Upper Tallapoosa Church collection
Scope and Contents
The materials within this collection are from one notebook that was copied from a book written by the founders and members of the Upper Tallapoosa Church from 1847 to 1875. It is unknown who wrote the copies of the notes, when exactly they were copied, and why.
The documents within the notebook describe the number, names, and enslavers of the enslaved people who were members of the original church, as well as numerous other lists of members and their affiliation with the Upper Tallapoosa Church. There are also pages describing the rules and regulations for members, as well as minutes of church meetings, financial reports, and newspaper clippings discussing church and local history.
Dates
- 1851-1944
Conditions Governing Access
Open to all users; no restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Rights held by the University of West Georgia.
Biographical / Historical
The Upper Tallapoosa [Baptist] Church was created on August 9, 1847, by eight charter members. These charter members then elected James Barrow as the first minister. The Upper Tallapoosa Church moved closer to Carrollton in 1848 under the care of Pastor James Davis. During this time the Church was also known as "The Baptist Church of Christ at Carrollton." Members held their meetings in the Methodist Church on Saturdays until their own church could be completed. The first main church building was completed in 1852. It remained in place until about 1874 when a railroad track was laid where the church stood.
Prior to the end of the Civil War, Upper Tallapoosa Church had a mixed clergy with enslavers often bringing the enslaved people to sermons and other church meetings. This early church provided the foundation for two future churches - the First Baptist Church of Carrollton and the First Baptist Church Carrollton. These churches represented the split between the white and African-American clergy after the Civil War.
Extent
0.21 Linear Feet (1 Box)
Language
English
Overview
This collection contains materials related to the Upper Tallapoosa Church as well as its descendant church, "the Baptist Church of Christ at Carrollton," and, in turn, its descendant churches: "First Baptist Church Carrollton" and "First Baptist Church of Carrollton."
Arrangement
Arranged in original order of notebook.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This binder of materials was given to Shanee Y. Murrain in Special Collections during her outreach to African-American Churches in 2017-2018.
- Title
- Guide to the Upper Tallapoosa Church Collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Avery Stanley
- Date
- 2022
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the University of West Georgia Special Collections Repository
Special Collections, Ingram Library
University of West Georgia
1601 Maple Street
Carrollton GA 30118-2000 United States
special@westga.edu