Even in an era of separate but equal, Memphian Robert Church crafted a proud and lasting legacy for himself and his children.
His name isn’t instantly recognizable, but Church, the black son of a white ship captain, became the patriarch of a Memphis family distinguished for its businessmen and political figures. He was a staunch Republican, heavily involved in local politics, a shrewd businessman and passionately committed to the progress of African Americans.
He was also the first black millionaire in the South.
His life was, in the words of his friend W.E.B. DuBois, “a stern, concrete test of the underlying principles of the great republic.”
Even in the shadow of Plessy vs. Ferguson, even denied equal accommodations at many public buildings, even being forced to live without many basic constitutional freedoms, his life reflected the words of Harlem Renaissance painted Aaron Douglas, a contemporary of Church.
“I refuse to compromise,” Douglas once said, “and see blacks as anything less than a proud and majestic people.”
Both his era and his story are captured in the Robert R. Church collection, in The University of Memphis library’s Special Collections department, a collection that includes papers, documents and photographs of the influential Church family.
“I’m extremely proud that we have the collection,” said Ed Frank, curator of the library’s special collections. “It is extremely rich in detail about our part of the country.”
The collection fills 37 cartons and one oversize box. The content spans the early 1800s to the middle part of the 20th century, and describes the achievements of three generations of the Church family.
Some items include a black-and-white photo of Memphis music legend W.C. Handy and his band, with an inscription scrawled on it which reads, “To my esteemed friend, Mr. Robert R. Church, with my best wishes.”
There are newspaper articles about the family, social pamphlets and invitations to important civic functions.
There are a large number of letters dealing with Robert Church, Jr., and his wife. One of them is from W.E.B. DuBois’ NAACP office in New York, congratulating Church on his recent marriage.
Elsewhere, the collection captures Memphis city in the early 1900s. The best aspect of it, though, is the way it quietly reflects the personal life of Robert Church.
“My dear Sallie,” reads one of his letters. “Congratulations on your being able to put up with me seven years. Do you remember seven years ago at this time? My doesn’t time fly, and my only regret is that I didn’t get to you sooner.”
