Title supplied by cataloger. Rolland Joseph 'Speedy' Curtis was born in Louisiana in 1922. After serving three years in the Marines during World War II, he and his wife, Gloria, relocated from New Orleans to Los Angeles in 1946. Curtis served four years with the Los Angeles Police Department, but resigned from the force in order to pursue both a Bachelor's and Master's degree from USC. He later became involved in city politics, as an associate of Sam Yorty, and later a field deputy to City Council members Billy Mills and Tom Bradley. He was briefly director of the Model Cities program in 1973. Rolland J. Curtis died in his home in 1979, the victim of a homicide. An affordable housing complex on Exposition Blvd. near Vermont Ave. was named in his honor in 1981, along with a nearby street and park.; Victory Baptist Church was founded and organized by Dr. Arthur Atlas Peters in a local storefront on Easter Sunday in 1943 with 14 dedicated members of the community. The church was given the name "Victory" by the pastors wife, Mollie Peters, and adopted the motto "To serve the present age." By 1944 the congregation had grown and the church was able to move to its permanent residence at 4802 McKinley Avenue. The church passionately delved into serving the community and by 1948 purchased property near the church that would later become a child care development center and nursery, and established scholarships to help further students education. In 1950, Victory Baptist Church made national news when the Sunday night services were aired on Channel 11, KTTV, at prime time. The Voices of Victory, a choir of 75 members along with the Pastor’s message inspired thousands to worship and soon the congregation grew to 3000 members. In 1953 the goals of the parish were realized and the church established the first nursery and day school for children in kindergarten. Victory Baptist School became the first elementary school owned by a black church to be established in the state of California. From 1953-1962 grades 1-6 were added and eventually extended day care for students in the community. During the 1960s, Victory became not only a spiritual center but a political one as well. Voter registration was encouraged and the church hosted fundraisers for the civil rights movement. When the church celebrated its 24th anniversary in 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the guest speaker. The music department grew and the Victory Baptist Choir, became a vital force in the music ministry. Over the years a multitude of famous singers including Mahalia Jackson, Dorothy Maynor, Jester Harston, The Clara Ward Singers, Ethel Waters and others appeared at Victory. In 1995 Reverend W. Edward Jenkins became the pastor of Victory Baptist Church and started a beautification upgrade to the church and school. Between 1996-1997 eighth grade was added and food programs were implemented and the nursery was renamed The Child Development Center. In 1999 the food program had fed over 1000 people each week and today still hosts an annual free Community Christmas dinner each year feeding 0ver 1000 people. Victory Baptist Church was taken from its community on September 11, 2022 when an arson fire broke out at 2:22 am Sunday morning. Founder, Reverend Peters was the first and only pastor of Victory Baptist Church until his death on September 25, 1975 four days after being found brutally attacked in his home. In 1976 Reverend Charles N. Chapman was elected as Pastor of Victory Baptist Church and served the community until 1993 when he resigned due to health issues and became Pastor Emeritus of Victory Baptist Church. An unidentified parishioner dances during a Victory Baptist church service as unidentified male members of the congregation look on from their seats. A musician is seated at his drums and colorful stained glass windows are visible in the background. Reverend Charles N. Chapman is visible partially off-camera in the foreground on the right holding his eyeglasses in his left hand. Photograph circa 1977. See images 00130209 through 00120232 for additional photos in this series.
Type
image
Format
1 color negative : safety ;10 x 13 cm. Photographic safety negatives
Victory Baptist Church (Los Angeles, Calif.) Victory Baptist Church (Los Angeles, Calif.)--Clergy African American Men Men Religion Religious services Clergy Churches Dance Dancers Stained glass windows Stained glass Clergy--Clothing Musicians Drummers (Musicians) Drums (Musical instruments) Cymbals Chairs Eyeglasses South Los Angeles (Los Angeles, Calif.)
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