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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An unidentified woman stands outside behind a house with a steep staircase.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Houses and Staircase, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
An unidentified woman stands outside behind a house with a steep staircase.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Buildings and grounds
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
An unidentified woman stands on a dirt road.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Woman Standing on the Side of the Road, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
An unidentified woman stands on a dirt road.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people, Buildings and grounds
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
An unidentified boy and an Irish Setter shake hands.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Irish Setter Shaking Hands with a Boy, circa 1972
Date Created
1969/1975
Description
An unidentified boy and an Irish Setter shake hands.
Subject
Pets, African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people, Children
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
Two unidentified children sit in the grass of in front of an unidentified house.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Children Sitting in the Grass, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
Two unidentified children sit in the grass of in front of an unidentified house.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people, Children
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
An unidentified man in uniform stands on a porch, holding a small baby.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Uniformed Man Holds an Infant, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
An unidentified man in uniform stands on a porch, holding a small baby.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people
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
An unidentified woman stands at the top of a staircase on a stone hillside with houses in the background.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Woman on Stairs, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
An unidentified woman stands at the top of a staircase on a stone hillside with houses in the background.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
An unidentified group gathered in a room for a portrait.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Church Group, circa 1950
Date Created
1947/1953
Description
An unidentified group gathered in a room for a portrait.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people, Groups and organizations
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
Portrait of an unidentified woman smiling 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 smiling in front of a backdrop.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
Three boys stand next to a crouching baseball catcher.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Three Boys Stand Next to a Baseball Catcher, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
Three boys stand next to a crouching baseball catcher.
Subject
African American athletes
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
An unidentified woman stands on a house porch.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Woman on Steps, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
An unidentified woman stands on a house porch.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
An unidentified man sits on a curb with a row of houses behind him.
Robert E. Penn Collection
An Unidentified Man Sits on a Curb, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
An unidentified man sits on a curb with a row of houses behind him.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
Two unidentified men stand in a pharmacy.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Men in a Pharamacy, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
Two unidentified men stand in a pharmacy.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people, Interior decoration
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
An unidentified group standing outside of a house. Three women stand close together at the bottom of a wood staircase. An unidentified man stands on a porch leaning on a wooden railing.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Group Standing Next to a House, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
An unidentified group standing outside of a house. Three women stand close together at the bottom of a wood staircase. An unidentified man stands on a porch leaning on a wooden railing.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
Robert E. Penn and a young woman stand in front of a house.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Robert E. Penn with a Young Woman, circa 1960
Date Created
1957/1963
Description
Robert E. Penn and a young woman stand in front of a house.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
An unidentified couple stand on the corner with a sign reading "Welch" [West Virginia].
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Couple on Sidewalk, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
An unidentified couple stand on the corner with a sign reading "Welch" [West Virginia].
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
A group of unidentified men stand around a parking meter.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Men Stand Around a Parking Meter, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
A group of unidentified men stand around a parking meter.
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 man in military uniform stands next to an unidentified woman in front of a house.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Man in Uniform with an Unidentified Woman, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
An unidentified man in military uniform stands next to an unidentified woman in front of a house.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
A large group of unidentified men stand in front of a wall covered with ivy.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Group of Unidentified Men Stand in Front of a Wall, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
A large group of unidentified men stand in front of a wall covered with ivy.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
An unidentified boy chases an Irish Setter through a living room.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Boy Chases Irish Setter, circa 1972
Date Created
1969/1975
Description
An unidentified boy chases an Irish Setter through a living room.
Subject
Pets, African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people, Children
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
An unidentified boy crouches down to hug an Irish Setter.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Boy Hugs an Irish Setter, circa 1972
Date Created
1969/1975
Description
An unidentified boy crouches down to hug an Irish Setter.
Subject
Pets, African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people, Children
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
An Irish Setter stands at attention for a young boy.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Irish Setter Standing, circa 1972
Date Created
1969/1975
Description
An Irish Setter stands at attention for a young boy.
Subject
Pets, African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
Portrait of a young girl wearing a winter coat waves and stands in front of a backdrop.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Portrait of a Toddler, circa 1943
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
Portrait of a young girl wearing a winter coat waves and stands in front of a backdrop.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people, Children
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
An unidentified girl lays on the floor and hugs an Irish Setter.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Girl Snuggling with Irish Setter, circa 1972
Date Created
1969/1975
Description
An unidentified girl lays on the floor and hugs an Irish Setter.
Subject
Pets, African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people, Children
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
Two unidentified women with a baby stand beneath two houses on a hillside.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Houses on a Hillside, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
Two unidentified women with a baby stand beneath two houses on a hillside.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Buildings and grounds
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
Two unidentified women stand behind a bar counter.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Women Behind a Counter, circa 1955
Date Created
1952/1958
Description
Two unidentified women stand behind a bar counter.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
An unidentified woman stands on the curb of a town street. She stands next to a sign reading: "Positively No Parking. 10.00 fine." A car is parallel parked behind her.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Woman Stands Next to a Street Sign, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
An unidentified woman stands on the curb of a town street. She stands next to a sign reading: "Positively No Parking. 10.00 fine." A car is parallel parked behind her.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people
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
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
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
Two unidentified men stand on a sidewalk in front of a building window reading "shoe shine."
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Men in Front of a Shoe Shine Store, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
Two unidentified men stand on a sidewalk in front of a building window reading "shoe shine."
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people, Buildings and grounds
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
An unidentified woman stands on the sidewalk and poses next to a parking meter.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Woman Stands Next to a Parking Meter, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
An unidentified woman stands on the sidewalk and poses next to a parking meter.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
An unidentified couple stand on the grass in front of a large glass building.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Couple Stand in Front of a Glass Building, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
An unidentified couple stand on the grass in front of a large glass building.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people, Buildings and grounds
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
An unidentified little girl stands in the middle of a dirt road and is followed by a dog.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Girl with a Dog, circa 1943
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
An unidentified little girl stands in the middle of a dirt road and is followed by a dog.
Subject
Pets, African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people, Children
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
Two unidentified men wearing suits stand in front of a brick building.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Men Standing in Suits, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
Two unidentified men wearing suits stand in front of a brick building.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
An unidentified woman sits in an oversized chair in front of a window.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Woman Sitting, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
An unidentified woman sits in an oversized chair in front of a window.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
Two unidentified men stand by a car on the side of a rural road.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Men on the Side of the Road, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
Two unidentified men stand by a car on the side of a rural road.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people, Buildings and grounds
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
The rooftops of houses in a neighborhood on a hillside.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Neighborhood Rooftops, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
The rooftops of houses in a neighborhood on a hillside.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Buildings and grounds
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
An unidentified man is leans on a car on a downtown street.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Man Standing Next to a Car, circa 1948
Date Created
1945/1951
Description
An unidentified man is leans on a car on a downtown street.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
An unidentified holding a bag stands beneath a house on a hillside.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Boy Holding a Bag, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
An unidentified holding a bag stands beneath a house on a hillside.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people, Children
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
A well-dressed unidentified man stands in front of a house. Next to him is a stone wall. In the house, another unidentified man is entering the house through a door.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Man Standing in Front of a House, circa 1948
Date Created
1945/1951
Description
A well-dressed unidentified man stands in front of a house. Next to him is a stone wall. In the house, another unidentified man is entering the house through a door.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people, Buildings and grounds
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
An unidentified girl lays on the floor and hugs an Irish Setter.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Girl Snuggling with Irish Setter, circa 1972
Date Created
1969/1975
Description
An unidentified girl lays on the floor and hugs an Irish Setter.
Subject
Pets, African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people, Children
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 woman stands in front of a two-story house house. A second unidentified woman stands on the porch of the first floor.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Women Standing Outside of a House, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
An unidentified woman stands in front of a two-story house house. A second unidentified woman stands on the porch of the first floor.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people, Buildings and grounds
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
An unidentified boy chases an Irish Setter through a living room past a young girl.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Boy Chases Irish Setter, circa 1972
Date Created
1969/1975
Description
An unidentified boy chases an Irish Setter through a living room past a young girl.
Subject
Pets, African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people, Children
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
An unidentified girls stands in a living room.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Girl Standing in Living room, circa 1972
Date Created
1969/1975
Description
An unidentified girls stands in a living room.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people, Children
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
An unidentified man wearing a suit, tie, and fedora stands in front of a house.
Robert E. Penn Collection
An Unidentified Man Stands in Front of a House, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
An unidentified man wearing a suit, tie, and fedora stands in front of a house.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people, Buildings and grounds
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection
A group of unidentified well-dressed boys stand on the sidewalk in front of a house.
Robert E. Penn Collection
Unidentified Group of Boys, circa 1942
Date Created
1939/1945
Description
A group of unidentified well-dressed boys stand on the sidewalk in front of a house.
Subject
African Americans--Religion, Portraits and people, Children
Collection
Robert E. Penn Collection