A Visit to the GA Baptist Archives

I recently visited the Georgia Baptist Convention archives in Duluth.  Charles Jones, who runs the archives, generously took the time to talk to me about Georgia Baptist history and helped me begin my research there.  While he had pulled a few books that he thought would be useful to my search, he also pointed me to a pile of boxes sitting on the floor.  He told me that he had not yet gone through the materials in the boxes, but that I might take a look to see if there was anything related to the Stewart Center in it's contents.  Upon glancing down at the box nearest to my foot, I saw this:

I immediately (and probably impolitely) interrupted Charles and said "Did you get this box out for me??"  to which he replied that he hadn't--he hadn't even realized that it said "Stewart Center".  Talk about serendipity!

The next four hours flew by as I went through the contents of the box, photographing each and every document for the Stewart Center's records.  (While I'm not sure how the records ended up there, they are now the property of the GA Baptist Convention Archives.)  One of my favorite discoveries was an old notebook dated from 1920.  This notebook was used by the original Stewart Day Nursery Board for meeting minutes.

Another interesting find was a few resignation letters from previous directors.  These letters are an interesting look at what the Center was like at a given time, and capture some of the emotions the directors felt for the Center.  (Myrtle's is a little blurry--sorry!)

 

Among other things, the box contained personal letters, newsletters, written histories of the Center, a few photos, and hiring documents.  I've continued to sort through the documents I copied while at the Archives, and am very excited to share more of their contents in future posts.  I will also be returning to the Archives in the coming months to conduct more research. 

Thanks!

White Flight and the Stewart Center: Part One

In 1950, the Stewart Center moved locations as a result of racial tensions in it's neighborhood.  While this entry explores issues of racism and "white flight," it's purpose is not to place judgement on the Stewart Center's leadership or their decision to move. Rather, it is simply to explore the greater issues that were taking place around them.  While I wish I could have been a fly on the wall as decisions were made, I know that the factors of the move were likely more complex than we can know.
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In 1950, the Andrew P. Stewart Center moved from English Avenue to Reynoldstown.  The question has plagued me since I began delving into the Center's history: why, after 34 years in the English Avenue community, did the Center uproot and move across town?  All of my research and reading has produced a two word explanation:

"Owing to city growth and community changes, the Atlanta Baptist W.M.U. Association felt the need to relocate the Good Will Center.  Already the churches in the community had relocated." 

This vague, unsatisfying rationale begs for more detail.  Due to the time period and details regarding the sale of the Pelham buildings, I immediately assumed that the phrase "community changes" was referring to neighborhood desegregation and white flight.  We know that the Center sold it's buildings on Pelham street to African American residents, further supporting our concept of the nature of the "community changes" occurring in the English Avenue neighborhood.

"The Chapel-Recreation Building was sold to the St. James Negro Baptist Church.  The main building was sold for a negro apartment house."  

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I recently began reading a book called "White Flight: Atlanta and the Making of Modern Conservatism" by Kevin M. Kruse.  What I've learned so far has been very interesting and incredibly relevant to the Center's history.

On Atlanta's west side, Joseph E. Lowery Blvd runs north/south for nearly 3.5 miles.  Originally named Ashby Street, this road forms the western border of the present day English Avenue neighborhood, where the Center called home for 34 years.

As it turns out, Ashby Street saw some of the earliest neighborhood racial transitions in the city of Atlanta.

"Just to the east stood the Ashby Street region, which had grown rapidly during the previous decades, emerging as one of Atlanta's most overcrowded black neighborhoods.  Indeed, by the 1940's nearly 40 percent of the city's black population lived there, making the enclave's name synonymous with 'black Atlanta.'...The end of World War II brought a severe housing crisis to Atlanta, as thousands of veterans returned home to discover the city had not only failed to build new homes during their absence but actually started to destroy old ones. Black leaders banded together to create new housing on the city's outskirts, but found such projects blocked by local resistance and government red tape.  In the end, they had only one option.  'Following the pressure of increased population,' Atlanta's Metropolitan Planning Commission observed, 'their only avenue for expansion has been 'encroachment' into white neighborhoods adjoining their own areas of concentration.'  Logically, the bulk of the early years of black 'encroachment' emerged from the most significant 'area of concentration,' Ashby Street."

In addition to giving us more information about Ashby street and the environment surrounding the Center in the late 1940's, it also tells us that it was among the first neighborhoods to transition in the city of Atlanta.  "White Flight" had not yet begun on a large scale, as this was one of the very first areas to deal with the issue of neighborhood desegregation.


It is reasonable to believe that most (if not all) of the children who attended the Center would have left the neighborhood during this transition.  As long time families left the neighborhood, the Center lost the people it had served for over 30 years. Did the leadership of the Stewart Center reach out to African American families in English Avenue before deciding to move?  We don't know. 

"Mrs. S.D. Katz was appointed chairman for the committee for the relocation of the Good Will Center.  A grave responsibility rested upon her.  The task was not an easy one.  Mrs. Katz worked faithfully and with the aid of the missionaries diligently combed the city for the right location.  There was much to be considered.  The committee after much prayer and deliberation, felt the directed guidance to this, our present location, 153 Stovall Street, S.E.  Occupancy took place January 1950."

The written histories of the Center do not give any information about why Reynoldstown was chosen for the next location, but demographic data shows that in 1950, Reynoldstown was inhabited by almost exclusively white residents.  (Which is interesting, considering Reynoldstown was founded by freed slaves after the civil war---but that's a subject for another blog!)  Little did they know, they would be faced with a similar neighborhood demographic change a little over a decade later. 

Regardless of the motives and rationale behind the Center's move in 1950, the leadership made a very different decision 15 years later when African Americans began moving into Reynoldstown.

To be continued.

1933

A photo from the 1933 WMU scrapbook.  The caption says:  "In the picture are a group of children at play at Andrew and Frances Stewart Good Will Center Nursery"

The Women of the Stewart Center

As I read about the women who fueled the Stewart Center's early beginnings, I can't help but reflect upon the time period in which they lived.  To give you a frame of reference, women earned the right to vote in 1919 with the passing of the 19th amendment. By this time, the Stewart Center had been open for 3 years, and was run entirely by women.  The written histories of the Center cite very few names, and when they do, they are written devoid of a first name, for example: "Mrs. Andrew Stewart"  (Her name was Frances, or "Fannie.")

As was typical for the time period, most of these women did not have careers of their own, which allowed them to devote great amounts of time and energy to the Center.  These women did not allow their position in society to restrict their passion for children in need, and they accomplished a great deal.  Many wealthy women used their social position for good by lobbying their husbands and social connections to provide financial resources for the Stewart Center.  Wealthy or not, many women gave the Center their primary attention, giving it as much time and devotion as they would a career. 

Without countless, unnamed women the Stewart Center would not exist, and their legacy continues.  Today many dedicated women give their time, energy, and resources to the Center through volunteering, serving on the APSC board, donating resources, etc.

This blog is not to downplay the role of men who have helped shape the Stewart Center---it is simply to highlight the incredible work of so many women who made the Center possible.
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In 1919, after three years of renting a cottage at 219 Bellwood Avenue for use as the Stewart Day Nursery, Mrs. Stewart purchased the building and presented it to the Baptist Woman's Missionary Union (WMU) of the Atlanta Association.  Prior to this gift, the Center was run and supported by a small group of women (including Mrs. Stewart), and not owned or operated by any organization.  Up until this time, it had also received support from the Judson Relief Association, but was not owned or operated by this group.

The WMU (which still exists, and actively supports the Stewart Center) existed to fund and support missions outside the walls of the church.  Most Baptist churches in Atlanta had an active WMU group.  By putting ownership of the Stewart Center in the hands of the Atlanta WMU, a source of volunteers and financial support was all but guaranteed.  

At this point in time, Mrs. Stewart also created a Board of Directors for the Center, to manage and control the affairs of the nursery (subject to the Board of the W.M.U.).  She appointed women who had been actively involved in the Center, and who were keenly interested in it's future.

One church that was particularly involved in the Stewart Center beginnings was First Baptist Church of Atlanta, where Andrew P. Stewart had served as superintendent of Sunday School, and where the Stewart family attended for over 30 years. 

1924:  A group of unidentified women posing in front of the First Baptist Church at the corner of Peachtree Street and Cain Street (Now Andrew Young International Boulevard)

The Atlanta WMU owned and operated the Center until 1995.  For 76 years, the Center was run by missionaries chosen by the WMU (most of whom were women who lived at the Center).  Members of the WMU consistently volunteered at the Center, helping children with homework, teaching them carpentry, sewing, crafts and more.  It was these women who made decisions regarding the future of the Center, provided for it financially, and recruiting passionate people to work with the children.  

Below are just a few women who faithfully served the children of the Stewart Center.

Mrs. Frances Stewart, wife of Andrew P. Stewart.  This is the only known photo of her.  (I apologize for the reflection--taking the photo out of it's frame will be a challenge.)

Mrs. John Dickey, first chairwoman of the APSC board, appointed by Mrs. Stewart.  When Mrs. Dickey passed away, she left a legacy of $8000 for the construction of a recreation building at the Pelham St. location (which still stands today, and is owned by St. James Baptist Church.)

Elizabeth Lundy (left) and Myrtle Salters (right) served as directors of the Stewart Center for 39 years.  They began their service at the Pelham Street location, and relocated with the Center to Reynoldstown in 1950.

1974

Apparently it was ok to park on the sidewalk!

Homework help (do you recognize the classroom?)

Those chairs look awfully familiar...

Displaying their crafts

special event in the gym

Cool view of Reynoldstown from the playground

I believe that red building is where ParkGrounds coffee shop now stands

Those boys are playing where the basketball court and play houses are currently

This merry go round lasted a LONG time

sweet Plaid

what a smile

another cool view of Reynoldstown

A familiar scene--loading up the van

Beginnings in Bellwood

**Note 3/24/2015: The stone and blue building was NOT the Center!  See blog from 10/9/14**

Sometime during my first year at the Center, I expressed to Clayton an interest in the history of the Stewart Center.  In response, he handed me a yellow folder containing fragile pages of type-written history, compiled around 1950.  The histories were written by volunteers and board members of the Center, some of whom had even been present for the Center’s beginnings.  It was through this folder that I began to understand that the impact of the Stewart Center was far greater than I had ever imagined, as 96 years began to take the form of human lives.  

While I knew that the Stewart Center had been located in another neighborhood before moving to Reynoldstown in 1950, it wasn’t until reading this little yellow history that I realized the original locations might still be in existence.  I was excited to discover the addresses of the first two buildings amidst the written history:  219 Bellwood Avenue and 816 Pelham Street.  I immediately searched for their location on Google maps, and discovered that both addresses (although the street names have changed) are both located in the English Avenue neighborhood of Atlanta.  This called for a field trip.

One morning, I drove to English Avenue and began winding my way through the neighborhood.  It was quickly apparent to me that the original location on Bellwood Avenue (now Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy) was no longer in existence, as the street was lined with stores and vacant lots.  As I headed toward Pelham Street, I was temporarily distracted by a huge, old, abandoned school.  I surmised that this was where the Stewart Center children would have attended.

  As I continued down the street, I suddenly knew that I was in the right place.  Sitting on the corner of English Ave and Pelham Street, was a stone house with lots of baby blue trim.  My eyes grew watery as I climbed out of my car and beheld the original “Blue Center.”  

Beyond the eerily similar blue paint, two other facts confirmed that I was in the right place.  First of all, the address matched.  Secondly, next door to the house was a church.  Similar to our current location, the Pelham Street Center had two buildings.  My little yellow history explained that when it came time for the Center to move to Reynoldstown, the Chapel/Recreation building had been sold to “St. James Negro Baptist Church” while the main building had been sold as an apartment house.  St. James Baptist Church, to which the Chapel/Recreation building had been sold, still owns and operates out of the building.  

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The first Center was located at 219 Bellwood Avenue (now Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy)

Click the article for an enlarged version

As the above article mentions, the parents of most children who attended the Stewart Day Nursery worked at the Exposition Cotton Mill*** and lived in the Bellwood community of Atlanta.  (Bellwood is now called English Avenue.)  Since these parents worked long hours for low wages at the mill, their children often lacked adequate supervision.  The Center provided a safe, affordable, happy place for children to be while their parents were at work. 

 

The Center eventually outgrew their small cottage (shown in the top photo above) and Frances Stewart purchased the English Avenue School annex located nearby in the same neighborhood. 

"Mrs. Stewart passed away September 9, 1924, after a lingering illness, leaving a legacy of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) for the erection of a new building to care for the increase of the work.  This building was erected at 816 Pelham Street, N.W.  It was completed October 10, 1927."

  

The school annex was demolished and a new building was constructed.  A few years later, a second building was constructed on site, for use as a Chapel and recreational activities. The two buildings still stand today, and are pictured below.

The red and white building to the left was the Chapel and recreation building, and the stone and blue building (we sure love that color...) to the right was the main building.  While the main building gives the appearance of being abandoned, it is actually amidst the renovation process.  (Clayton and I met the owner, and she allowed us to tour the inside!)  The Chapel is still owned by the St. James Baptist Church, to whom it was sold in 1950.

In 1950, due to "neighborhood changes", it was decided to relocate the Center.  The English Avenue buildings were sold; the Chapel to "St. James Negro Baptist Church" and the main building sold to be used as an apartment house.  The Center's current location at 153 Stovall Street SE in Reynoldstown was purchased, and opened on July 10, 1950.

Sources:


***The Exposition Cotton Mill was originally built for the International Cotton Exposition of 1881, and remained open until 1969.  It was located on West Marietta Street (now called Joseph E. Lowery Blvd) and was within walking distance of Bellwood and the Stewart Center.  (For photos of the cotton mill from the 1940's, see this photo album from the Atlanta History Center: http://album.atlantahistorycenter.com/store/Category/432-exposition-cotton-mills-photographs.aspx)

History of Andrew and Frances Stewart Good Will Center.  First History 1916-1951.  M.J. Long.

"Stewart Goodwill Center Will Have Larger Quarters." The Atlanta Constitution, ProQuest Historical Newspapers Atlanta Constitution (1868-1945).

"Little Tots of the Andrew Stewart Center." The Atlanta Constitution, ProQuest Historical Newspapers Atlanta Constitution (1868-1945).