Reverend Charles H. Smith papers
Abstract
The Rev. Charles H. Smith papers (dated 1953-2019, undated; 3.6 cubic feet; 8 boxes, and 1 carton) consist of books, certificates, letters, interviews, programs, photographs, recordings, sermons, and speeches from Smith's long career as a Baptist minister, civil rights and community leader, researcher, and author.
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Reverend Charles H. Smith papers
- Date
- 1953-2019, undated (inclusive)
- Creator
- Smith, Charles H., Reverend
- Extent
- 3.6 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- African Americans -- Kentucky
- African American churches -- Kentucky.
- Baptists, Black.
- Baptists -- Clergy.
- Baptists -- Sermons.
- Christian education.
- Civil rights
- Civil rights -- Kentucky -- Lexington.
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged into five series by subject and format: Audiovisual, Church materials, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Printed materials, and Professional portfolio.
- Preferred Citation
- 2019ms007: [identification of item] Rev. Charles H. Smith papers, 1953-2019, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Rev. Dr. Charles Herbert Smith, born 1931 in Lexington, Kentucky, is a senior Baptist minister, civil rights leader and published author. Smith is the son of Helen and Rev. Thomas Horace Smith, pastor of Lexington's Shiloh Baptist Church from 1932-1961. In addition to assisting his father's ministry as a young man, Charles H. Smith participated in the early sit-ins in downtown Lexington and helped established the city's first CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) chapter. In 1955, Smith graduated from Virginia Union University with a Bachelor's in English and Master's in Divinity from the school's Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Religion.
- In 1960 Smith became the pastor for the First Baptist Church in Huntington, West Virginia. While there he continued to work for civil rights and social justice issues by founding employment and training programs, co-founding ACTION, Inc. (A Community to Improve its Neighborhood). Smith led First Baptist Church to organize campaigns to construct a new church building, parsonage, a seafood restaurant, and a 21-acre low-income integrated housing development. As pastor he helped guide First Baptist Church and Huntington in the wake of the plane crash that killed most of Marshall University's football team in 1970. Smith was the eulogist for thirteen of the funerals for the team's members.
- In 1980, Smith moved to New York City to serve as Deputy Executive Director of the NAACP. During his tenure, he helped establish administrative protocols for chapters across the nation, helped organize the Haitian Refugee campaign, and submitted documents to the Reagan Administration related to economic growth for minority United States citizens. In 1983, Smith was the campaign director for Ohio Senator John Glenn presidential run. Also, in 1983 Smith received his Doctorate of Divinity from Simmons University in Louisville.
- In the early 1990s, through the American Bible Society he began researching African American Christian education pedagogy. He conducted focus group studies of black youths and church needs throughout the nation. After his research, Smith edited and published The Jubilee Collection; Soul, Self, Sin, Salvation and Celebration and African American Jubilee Legacy Spiritual Odyssey. His works focused on the history of African spirituality. From 2002 to 2012, Smith served as the pastor at First Baptist Church in Madison, New Jersey. He helped led many special projects there, such as opening a cafe and memorial gardens. At the same time, Smith maintained relations with First Baptist Church in Huntington and often led services there as Pastor Emeritus. In 2003, he received an honorary doctorate of Humane Letters from Marshall University. Upon retirement in 2012, Smith relocated again to Georgia to be close to his five daughters.
- Sources:
- Notable Kentucky African Americans Database, Charles H. Smith, http://nkaa.uky.edu/nkaa/items/show/3060, accessed 2019 July 24
- A Charles H. Smith Story, https://www.charlesherbertsmith.com/, accessed 2019 July 24
- Scope and Content
- The Rev. Charles H. Smith papers (dated 1953-2019, undated; 3.6 cubic feet; 8 boxes, and 1 carton) consist of books, certificates, letters, interviews, programs, photographs, recordings, sermons, and speeches from Smith's long career as a Baptist minister, civil rights and community leader, researcher, and author. The Church Materials seris consists of programs, bulletins, fliers, letters, and newspaper clippings documenting Smiths service as special activities at the churches Smith served as a pastor for in Kentucky, West Virginia, and New Jersey. Of significance is a copy of a letter from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to Rev. Smith in 1963 about visiting the First Baptist Church in Huntington, West Virginia. Photographs, audio, and video recordings primarily document building construction, church anniversaries, choir, group trips, and special services at Smith's churches. Also included in the papers are administrative handbooks, communications, pamphlets, interviews, reports, and speeches from Smith's work with civil rights and social justice groups like CORE, ACTION, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Persons (NAACP). The collection contains reports from the NAACP sent to the Reagan administration about economic growth for minorities. Included in the collection are African American focus group transcripts and research reports conducted by Smith for the American Bible Society about the African American relationship with Christian education. The collection also includes the books inspired by the research, Jubilee Legacy Collection and the Jubilee Legacy Bible. Additionally, the collection contains awards, certificates, diplomas, letters, and resumes, which document the breadth of Smith's career.
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
- Use Restrictions
- The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Contents of the Collection
Audio-visual, 1953-2003, undated
Scope and Contents
The Audio-visual series, 1971-2003, undated, comprises audio recordings, photographs and video recordings primarily from Rev. Dr. Charles H. Smith's ministerial career. Audio and video recordings are of church events, like anniversary celebrations, workshops, and church services. There are also some recordings of interviews and speeches given by Smith about the NAACP. The photographs contain images from Smith's life including his graduation from Virginia Union University in 1953, construction projects at First Baptist Church in Huntington, West Virginia during the 1960s, the NAACP presenting calls to action at the White House, and Smith in doctoral robes in 2003.
Audiocassettes, 1974-1995, undated
American Bible Society Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, 1994 January 14
At peace with yourself sermon, supply pastor, undated
Dangerous Distractions sermon, Southern Heights Baptist Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana, undated
First Baptist Church 122nd Anniversary morning service, Huntington, WV, 1984
First Baptist Church 102nd Anniversary, Huntington, WV, 1974 November 24
First Baptist Church, Huntington, Mildred Battle, B. Johnson, 1980 July 6
Inspiration speech, God is so good to me, Ronald Atkins, Rev. Mullins, 1980 November 23
Keepsake lecture and sermons, 1983 November 1
Mission music, drums, undated
106th Anniversary, 1978 October 8
Reverend Charles H. Smith at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, Dr. Richardson pastor, 1991 June 9
NAACP speech, Atlantic City, NJ, 1982 October 1
NAACP speech, East Orange, NJ, 1980 October 3
NAACP speech, Summit, NJ, 1989 December 15
Men's Day, 1987 November 8
Reagan policy, economic policy NAACP speech, 1981 August 27
Reverend G.M. Smith, 1980 July 13
St. Louis Assembly of God master planning for the center, 1995 September 21
Simmons University Bible College Founder's Day, 1983 November 1
Two fellows sermon, Mt. Olive Association, Charleston, WV, 1986 January 19
Reverend E. H. Smith, 1986 February 2
Eric D. Wortham II Live!, undated
Untitled 1/4 in. reel-to-reel tape, undated
Photographs, 1953-1983, 2003, undated
First Baptist Church, Huntington dismantle project, circa 1961
First Baptist Church, Huntington groundbreaking with Rev. Charles Smith and two other men, circa 1961
First Baptist Church, Huntington parsonage, circa 1962
Fort Drum detention camp for Haitian refugees protest, circa 1981
March and Rally in Washington DC, circa 1980
NAACP Charles Smith and man unfurling document on senate steps, undated
NAACP group unfurling document on senate steps, undated
Smith, Rev. Dr. Charles at conference table with unidentified men, undated
Smith, Rev. Dr. Charles receiving award from Bob Wise, West Virginia Governor, undated
Smith, Rev. Dr. Charles with unidentified men laying on of hands, undated
Smith, Rev. Dr. Charles shaking unidentified man's hand, 2000 July
Smith, Rev. Dr. Charles, unidentified man, and Senator John Glenn, circa 1983
Smith, Rev. Dr. Charles wearing doctorate regalia, 2003 June 30
Smith, Rev. Dr. Charles receiving diploma at Virginia Union University, circa 1953
Rev. Dr. Charles H. Smith at lectern, undated
Videocassettes, 1992-2003, undated
Navajo Nation trip, 1995 June 23-July 1
Shiloh Baptist Church reunion, 1992 March 21
Dedication and consecration, 2003 October 12
Depression, 2003 November 9
First Baptist Church anniversary, 2003 September 14
Praise, 2003 May 25
Workshop at Shiloh, 1992 March 22
Storms of life, 2003 December 14
Worship music, undated
Church materials, 1960-2012, undated
Scope and Contents
The Church materials series, 1960-2012, undated, comprises documents from three churches Rev. Dr. Charles H. Smith served as pastor: The First Baptist Church in Huntington, WV, First Baptist Church in Madison, NJ, and Shiloh Baptist Church in Lexington, KY. Church event fliers, programs, worship bulletins, and pamphlets are included. Newspaper clippings in the series focus on church sponsored programs and social justice efforts in the church community. Also, the Shiloh Baptist Church sub-series contains some Thomas Horace Smith family history and obituaries.
First Baptist Church, Huntington, West Virginia, 1961-1980, undated
106th Anniversary morning worship service program, 1978 October 8
108th Anniversary service program, 1980 October 9
Church, townhouse apartments, parsonage construction campaign, circa 1960
Epistle: Meeting the Challenge, First Baptist Church of Huntington, West Virginia from Pastor Emeritus essay, 1987 October
Farewell Reverend Charles Herbert Smith event program, Holiday Inn Convention Center, Huntington, W.Va., 1980 June 23
"He shares with people from all walks of life" flier about Rev. Charles H. Smith, circa 1965
Letter from Martin Luther King, Jr. to Rev. Charles H. Smith [copy], 1962 January 30
Newspaper clippings re: Rev. Smith, 1976, undated
Seafood restaurant clippings and menu, undated
Ten Times to Call your Minister booklet by Rev. Smith presented to church members, undated
Worship bulletin, 1963 January 6
Worship bulletin, 1965 January 3
Worship bulletin, 1967 May 21
Worship bulletin, 1975 November 4
Worship bulletin, 1976 October 10
Yearbook, Theme: The Impossible Dream, 1969
First Baptist Church, Huntington An Evening with the Soul Searchers, City Auditorium, 1971
First Baptist Church, Huntington and Rev. Charles Smith collage, undated
"Then, Now, Tomorrow" First Baptist Church, Huntington, W. VA Concert Choir record cover, undated
First Baptist Church, Huntington The Soul Searchers present Reconciliation, Jacksonville Coliseum, 1971 August 20
Hill Top Camp, W. Va. group picture, circa 1965
"Black Pastor: Rev. Smith fights hostility and Appalachia mentality" The Huntington Advertiser Monday evening front page, 1976 October 4
First Baptist Church, Madison, New Jersey, 2003-2012, undated
Arthur D. Brown, Carol's Garden, Chef's Smokehouse brochure and flier, undated
Arthur D. Brown Enrichment Center open house program, 2003 December 14
Celebration of Faithful Service, Rev. Dr. Charles H. Smith service program, 2012 August 26
Certificate of Appreciation upon his retirement, American Baptist Churches of New Jersey, 2012 August 26
Church directory, 2004
Congregational Information Meeting booklet, 2006 December 9
Pastoral letter, 2009 August 16
Newspaper clippings re: Charles H. Smith, 2005-2012, undated
Chef's Smokehouse Soul Fish display, 2005 February 13
Shiloh Baptist Church, Lexington, Kentucky, 1960-1970, 2003, undated
Shiloh Baptist Church worship bulletin, 1960 January 17
Shiloh Baptist Church worship bulletin, 1997 June 1
Shiloh Baptist Church worship bulletin, 1988 July 24
Smith Heritage Tour guide, T.H. and Helen E. family, undated
Smith, Rev. Dr. Thomas H. memorial service program and obituary, 1970 September
Smith, William memorial service program and obituary, 2013 October
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), 1973-1986, 2006-2007, undated
Scope and Contents
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) series contains documents from Rev. Dr. Charles H. Smith's works with the organization. Some items are from before and after his role as the Deputy Executive like a newspaper interview in 1973 when Smith worked with the local Huntington, West Virginia chapter and as a speaker at Marshall University in 2003. Primarily, the series contains correspondence, memoranda, manuals, project outreach and reports from Smith's time working on the national level of the organization from 1980-1982.
Administrative Manual draft, 1981 January 9
Equal Housing Opportunities ...through nonprofit sponsorship, Handbook for NAACP Branches to develop low and moderate income housing, 1973 January
Haitian Refugees project brochure, undated
Journal Times newspaper clipping interviewing Charles H. Smith, 1973 October 28
Memoranda, 1981-1982
NAACP Addresses the President and the Congress with Alternative Policies in the Public Interest for Economic Growth Executive Summary, 1981 April 28
NAACP speaks to the Reagan Administration document submitted to the White House, 1981 January 1
Speech delivered by Charles H. Smith at Marshall University, 2007 September 22
Racism's Last Stronghold on American Democracy by Charles H. Smith, Former Deputy Executive Director, National NAACP, undated
Printed materials, 1981-2019, undated
Scope and Contents
The Printed materials series, 1981-2019, undated, contains unpublished and published works by Charles H. Smith, as well as, some research records. The American Bible Society and Jubilee Legacy Collection includes some study group transcripts from Smith's research of African Americans and Christian education. It also includes the Jubilee Creations textbooks, posters and the Jubilee Legacy Bible and guide. The series contains handwritten and typed sermons given by Rev. Smith. Additionally, there are speeches and essays by Smith on a variety of topics like the state of the NAACP, black churches, and religious figures.
American Bible Society and the Jubilee Legacy Bible, 1990-2019, undated
African American Jubilee Legacy Spiritual Odyssey edited by Charles H. Smith and Cain Hope Felder, 2001
African American Jubilee Legacy Spiritual Odyssey Quick Guide, 2012
American Bible Society Daily Bible Reading Guide, 1991-1993
Black Male Focus Group, Age 9-12, Fort Lauderdale, Florida transcript and appendix, 1994 July 19
Celebrating Jubilee, New Testament Contemporary English Version, 1995
Hampton Religious Education Brainstorming Session transcript, undated
Jubilee Black History Series, Sunday School Publishing Board website printout, accessed 2019 February 1
Jubilee Creations, Fannie Lou Hamer: Freedom Is the Prize, The Vote Is the Cornerstone editor Charles H. Smith, 2002
Jubilee Creations, Frederick Douglass: Fighter for Justice edited by Charles H. Smith, 2001
Jubilee Creations, Juba Juniors authored and edited by Charles H. Smith, 2002
Jubilee Creations, Juba Middlers authored and edited by Charles H. Smith, 2002
Jubilee Creations, Juba Teens authored and edited by Charles H. Smith, 2002
Jubilee Creations, Soul lesson book, Juniors: Grades 1, 2, 3 authored and edited by Charles H. Smith, 2000
Jubilee Legacy Bible hardback, 2000
Jubilee Legacy Bible leatherbound, 1999
"Kaleidoscope of Martin Luther King, Jr., Christian education on Soul" chapter draft, undated
Primary Pilot Market Research: African and Hispanic American Youth prepared for The American Bible Society by Charles H. Smith, Heritage Unit, 1994 October
Record American Bible Society magazine featuring Jubilee Bible, 1999 December
"The Hip Hop Generation: Hip Hop reference for parents, leaders, & the rest of us" flier, undated
The New Testament, Contemporary English Version, American Bible Society, 1995
Youth Ministry & Resource Material Study of the African American Church conducted for the American Bible Society in May-June 1996 by Charles H. Smith, 1996
Bibles for the USSR, Central and Eastern Europe campaign posters, American Bible Society, 1990
African Diaspora 1411-1865 map, undated
Jubilee poster Frederick Douglass, undated
Jubilee poster George Liele, undated
Jubilee poster Ida B. Wells, undated
Jubilee poster Lott Carey, undated
Jubilee poster Nannie Helen Burroughs, undated
Jubilee poster Phillis Wheatley, undated
Jubilee poster Samuel DeWitt Proctor, undated
The Herald-Dispatch, Huntington, W. Va. article about Jubilee Legacy Bible, 2000 November 18
Sermons, 2000, 2004, undated
A New Paradigm, Genesis 1:27, John 3:3, undated
He Must Needs Be Go Thru Samaria, John 4:4, undated
Is It Well With Your Soul Psalm 103:1-2, delivered at First Baptist Church, Madison, NJ, 2000 November 19
Prognosis: Selective Amnesia and Moral Anemicy, Good News Translation, Isaiah 3:4-5, undated
Rivers, Revelation 22:1, 2004 June 27
The View and the Vision, Luke 4:16-20, Ezekiel 3:14-17, undated
Speeches and essays, 1981-2016, undated
21st Century Color Line: A Nation Divided and Polarized by Racism essay (originally written for family), 2016 March
Black Male/Female Relationships Spiritual Dimensions presented at the Tenth Annual Communications Conference, Howard University, 1981 February 13
Challenges for the Student Scholar Beyond 1988 Honors Convocation, Kentucky State University delivered by Charles H. Smith, 1988 April 29
Father's Day: Cultural Resources lecture by Rev. Dr. Smith, Lectionary Team Cultural Resource Commentator, 2013
Lecture by Charles H. Smith for Bridges - Young Adult Ministry, St. Paul Baptist Church of Montclair, N.J., 1990 February 10
Living the Legacy... Passing the Torch: Preachers leave a Central Kentucky Legacy, 1908-2010 (102 years) essay, 2010
MLK Speech Notes - Introduction, undated
Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Newark Workshop "Developing Church Leadership for the 21st Century", 2006 October 21-22
"Seminar I, Resources for Christian Education" notes, 2009 March 23
Sermonettes In Public Education: The Black Educational Crisis Students Failing & Dropping Out paper, 1986
The Autonomy of a Baptist Church paper, undated
The Black American-Black British Connection paper by Rev. Dr. Smith, undated
Professional portfolio, 1955-2003, undated
Scope and Contents
The Professional portfolio series, 1955-2003, undated, contains certificates, licenses, letters and newspaper clippings pertaining to Charles H. Smith's career as a minister and as a civil rights leader. The certificates include diplomas and honorary proclamations from across the nation. Also included in the series, are two pieces of artwork: a collage of Smith's ministry created by Smith and another of an old man reading the Bible to a young boy.
Arise, Inc., The Applied Reasearch for Social Equality, Inc. brochure, undated
City School District of New York Teacher certificate, 1987 September 9
Committee on Racial Equality (CORE) Lexington, Ky letters [copies], 1959
Completion of New Systems of Management in OIC Workship certificate, Management Training School, 1972 August 14-17
Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, Montgomery, AL 121st anniversary clipping and letter thanking Rev. Dr. Charles Smith for speaking, 1998
Doctor of Divinity diploma, Simmons Bible College, 1983 November
Doctor of Humane Letters degree award, Marshall University, 2003 May 10
Honorary Citizen certificate, Starkville, MS, 1981 April 3
Letter of recommendation for Charles H. Smith to Dr. E. Theodore Lewis, Faith Tabernacle Baptist Church, Philadelphia, 1955 May 16
Letter of recommendation for Charles H. Smith to Leatha D. Rhea, Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc., 1989 December 20
Newspaper clippings, 1982-1986, undated
Operator license, 1961
Research & Advocacy Center for Equality (RACE, Inc.) Confidential Memorandum, 1985 February
Resume, undated
Smith Consultant Group mission statement, undated
Virginia Union University commencement program and transcript, 1953-1955
ACTION, Committee to Improve Our Neighborhood clippings, Charles H. Smith, Project Administrator, 1967
Black man and child reading Holy Bible oil painting, undated
Board of Alderman, Louisville Certificate of Merit, 1981 September 25
Duke of Paducah, Kentucky certificate, 1982 April 2
"Black Pastor: Rev. Smith fights hostility and Appalachia mentality" The Huntington Advertiser Monday evening front page, 1976 October 4
Ebony Magazine President's Award, 1963 May
Honorary Citizen of Louisville certificate, 1981 September 25
Kentucky Colonel certificate, 1981 June 1
"Living the Legacy", The American Baptist newsletter article about Charles Smith, 2011 August 1
"NAACP leader says affirmative action dead" The Advocate, Stamford, Conn. front page article, 1982 October 30
New Mexico Lieutenant Governor certificate of recognition, 1982 March 11
New Mexico Secretary of State certificate of appreciation, 1982 March 27
Pastel drawing of church scenes by Smith, 1997
The Herald-Dispatch, Huntington, W. Va. front page with image of Rev. Charles Smith, spokesman for Black Concerned Clergy, 1978 April 11
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Table of Contents
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UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Requests
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You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
