Chiefly correspondence with Oscar W. Adams, secretary / treasurer, AME Zion Church Extension Dept. (Birmingham, Ala.), re Metropolitan Church's financial issues, loans, and letters written on behalf of the church by Spartanburg attorney A.C. Platt; also including document, 19 Aug. 1936, Court of Common Pleas (Spartanburg County, S.C.), complaint of Mechanics' Building & Loan Association of Spartanburg, against Metropolitan AME Zion Church for default on a loan secured by a mortgage. Resolutions, 14 Feb. 1938, issued by the Church re the institution's indebtedness resulting from the Great Depression and authorizing the corporation to secure loans up to $5000; letter, 28 July 1938 (Spartanburg, S.C.), F.H. Gray to Oscar W. Adams (Birmingham, Ala.), reporting "a change in the pastorate" at the Metropolitan AME Zion Church due to the death of Rev. J.C. Lewis, "presiding elder in the Pee Dee Conference," and appointment of Rev. A.H. Hatwood as the new minister or "presiding elder"; Gray reports he is same F.H. Gray who "built the church in Butler, Ala. In 1935." Letter, 31 Mar. 1939 (Spartanburg, S.C.), R.B. Browning to O.W. Adams, re a possible relocation of an African American church in Inman (Spartanburg County, S.C.) from its current location to an African-American neighborhood, "we had planned to brick veneer our church up at Inman, S.C. But the white people of that town has promised to buy us out and let us have a church in the negro section. They also promised to give us a turn key Job, but it will be a wooden structure. I think that will be better for us." Letter of reply, 4 Apr. 1939, from Oscar W. Adams to Rev. R.B. Browning, expressing concern at this potential arrangement, recommending that Rev. Browning discuss the matter with Bishop J.W. Martin, "if the white people wish to buy the property and will give a reasonable and agreed price for it and it is found necessary to sell it, that is the time you should act, but not without the advice of your Bishop.... this department is interested primarily in church property and we would like to know just what is going to happen before an agreement is reached...." Letter, 17 Apr. 1939, from Mrs. Julia Baum Shaw to O.W. Adams, discussing her interest to run as a candidate for the Office of General Treasurer of the Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Society, and requesting his support , and sending regards on behalf of Rev. Shaw and her daughters. Letter, 20 Apr. 1939 (Spartanburg, S.C.) to Oscar W. Adams, re sending check for interest due and attributing the delay to a renovation issue, "the church tower was condemned by the City Building Inspector and we had to take part of it down and build it back"
