Page 285 - Swann Galleries - Printed & Manuscript African Americana- Sale 2308 - March 21, 2013

530 ● (RELIGION.) JASPER, JOHN.
Large, un-titled Cabinet card photo-
graph. 6 x 5 inches.
Richmond: Jefferson Fine Art Gallery,
circa 1890’s [400/600]
Reverend John Jasper (1812-1901) is
arguably one of the most famous black ministers
of nineteenth-century Richmond, Virginia. He
gained popularity for his electrifying preaching
style and his ability to spiritually move both
black and white Baptists. He began his career
in the early 1840s, preaching at funerals of
slave and free black parishioners and giving
occasional sermons at the First African Baptist
Church. His popularity grew quickly and not
only among the people of Richmond, but after
giving a guest sermon to the Third African
Baptist Church in the nearby city of
Petersburg, Jasper was invited by that congrega-
tion to preach every Sunday. Jasper’s
accomplishments are even more remarkable
given the fact during the first twenty-five years
of his ministry work, Virginia law expressly
prohibited blacks from preaching. 530
528 ● (RELIGION—WHEAT STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.) BORDERS,
WILLIAM HOLMES. Six year books1939-1960 [with] the 1962 Year Book of the
Matrons’ Circle, and the United Sisterhood Handbook, circa 1940’s. Together 8
volumes of various size, some wear. SHOULD BE SEEN. Atlanta, 1939-1962 [400/600]
A representative group of booklets published by the Wheat Street Baptist Church over a period
of 30 years. Rev. William Holmes Borders, Sr. (1905-1993), was a civil rights activist and
leader and pastor of Wheat Street Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia from 1937-1988.
Borders’ influence in the black community was the trigger for a local radio station to offer him a
weekly program in 1940. Listeners of both races tuned in to hear information about segrega-
tion, disenfranchisement, patriotism (this was during World War II), and black migration to the
north. The program became the second-highest-rated broadcast in Atlanta. During bus desegre-
gation in Atlanta, Borders sat in the front of a bus and was arrested. He formed the Wheat
Street Credit Union to provide low interest loans to blacks. Three times in the 60s and 70s,
Borders ran for the Georgia House of Representatives but failed.
529 ● (RELIGION.) HOOPER, REV. T.W. Mose the Sexton, or a Talk about
Popery. 34 pages. 12mo, original printed wrappers; one tiny chip; archival paper reinforce-
ment to the spine; library number on front cover with no addition stamps etc.
Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1879 [300/400]
An anti-Catholic pamphlet aimed at A.M.E. Church members. “Mose is a colored Methodist,
but has been our sexton so long that he is a part of out white Presbyterian church. What would
we do without him, I cannot imagine.” The remainder of this curious little pamphlet consists of
a conversation between Mose and author about religion. Mose: “What is dese priests arter
‘mong de colored folks? Dey bever bothered demselves afore ‘bout us.” Doctor: “Well,” said I,
“Mose, you never had a vote, had you, until the war set you free and Congress gave you that
right? Maybe that has something to do with it.” FIRST AND ONLY PRINTING, SCARCE.
OCLC LOCATES ONLY ONE COPY.