The Mariners’ Museum and Park Collection is pretty vast! There are approximately 32,000 objects, equally divided between paintings, prints, ship models, and three-dimensional objects. Not to mention nearly 110,000 books, 800,000 photographs, films, and negatives, and over 1 million pieces of archival material in our library and archives.

Can you imagine how many different stories that can be researched and told?

While searching through the Collection, Curator of Photography Sarah Puckitt came across a fascinating image of a baptism photo from 1914. 

As we began our research, we looked at the photo to see what clues the photo gives to aid us in our research. 

The photograph found in our Collection shows a baptism on November 8, 1914, along the James River in downtown Newport News, Virginia. Reverend Charles Edward Jones was pastor of Zion Baptist Church where he led the congregation for 39 years, beginning in 1902 until his untimely death in 1941.  Zion Baptist Church was organized in 1896 under a cherry tree by a group of 13 like-minded individuals who had migrated to Newport News from other areas of Virginia and the Carolinas. During Rev. Jones’ leadership, Zion held worship services next to its current location at the intersection of 20th Street and Ivy Avenue in downtown Newport News, Virginia.

Finding an image of this baptism in the James River is amazing on many levels! To begin with, the image itself is very compelling. The central subject, people dressed in white waiting to be baptized, stands in front of a huge crowd on the shoreline. In the foreground waters, the event is framed by rowboats with men in them. All the people are dressed up, as if for church on Sunday.

Here’s another amazing thing about this photograph! Locals knew Elder Solomon Michaex of Gospel Spreading Church and The United House of Prayer had water baptisms. For many, baptisms during Easter were a community event. This image predates the establishment of both churches and is a jewel indeed.

The James River is known by locals as a major waterway in the Hampton Roads region for transportation, industry, recreation, and commerce. On the shores of the James, like many other rivers throughout the South, were common settings for baptisms up until the late 20th Century. 

Baptisms were huge community events, drawing crowds of hundreds who gathered in boats and on the shore to witness this celebration of forgiveness and new life through the waters. According to a paper discovered at the Newsome House in Newport News and written by a former pastor of Zion Baptist Church, Reverend Jones would go into the bars, shot houses, and other places to bring people into a weekend revival, with the culmination being a Sunday baptism in the James River.

Based on several of the buildings that could be identified, some still-standing locations in the photograph are probably off the area known as Pinkett’s Beach in downtown Newport News. 

Several department members had an opportunity to travel to the southeast area of Newport News to try and find the exact location where the photograph was taken. We found ourselves standing on a stretch of King-Lincoln Park, also known as Pinkett’s Beach in the downtown area.

While there, we met up with the current Senior Pastor of Zion Baptist Church, Reverend Dr. Tremayne M. Johnson. As we stood on the beach looking out to the water, one could visually recreate the action that took place there a little over 111 years ago. Rev. Dr. Johnson mentioned that baptism could likely be seen as an outward expression of inner grace with one’s self, your community, and beliefs.

Sadly, this is all we know about this historic image so far. However, the search continues for more!

Water has always been a part of African American history and culture. It has been symbolic in so many ways. The waters captured in the photo are the same waters in which hundreds found spiritual sustenance and renewed connection to their community. That very beach was a place of celebration. Celebration of new life, new beginnings, and a community brought together on and by the waters.

Water is and has been the gateway, connecting us to our heritage from the continent of Africa to where we are today. Water brings us life. It is a place to celebrate, to reflect, and to connect. Connecting, especially to our community, through our shared maritime heritage is what allows us to come together just like people did more than 100 years ago.

Sources:

1. Zion Baptist Church. Accessed 1/22/2022, https://www.thezionbaptistchurch.com/about/our-story
2. Dr. Susan Roach. Accessed on January 28, 2022, https://www.louisianafolklife.org/LT/Articles_Essays/creole_art_river_baptism.html
3. Langston Hughes. Accessed February 17, 2022, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44428/the-negro-speaks-of-rivers#
4. 1913 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, page 22. Courtesy The Martha Woodroof Hiden Memorial Virginiana Room at the Newport News Public Library, Newport News, Virginia.
5. Daily Press 25 Oct 1910. (Newspapers.com). Accessed April 21, 2022.