Program 56th Annual Session of the Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention of Texas... [cover title]

[N.p., probably Terrell or Dallas, 1931. Very good.. [9]pp. Original printed wrappers, stapled. Old central vertical fold throughout, minor wear and toning, small marginal stain, ink notation on front wrapper reading, "The Baptist State Convention of Texas." An ephemeral and apparently unrecorded program documenting the 1931 annual session of the Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention of Texas, held at the Bethlehem Baptist Church in Terrell. The work prints the various meeting places for the convention (different churches around Terrell), lists of committees, a detailed schedule of activities for the convention, and more. The work concludes with information on a fundraising drive and ten "Important Announcements." The latter includes many notices regarding specific aspects of the group's activities, but also remind convention attendees to "Bear in mind there is only one B.M. & E. Convention, the contending faction has been emanated by the court. Let no one deceive you any longer, but come to the rescue and salvation of our institutions," and "Remember there shall be no more war in our ranks as our leadership in all departments is now united and working for one end."

Notably, the work also includes photographic portraits of Dr. E. Arlington Wilson, the president of the convention, and his wife, Mrs. E.A. Wilson, the "Master of Music" on the second page, as well as a photographic portrait of Rev. J.S. Simmons, the pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, and a photo of the exterior of Bethlehem. One slightly unusual aspect of the program lies in the page of advertisements printed on the inside front wrapper; these are almost certainly provided for the visiting African-American conventioneers to provide them with local businesses friendly to Black patronage in Jim Crow Texas. An additional advertisement on the third page touts the services of the Knights of Liberty, likely an African-American mutual support organization based on a much-earlier and similarly-named group that sought to end slavery.

The only publication we could locate in OCLC for the Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention of Texas is a similar conference pamphlet from 1974. The present example, emanating from fifty years earlier during the Great Depression, appears to be a unique survival. (Inventory #: 5521)