Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Negro Community Centre/Charles H. Este Cultural Centre fonds
General material designation
- Multiple media
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title based on the content of the fonds.
Level of description
Fonds
Reference code
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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[1929-1997] (Creation)
- Creator
- Negro Community Centre
Physical description area
Physical description
ca. 30 meters of textual records
2071 photographs
20 objects
14 sound recordings
6 video reels
6 architectural drawings
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
Other title information of publisher's series
Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
Note on publisher's series
Archival description area
Name of creator
Administrative history
The Negro Community Centre was established in 1927 under the leadership of Charles H. Este, pastor of the Union United Church in Montreal. Reverend Charles H. Este, along with members of the Union United Church, set out to create an organization to help alleviate distress among Montreal's Black community.
The Centre, which first came into being in the living room of Reverend Charles H. Este, was located in a series of rented room in the St. Antoine Street district, also known as Little Burgundy, during its early years of operation. In 1930, the Centre moved into the basement of the Union United Church, located at 3007 Delisle Street. Due to a lack of space at the Union United Church, some of the Centre's early activities took place at Royal Arthur School. Originally supported by the Canadian National Railway, the Negro Community Centre obtained financial support from the Financial Federation of Montreal beginning in 1929. The Centre was accredited by the Council of Social Agencies in 1928. It was incorporated in 1949.
The Negro Community Centre remained at the Union United Church until 1955, at which time it moved into the Iverley Community Centre, located at 2035 Coursol Street. This move was a consequence of the merger of the Negro Community Centre and the Iverly Community Centre, which occurred as a result of the social welfare planning of the United Red Feather Service (now Centraide). By mutual agreement of the Boards of Directors, the Negro Community Centre moved into the building owned by the Iverley Community Centre on Coursol. The building, which was expanded over the years, included offices, a gymnasium, a sewing room, a kitchen, a library, and a credit union office (Walker Credit Union). The deed to the building was transferred from the Iverley Centre to the Negro Community Centre during the Annual General Meeting held in 1965.
The first programs offered at the Negro Community Centre were oriented towards the educational and recreational needs of children and teenagers. In 1949 under the guidance of Stanley A. Clyke, the Negro Community Centre began to develop age-specific activities for all members, and integrated health and welfare services into its programming. A variety of activities and services were offered over the years, including a daycare, summer camps, dance and music lessons, after-school programs, a seniors program, and language courses, among many others.
Custodial history
This fonds was donated to the Concordia University Library in 2013 by Shirley Gyles, then President of the Negro Community Centre/Charles H. Este Cultural Centre. Subsequent deposits were made to the fonds in 2014 and 2015.
The initial donation was stored by the Concordia University Archives from 1998 until the materials were transferred to the Library's Special Collections in 2014. The documents, which were left at the Negro Community Centre when the building was vacated in 1997, were salvaged by members of the Concordia University Archive by arrangement with the trustees of the Centre.
Scope and content
The Negro Community Centre/Charles H. Este Cultural Centre fonds contains records relating to the operation of the Negro Community Centre/Charles H. Este Cultural Centre. It contains textual records and other materials documenting the mission; structure; administration; building and facilities; and programs and services offered at the Centre, dating from its founding in the late 1920s until it ceased its operations. The fonds also contains materials dating to after the closure of the Centre.
The fonds documents the history of the Negro Community Centre/Charles H. Este Cultural Centre, its role in Little Burgundy and the greater Montreal area, and its relationships to other organizations, including but not limited to the Coloured Women's Club of Montreal; Union United Church; Red Feather Services; Federated Appeal of Greater Montreal; and Centraide. The fonds also includes documentation related to the Walker Credit Union and Afro-Can. The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters is also mentioned in the documentation.
The Negro Community Centre/Charles H. Este Cultural Centre fonds includes a wide variety of textual records, including but not limited to administrative records; ledgers and other financial records; correspondence; board and committee meeting minutes and related records; reports; calendars, flyers, posters, descriptions and other documentation relating to programs, services, and events taking place at the Centre; photographic materials, including prints and negatives; architectural drawings and plans; clothing; and ephemera.
Notes area
Physical condition
Some materials in this fonds were damaged by water in the late 1990s, prior to their removal from the building on Coursol Street.
Immediate source of acquisition
Arrangement
Unless otherwise indicated, material has been arranged in the order of receipt.
Language of material
- English
- French
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
Some materials are restricted. Audio cassettes, video reels, and audio reels are restricted until further notice.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Reproductions are allowed for the purpose of research and private study in most cases. Use of material in a publication may only be done with written consent of the copyright owner(s).
Finding aids
Box listings available.
Generated finding aid
Associated materials
Accruals
Future accruals may be expected.
Rights
Copyright belongs to the creator(s).
Alternative identifier(s)
Legacy identifier
Standard number area
Standard number
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description record identifier
Institution identifier
Rules or conventions
Status
Draft
Level of detail
Partial