Papers of Bishop John A. Gregg
Overview
The papers of Bishop John A. Gregg are those of an African American and native Kansan who became a leader in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and in higher education. The papers also document his missionary activities in South Africa and during World War II.
Dates
- Creation: 1869 - 1969
Creator
- Gregg, John Andrew, 1877-1953 (Person)
Language of Materials
English; German; Spanish; Xhosa; Africaans
Conditions Governing Access
No access restrictions
Conditions Governing Use
Spencer Library staff may determinse use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials
Biography of John A. Gregg (1877-1953)
John Andrew Gregg was born 18 February 1877 at Eureka, Kansas to Alexander and Eliza Frances (Allen) Gregg. He served in the Army's 23rd Kansas Volunteers during the Spanish-American War, rising to the position of second lieutenant.
After receiving his A.B. from the University of Kansas in 1902, Gregg taught in Oskaloosa, Kansas and in 1903 was ordained a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. From 1903-1906, Gregg served as a missionary in Cape Town, South Africa, after which he returned to the United States where he ministered in Leavenworth, Kansas and in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Gregg was president of Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, Florida, from 1913-1920 and was president of Wilberforce University, Wilburforce, Ohio, from 1920-1924. In 1924, Gregg was elected a Bishop of the AME church and was assigned to the 17th Episcopal District in South Africa. Over the next several decades, he also served in the 5th and 4th Episcopal Districts. In 1926, Gregg was elected the first African-American president of Howard University but declined the position.
Gregg's numerous service organizations included Alpha Phi Alpha, Sigma Pi Phi, the Elks, the Masons, and the Knights of Pythias. He served as president of the Florida State Teachers Association (1916), of the National Association of Teachers in Colored Schools (1922), and of the AME College Presidents Association (1922-1924). During World War II, as a representative of the fraternal Council of Negro Churches, Gregg visited U.S. war fronts at the invitation of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1945, Gregg published a record of these travels in his book Of Men and Of Arms.
Bishop John A. Gregg died in 1953.
Extent
9.75 Linear Feet (15 boxes + 1 audio cassette, 7 oversize boxes, 1 oversize folder, 2 audio records)
Scope and Contents
The Bishop John A. Gregg Papers date from 1869 to 1969. Under call number RH MS 579, papers are arranged in five series: Addresses, Correspondence, Personal Papers, Publications, and Sermons. Folder arrangement within each series is generally alphabetical by topic, with chronological arrangement of items within each folder.
Within Addresses are typescripts of Bishop Gregg's speeches to various conferences and organizations. Correspondence includes letters both to and from Bishop Gregg, including a number of congratulatory messages. Personal Papers chiefly include notes written by Bishop Gregg and photocopies of certificates he received. Items in the Publications series include photocopies of two of Bishop Gregg's published works and a book of AME church doctrine. Typescripts of Bishop Gregg's sermons comprise the largest series in the collection. The majority of the typescripts are undated and are arranged alphabetically by sermon title. Some original typescripts of Bishop Gregg's addresses and sermons are accompanied by photocopies, which immediately follow the original.
Under call number RH MS 1284, papers are arranged in four series: AME Church Papers, Religious Conferences, Universities, and Personal Papers. Folder arrangement within each series is generally by type of material, with chronological arrangement of items within each type and folder.
Within AME Church Papers are administrative papers, programs and sermons, correspondence, clippings, publications, missions, and Women's organization papers. Religious Conferences contain booklets, administrative papers, and correspondence related to regional, national, and international conferences related to the AME Church and Methodism. Under Universities are materials related to Edward Waters College and Wilberforce University. Personal Papers include items related to the Gregg family, such as writings colleced by Bishop Gregg and personal correspondence.
Photographs from the Bishop John A. Gregg papers are located at RH MS-P 579 and RH MS-P 1284. Oversize items are located at RH MS R98, RH MS Q366, and RH MS R333. Oversize photographs are located at RH MS-P 1284(f) and RH MS-P 1284(ff). An audio recording of Bishop Gregg singing two hymns is at RH Cassette Tape 15. Audio records are located at RH Phono 32.
Arrangement
The Bishop John A. Gregg Papers under call number RH MS 579 date from 1893 to 1953 and are arranged in five series: Addresses, Correspondence, Personal Papers, Publications, and Sermons. The Bishop John A. Gregg Papers under call number RH MS 1284 date from 1869 to 1969 and are arranged in four series: AME Church Papers, Religious Conferences, Universities, and Personal Papers.
Physical Location
RH MS 579
Physical Location
RH MS-P 579
Physical Location
RH MS 1284
Physical Location
RH MS-P 1284, RH MS-P 1284(f), RH MS-P 1284(ff)
Physical Location
RH MS R98, RH MS R333
Physical Location
RH MS Q366
Physical Location
RH Cassette Tape 15
Physical Location
RH Phono 32
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gifts, Chester Owens; Rev. Charles P. Lucas, Jr, First AME Church, 1986, 2012, 2019.
Subject
- African Methodist Episcopal Church -- Bishops (Organization)
- African Methodist Episcopal Church -- Missions -- Africa (Organization)
- Title
- Guide to the Bishop John A. Gregg Collection
- Subtitle
- Papers of Bishop John A. Gregg
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by mbw, 2005, 2007. Finding aid encoded by mbw, 2005. Finding aid revised by cl, 2010; skt, 2010; sda, 2013; mwh, 2021.
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Finding aid written in English.
- Finding aid permalink
- http://hdl.handle.net/10407/7167235534
- Preferred citation
-
Papers of Bishop John A. Gregg, Kansas Collection, RH MS 579, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas
Repository Details
Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository