Research Catalog

Title

Father Divine photograph collection.

Author

Father Divine

Publication

[194-?]-1965.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Ruland, A.O.

Found In

c2pc Father Divine Father Divine collection, 1932-1992 (OCoLC)700073600

Description

• 320 items (.7 cubic ft., 3 boxes); 21 x 26 cm and smaller.
• 75 photographic prints : gelatin silver, black and white, some hand colored ;
• 122 photographic prints : gelatin silver, black and white, some color ;
• 14 photographic prints : color ;
• 9 photographic postcards : gelatin silver, black and white ;
• 8 photomechanical prints : black and white, some color ;
• 3 postcards : photomechanical, color ;
• 1 photographic album (41 photographic prints) ;
• 15 transparencies : color ;
• 73 negatives : gelatin silver, black and white ;

Summary

• 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).

Subjects

• Photograph album > 1940-1949
• Film transparencies > 1950-1959
• Negatives > 1940-1969
• Ephemera > 1940-1969
• Dye coupler prints > 1950-1969
• Gelatin silver prints > 1940-1959
• Snapshots > 1940-1969
• Group portraits > 1940-1959
• Portrait photographs > 1940-1969
• Business enterprises > United States
• Dwellings > United States
• Manners and customs
• Religious gatherings
• Anniversaries > 1940-1959
• Banquets > 1940-1959
• Cults > United States
• African American religious leaders
• Peace Mission Movement
• Father Divine

Genre/Form

• Portrait photographs – 1940-1969.
• Group portraits – 1940-1959.
• Snapshots – 1940-1969.
• Gelatin silver prints – 1940-1959.
• Dye coupler prints – 1950-1969.
• Ephemera – 1940-1969.
• Negatives – 1940-1969.
• Film transparencies – 1950-1959.
• Photograph album – 1940-1949.

Note

• Title taken from the Father Divine Collection.
• 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.

Terms of Use (note)

• Collection may be under copyright and requires permission of the copyright holder for duplication.

Biography (note)

• 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.

Linking Entry (note)

• Forms part of the Father Divine Collection, 1932-1992.

Call Number

Sc Photo Father Divine Collection

OCLC

1273430777

Author

Father Divine, collector.

Title

Father Divine photograph collection.

Production

[194-?]-1965.

Type of Content

still image

Type of Medium

unmediated

projected

Type of Carrier

sheet

overhead transparency

Terms Of Use

Collection may be under copyright and requires permission of the copyright holder for duplication.

Biography

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.

Linking Entry

Forms part of the Father Divine Collection, 1932-1992.

Local Note

Sc MG 828

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Added Author

Ruland, A.O., photographer.

Found In:

c2pc Father Divine Father Divine collection, 1932-1992 (OCoLC)700073600

Research Call Number

Sc Photo Father Divine Collection