Researching the Thomas Memorial AME Zion Church Thanks to the the Northern NY Community Foundation
The Friends of Thomas Memorial set up a table during Watertown’s 2023 Juneteenth festival l-r: Intern Barb Tucker, Pastor Daren Jaime of People's A.M.E. Zion Church in Syracuse, and Shameika Ingram of Preservation in Color.
In 2023, the League received a grant from the Northern NY Community Foundation to hire a summer intern to research the history of the Thomas Memorial AME Zion Church in Watertown, one of the League’s 2022-2023 Seven to Save sites. From May until August, Barb Tucker, an Empire State University Public History student and volunteer at the Jefferson County Historical Society, worked to conduct oral history interviews and compile documents relating to the social history of Thomas Memorial.
As a result of Barb's efforts, and with the support of the NNYCF and the Friends of Thomas Memorial AME Zion Church, three interviews were recorded and archived; archival materials including copies of photos, a church guest book, and newspaper coverage of the Juneteenth weekend church tour, were collected and cataloged; and all materials have been digitized and stored on the Preservation League's server as well as being backed up on the cloud. The NNYCF also provided recording space, equipment, technical assistance, and editing for the interviews.
One of the artifacts now in the Friends of Thomas Memorial archive is this photo of Frank Thomas, for whom the church is named.
Barb interviewed Reverend Roosevelt Baums, pastor of the church from about 1999 until it closed in 2015; Kathryn Smith, great-granddaughter of the church's founder, Frank Thomas; and descendant Henrietta Thomas Smith. Tucker also assembled a genealogy binder at the Jefferson County Historical Society relating to the Church; collected and cataloged photos and documents relating to church activities and its social life; formed relationships and raised awareness among community members who care about the preservation of the Church and its history; participated in Watertown's Juneteenth activities on June 16-17, 2023, resulting in new subscriptions to the Friends' newsletter and donations to launch the NNYCF fund for the Church's repairs and rehabilitation.