Related Records

1. 1950 Colored Citizens Committee - A black and white photograph of the 1950 Colored Citizens Committee of the Roanoke Chamber of Commerce. Seated at the table are (left to right) Dr. Arthur L. James, Committee Chairman, and Dr. Lylburn C. Downing. Standing behind (left to right) are Lewis A. Sydnor, W. Harvey Plenty, Dr. Lawrence E. Paxton, and Benjamin F. Moomaw, Executive Director of the Roanoke Chamber of Commerce. On the wall behind them is a copy of The Constitution of The United States (left side) and an unidentified map (perhaps of Roanoke) on the right side.

   1998.24.060

   Record Type: Photo

   
2. Dr. A. L. James - A black and white photograph of Dr. A. L. James. Reverend James was the minister of First Baptist Church for 38 years. Members of the congregation proudly refer to this as "The James Era" because of the unprecedented growth of the church under his administration. Some of the ideas and improvements launched under his leadership included: installation of stained glass windows at a cost of $2,000, the first Daily Vacation Bible School in the city was started, a milk line that gave free milk to the depressed area citizens; noonday prayer services begun in 1924 and continued for the next 25 years; and support of a missionary in Africa. In 1920, Miss Lucy Addison, Dr. A. L. James, and Dr. L. L. Downing were appointed as an advisory committee for a new Gainsboro Branch Library. The Gainsboro Branch Library opened in a large room of the new Odd Fellows Hall on December 14,1921, just five month's after Virginia's first black branch library opened in Norfolk in a room at Norfolk's Booker T. Washington High School. He was appointed to the Roanoke City School Board in 1951. On December 9, 1957, Dr. James announced his retirement.

   2007.41.3

   Record Type: Photo