Descriptive Summary
Crawford, Vanita E.
The Vanita E. Crawford Antioch Baptist Church Collection
1940-1969MSS.0192
1.0 Linear feet,
2 Document boxes
Materials are in English.
Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library
Related Material
RG I 7: The Antioch Baptist Church Collection.
Processing Information
Processed by Howard Beeth, July 21, 1982
Acquisition Information
Donated by Vanita E. Crawford
Preferred Citation
The Vanita E. Crawford Antioch Baptist Church Collection. Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library
Use Restrictions
None
Arrangement
The first box of material in this collection is composed of documents which are arranged chronologically according to type, as indicated on the following Container List. The second box contains photographs, most of which are fully identified as to date, place, and contents.
Scope and Contents
This collection, donated by Mrs. Crawford, provides researchers with a good cross-section of historical materials, including correspondence, photographs, press clippings and organizational records which will be of special value to those with an interest in black history, as well as women's history and the history of religion in Houston.
Biographical Note
Mrs. Vanita Crawford, born in Washington, Texas, in 1900, moved to Houston in 1911 and became a member of the city's oldest surviving black church, Antioch Baptist, two years later. In the decades that followed, she was a leader in many church activities, most importantly as the President of the Mission Society from the 1940s until the 1960s. She was also active in the Band organizations of the church, whose membership was initially limited to women, but later opened to men, as well. Band members visited those who were infirm or ill, ran sewing classes, provided food and clothing to those in need, and in general tried to be helpmates to people who required assistance. At the same time as Mrs. Crawford gave unstintingly of her time to the church, she earned her livelihood as a caterer, while her husband, R.H. Crawford, worked for over 50 years as an employee of the Missouri Pacific Railroad.
Antioch Baptist Church (Houston, Tex.)
Black Woman's Unity Day, Houston, Tex., 1974
Crawford, Vanita E.
Ethel Ransom Art and Literary Club (Houston, Tex.)
Married Ladies Social, Art and Charity Club (Houston, Tex.)
National Baptist Convention of America
Texas Baptist Women's Convention
Witherspoon, Fredda
African American churches--Texas--Houston
African American women--Texas--Houston
African Americans--Texas--Houston
Churches, Baptist--Texas--Houston
Women in church work--Texas--Houston
Manuscripts
Dramatic history of Antioch Baptist Church by Mrs. Vanita Crawford,
1
1
1975
Jones Band of Antioch Baptist Church
1
2
Lights Band of Antioch Baptist Church
1
3
Miller Band of Antioch Baptist Church
1
4
Munson Band of Antioch Baptist Church
1
5
Powell Band of Antioch Baptist Church
1
6
Prayer Band of Antioch Baptist Church
1
7
Priscilla Band of Antioch Baptist Church
1
8
Ruth Band of Antioch Baptist Church
1
9
Sharkie Band of Antioch Baptist Church
1
10
Star Light Band of Antioch Baptist Church
1
11
Yates Band of Antioch Baptist Church
1
12
Red Circle Girls of Antioch Baptist Church
1
13
Prayer Committee of Antioch Baptist Church
1
14
Women's Missionary Society of Antioch Baptist Church,
1
15
1947-1957
Women's Missionary Society Annual 1-Day Institute,
1
16
1949-1966
General Missionary Society of Antioch Baptist Church,
1
17
1950-1962
Educational Program of General Missionary Society,
1
18
1956-1962
Program, 75th Anniversary Celebration of Antioch Baptist Church Missionary Society,
1
19
1960
Miscellaneous Material, Antioch Baptist Church Missionary Society
1
20
The Ethel Ransom Federated Club of Houston
1
21
The Married Ladies Social Art and Charity Club of Houston,
1
22
1954
Program, National Baptist Sunday School Congress, Houston,
1
23
1941
Annual National Baptist Convention,
1
24
1948-1958
Texas Baptist Women's Convention,
1
25
1965
The Antioch Baptist Church Way,
1
26
1947
Antioch Baptist Church Funeral Notices,
1
27
1943-1959
Proclamation, "Black Women's Unity Day," by Houston Mayor Fred Hofheinz,
1
28
1974
Dr. Fredda Witherspoon, daughter of Mrs. Vanita Crawford and Mr. R.H. Crawford
1
29
Miscellaneous Material,
1
30
1941-1961
Photographic Materials
Photographs
2
1-73
General note
NOTE: Identification Sheets for individual photographs are all together in a separate folder in the front of this box.