This collection contains the photographs from the life and work of Reverend Robert E. Penn, a Baptist minister and educator. Penn was born in a rural coal mining town in West Virginia, and went on to receive degrees from Clark College, Gammon Theological Seminary, and Central Baptist Theological Seminary. He was a chaplain during World War II, and later after his pastoral work in Kansas City, Kansas, and Gary, Indiana, Penn returned to Atlanta to become Director of Field Education at the Interdenominational Theological Center in 1973. These photographs document Rev. Penns family life and friend in West Virginia, Indiana, and Georgia, as well as his work as Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Gary, Indiana, and Director of Field Education at the Interdenominational Theological Seminary. At the AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library we are always striving to improve our digital collections. We welcome additional information about people, places, or events depicted in any of the works in this collection. To submit information, please contact us at DSD@auctr.edu. 
Jun 5, 2019

Robert E. Penn Collection

This collection contains the photographs from the life and work of Reverend Robert E. Penn, a Baptist minister and educator. Penn was born in a rural coal mining town in West Virginia, and went on to receive degrees from Clark College, Gammon Theological Seminary, and Central Baptist Theological Seminary. He was a chaplain during World War II, and later after his pastoral work in Kansas City, Kansas, and Gary, Indiana, Penn returned to Atlanta to become Director of Field Education at the Interdenominational Theological Center in 1973. These photographs document Rev. Penns family life and friend in West Virginia, Indiana, and Georgia, as well as his work as Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Gary, Indiana, and Director of Field Education at the Interdenominational Theological Seminary.

At the AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library we are always striving to improve our digital collections. We welcome additional information about people, places, or events depicted in any of the works in this collection. To submit information, please contact us at DSD@auctr.edu. 
114 Objects displayed
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A puppy sits at an unidentified woman's feet on a house porch.
Robert E. Penn Collection
A Puppy Sitting on a Porch, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
A puppy sits at an unidentified woman's feet on a house porch.
Subject
Pets, African Americans--Religion
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
An unidentified couple stand on the sidewalk in front of an large house with an iron fence around the front yard. An unidentified boy is standing behind them, wearing a suit and a hat.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Couple Stand in Front of a House, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
An unidentified couple stand on the sidewalk in front of an large house with an iron fence around the front yard. An unidentified boy is standing behind them, wearing a suit and a hat.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people, Buildings and grounds
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
Two unidentified women in coats stand on a front porch.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Women Standing on the Front Porch of a House, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
Two unidentified women in coats stand on a front porch.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
An unidentified baseball player holds a bat over his shoulder.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Baseball Player Holding a Bat, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
An unidentified baseball player holds a bat over his shoulder.
Subject
African American athletes
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
A baseball player throws a pitch across the mound.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Baseball Player Throwing a Pitch, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
A baseball player throws a pitch across the mound.
Subject
African American athletes
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
An unidentified woman looks up toward the photographer with a house behind her.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Woman in Front of a House, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
An unidentified woman looks up toward the photographer with a house behind her.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people, Buildings and grounds
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
Portrait of an unidentified woman in front of a backdrop.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Portrait of an Unidentified Woman, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
Portrait of an unidentified woman in front of a backdrop.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
A group of unidentified men in suits stand on the sidewalk in front of a shoe shine shop and a lawyer's office.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Group of Unidentified Men on a Sidewalk, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
A group of unidentified men in suits stand on the sidewalk in front of a shoe shine shop and a lawyer's office.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
Portrait of an unidentified elderly woman wearing glasses.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Portrait of an Unidentified Woman, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
Portrait of an unidentified elderly woman wearing glasses.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
Protrait of an unidentified woman sitting in a chair with her legs crossed in front of a backdrop.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Portrait of an Unidentified Woman, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
Protrait of an unidentified woman sitting in a chair with her legs crossed in front of a backdrop.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified woman sits on part of the hillside behind houses.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Woman Sits on a Hillside, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
Unidentified woman sits on part of the hillside behind houses.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people, Buildings and grounds
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
A baseball player catches a ball with his foot on the plate.
Robert E. Penn Collection
A Baseball Player Catching a Ball, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
A baseball player catches a ball with his foot on the plate.
Subject
African American athletes
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
A group of unidentified people sit huddled around a table. Several young women are writing on paper. A woman talks on the phone, and several unidentified people stand over them, looking on. A typewriter sits on the end of the table in front of a man and a woman. Written on verso: Newspaper staff.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Newspaper Staff, circa 1945
Date Created
1942/1948
Description
A group of unidentified people sit huddled around a table. Several young women are writing on paper. A woman talks on the phone, and several unidentified people stand over them, looking on. A typewriter sits on the end of the table in front of a man and a woman. Written on verso: Newspaper staff.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
Portrait of a young boy wearing a suit and tie. Written on verso: "Harold"
Robert E. Penn Collection
Portrait of a Boy, circa 1945
Date Created
1942/1948
Description
Portrait of a young boy wearing a suit and tie. Written on verso: "Harold"
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people, Children
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
An unidentified little girl, possibly named Patricia is sitting in front of a backdrop. Written on verso: "Patricia"
Robert E. Penn Collection
Patricia Sitting in Front of Portrait Backdrop, circa 1945
Date Created
1942/1948
Description
An unidentified little girl, possibly named Patricia is sitting in front of a backdrop. Written on verso: "Patricia"
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
The front entrance of the First Baptist Church of Gary.
Robert E. Penn Collection
First Baptist Church of Gary, circa 1945
Date Created
1942/1948
Description
The front entrance of the First Baptist Church of Gary.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Buildings and grounds, African American churches
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
An unidentified little boy stands in front of an house on the sidewalk.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Boy Standing on a Sidewalk, circa 1945
Date Created
1942/1948
Description
An unidentified little boy stands in front of an house on the sidewalk.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people, Children
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
A portrait of an unidentified girl seated in front of a backdrop.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Portrait of an Unidentified Girl, circa 1945
Date Created
1942/1948
Description
A portrait of an unidentified girl seated in front of a backdrop.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people, Children
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
Three unidentified women sit in a booth drinking and smoking cigarettes.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Women in a Bar, circa 1948
Date Created
1944/1952
Description
Three unidentified women sit in a booth drinking and smoking cigarettes.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people, Interior decoration
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
A group of unidentified women gather around a pew. Written on verso: Good Samaritan.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Women in Pews, circa 1948
Date Created
1945/1951
Description
A group of unidentified women gather around a pew. Written on verso: Good Samaritan.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people, African American churches
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection