At the conclusion of the Civil War in 1865, the General Assembly (PCUSA--Old
School) appointed a Committee for Education of Freedmen, to establish
churches and schools. At the 1870 reunion, this committee merged with the
Freedmen's Department of the New School Committee of Home Missions; the new
committee was named Committee of Missions for Freedmen. In 1883, the
Freedmen's Committee was formally incorporated as the Board of Missions for
Freedmen. The new board, like its predecessors, helped to educate and supply
black teachers and preachers in the southern United States. It built and
supported black schools, churches, colleges and seminaries and prescribed
courses of study to be used. In 1923, the Freedmen's Board merged with other
boards and agencies to become the Board of National Missions. This collection
consists of the records of the Board of Missions for Freedmen and its
predecessors. The collection includes annual reports, correspondence,
minutes, and application books. View the
collection
guide to learn more.
Featured
image: Committee on Freedmen first annual report, presented May
1866.