Dedication of the plaque commemorating the First A.M.E. Church at 8th St. and Towne Ave., Los Angeles, 1973

Title: Dedication of the plaque commemorating the First A.M.E. Church at 8th St. and Towne Ave., Los Angeles, 1973
Alternative title: Dedication of Historical Plaque at 8th and Towne
Date Created: December, 13, 1973
Date: 1973-12-13
Collection: Miriam Matthews Photograph Collection
OpenUCLA Collections

Description: Miriam Matthews, sister of businesswoman Ella Matthews and lawyer Charles Matthews, was hired in 1927 as the first African American librarian in the Los Angeles Public Library. Matthews was also a civil rights activist, historian, and collector of African American art and primary source materials.
First African Methodist Episcopal Church, Los Angeles, is the oldest church founded by African Americans in the City of Los Angeles, dating to 1872. Biddy Mason established the church to minister to the mind, body, and soul of the community. This church served as the cornerstone of the community for spiritual growth, social uplift, and economic development.
Five African American men, four women and one small child stand in a semi-circle around the dedication plaque at the site of the destroyed First African Methodist Episcopal Church building on 8th St. and Towne Ave. Miriam Matthews is on the right.

Genre: photographs
Names: First African Methodist Episcopal Church (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Matthews, Miriam
Subject Geographic: Los Angeles (Calif.)
Longitude: 34.03711
Latitude: -118.24752
Resource type: still image
Subjects: Historical markers
African American churches
Dedications