Title	New Pilgrim Baptist Church: view from street
Creator(s)	West, Carroll Van
Date	2003
Coverage	2000-2009
Property name	New Pilgrim Baptist Church
Property type	Church
National Register Reference	05000306 listed August 24, 2007
Community Name	Birmingham, Jefferson County, AL
Description	Color photograph of brick building with gable roof and two-story porch. The view from the street corner reveals the significant size of the building. A sign for the church daycare center is in the background. Vines cover some of the brick facade.
Historical Notes	New Pilgrim Baptist Church was built in 1945-46 in response to an increasing number of African-American laborers in the southside neighborhoods near downtown Birmingham. The congregation expanded the building in 1958-59 under the leadership of Rev. Nelson H. Smith, a young pastor who considered himself a "loyal lieutenant" to Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, co-founder of the Alabama Christian Movement for Civil Rights and key participant in the 1963 Birmingham campaign. The New Pilgrim congregation was the largest in the ACMHR in the early years, and frequently hosted meetings. The most significant event associated with the church is the May 5, 1963 March on the Birmingham Jail. Activists who spoke at the church included Rev. Ralph Abernathy, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Freedom Rider Clyde Carter, Rev. E.S. Blackstone; Rev. Andrew Young; Wyatt Tee Walker; Rev. J.W. Hayes; Rev. James Bevel; Bernard Lee; and comedian Dick Gregory.
Collection Name	African American Churches
Subject-LCSH	African American Churches -- Tennessee Church buildings -- Alabama
Subject-TGM	Churches
Type	Still image
Genre	Photograph
Medium	Paper
Extent	4 x 6 in.
Copyright status	Copyright of the creator. Reproduced with permission
Contributing Institution	Center for Historic Preservation, Middle Tennessee State University
Conditions for use	Credit Center for Historic Preservation, Middle Tennessee State University Reproduction permitted for non-profit educational and research purposes only
Digital Publisher	Digital Initiatives, James E. Walker Library, Middle Tennessee State University

New Pilgrim Baptist Church: view from street

Description