Alabama Baptist and Church Related Resources

Samford's Special Collection serves as the repository for the Alabama Baptist State Convention. One of the primary missions for the collection is to preserve, protect, and provide access to the history of Alabama Baptists. The collection includes association records, agencies, institutions, printed minutes of Alabama Baptist State Convention, and printed minutes of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Although the collection focuses primarily on Southern Baptist materials, other denominations are included. These records include original church conference minutes, scrapbooks, church histories, organizational minutes, membership records, financial records, and biographical information on pastors.

This is not an exhaustive list of Baptist and church resources but rather a brief overview of what the collection has to offer.

Alabama Baptist Associational Records

The annual meeting minutes and annuals for nineteenth century Alabama Baptist State Convention and individual associations can be found online at the Internet Archive. Other years are available in the collection.

The Alabama Baptist Newspaper

1843 to present; Partially indexed by Samford University

Oral Histories

  • Ann Weaver Armstrong: Early biographical information, Howard College (1940's), foreign mission field, career at Samford University Library ARH 162
  • Dr. Hudson Baggett: Life at Howard College, WWII, relations with Samford University and The Alabama Baptist ARH 156
  • Fanna K. Bee: Samford University, Special Collection Department, early life in Brookhaven, Mississippi ARH 114.1-115.1
  • Sam Granade: Early biographical information, Howard College and Southern Seminary life, military service, Ala. Baptist Ministerial career. ARH 176
  • Howard F. McCord: Baptist work in Alabama, Bibb Baptist Association, Alabama Baptist Assemblies, Howard College

Manuscript Collections

  • Alabama Baptist State Executive Secretary Treasurers
    • George Bagley
    • Earl Potts
    • Troy Morrison
  • China Missionary Papers
    • Mildred Lovegren
    • W. W. Adams
    • Willie E. Kelly
    • Dr. Thomas O. and Lizzie Hearn
  • Dr. Frank Stagg
     The Papers of Dr. Frank Stagg, a noted Baptist theologian, contain information from the year 1938-1999. The Collection includes information amassed by Dr. Stagg in the form of correspondence, articles, speeches, commentatires, book reviews, and photographs.
  • Charles H. Spurgeon
  • Dr. Lloyd Elder (PDF version)
  • Dr. Grady Cothen
  • F. Wayne Flynt
  • Gaines S. Dobbins
  • Issac McCoy Papers
  • William Carey Crane Papers
  • Basil Manly
  • L. O. Dawson

Religious Newspapers and Periodicals

  • The Alabama Baptist: 1843 to present; Partially Indexed by Samford University
  • Alabama Christian Advocate (Methodist): MFP 2.5 - 1881-1989, 1892-1896, 1914, 1926-1928, 1931-1937, 1942-1949, 1951-1960
  • Methodist Christian Advocate: MFP 2.5 - 1896-1913, 1915-1925, 1929-1930, 1938-1941
  • The Christian Advocate (Methodist): MFP 4.5 - 1846-1861, 1869-1914
  • Methodist Episcopal church, South. Conferences. North Alabama: 1899, 1931-1935, 1941-1949, 1951-1971
  • Methodist Episcopal church. Conferences. Alabama (Alabama-West Florida Journal): 1906,1913-1915,1919,1954-1956,1957-1970
  • One Voice(Catholic): current subscription
  • The Southern Shofar (Jewish): current subscription
  • Signs of the Times (Primitive Baptist): 1899; 1933; 1939; 1941; 1966-CURRENT

African American Baptist Association Collection

Records for Alabama

American Home Missionary Society Papers, 1816 - 1936

Correspondence and reports from teachers and missionaries to the Board. 385 reels)

American Missionary Association Manuscripts

Records for Alabama (7 reels)

American Sunday School Union Papers, 1817 - 1915

Correspondence and reports of those establishing Sunday Schools. Includes data from the Sunday Schools. (234 reels)

American Papers of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, 1701 - 1711

Correspondence, reports from missionaries sent by the Church of England to the American colonies. (17 reels)

Baptist Missionary Society Archives(British)

Missionary journals and correspondence, 1792 - 1914 (37 reels)

Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary Papers

(5 reels)

Records of Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs

(19 reels)