From Wilberforce to the World Council of Churches: Curating the Bishop Vinton R. Anderson Exhibit

When I was being interviewed for the gig here at Payne, I was told that I would have an exclusive opportunity to curate the personal collection of Bishop Vinton Randolp Anderson, deceased A.M.E. bishop and president of the World Council of Churches. The best part of that opportunity for me was hearing that his robes would be gifted to the seminary and prominent displayed in an exhibit on site. I was all in.

In preparation for Commencement Week I was charged with curating a small exhibit on the life of Bishop Anderson using what "artifacts" were already available in the archive (aside from his robe personal materials had not yet been donated). There wasn't much to work with, so I got creative. A display case was moved from the administration building over the Mitchell-Anderson Building where the display would be located within the Bishop Vinton R. Anderson Ecumenical Institute.

After re-reading Bishop Anderson's bio I thought about documenting his path as a student of Wilberforce University and Payne. This part was fairly easy, Wilberforce yearbooks and Payne catalogs were in abundance between our two institutions (shout out Mrs. Brown, Wilberforce Archivist!). Next I thought about his candidacy and run for Bishop and naturally looked to the boxes of the Christian Recorder on our shelves. Below is the panel text I created for the display along with pictures. I really really really enjoy exhibit design and didn't realize how much I missed curating displays since leaving the Duke Divinity School Library.

The Legacy of Bishop Vinton Randolph Anderson at Payne Theological Seminary

Bishop Anderson, elected to the episcopacy in 1972, was a distinguished pastor, writer, ecumenist, liturgist and leader in African Methodism and throughout the world.

The exhibit, "From Wilberforce to the World Council of Churches," recounts Anderson’s early academic career, campaign for the episcopacy, ecumenical involvements and chronicles his continued contributions to the administration, campus construction and growth of Payne Theological Seminary.
 An elected and consecrated African Methodist Episcopal Bishop, Anderson was actively involved in ecumenical affairs, serving as President of the World Council of Churches from 1991-1998, leading over 560 million members and 330 denominations in interfaith dialogue and collaboration. During his distinguished two decade tenure as Chairman of the Board at Payne, Bishop Anderson was committed to renovating the Mitchell-Anderson Building and at the forefront of the effort to build the Bishop Reverdy Cassius Ransom Memorial Library. His witness for ecumenism in theological education led to the founding of The Bishop Vinton R. Anderson Ecumenical Institute at Payne in 2011. The Institute promotes programs of education, advocacy, and service that address critically important social needs and offers opportunity for the Church to witness through common faith expressions developed from the ministry of Jesus Christ.

Bishop Anderson migrated from Bermuda where he was born in Somerset, on July 11, 1927 to the United States in 1947 at twenty years old to attend Wilberforce University where he went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts with Honors. Anderson strengthened his religious knowledge as he gained his Masters of Divinity from Payne Theological Seminary in 1952. As seen in the Wilberforce University Forcean Yearbooks on display, Bishop Anderson was a member of the joint choral group the Payne Singers from 1948-1951.

The robe on display is a gift from Mrs. Vivienne L. Anderson, wife of Bishop Vinton R. Anderson. Embroidered in gold lettering inside the robe is the text “Robes of Faith for Bishop Vinton Anderson (AME Church Crest) 1972”.  Robes of Faith, Inc. was selected to design and create the exclusive Vestments worn by the Bishops of the AME Church worn by the Presiding Elders and the General Officers of the AMEC. The color purple marks and defines the ceremony and protocol of the church. Purple symbolizes Authority & Kingship (Judges 8:26) Wealth (Acts 16:14 & Proverbs 31:22) Royalty (Esther 8:15) and is also the liturgical color for Seasons of Advent and Lent.
Along with photographs of Bishop Anderson and Mrs. Anderson at the November 13, 2008 tribute celebrating his legacy and leadership as Chairman of the Board, Bishop Anderson speaking at past Founder’s Day events and the installation of Dr. Leah Fitchue as President of Payne Theological Seminary, four original copies of The Christian Recorder featuring articles about his road to the episcopacy are also featured.

Exhibit design and display: Shaneé Yvette Murrain, Seminary Archivist
Gifts: Robe, Vivienne L. Anderson, 2014
Loans: 3 yearbooks, Wilberforce University Archives 2015

Dr. Fitchue, Bishop McKinley Young and the Anderson Family viewing the display

The Development Team shared Bishop's enthusiasm, this picture is good evidence