Joseph Z. Smith Collection, Circa 1922-2000
Collection context
Summary
- Extent:
- 1 Folder
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
Joseph Z. Smith Collection, Broward County Historical Archives, Broward County Library.
Background
- Scope and content:
The Joseph Z. Smith Collection documents Bishop Joseph Z. Smith's career in the Church of God and community organizing and contains 16 photographs of Bishop Joseph Z. Smith and his family and associates and a biographical description.
- Biographical / historical:
Reverend Joseph Zepheniah "Papa" Smith was born on May 16th, 1903 on Long Island, Bahamas who became Bishop and local entrepeneur for the local black community. After a being an educator in the Bahamas he came to work on Flager's railroad. He became part of Fort Lauderdale's Church of God at 211 N.W. 5th Avenue and was recruited to the ministry by the church's founder Bishop J.H. Curry. He married Anna Stirrup in 1922 and had nine children together. He was licensed to pastor "Colored Churches" in in Del Ray, Deerfield, Pahokee, Fort Myers, St. Petersburg, Daytona and Dania. After becoming a Bishop in 1942 he was overseer of all Colored Church of God congregations in Indiana, Michigan and Illinois. In 1948 he joined one of the 12 member State of Florida Bishop's Councilman of the Colored Work. His position in church, community, and business affairs lead to cooperation with figures such as Dr. Von. D. Mizell, Sylvia Aldridge, and Sheriff Walter Clark.
- Processing information:
The Joseph Z. Smith Collection received container level processing. This finding aid may be updated to reflect new descriptions as well as acquisitions to the collection.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
- Subjects:
- Bahamian Americans
Access and use
- Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
- Preferred citation:
Joseph Z. Smith Collection, Broward County Historical Archives, Broward County Library.
- Location of this collection:
-
Broward County Historical Archives, Broward County Library100 S. Andrews AvenueFort LauderdaleFL33301USA
