Main content

Reverend John L. Link Collection

Notifications

Held at: Temple University Libraries: Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Temple University Libraries: Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Call Number:
BC018JL
Repository:
Temple University Libraries: Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection
Extent:
1.25 linear feet (3 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Reverend John L. Link Collection, BC018, Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Date:
1919-1962 (inclusive)
Creator:
Link, John L.
Abstract:

Rev. J. L. Link, Presiding Elder of the Wilmington District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, raised funds to pay the $13,000.00 debt on the Mt. Hebron African Methodist Episcopal Church in Linwood, Pennsylvania, first organized in 1837, known then as Hebron African Methodist Church, in a log cabin on the road from Dutton's crossroads to Upper Chichester Township. Rev. J.L. Link was appointed Presiding Elder of the Wilmington District by Bishop W.H. Heard in 1933. In 1938, the Rt. Rev. David Henry Sims merged the two districts into one, to be known as the Penn-Del District, and appointed Rev. J.L. Link to preside over the whole Delaware Conference.

In 1923 Rev. J.L. Link, Pastor of Campbell Methodist Episcopal Church, Media, Pennsylvania, was among the chief organizers of the Media, Pennsylvania's first NAACP branch (formally named, Colored Protection Society), following the aftermath of an incident in which a white high school girl told the Media police she had been beaten and knocked unconscious by a black man. As it turned out, the guilty party was a mentally challenged Native American boy from the Elwyn School. However, before that was determined, in a knee-jerk reaction, black homes were invaded, crosses were burned and a serious Klan presence began. Link's five page speech, "Elements That Retard Self" delivered before the resulting NAACP local is in the collection, along with numerous sermons and other talks and articles such as "Is suicide ever justifiable?" and a seven page address on the anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation.

The John L. Link Collection mainly consists of hundreds of pages of typed and handwritten sermons from the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Also included are minutes to the church elders and meetings, certificates, reports, flyers, clippings, obituaries and other printed materials. The collection also includes an unpublished manuscript "Brief Summary of the Origin and History of the African Methodist Episcopal Church."

The collection mainly consists of hundreds of pages of typed and handwritten sermons from the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Also included are minutes to the church elders and meetings, certificates, reports, flyers, clippings, obituaries and other printed materials. The collection also includes an unpublished manuscript "Brief Summary of the Origin and History of the African Methodist Episcopal Church."

Series 1: Sermons A-T, circa 1939, undated
Series 2: Sermons T-Y, undated
Series 3: Columns, Correspondences, Certificates, Reports, Obituaries, Flyers, Misc., 1919-1962, undated

Acquired in 2012.

Collection processed and finding aid prepared in 2012 by Dhruv Thakker; Supervised by Leslie Willis-Lowry.

Publisher
Temple University Libraries: Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection
Finding Aid Author
Machine-readable finding aid created by: Rajkumar Natarajan, Sky Global Services India (P) Ltd.
Finding Aid Date
January 2025
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

The Reverend John L. Link Collection is the physical property of the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection, Temple University Libraries. The creator/donor has not assigned their rights to Temple University Libraries. Other creators' intellectual property rights, including copyright, belong to them or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for determining the identity of rights holders and obtaining their permission for publication and for other purposes where stated.

Collection Inventory

Abiding with Christ, undated.
Box 1 Folder 1
A Comparison of Luther and Zwingli's theology, undated.
Box 1 Folder 2
A Good Grip, undated.
Box 1 Folder 3
Allen the Hero of the Race, undated.
Box 1 Folder 4
And hereby have do know that are know him: Christian Certainty, undated.
Box 1 Folder 5
Annual Meeting of Presiding Elder of the Pennsylvania-Delaware, undated.
Box 1 Folder 6
A Reflection on the important events in the rise & the progress of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, undated.
Box 1 Folder 7
As it began to dawn towards the day, undated.
Box 1 Folder 8
A Sketch of the Life, Character & achievements of Increase and Cotton Mather, undated.
Box 1 Folder 9
As you go, Preach, undated.
Box 1 Folder 10
A wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, undated.
Box 1 Folder 11
Bethe, undated.
Box 1 Folder 12
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled, undated.
Box 1 Folder 13
Board of Church Extension, undated.
Box 1 Folder 14
Building Material, undated.
Box 1 Folder 15
Chickens will come home to roost, undated.
Box 1 Folder 16
Christian's hidden sources of Delight, undated.
Box 1 Folder 17
Christian Stability: Psalms 10:1 "My heart is fixed", undated.
Box 1 Folder 18
Christmas Choral Reading, undated.
Box 1 Folder 19
Community Betterment, undated.
Box 1 Folder 20
Co-operation, undated.
Box 1 Folder 21
District Convention, undated.
Box 1 Folder 22
Easy Terms of Mercy, undated.
Box 1 Folder 23
Enlarge the place of thy tent, undated.
Box 1 Folder 24
Election in the office of Bishop, undated.
Box 1 Folder 25
Episcopal Districts and Assignments, undated.
Box 1 Folder 26
Essential Problem of Christianity, undated.
Box 1 Folder 27
Foot and Mouth Disease, undated.
Box 1 Folder 28
Four Cherubim and Wheels, undated.
Box 1 Folder 29
Four men carrying him, undated.
Box 1 Folder 30
Gardens lost and found, undated.
Box 1 Folder 31
Grace to make all men see, undated.
Box 1 Folder 32
Heroes of Faith, undated.
Box 1 Folder 33
Individual Leadership, undated.
Box 1 Folder 34
In the Field of Human Rights, undated.
Box 1 Folder 35
Is Church going worthwhile?, undated.
Box 1 Folder 36
Jesus stood on the shore, undated.
Box 1 Folder 37
Kicking the Devil out, undated.
Box 1 Folder 38
King, undated.
Box 1 Folder 39
Lift Every Voice and Sing, undated.
Box 1 Folder 40
Life's Sunsets Sunrise, undated.
Box 1 Folder 41
Living Religions in India and China, undated.
Box 1 Folder 42
Lost Contentment, undated.
Box 1 Folder 43
Lost Contentment, undated.
Box 1 Folder 44
Millions now living are already dead, undated.
Box 1 Folder 45
Minutes, undated.
Box 1 Folder 46
Murphy A.M.E Church, undated.
Box 1 Folder 47
Nothing safe but the Church, undated.
Box 1 Folder 48
Now Saints may help the Devil, undated.
Box 1 Folder 49
Origin and History, undated.
Box 1 Folder 50
1939 April 13, undated.
Box 1 Folder 51
Outline of Christianity, undated.
Box 1 Folder 52
1939 April 5, undated.
Box 1 Folder 53
Problem of Evil, undated.
Box 1 Folder 54
Psychology of Religion, undated.
Box 1 Folder 55
Preaching Values - Historical, March 22, 1939.
Box 1 Folder 56
Public Offerings, undated.
Box 1 Folder 57
Romano 1:17, undated.
Box 1 Folder 58
Sales of Drugs, undated.
Box 1 Folder 59
Seeking a Man, undated.
Box 1 Folder 60
Self Concentrations: Quit your Meanness, undated.
Box 1 Folder 61
Sermons, undated.
Box 1 Folder 62
Short Beds and Narrow Covering, undated.
Box 1 Folder 63
Songs of Salvation, undated.
Box 1 Folder 64
Spiritual Weapons, undated.
Box 1 Folder 65
Stickers, Prickers, Strickers, Drifter, undated.
Box 1 Folder 66
Take Heed, undated.
Box 1 Folder 67
Thanksgiving Sermon, undated.
Box 1 Folder 68
The achievement of Clovis in interest of Christianity, undated.
Box 1 Folder 69
The achievement of Clovis in interest of Christianity, undated.
Box 1 Folder 70
The Associated Press: by Frank Lobby Stanton, undated.
Box 1 Folder 71
The Church door opened for the Gentiles, undated.
Box 1 Folder 72

The Bible teaching of Hell, undated.
Box 2 Folder 73
The Copy-desk, undated.
Box 2 Folder 74
The Characterization of the Apostolic Church, undated.
Box 2 Folder 75
The Feast of Harvest, and Feast of Tabernacles or ungathering, undated.
Box 2 Folder 76
The Frontier of Accord: by Isaac F. Marcosson, undated.
Box 2 Folder 77
The God when you serve, undated.
Box 2 Folder 78
The Greeks gone to the world; the philosophy know thyself; the Roman philosophy control thyself, undated.
Box 2 Folder 79
The Heavenly Footman, undated.
Box 2 Folder 80
The Mathematics of Religion, undated.
Box 2 Folder 81
The need of awakening of our decaying sense of sin, undated.
Box 2 Folder 82
The Opportunity of bringing our young people to Christ through the Sunday School, undated.
Box 2 Folder 83
The Power of thought, undated.
Box 2 Folder 84
The Psychology of Denomination, undated.
Box 2 Folder 85
The Psychology of Religious Adjustment: by E. S. Conklin, undated.
Box 2 Folder 86
The rise of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, undated.
Box 2 Folder 87
The Sociology & Psychology situations that give rise to revivals, undated.
Box 2 Folder 88
The Source of True Satisfaction, undated.
Box 2 Folder 89
The Value of Record, undated.
Box 2 Folder 90
Theological differences, Reformation Walker, undated.
Box 2 Folder 91
Think of these things, undated.
Box 2 Folder 92
Think of these things, undated.
Box 2 Folder 93
Think of these things, undated.
Box 2 Folder 94
Think of these things, undated.
Box 2 Folder 95
Things Passing & Things Permanent, undated.
Box 2 Folder 96
Thirsting for the old wells, undated.
Box 2 Folder 97
Tongues of fire, undated.
Box 2 Folder 98
Transition Periods & its effect upon the Church, undated.
Box 2 Folder 99
To an unknown God, undated.
Box 2 Folder 100
To make men see, undated.
Box 2 Folder 101
Until Christ be formed in you, undated.
Box 2 Folder 102
Value to the Negro Race, undated.
Box 2 Folder 103
Watch, undated.
Box 2 Folder 104
Who was Richard Allen, undated.
Box 2 Folder 105
Why 'Abe' Lincoln, undated.
Box 2 Folder 106
Why Abraham Lincoln never joined Church, undated.
Box 2 Folder 107
Why God lead us the Round about Way, undated.
Box 2 Folder 108
Why I deserved to attend Neff's College, undated.
Box 2 Folder 109
Yom Kippur, undated.
Box 2 Folder 110
Unidentified, undated.
Box 2 Folder 111
Unidentified, undated.
Box 2 Folder 112
Unidentified, undated.
Box 2 Folder 113
Unidentified, undated.
Box 2 Folder 114
Unidentified, undated.
Box 2 Folder 115
Unidentified, undated.
Box 2 Folder 116
Unidentified, undated.
Box 2 Folder 117
Unidentified, undated.
Box 2 Folder 118
Unidentified, undated.
Box 2 Folder 119
Unidentified, undated.
Box 2 Folder 120
Unidentified, undated.
Box 2 Folder 121
Unidentified, undated.
Box 2 Folder 122
Unidentified, undated.
Box 2 Folder 123
Unidentified, undated.
Box 2 Folder 124
Unidentified, undated.
Box 2 Folder 125
Unidentified, undated.
Box 2 Folder 126

The Protector, undated.
Box 3 Folder 127
Moses Rod, 1952.
Box 3 Folder 128
Afro-American Newspaper, July 3, 1943.
Box 3 Folder 129
The Southern Christian Recorder, undated.
Box 3 Folder 130
The Christian Recorder, March 27, 1941.
Box 3 Folder 131
Infant Certificate of Baptism, undated.
Box 3 Folder 132
Certificate of Election, Ministerial Delegate, May 17, 1923.
Box 3 Folder 133
Certificate of Pastor's Appointment, undated.
Box 3 Folder 134
Flyers: Opening Reconsecration, undated.
Box 3 Folder 135
Flyers: Dedication of New Pipe Organ, April 19, 1931.
Box 3 Folder 136
Flyers: 8th Annual Session, July 26, 1957.
Box 3 Folder 137
Flyers: District Conference, October 15-16, 1919.
Box 3 Folder 138
Flyers: Annual Camp Meeting, October 6, 1929.
Box 3 Folder 139
Flyers: Annual Men's Day, April 25, 1943.
Box 3 Folder 140
Flyers: District Conference, October 27, 1960.
Box 3 Folder 141
Reports: Why was he great? - Abraham Lincoln, undated.
Box 3 Folder 142
The Aftermath of the Election, undated.
Box 3 Folder 143
Allen Christian Endeavor League, 10th Quadrennial Report, May 1, 1940.
Box 3 Folder 144
Is suicide ever justifiable?, undated.
Box 3 Folder 145
Brief of Origin and History, undated.
Box 3 Folder 146
Security Linen: Finance Committee Report, undated.
Box 3 Folder 147
Partial Report of Committee on the revision of discipline, undated.
Box 3 Folder 148
NAACP Media Branch, undated.
Box 3 Folder 149
Lincoln Newsletter, "Building tomorrow's church today", December 1951.
Box 3 Folder 150
Short Historical Sketch of the Delaware Conference, May 19, 1953.
Box 3 Folder 151
Milton Delaware, undated.
Box 3 Folder 152
"The Association Press," Frank Lebby Stanton, undated.
Box 3 Folder 153
Additional Reporter, undated.
Box 3 Folder 154
Procedure, facts, & final decision relative to Mrs. Anna E. Noble's License, undated.
Box 3 Folder 155
Christian Theology, March 21, 1939.
Box 3 Folder 156
Should the African Methodist Episcopal Church have an age limit at which their Bishops should retire?, undated.
Box 3 Folder 157
Unidentified Report, undated.
Box 3 Folder 158
Correspondence: Letter to Rev. J.L. Link from Chester Real Estate Company, April 27, 1939.
Box 3 Folder 159
Correspondence: Letter from Rev. J. L. Link to?, undated.
Box 3 Folder 160
Correspondence: Letter to Members of Health & Welfare Council from Rev. J. L. Link, October 26, 1949.
Box 3 Folder 161
Correspondence: Letter to First Episcopal District from Rev. J. L. Link, September 2, 1924.
Box 3 Folder 162
Correspondence: Letter to Brother from Rev. J. L. Link, undated.
Box 3 Folder 163
Correspondence: Letter to Prof R.R. Editor of Christian Recorder from Rev. J. L. Link, undated.
Box 3 Folder 164
Correspondence: Letter to Jorgenson from Mrs. Nora Link, June 13, 1934.
Box 3 Folder 165
Correspondence: Letter to Senator John Beillure from Rev J. L. Link, January 2, 1936.
Box 3 Folder 166
Correspondence: Letter to Rev. J. L. link from Charles J. Kraus Jr., May 4, 1962.
Box 3 Folder 167
Correspondence: Letter to Mrs. William Pickens from L.S. Moore, March 9, 1927.
Box 3 Folder 168
Correspondence: Letter to R. R. Wright Jr., March 1, 1945.
Box 3 Folder 169
Correspondence: Letter to Dr. Harkness from Rev. J. L. Link, May 20, 1939.
Box 3 Folder 170
Correspondence: Admonition and Affirmation, undated.
Box 3 Folder 171
Miscellaneous: Schedule Report, undated.
Box 3 Folder 172
Miscellaneous: Unidentified, undated.
Box 3 Folder 173
Miscellaneous: The Philadelphia Concert Artists Club, November 12, 1931.
Box 3 Folder 174
Miscellaneous: Proposed Pension bill for A.M.E.C, undated.
Box 3 Folder 175
Miscellaneous: W. M. W 144 Special Composition Book, undated.
Box 3 Folder 176
Miscellaneous: Attendance Sheet, undated.
Box 3 Folder 177
Miscellaneous: Unidentified, undated.
Box 3 Folder 178
Miscellaneous: Bibliography, undated.
Box 3 Folder 179
Miscellaneous: Announcements, undated.
Box 3 Folder 180
Miscellaneous: Unidentified, undated.
Box 3 Folder 181
Miscellaneous: The book of a Million Names, undated.
Box 3 Folder 182
Miscellaneous: A short sketch of life of Rev. Williams Murphy, undated.
Box 3 Folder 183
Miscellaneous: Unidentified, undated.
Box 3 Folder 184
Obituaries: Nichols, Bishop Dward, undated.
Box 3 Folder 185
Obituaries: Witten, Rev John Luther, 1867-1927, undated.
Box 3 Folder 186
Obituaries: Wright, Rev. Raymond Ferris, May 2, 1927.
Box 3 Folder 187
Obituaries: Napper-Bertha Rebecca, 1890-1940, undated.
Box 3 Folder 188
Obituaries: Bishop John Albert Johnson, undated.
Box 3 Folder 189

Print, Suggest