Commissioned by
Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, American, founded 1950
Used by
Reverend Evans, Clay, American, 1925 - 2019
Date
1973
Medium
wood with cloth upholstery
Dimensions
H x W x D: 53 1/2 × 30 1/2 × 24 in. (135.9 × 77.5 × 61 cm)
Caption
Reverend Dr. Clay Evans (June 23, 1925- November 27, 2019) was a prominent civil rights leader, Baptist minister, and gospel singer. Born in Brownsville, Tennessee, Dr. Evans utilized his platform on countless occasions to address sociopolitical issues of the times. His connection to addressing community issues while having a deep passion for musical ministry connected him to millions of Americans worldwide. This presiding chair was in use during the time he served as the founding pastor at the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago, Illinois.
Description
This is a wooden chair originally used by Reverend Clay Evans. It is made of dark lacquered wood with dark blue upholstery fabric on the seat, arms and back with fabric edges tucked into the crevices. The fabric is tufted across the backrest. The chair back is a tall vertical rectangle with a pointed top. At the apex is a small rectangular plaque. The reverse side of the chair is not upholstered but solid dark wood with several large scratches across the veneer.
Place used
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Sacred and Ceremonial Objects
Furnishings, Housewares, and Décor
Type
chairs
Topic
Baptist
Civil rights
Communities
Gospel (Music)
Preaching
Religion
Singers (Musicians)
Social reform
The Black Church
Urban life
Worship services
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Rev. Clay Evans
Object number
2021.109.2
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd57ccd4787-f461-4982-9824-b0e159dba904

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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