wasmhi2017_59.xml Guide to the Lora-Ellen McKinney Collection on Rev. Dr. Samuel B. McKinney circa 1950-2015 McKinney (Lora-Ellen) Collection on Rev. Dr. Samuel B. McKinney Finding aid prepared by Jody Hendrickson Museum of History & Industry © 2026
5933 6th Avenue South Seattle, WA 98108 Phone: 206-324-1126 URL: http://www.mohai.org
Finding aid encoded by Jody Hendrickson 2026 Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS ( Describing Archives: A Content Standard). Museum of History & Industry Sophie Frye Bass Library
5933 6th Avenue South Seattle, WA 98108 Phone: 206-324-1126 URL: http://www.mohai.org
2017.59 2019.105 McKinney, Lora-Ellen Lora-Ellen McKinney Collection on Rev. Dr. Samuel Berry McKinney circa 1950-2015 2 boxes .84 cubic feet Materials related to Rev. Dr. Samuel B. McKinney including photographs, publications, and ephemera 4a.1.10 Collection materials are in English. Biographical note

The Rev. Dr. Samuel Berry McKinney (1926-2018) was a minister, civil rights leader, and author in Seattle, Washington. He was the pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church from 1958 to 1998, and again from 2005 to 2008, transforming it into the largest and most influential Black congregation in Washington State and the Pacific Northwest.

Early in Rev. McKinney’s tenure, the church established the Mount Zion Baptist Church Credit Union, the first Black Protestant church credit union in the Pacific Northwest. Rev. McKinney also helped found Liberty Bank in 1968, the first primarily Black-owned bank in the Pacific Northwest, providing financial services to a community which had been subjected to racially discriminatory lending policies (redlining). An advocate of excellence in education, Rev. McKinney built a new educational unit at Mount Zion Baptist Church in 1963, established accredited preschool and kindergarten programs, instituted an academic scholarship fund, and started the Ethnic School (later named the Louise Jones McKinney Learning Center), teaching African American history and culture. Under Rev. McKinney, the church also built the Afrocentric sanctuary in 1975, and sponsored the 1998 construction of Samuel Berry McKinney Manor, housing for elderly and low-income residents.

Rev. McKinney played a major role in the Seattle civil rights movement, fighting for equal access to jobs, housing, and education. His lifelong civil rights activism includes marching in Selma and Montgomery with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., protesting apartheid at the South African consul’s home in Seattle, boycotting local businesses to protest discriminatory hiring practices, and running a "Freedom School" at Mount Zion during the 1966 boycott of Seattle Public Schools' racial segregation. McKinney co-founded and served as President and CEO for the Seattle Opportunity Industrial Center (SOIC) and in 1974 facilitated the construction of a new building at 22nd Ave. and Jackson Street, now the McKinney Center for Community and Economic Development. In 1963, as one of two Black members of the new Seattle Human Rights Commission, he helped pass the first fair-housing act in Seattle. Rev. McKinney was the first Black president of the Church Council of Greater Seattle, an organization fighting for global peace, and social and economic justice.

In 2014, the city of Seattle renamed several blocks of 19th Avenue near Mount Zion Baptist Church “Rev. Dr. S. McKinney Ave” in honor of Rev. McKinney’s dedication to civil rights, and to his church and community.

This collection includes materials related to Rev. Dr. Samuel B. McKinney, the McKinney family, and Mount Zion Baptist Church. Photographs depict Rev. Samuel B. McKinney from his seminary days up to 2015, Rev. Samuel B. McKinney with other pastors and associates in the civil rights movement, with his wife and children, and as Seafair's King Neptune in 2003. Ephemera includes fliers, programs, a poster, and promotional materials. Other materials document the designation of part of 19th Ave. as "Rev. Dr. S. McKinney Ave" in 2014, and include an album commemorating the related celebration at Mount Zion Baptist Church. The collections also includes the book "Church Administration in the Black Perspective," co-written by Rev. Samuel B. McKinney, and other writings.

View selections from the collection in MOHAI's online collections.

The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

The collection is open to the public by appointment.

Lora-Ellen McKinney Collection on Rev. Dr. Samuel B. McKinney, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle

Gift of Lora-Ellen McKinney, received in 2017 and 2019.

The donations include a number of articles of clothing and other artifacts which are cataloged and stored separately in MOHAI's Collections Resources Department.

McKinney, Samuel B.; Massey, Floyd (1976). Church Administration in the Black Perspective. Valley Forge, Pennsylvania: Judson Press

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.

McKinney, Louisa Jones, 1930-2012 McKinney, Samuel Berry, 1926-2018 Mount Zion Baptist Church (Seattle, Wash.) Seattle (Wash.) Activists--Washington State)--Seattle African American Churches--Washington (State)--Seattle Civil rights leaders--Washington (State)--Seattle African Americans Civil Rights Religion 2017.59 Lora-Ellen McKinney Collection on Rev. Dr. Samuel B. McKinney 1976-2015 1 box

Collection of materials related to Rev. Dr. Samuel B. McKinney's tenure as pastor of the Mount Zion Baptist Church in Seattle.

2017.59.11 1 Biographical Summary published by Mount Zion Baptist Church 1991 2017.59.12 1 30th Pastoral Anniversary program 1988 February 2017.59.13 1 40th Pastoral Anniversary and Retirement Celebration schedule 1988 February 2017.59.14 1 Pastor Emeritus Sunday program 2015 October 18 2017.59.15 2 "Songs of our Faith and Heritage" 1997

Book of songs important to the heritage of African Americans, produced by Mount Zion Baptist Church and presented to McKinney in recognition of his 39 years of service to Mount Zion Baptist Church.

 2017.59.16 3 Invitation to Dedication Ceremonies of Mount Zion Baptist Church 1975 2017.59.17 3 Mount Zion Baptist Church informational booklet circa 1995 2017.59.18 4 "Let Mt. Zion Rejoice" 1976

1975-1976 Mount Zion Baptist Church yearbook

2017.59.19 5 Seafair magazine 2003

Rev. Samuel B. McKinney was King Neptune LIV of the 2003 Seafair celebration.

2017.59.20 5 Seafair souvenir paper "license plate" 2003 August 2017.59.21 5 King & Queen of Seafair 2003 tentative schedule 2003 April 2017.59.22 5 List of Seafair Royalty 1950-2003 2017.59.23 6 "Vote for Rev. Samuel Berry McKinney - Obama Delegate," flier to send McKinney to the Democratic convention 2008

Rev. Samuel B. McKinney and Lora-Ellen McKinney were both legislative delegates from the 37th District

2017.59.24-32 7 Black Nativity 1991-2007

Materials related to performances of the Langston Hughes play "Black Nativity" at the Intiman Theatre in Seattle. Includes programs from 1999, 2001, 2004 and 2007 performances, at which Rev. Samuel B. McKinney performed as the narrator; an invitation to the 1999 performance; a ticket to the 2004 performance; two "Insider" pamphlet play guides; and the December 2002 issue of Colors NW magazine, with an article about the Intiman production of Black Nativity.

2017.59.33-50 8 Photographs of Rev. Dr. Samuel McKinney dressed as King Neptune at Seafair 2003

19 color photographs

2017.59.51 9 Color photo of Samuel B, McKinney with University of Washington President Mark Emmert 2007 2017.59.52 10 Photograph of Rev. Samuel B. McKinney in Black Nativity Bennion, Chris 1998

The photographer retains reproduction rights to this photograph.

2017.59.53 11 Book: "Church Administration in the Black Perspective" by Floyd Massey and Samuel Berry McKinney 1976 2017.59.54 12 Book: "Reverend Dr. Samuel Berry McKinney Dedication of 19th Ave. Between Union and Madison" 2014

Book of photographs taken at the dedication of 19th Avenue between Union and Madison Streets as "Rev. Dr. S. McKinney Avenue."

 2017.59.55 13 Copy of Chapter 9 from "Outsiders in a Promised Land" by Dale Soden 2017

Signed by Dave Soden in September 2017

2017.59.REF 13-14 Reference materials 1985-2013

Includes photocopies of articles from the Seattle Times and Seattle Magazine; the book "Rabbi Levine's Profile in Service;" transcript and tape log of an oral history interview with Samuel B. McKinney, 2013; and miscellaneous ephemera.

 2019.105 Lora-Ellen McKinney Collection on Rev. Dr. Samuel B. McKinney circa 1950-2018 1 box

Collection of materials related to Rev. Dr. Samuel B. McKinney, including photographs of the McKinney family, Rev. Samuel B. McKinney at various events, personal papers, and ephemera.

 Photographs 1950-2014 1-2 2019.107.17-.34 Rev. Samuel B. McKinney circa 1950-2014

Snapshots and studio portraits of Rev. Samuel B. McKinney

3 Samuel B. McKinney with others 1959-1979 3 2019.105.35 Samuel B. McKinney, Edward J. Odom and Fountain Penick at NAACP 50th anniversary event 1959 3 2019.105.36 Samuel B. McKinney, Edward J. Odom, Fountain Penick, and unidentified man at NAACP 50th anniversary event 1959 3 2019.105.37 Rev. Samuel B. McKinney and Louise McKinney with Rev. Edward J. Odom 1962 October

Edward Odom, who served as Church Secretary for the NAACP, was in Seattle to speak at the Mount Zion Brotherhood lecture series.

 3 2019.105.38 Lora-Ellen McKinney, Rev. Samuel B. McKinney, and Fountain Penick at entrance to new educational unit at Mount Zion Baptist Church 1963 May 3 2019.105.39 Rev. Samuel B. McKinney at his desk at Mount Zion Baptist Church, with Reverend Spencer Thomas of Mount Zion's Children's Church, Archie Smith, and an unidentified minister circa 1960 3 2019.105.40 Rev. Samuel B. McKinney speaking with Rev. Leon H. Sullivan at the 7th Annual OIP (Opportunities Industrialization Center) convention in Seattle 1971 September 3 2019.105.41 Five men at the awarding of the B'Nai Brith Lodge Man of the Year award to Lemuel G. Peterson 1966 March 19

Dr. Earl V. Miller, Joe L. Woolfe, Dr. Peterson, Eugene Rickles, Rev. Samuel B. McKinney.

 3 2019.105.42 Rev. Samuel McKinney, Louise McKinney, and Lora-Ellen McKinney with Rabbi Raphael Levine and his wife circa 1963 3 2019.105.43 Group photo at Mount Zion Baptist Church circa 1965

Rev. Robert H. Davis, Russell Gideon, Rev. Dr. Samuel B. McKinney, Mable Harris, Dr. Gardner C. Taylor, Mrs. Burke, Ross Burke, Sam Smith

 4 2019.105.44 Rev. Samuel B. McKinney, Rev. James Stuart, Otis Moss Jr., Rev. Frank Byrdwell circa 1979 4 2019.105.45 Rev. Samuel B. McKinney with four others in office of US Department of Housing and Urban Development circa 1979 4 2019.105.46 Rev. Samuel B. McKinney with four men at the Olympic Hotel circa 1962 4 2019.105.47 Rev. Samuel B. McKinney with seven men and one woman in an office circa 1962 5 2019.105.48-.52 Louise Jones McKinney circa 1950-2000

Studio portraits

 6 2019.105.53- .63 McKinney family circa 1965-2003

Photographs, mostly snapshots, showing Rev. Samuel B. McKinney, Louise McKinney, and/or daughters Rhoda and Lora-Ellen McKinney. Also includes a photographic family holiday card, and a 50th wedding anniversary announcement.

 7 2019.105.64 Lora-Ellen McKinney 1993

Advertisement for D. Paglia & Son Inc. diamonds featuring Lora-Ellen McKinney and 12 x 15 in. enlargement of photograph used in ad

 8 2019.105.65 Larry Gossett at lectern at Mount Zion Baptist Church circa 1995 Ephemera circa 1990-2017 9 2019.105.66-.67 Louise J. McKinney business card and letterhead circa 1990-2010 9 2019.105.68 Mount Zion Baptist Church, Samuel Berry McKinney, Pastor Emeritus letterhead circa 2013 10 2019.105.69-.72 A.K Guy Award 1996

Materials related to Rev. Samuel B. McKinney receiving the YMCA's A.K. Guy Award in 1996, including card, invitation, program, and letter and poem by Lora-Ellen McKinney.

 11 2019.105.73-.75 Louise Jones McKinney's death 2012-2013

Materials related to Louisa J. McKinney's death, including programs for memorial service at Mount Zion Baptist Church, remembrance event at Town Hall, 2012, and Dedication Ceremony in her honor at Town Hall, 2013.

 12 2019.105.76 55th Anniversary of 1963 March on Washington materials 2018

Papers related to the 55th Anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington, with historic information, list of press conference speakers, list of honorees at bell tolling ceremony, and a draft proclamation to change the name of MLK Jr Park to MLK Jr Civil Rights Memorial Park, 2018

 13 2019.105.77 Rev. Samuel B. McKinney's funeral plans 2017

Written and signed by McKinney and dated 8/14/2017.

 14 2019.105.78-.80 Rev. Samuel B. McKinney writings 2003 undated

"What the Black Church Needs," sermon delivered at Mount Zion Baptist Church, undated; "Ain't-a That Good News!: A Preacher's Journey Through Sermons and Celebrations," outline, 2003; "A Charge To Keep I Have: Lessons from Fifty Years of Ministry" outline, 2003. All are photocopies

 15 2019.105.81-.87 Miscellaneous ephemera circa 1971-2012

Card from Rev. Samuel B. McKinney's appearance on KCTS-TV Channel Nine, February 5, 1968; note from J.A. Boles; note from a Newport H.S. student in the B.S.U. asking if McKinney could speak at an assembly, 1971; booklet with poem in tribute to Dr. Rev. Samuel B. McKinney by Mona Lake Jones, February 1998; mailer for 2nd Annual Juneteenth Gala at ACT, 2007; program for unveiling of King County's new logo with image of Martin Luther King, Jr., March 11, 2007; flier for a Black History remembrance at Evergreen Washelli, February 26, 2012.

16 2019.105.88-.91 Mortgages and related documents 1958-1982 17 2019.105.92 Rev. Samuel B. McKinney's Daily Planner 2012 18 2019.105.93-.94 Event recordings 1996 2004

"YMCA AK Guy Award, Rev. Samuel B. McKinney," DVD, 1996 (.93); "Pastor Emeritus Sunday - Rev. Dr. Samuel B. McKinney," audio CD. Also on CD label: Pastor Rev. Dr. Leslie D. Braxton.

 1 2019.105.95 Rev. Dr. S. McKinney Ave. album 2014

Clippings, ephemera and photographs related to the honorary name designation of 19th Avenue from E. Union to E. Madison Streets as "Rev. Dr. S. McKinney Ave," and a related celebration at Mount Zion Baptist Church on March 2, 2014

 VI.a.10 2019.105.96 Poster for Black Nativity performance at Intiman Theatre 1999 24 x 18 in. 2019.105.REF 18-22 Reference materials

Reference materials not included in primary collection. Includes photocopy of part of an unattributed article on McKinney; a tape log and transcript of an interview of McKinney with David Cline (for the Library of Congress; booklet "Northwest Black Pioneers: A Centennial Tribute," 1994, 84 pp.; one folder of miscellaneous clippings and other ephemera.