Elmer Bartlett, Los Angeles, 1910-1920

Item Overview

Title

Elmer Bartlett, Los Angeles, 1910-1920

Alternative title

First A.M.E. Church choir

Date Created

[1910-1920]

Date

1910/1920

Collection

Miriam Matthews Photograph Collection
OpenUCLA Collections

Notes

Description

Studio portrait of Elmer Bartlett in a business suit.
Elmer Bartlett was a highly acclaimed choir director and organist. Churches where he worked in include the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles. He received several awards in the course of his career including first prize for directing the Los Angeles AME's choir at a 1926 choir competition at the Hollywood Bowl. By 1940 he had moved to Elgin Illinois. He continued to direct choirs and play the organ for various A.M.E. churches.
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.

Caption

Written on back of photo: Elmer Bartlett, Former organist and choir director, 1st A.M.E. church, 8th & Towne Ave.

Physical Description

Extent

1 photograph

Keywords

Genre

Portrait photographs

Names

First African Methodist Episcopal Church (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Bartlett, Elmer, b. 1887

Subject Geographic

Los Angeles (Calif.)

Resource type

still image

Subjects

African American choral conductors