Studio

3727459 — <p>W. Chester Pa. West Chester Pennsylvania Belt Studio c.1920s. Mounted Photograph. 10 x 12 inches overall; 6½ x 8¼ inches image. Gelatin silver process. Some soil to mount; very good.</p> <p>C.1920s photograph taken in front of St. Luke’s Union American Methodist Episcopal U.A.M.E. Church in West Chester Pennsylvania. The photograph taken by long-time West Chester photographer Joseph W. Belt depicts a group of African-American men and women likely church leaders. A sign on the brick wall includes a reference to Peter Spencer founder of the African Union First Colored Methodist Protestant Church from which the U.A.M.E. church separated in 1865. The sign notes that the current pastor was Rev. E.S. Rice. Rev. Edward S. Rice later served as U.A.M.E. bishop of Pennsylvania-Maryland.</p> unknown