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Ephraim M. Epstein Departing the First Baptist Convention, Dakota Territory, 1881 July 3

1 folder
Creator:
Bean, Levi V. and Epstein, Ephraim M. (1829-1913)
Collection Creator:
Princeton University. Library. Special Collections
Dates:
1881 July 3
Located In:
Box B-000834, Folder 11
Extent:
1 folder
Languages:
English
Content Warning

Racist, colonialist, and sexist language were used to describe many of the items in this collection. In some cases, descriptions were creator-supplied or generated from transcriptions of captions on the photographs. In other cases, in which photographs lacked any identifying information, descriptions were created by an archivist. These items are identified in the description with the note, "Cataloger supplied title." However, the collection is a candidate for ongoing reparative description work. We hope that researchers will engage in a dialogue with staff about issues in the collection and changes that could help.

Scope and Contents

Consists of a mounted albumen print, taken by Levi V. Bean, showing Ephraim Menachem Epstein (1829-1913) and a party of his fellow Baptist pastors and delegates departing the First Baptist Convention in the Dakota Territory by carriage and on foot. Epstein was a Russian-born American who migrated to the United States at the age of 20 and became a Baptist minister after converting from Judaism to Christianity; he was also a physician, and later became the first president of the University of Dakota, now the University of South Dakota, at Vermillion. Early in 1881, a call went out to all Baptist churches in the Dakota Territory to send their pastors and delegates to a general rally on the shores of Lake Madison. The Dakota Territory's First Baptist Convention began on Thursday, June 30th, and ran for four days in a new barn fitted up for the event. Epstein held a devotional meeting and was appointed to the committee on organization that prepared a constitution and by-laws.

In the photograph, Epstein rides in the first covered carriage or wagon with his wife, Helena, and their young daughters, Julia and Frieda. Each of the participants is identified by Epstein's manuscript captions written on the mount above the photograph. Below the photograph, he wrote a manuscript note: "Our ride from the first Baptist Convention held at Lake County, D. T. in a barn near Madison 1881, the year Garfield was wounded. Picture taken by Brother Bean of Dell Rapids." Under this he signed his name, "Rev. Eph. M. Epstein, MD. Yankton, D. T."

Existence and Location of Copies

Many of the items in this collection are available in digital format at the Princeton University Digital Library: http://pudl.princeton.edu/collections/pudl0017

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Acquisition:

AM 2018-42

Credit this material:

Ephraim M. Epstein Departing the First Baptist Convention, Dakota Territory; Princeton University Library Collection of Western Americana Photographs, WC064, Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Storage Note:
  • Firestone Library (mss): Box B-000834
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

Processing Information

This collection was processed and described by Heather Shannon in 2006. Finding aid created by Faith Charlton in 2014. Finding aid updated periodically with new accessions by Faith Charlton, Kelly Bolding, and Chloe Pfendler.

No additions will be made to this collection. Accessions relating to this topic will be added to the General Manuscripts Miscellaneous Collection (C0140).

The existence of harmful language was noted in the collection-level description note by Faith Charlton in 2023 as an initial step per reparative description-related work.

Subject Terms:
Baptists
Religion
Transportation
Genre Terms:
Albumen prints
Group portraits
Places:
Dakota Territory

Collection Overview

Collection Description & Creator Information

Content Warning

Racist, colonialist, and sexist language were used to describe many of the items in this collection. In some cases, descriptions were creator-supplied or generated from transcriptions of captions on the photographs. In other cases, in which photographs lacked any identifying information, descriptions were created by an archivist. These items are identified in the description with the note, "Cataloger supplied title." However, the collection is a candidate for ongoing reparative description work. We hope that researchers will engage in a dialogue with staff about issues in the collection and changes that could help.

Scope and Contents

Consists of a mounted albumen print, taken by Levi V. Bean, showing Ephraim Menachem Epstein (1829-1913) and a party of his fellow Baptist pastors and delegates departing the First Baptist Convention in the Dakota Territory by carriage and on foot. Epstein was a Russian-born American who migrated to the United States at the age of 20 and became a Baptist minister after converting from Judaism to Christianity; he was also a physician, and later became the first president of the University of Dakota, now the University of South Dakota, at Vermillion. Early in 1881, a call went out to all Baptist churches in the Dakota Territory to send their pastors and delegates to a general rally on the shores of Lake Madison. The Dakota Territory's First Baptist Convention began on Thursday, June 30th, and ran for four days in a new barn fitted up for the event. Epstein held a devotional meeting and was appointed to the committee on organization that prepared a constitution and by-laws.

In the photograph, Epstein rides in the first covered carriage or wagon with his wife, Helena, and their young daughters, Julia and Frieda. Each of the participants is identified by Epstein's manuscript captions written on the mount above the photograph. Below the photograph, he wrote a manuscript note: "Our ride from the first Baptist Convention held at Lake County, D. T. in a barn near Madison 1881, the year Garfield was wounded. Picture taken by Brother Bean of Dell Rapids." Under this he signed his name, "Rev. Eph. M. Epstein, MD. Yankton, D. T."

Arrangement

Photographs aquired prior to 2015 are arranged by size and format. Photographs acquired after 2015 are arranged in the order in which they were accessioned.

Collection History

Acquisition:

AM 2018-42

Appraisal

No material was separated during processing.

Processing Information

This collection was processed and described by Heather Shannon in 2006. Finding aid created by Faith Charlton in 2014. Finding aid updated periodically with new accessions by Faith Charlton, Kelly Bolding, and Chloe Pfendler.

No additions will be made to this collection. Accessions relating to this topic will be added to the General Manuscripts Miscellaneous Collection (C0140).

The existence of harmful language was noted in the collection-level description note by Faith Charlton in 2023 as an initial step per reparative description-related work.

Access & Use

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

Credit this material:

Ephraim M. Epstein Departing the First Baptist Convention, Dakota Territory; Princeton University Library Collection of Western Americana Photographs, WC064, Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Location:
Firestone Library
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Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
(609) 258-3184
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Storage Note:
  • Firestone Library (mss): Box B-000834