St. Peter Claver Roman Catholic Church records

Table of Contents

Summary Information

Background note

Scope and content note

Administrative Information

Controlled Access Headings

Bibliography

Collection Inventory

Summary Information

Repository

Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Creator

St. Peter Claver Roman Catholic Church.

Title

St. Peter Claver Roman Catholic Church records

ID

3513

Date

([1834]-1996, undated)

Extent

0.4 Linear feet ; 1 box, 1 flat file

Author

Finding aid prepared by Lindsey Schwartz.

Sponsor

Care of this collection was supported in part by a grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and by the Young Friends of HSP.

Language

English

Abstract

Founded in 1886, St. Peter Claver Roman Catholic Church was established explicitly for African-American worshippers, who were excluded from other churches. The collection includes newsletters, programs, parish register, mass record, correspondence, photocopied clippings, and photographs.

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Background note

Founded in 1886, St. Peter Claver Roman Catholic Church was established explicitly for Black worshippers, who were excluded from other churches. It combined celebrations of Black heritage with standard Catholic services and was a valued hub for Black Catholics. Contention around St. Peter Claver began in 1985 when the Archdiocese restricted services and revealed plans for the church to become a community center. Despite years of petitioning and protest, St. Peter Claver hosted its final mass in 1994. Its congregation continued to organize in later years as the Archdiocese closed the community center and planned to alter the deed to permit sale of the property.

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Scope and content note

The materials in this small collection are loosely grouped as administrative records (incuding photocopies of deeds, a mass record, and a parish register); correspondence & press releases; church publications (including newsletters and programs); and photographs. A number of items in the collection are reproductions. There are 1990s reprints of 1960s photographs, photocopies of newspaper clippings from the 1990s, and photocopies of original deeds from the 19th century.

From the well-organized correspondence and press releases, researchers can learn about the history and controversies of St. Peter Claver, and its unique importance to its membership. The internal publications also provide detail on the variety of services the church offered.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

 Historical Society of Pennsylvania ; 2020.

Provenance

Gifts of St. Peter Claver Roman Catholic Church, 1973-1998.

Accession numbers M73-69, M84-24, M97-10.

Processing note

Two related collections have been integrated into this collection: St. Peter Claver Roman Catholic Church records, 1795-1896 (SC092), and St. Peter Claver Roman Catholic Church photographs, circa 1910-circa 1920 (PG060).

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Controlled Access Headings

Subject(s)

• African American churches.
• African Americans--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia.
• Catholic Schools--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia.
• Churches--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia.

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Bibliography

Vourvoulias, Sabrina. “Want to Save a Historic Black Church in Philadelphia? You have until June 6th.” Philadelphia Magazine, 2 June 2016.  https://www.phillymag.com/news/2016/06/02/save-st-peter-claver-church-philadelphia/. Accessed 28 January 2020.

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Collection Inventory