic Resources, National Register of Historic Places registration form, Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church, 1996.

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of an assortment of articles, programs, images, brochures, clippings, and other materials concerning the church, its pastors, and Jackson Ward. Many of the items in the collection are photocopies of the originals, but there are some original materials, such as booklets and programs from various church anniversary celebrations. There are also materials relating to the 19th century, such as John Jasper's sermons, but since these materials are photocopies from secondary sources the date range of the records reflect only the dates of original materials in the collection.

Arrangement

Materials are arranged alphabetically.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Baptists -- History -- Virginia -- Richmond
• Churches, African American
• Jasper, John, 1812-1901
• Richmond (Va.) -- Church history.
• Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church (Richmond, Va.) -- Archives