Bustill-Bowser-Asbury Collection

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Bustill-Bowser-Asbury Collection

1732-1941

https://huaspace.wrlc.org/public/repositories/2/resources/409

The Bustill-Bowser-Asbury Collection spans the time period of 1732-1941. The bulk of the material in this collection, however, spans the years 1840-1926. The collection measures approximately 3½ linear feet. The collection contains genealogical, biographical, legal, and commemorative items, as well as photographs and memorabilia, belonging to Bustill, Bowser, and Asbury family members. The collection has a number of documents which are of unique historical value. The collection contains a biographical sketch of Cyrus Bustill, one of the founders of the African Free Society (1787). The Society had as its purpose the self improvement and advancement of Black Americans. The Society had among its founding members Richard Allen and Absolom, Jones. Members of the Society in 1794 organized themselves into The St. Thomas Free African Church. This was the first Black Church incorporated in the U.S. Cyrus Bustill was the first member of the Society to transfer his accrued money from the Society to the church. Cyrus was the grandfather of Sarah Mapps Douglass, a noted Philadelphia educator and Abolitionist, and Robert Mapps Douglass, an early Afro-American artist. Cyrus was also the great- great- grandfather of Paul Robeson. A large amount of the material in this collection concerns David Bustill Bowser, grandson of Cyrus. The activities of David, a noted pre and post civil war artist are documented in this collection by his business correspondence, newsclippings, his art: work, awards, and legal papers. Another significant mount of material contained in this collection concerns the life and Agent of John C. Asbury. Asbury was married to Ida Elizabeth Bowser Asbury, daughter of David Bustill Bowser. John Asbury was a noted civil rights activist, community leader and advocate for the aged and infirm. Materials concerning Asbury include speeches, certificates, newsclippings about him and printed material concerning, his organizational affiliations. Included in this collection are Photographs of flags designed and painted by David B. Bowser, individual members, and a group picture taken on the White House lawn. This photograph taken sometime during the Hoover administration, shows the President- surrounded by a group of prominent and nationally known Blacks. The group includes Mary Church Terrell, George Murphy, Jr and Adam Clayton Powell , Jr.

3.5 linear ft.

eng, Latn

Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 8046755

Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University

Related Entities

There are 8 Entities related to this resource.

Bustill, Cyrus, 1732-1806

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6zx2cqj (person)

Born in Burlington, New Jersey, on February 2, 1732, Cyrus Bustill was a son of Quaker lawyer Samuel Bustill and Parthenia, a woman of African descent who was a slave owned by Samuel. After Samuel Bustill died in 1742, his widow, Grace Bustill, arranged for the sale of Cyrus Bustill to fellow Quaker Thomas Prior with the understanding that Prior would allow Cyrus to train and earn enough money as an apprentice baker in order to purchase his freedom. By 1791, Cyrus Bustill was recorded as ownin...

Bustill (Family)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w67m94ns (family)

The Bustill family is a prominent American family of largely African, European and Lenape Native American descent. The family has included artists, educators, journalists and activists, both against slavery and against Jim Crow....

St. Thomas' Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6vf1qgd (corporateBody)

Bowser family.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6qp53dr (family)

Asbury family.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6551jfx (family)

Asbury, John Cornelius, 1862-1941

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6wh3cd4 (person)

1732 Feb. 2 Born at Burlington, New Jersey. 1772 Married Elizabeth Murray (1747-1821) 1787 April 10 One of the founders of the African Free Society, Philadelphia, PA. 1806 Died. ...

Free African Society

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w69h0cw0 (corporateBody)

Free African Society, founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Richard Allen and Absalom Jones in 1787. After Richard Allen secured his freedom, he was a circuit preacher and attended meetings in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. When Allen came to the Philadelphia in 1786, he was approached by the minister of St. George's United Methodist Church to preach to the small number of African Americans who attended. It was here that Allen met Absalom Jones, a former worshiper at ...

Bowser, David Bustill, 1820-1900

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w60584hz (person)

David Bustill Bowser (1820-1900) was the son of Elizabeth and Jeremiah Bowser. He was a noted emblem designer and Painter, A friend of President Lincoln, Bowser painted many portraits of Lincoln, including one which the President sat for. He painted flags for many of the Black troops who participated in the Civil War. Photographs of some of these flags can be found in Series M. Bowser was an active abolitionist. He perhaps was most active as a member of the United Order of Odd Fellows. He held n...