Religious News Service Photographs

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About this Collection

Conceived by journalist Louis Minsky (1909-1957), Religious News Service (RNS) was established in 1934 as an affiliated but independently managed agency of the National Conference of Jews and Christians (later the National Conference of Christians and Jews), and was dedicated to providing authoritative and bias-free news about religion and ethics to both the secular and religious press. This collection contains photographs documenting Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, and Jewish groups. Coverage of Protestants (especially mainline Protestants) and Catholics constitutes the bulk of the images. View the collection guide to learn more. Digitization of some of the images in this collection made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Featured image: Father James Groppi, the civil rights activist priest from Milwaukee, and militant leader Rennie Davis are taken into custody during an anti war demonstration a block from the White House.

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Title:
Body removed from bombed Birmingham church.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: PC-29887 BODY REMOVED FROM BOMBED BIRMINGHAM CHURCH BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The body of one of four young Negro girls killed in the bombing of 16th Street Baptist church in Birmingham, Ala., is removed from the shattered basement. The youngsters, one 11 and three 14 years old, were studying their Sunday school lesson on the subject, “The Love That Forgives,” when explosions ripped through the church. A rope-barricade and armed troopers held a gathering crowd away from the blast area. Outraged Negroes ultimately heeded pleas by the pastor of the church, the Rev. John Cross, to disperse. From across the nation, religious leaders urged action to prevent further violence in racially-tense Birmingham. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (W-NY-9C-63-NBM)
Creator:
Wide World Photos, Inc. (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Sixteenth Street Baptist Church (Birmingham, Ala.)
Topics:
16th Street Baptist Church Bombing, Birmingham, Ala., 1963., Domestic terrorism--United States., Civil rights movements--United States., Bombings--Alabama--Birmingham., First responders--Alabama--Birmingham., Racism--Alabama--Birmingham.
Geographic subjects:
Birmingham (Ala.), Birmingham (Ala.)--Race relations.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:358129
Title:
Prayer at bombing scene.
Creator:
United Press International. (author)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Sixteenth Street Baptist Church (Birmingham, Ala.)
Topics:
16th Street Baptist Church Bombing, Birmingham, Ala., 1963., Domestic terrorism--United States., Civil rights movements--United States., Bombings--Alabama--Birmingham., Prayer--Alabama--Birmingham., Racism--Alabama--Birmingham.
Geographic subjects:
Birmingham (Ala.), Birmingham (Ala.)--Race relations.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:357976
Title:
Family in mourning.
Creator:
Wide World Photos, Inc. (author)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Sixteenth Street Baptist Church (Birmingham, Ala.), Robertson, Carole--Death and burial., Robertson, Alvin., Robertson, Alpha., Robertson, Dianne.
Topics:
16th Street Baptist Church Bombing, Birmingham, Ala., 1963., Domestic terrorism--United States., Civil rights movements--United States., Bombings--Alabama--Birmingham., Racism--Alabama--Birmingham., Funeral service--Alabama--Birmingham.
Geographic subjects:
Birmingham (Ala.), Birmingham (Ala.)--Race relations.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:357959
Title:
Victim removed from church.
Creator:
Wide World Photos, Inc. (author)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Sixteenth Street Baptist Church (Birmingham, Ala.)
Topics:
16th Street Baptist Church Bombing, Birmingham, Ala., 1963., Domestic terrorism--United States., Civil rights movements--United States., Bombings--Alabama--Birmingham., First responders--Alabama--Birmingham., Racism--Alabama--Birmingham.
Geographic subjects:
Birmingham (Ala.), Birmingham (Ala.)--Race relations.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:357913
Title:
The Goods do good among southern Negroes.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: C-31912 THE GOODS DO GOOD AMONG SOUTHERN NEGROES SELMA, Ala. -- Bill and Mary Good are a young husband-wife team dedicated to the lay apostolate among Negro young people in the Selma, Ala., mission of the Society of St. Edmund (Edmundites). Formerly from New York City, Mr. and Mrs. Good voluntarily devote their services and time in educational, social and recreational activities conducted at the mission. At top, Bill supervises a game of billiards at the Edmundites’ Don Bosco Boys Club. Below, Mary tends to her class of 20 pre-school Negro children. She also directs the mission’s Girls Club. As lay workers, Mr. and Mrs. Good have been cited by Father John P. Crowley, director of Edmundite Southern missions, for their “considerable skill, and tremendous help.” The society is active in education, missionary, parish and youth work among Negroes and whites in the South. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (FRE-12B-64-NAB)
Creator:
Society of Saint Edmund. (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Good, Mary O'Neil., Society of Saint Edmund.
Topics:
Home missions--Alabama--Selma., Married people in missionary work--Alabama--Selma., African Americans--Missions--Alabama--Selma., Preschool teachers--Alabama--Selma., Women preschool teachers--Alabama--Selma.
Geographic subjects:
Selma (Ala.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:356652
Title:
The Goods do good among southern Negroes.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: C-31912 THE GOODS DO GOOD AMONG SOUTHERN NEGROES SELMA, Ala. -- Bill and Mary Good are a young husband-wife team dedicated to the lay apostolate among Negro young people in the Selma, Ala., mission of the Society of St. Edmund (Edmundites). Formerly from New York City, Mr. and Mrs. Good voluntarily devote their services and time in educational, social and recreational activities conducted at the mission. At top, Bill supervises a game of billiards at the Edmundites’ Don Bosco Boys Club. Below, Mary tends to her class of 20 pre-school Negro children. She also directs the mission’s Girls Club. As lay workers, Mr. and Mrs. Good have been cited by Father John P. Crowley, director of Edmundite Southern missions, for their “considerable skill, and tremendous help.” The society is active in education, missionary, parish and youth work among Negroes and whites in the South. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (FRE-12B-64-NAB)
Creator:
Society of Saint Edmund. (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Good, William D., Society of Saint Edmund.
Topics:
Home missions--Alabama--Selma., Married people in missionary work--Alabama--Selma., African Americans--Missions--Alabama--Selma., Billiards--Alabama--Selma., Youth centers--Alabama--Selma.
Geographic subjects:
Selma (Ala.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:356651
Title:
December 11 release.
Creator:
Society of Saint Edmund. (author)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Good, Mary O'Neil., Good, William D., Society of Saint Edmund., Catholic Church--Clergy., Crowley, John P.
Topics:
Home missions--Alabama--Selma., Married people in missionary work--Alabama--Selma., African Americans--Missions--Alabama--Selma., Clergy--Alabama--Selma.
Geographic subjects:
Selma (Ala.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:356278
Title:
White segregationist attacks Dr. King.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: PC-32069 WHITE SEGREGATIONIST ATTACKS DR. KING SELMA, Ala. -- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is confronted by a white segregationist outside the Dallas County Court House in Selma, Ala. The man later punched and kicked the noted Negro integration leader as he registered at a previously segregated hotel. The attacker was James Robinson, 26, of Birmingham, Ala., a member of the segregationist National States Rights Party. Police quickly seized Mr. Robinson and charged him with assault and disturbing the peace. Dr. King said later he was not hurt by the attack, suffering only a headache. The 1964 Nobel Peace Prize winner and leading advocate of the non-violent movement against discrimination was in Selma to assist a voter registration drive. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (W-1C-65-NAB)
Creator:
Wide World Photos, Inc. (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1929-1968., Robinson, Jimmy George.
Topics:
Civil rights workers--Alabama--Selma., Civil rights movements--United States., Segregation--Alabama--Selma.
Geographic subjects:
Selma (Ala.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:355931
Title:
Difference in opinion.
Creator:
Wide World Photos, Inc. (author)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1929-1968., Robinson, Jimmy George.
Topics:
Civil rights workers--Alabama--Selma., Civil rights movements--United States., Segregation--Alabama--Selma.
Geographic subjects:
Selma (Ala.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:355721
Title:
TV for Sunday school.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: P-30354 TV FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Sunday school lesson in a new format -- via closed-circuit television. Here Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Conway Lanford, religious education supervisor at Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Ala., is shown as he delivered a Sunday school message for children of base personnel. Devoted to the SOS (Share Our Substance) program of Church World Service, the talk was taped and then piped into the Air Command and Staff College building which is used for Protestant Sunday school classes. The Air University Television Department cooperated in the program, believed to be the first use of closed-circuit TV in a U.S. Sunday school. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (JJM-NY-12B-63-W)
Creator:
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Church World Service. (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., United States. Air Force--Chaplains., National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Church World Service., Air University (U.S.), Lanford, Conway.
Topics:
Church and mass media--Alabama--Montgomery., Sunday schools--Alabama--Montgomery., Sunday schools--Protestant churches.
Geographic subjects:
Montgomery (Ala.), Maxwell Air Force Base (Ala.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:352987
Title:
Church World Service press release, 1963.
Creator:
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Church World Service. (author)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., United States. Air Force--Chaplains., National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Church World Service., Air University (U.S.), Lanford, Conway.
Topics:
Church and mass media--Alabama--Montgomery., Sunday schools--Alabama--Montgomery., Sunday schools--Protestant churches.
Geographic subjects:
Montgomery (Ala.), Maxwell Air Force Base (Ala.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:352721
Title:
Sermon in silhouette.
Description:
Alternate caption.
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Graham, Billy, 1918-2018., Legion Field (Birmingham, Ala.), Southern Baptist Convention--Clergy.
Topics:
Evangelists--Alabama--Birmingham., Holy Week--Alabama--Birmingham., Easter service., Race relations--Religious aspects--Christianity., Ecumenical movement--Alabama--Birmingham.
Geographic subjects:
Birmingham (Ala.)--Race relations., Birmingham (Ala.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:348700
Title:
Integrated crowd in south hears Billy Graham.
Description:
Alternate caption.
Creator:
Adams, John. (author)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Graham, Billy, 1918-2018., Legion Field (Birmingham, Ala.), Southern Baptist Convention--Clergy.
Topics:
Evangelists--Alabama--Birmingham., Holy Week--Alabama--Birmingham., Easter service., Race relations--Religious aspects--Christianity., Ecumenical movement--Alabama--Birmingham.
Geographic subjects:
Birmingham (Ala.)--Race relations., Birmingham (Ala.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:348643
Title:
Alabama archbishop orders Catholic school integration.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: C-30947 ALABAMA ARCHBISHOP ORDERS CATHOLIC SCHOOL INTEGRATION MOBILE, Ala. -- Archbishop Thomas J. Toolen, Bishop of Mobile-Birmingham, has ordered integration of all Catholic elementary and high schools in his diocese beginning in September. Announced in a pastoral letter read in diocesan churches, the order will affect parochial schools in Alabama and 11 counties of West Florida. Alabama has about 25,000 students in 80 Catholic elementary and 13 secondary schools, with about 5,000 Negroes. Archbishop Toolen urged all his faithful to “accept this decision as best for God and country.” He stressed that “no matter what personal feelings are, the common good of all must come first.” Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (W-4D-64-NAB)
Creator:
Wide World Photos, Inc. (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Catholic Church--Bishops., Toolen, Thomas J., 1886-1976., Catholic Church. Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham.
Topics:
Bishops--Alabama--Mobile., Race relations--Religious aspects--Christianity., School integration--Alabama., Catholic schools--Alabama., School integration--West Florida., Catholic schools--West Florida., Civil rights--Religious aspects--Catholic Church.
Geographic subjects:
Alabama., West Florida., Mobile (Ala.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:348351
Title:
Easter sun silhouettes evangelist.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: P-30806 EASTER SUN SILHOUETTES EVANGELIST BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- A setting sun silhouettes Billy Graham as he preaches to nearly 50,000 whites and Negroes attending an unprecedented integrated Easter service in Birmingham -- a city of racial tensions. Telling the crowd that “it is good to stand together for Christ,” the famed evangelist made a fervent plea to all men to work harder for racial justice. The service -- at which no racial incidents were reported -- was the largest integrated religious rally ever assembled in Alabama. It had been arranged by the bi-racial committee of Protestant, Roman Catholic and Jewish laymen. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (W-3E-64-NAB)
Creator:
Wide World Photos, Inc. (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Graham, Billy, 1918-2018., Legion Field (Birmingham, Ala.), Southern Baptist Convention--Clergy.
Topics:
Evangelists--Alabama--Birmingham., Holy Week--Alabama--Birmingham., Easter service., Race relations--Religious aspects--Christianity., Ecumenical movement--Alabama--Birmingham.
Geographic subjects:
Birmingham (Ala.)--Race relations., Birmingham (Ala.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:348322
Title:
Integrated crowd in south hears Billy Graham.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: P-30801 INTEGRATED CROWD IN SOUTH HEARS BILLY GRAHAM BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Left photo shows part of the integrated crown which jammed Birmingham’s Legion Field for an Easter service addressed by evangelist Billy Graham (right). Attended by an estimated 50,000 whites and Negroes, the rally was described as the largest integrated audience ever assembled in this city of racial violence. The significance of the event was brought home to all present by the noted evangelist when he told them: “What a moment and what an hour for Birmingham!” The Southern Baptist minister urged his audience to make new efforts to ease the city’s race tensions and to end prejudice in America. Some 300 police were on duty at the football stadium, but no incidents were reported. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (JA-BIRM-3E-64-NAB)
Creator:
Adams, John. (photographer)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Graham, Billy, 1918-2018., Legion Field (Birmingham, Ala.), Southern Baptist Convention--Clergy.
Topics:
Evangelists--Alabama--Birmingham., Holy Week--Alabama--Birmingham., Easter service., Race relations--Religious aspects--Christianity., Ecumenical movement--Alabama--Birmingham.
Geographic subjects:
Birmingham (Ala.)--Race relations., Birmingham (Ala.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:348321
Title:
Integrated crowd in south hears Billy Graham.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: P-30801 INTEGRATED CROWD IN SOUTH HEARS BILLY GRAHAM BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Left photo shows part of the integrated crown which jammed Birmingham’s Legion Field for an Easter service addressed by evangelist Billy Graham (right). Attended by an estimated 50,000 whites and Negroes, the rally was described as the largest integrated audience ever assembled in this city of racial violence. The significance of the event was brought home to all present by the noted evangelist when he told them: “What a moment and what an hour for Birmingham!” The Southern Baptist minister urged his audience to make new efforts to ease the city’s race tensions and to end prejudice in America. Some 300 police were on duty at the football stadium, but no incidents were reported. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (JA-BIRM-3E-64-NAB)
Creator:
Adams, John. (photographer)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Graham, Billy, 1918-2018., Legion Field (Birmingham, Ala.), Southern Baptist Convention--Clergy.
Topics:
Evangelists--Alabama--Birmingham., Holy Week--Alabama--Birmingham., Easter service., Race relations--Religious aspects--Christianity., Ecumenical movement--Alabama--Birmingham.
Geographic subjects:
Birmingham (Ala.)--Race relations., Birmingham (Ala.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:348320
Title:
Boy prays outside bombed church.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: PC-29888 BOY PRAYS OUTSIDE BOMBED CHURCH BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- A Negro boy fell to his knees in prayer amid shattered glass from windows of the 16th Street Baptist church and surrounding buildings in Birmingham, Ala. Four young girls died as a racist's bomb exploded at 10:22 a.m. on Sept. 15 during worship services and Sunday school sessions. In the following outbreak of violence throughout the area, two young Negroes were shot to death. Pleas for effort to stop further bloodshed were issued from government, civil rights and religious leaders across the nation. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (W-NY-9C-63-NBM)
Creator:
United Press International. (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Sixteenth Street Baptist Church (Birmingham, Ala.)
Topics:
16th Street Baptist Church Bombing, Birmingham, Ala., 1963., Racism--Alabama--Birmingham., Prayer--Alabama--Birmingham., Bombings--Alabama--Birmingham.
Geographic subjects:
Birmingham (Ala.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:344315
Title:
Services held for church-bombing victim.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: PC-29902 SERVICES HELD FOR CHURCH-BOMBING VICTIM BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- A moment of quiet at the edge of a grave followed minutes of terror earlier when a racist’s bomb shattered 16th Street Baptist church in Birmingham, Ala. Friends and relatives gather around Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Robertson, Sr., seated at right, and a sister, at left, of 14-year-old Carole Robertson. Carole and three other young girls, attending Sunday school in the church basement, died in the explosion. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (WIDE WORLD-NY-9C-63-NBM)
Creator:
Wide World Photos, Inc. (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Sixteenth Street Baptist Church (Birmingham, Ala.), Robertson, Carole--Death and burial., Robertson, Alvin., Robertson, Alpha., Robertson, Dianne.
Topics:
16th Street Baptist Church Bombing, Birmingham, Ala., 1963., Domestic terrorism--United States., Civil rights movements--United States., Bombings--Alabama--Birmingham., Racism--Alabama--Birmingham., Funeral service--Alabama--Birmingham.
Geographic subjects:
Birmingham (Ala.), Birmingham (Ala.)--Race relations.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:344313
Title:
Dr. King arrested in voter drive.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: PC-32117 DR. KING ARRESTED IN VOTER DRIVE SELMA, Ala. -- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and other Negroes kneel to pray as they are being taken to jail after being arrested in a voter registration drive. The noted Baptist minister and winner of the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize was among 265 persons arrested on charges of parading without a permit as they walked to the Dallas County Courthouse to protest voter registration practices. In addition, some 500 students who stayed out of school to join the demonstration were arrested on truancy charges, while 37 adults were seized by police for contempt of court. Most of those apprehended were released without bail pending arraignment. Dr. King, however, remained in jail than post the $200 bond required for non-residents. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (U-2A-65-NAB)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1928-1968.
Topics:
Civil rights deomnstrations--Alabama--Selma., Arrest--Alabama--Selma., African American civil rights workers--Alabama--Selma., Suffrage--Alabama--Selma.
Geographic subjects:
Selma (Ala.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:343596

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