Ebenezer Baptist Church: Historic Structure Report

Cultural Resources Project Team

Most of the information for this HSR was compiled in the summer and fall of 1999, with additional research and building investigation conducted in the spring and summer of 2000. Historical research included a survey of available sources at the church, which were few, and of information that had already been compiled by the NPS. Most of this information was in the form of photocopies of original documents and photographs. The location of most of the original material has not been confirmed but it is thought that much of it still resides with the King family or with individual church members. Oral interviews were conducted with Rev. Roberts, the current pastor; Howard King, chairman of the church’s building committee; David Johnson, long-time church member and now the building’s custodian; and several other church members whose memories encompassed the historic period. Especially helpful and generous with their time have been Miss Lillian Watkins, who served as Daddy King’s secretary for many years; Mr. and Mrs. Jethro English, who have been active members of Ebenezer for over sixty years; and Mr. David Stills, the church’s organist in the 1950s and 1960s. In addition, interviews with Mr. Paul Muldawer and Mr. J. W. Robinson, architects for the 1970 changes to Ebenezer, and Mr. Robert Norwood, contractor for the work in 1970, helped in understanding the alterations that were made to the building after 1968. Sources at the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American History were searched, including microfilm copies of the Atlanta Independent (1903-1928) and Atlanta Daily World (1932-present), the city's two, most-important, blackowned newspapers in the twentieth century. Ms. Anita Martin, librarian at the Auburn Avenue Library, was especially generous with her assistance in searching early issues of the Independent and other sources for information regarding Ebenezer. At the Atlanta-Fulton County Public Library, newspapers and periodicals were also searched, including the index to the Atlanta Constitution since 1941. Other sources of information included the files of the Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Natural Resources, the Atlanta History Center Library, and the Georgia Baptist Historical Society at Mercer University. A single sheet of drawings for the 1956 addition and remodeling was provided by David Stills. Microfiche copies of the plans for the 1970 alterations were located at the City of Atlanta's Bureau of Buildings.

Ebenezer Baptist Church: Historic Structure Report

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