Biographical and Historical Note

A. Douglas Aldrich (Allan Douglas) was born to Allen Russell Aldrich and Marjory Lee Ross on December 16, 1921, in Painted Post, New York. His family moved to Orlando, Florida, where he graduated from Orlando High School. He attended Mars Hill College for two years and graduated from Wake Forest College in 1944 with a degree in English. He then attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for a Bachelor of Divinity degree (1947) and a Master of Theology degree (1948). In 1967, Wake Forest College conferred on him an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree.

Aldrich was ordained in December 1942, at Calvary Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C., where he served as a student pastor. He was also a student pastor in churches in Florida and Tennessee. He worked full time as a pastor at First Baptist Church in La Follette, Tennessee (1948-1951), before returning to N.C., first pastoring Forest Hills Baptist Church in Raleigh (1951-1963) and then First Baptist Church in Gastonia (1963-1985). After retiring, Aldrich served as an interim pastor for nearly two decades.

During his career, Aldrich held a range of leadership positions in higher education and Baptist organizations. He served as a vice president of the Baptist State Convention of N.C. and on its Executive Board. He was a trustee of Wake Forest University, Shaw University, Meredith College (1966-1969), Biblical Recorder newspaper, and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he was elected trustee chairman (1973). He wrote multiple series of Sunday school lessons for the Sunday School Publishing Board, publisher of the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A. Starting in the late 1960s, Aldrich served on the Gastonia Human's Relation Committee, which facilitated community meetings and relations during the period of school integration. Aldrich fostered an interest in ecumenical relations between various religious groups; he was a member of the Board of the Ecumenical Institute of Wake Forest University and Belmont Abbey.

Aldrich retired in 1985. He was married to Edna Lou Lamb for more than 64 years. They raised two children. Aldrich died on June 23, 2023, at the age of 101.

Sources:

"Obituary," Legacy.com as published in the /title> Charlotte Observer, 2023 June 25.

Bolick, R. L. "A History of First Baptist Church, Gastonia, N.C.," Divinity Archive, 1976 May. Available online at Divinity Archive Church Histories.

Collection Overview

This collection documents some of Aldrich's correspondence, from roughly 1963 to 1985, while he was pastor at First Baptist Church, Gastonia. Material types include news clippings, professional correspondence and related materials, and baptismal service records.

This collection is organized into two series: Series 1. Biographical materials, and Series 2. Correspondence.

Collection Inventory

• Biographical materials  (1965-1984)
  • Who's Who profile and news clippings   (1965-1984) box 1 folder 1
  • "Prayer Amendment Unnecessary" editorial  (1982) box 1 folder 81
• Correspondence  (1964-1985)
  • Ab-Af  (1964-1985) box 1 folder 2
  • Adams, Theodore F.  (1964-1968) box 1 folder 3
  • Adcox, Donald  (1971-1972) box 1 folder 4
  • Al-Am  (1964-1985) box 1 folder 5
  • Allen, Clifton Judson  (1982) box 1 folder 6
  • Allred, Hoylt T.  (1964-1983) box 1 folder 7
  • An-Av  (1964-1985) box 1 folder 8
  • Angell, John William (1920- )  (1967-1972) box 1 folder 9
  • Ba  (1963-1985) box 1 folder 10
  • Baptismal Services: 1958-1969  (1958-1969) box 1 folder 11
  • Baptismal Services: 1970-1978  (1970-1978) box 1 folder 12
  • Barnes, Henson P.  (1983) box 1 folder 13
  • Baucom, Herbert W.  (1964-1976) box 1 folder 14
  • Be  (1963-1984) box 1 folder 15
  • Bell, E. Graham  (1977) box 1 folder 16
  • Benson, C. Robert  (1966) box 1 folder 17
  • Bentley, Fred Blake  (1966-1971) box 1 folder 18
  • Bi-Bl  (1963-1984) box 1 folder 19
  • Binkley, Olin Trivette  (1963-1979) box 1 folder 20
  • Blackwell, C. Michael  (1977-1982) box 1 folder 21
  • Bo  (1963-1984) box 1 folder 22
  • Bodey, Richard Allen  (1973-1977) box 1 folder 23
  • Bowman, Pasco M.  (1972-1976) box 1 folder 24
  • Br  (1964-1985) box 1 folder 25
  • Bradley, John P.  (1971-1976) box 1 folder 26
  • Brewer, Luther G.  (1969-1972) box 1 folder 27
  • Britt, David M.  (1970-1977) box 1 folder 28
  • Broach, Claude U.  (1966-1979) box 1 folder 29
  • Brooks, D. P.  (1965-1978) box 1 folder 30
  • Brooks, J. Boyce  (1967-1976) box 1 folder 31
  • Brooks, Nathan C., Jr.  (1966-1976) box 1 folder 32
  • Brown, William H.  (1965-1974) box 1 folder 33
  • Broyhill, James T.  (1968-1985) box 1 folder 34
  • Bruhn, Robert H.  (1964-1980) box 1 folder 35
  • Bruner, Benjamin R.  (1973-1976) box 1 folder 36
  • Bu-By  (1964-1985) box 1 folder 37
  • Bullard, Kathryn  (1963-1975) box 1 folder 38
  • Burnett, Oscar  (1963-1984) box 1 folder 39
  • Ca  (1963-1983) box 1 folder 40
  • Cammack, James C.  (1964-1985) box 1 folder 41
  • Campbell, Carlyle  (1963) box 1 folder 42
  • Campbell, Claude L., Jr.  (1965-1976) box 1 folder 43
  • Campbell, Dwane R.  (1982-1985) box 1 folder 44
  • Campbell, Ernest T.  (1970-1971) box 1 folder 45
  • Campbell, Frank R.  (1967-1984) box 1 folder 46
  • Carlyle, Irving E.  (1964) box 1 folder 47
  • Carothers, J.C. and E. Woodrow Carothers  (1964-1983) box 1 folder 48
  • Carothers, Ronald and Margie Carothers,  (1968-1985) box 1 folder 49
  • Carothers, Samuel Banks  (1965-1985) box 1 folder 50
  • Carpenter, Coy c.  (1971) box 1 folder 51
  • Carr, Warren  (1964-1968) box 1 folder 52
  • Cashwell, Thomas Leary, Jr.  (1968-1982) box 1 folder 53
  • Cauthen, Baker, J.  (1975) box 1 folder 54
  • Cave, Julian, Jr.  (1974-1977) box 1 folder 55
  • Ch-Cl  (1963-1983) box 1 folder 56
  • Chandler, John  (1973) box 1 folder 57
  • Cheek, James E.  (1964) box 1 folder 58
  • Childs, S. Lawrence  (1981-1982) box 1 folder 59
  • Christman, Edgar D.  (1963-1982) box 1 folder 60
  • Co  (1963-1985) box 1 folder 61
  • Copeland, Luther Edwin  (1964-1973) box 1 folder 62
  • Corpening, Julius H.  (1966-1982) box 1 folder 63
  • Corts, Paul  (1984-1985) box 1 folder 64
  • Corts, Thomas E.  (1977-1983) box 1 folder 65
  • Cothen, Grady C.  (1975-1982) box 1 folder 66
  • Cr  (1963-1985) box 1 folder 67
  • Cranford, Clarence W.  (1963-1972) box 1 folder 68
  • Crouch, William Henry  (1964-1984) box 1 folder 69
  • Crouch, William Perry  (1963-1984) box 1 folder 70
  • Cu  (1964-1984) box 1 folder 71
  • Culpepper, Hugo H.  (1966) box 1 folder 72
  • Culpepper, R.H.  (1975-1978) box 1 folder 73
  • Da  (1963-1983) box 1 folder 74
  • Davis, Wendell G.  (1968-1979) box 1 folder 75
  • De  (1965-1981) box 1 folder 76
  • Deane, Charles B.  (1966-1969) box 1 folder 77
  • Dehoney, Wayne  (1964-1977) box 1 folder 78
  • Dempsey, John R.  (1983) box 1 folder 79
  • Deweese, Charles  (1970-1976) box 1 folder 80
  • Di-Dy  (1963-1983) box 2 folder 81
  • Dilday, Russell  (1984) box 2 folder 82
  • Drake, Henry Grady  (1964-1976) box 2 folder 83
  • Draper, James T.  (1983-1984) box 2 folder 84
  • Ea-El  (1964-1985) box 2 folder 85
  • Eargle, Zane E.  (1975) box 2 folder 86
  • Easley, John Allen (1893-1992)  (1963) box 2 folder 87
  • Em-Ev  (1964-1983) box 2 folder 88
  • Fa-Fi  (1964-1985) box 2 folder 89
  • Feezor, Forrest  (1964-1973) box 2 folder 90
  • Finch, Henry T., Jr.  (1982-1984) box 2 folder 91
  • Finlator, William Wallace (1913-2006)  (1963-1980) box 2 folder 92
  • Fisher, Benjamin Coleman (1915-1985)  (1965-1970) box 2 folder 93
  • Fl-Fu  (1965-1985) box 2 folder 94
  • Ford, Gerald R. (1913-2006)  (1971-1976) box 2 folder 95
  • Ford, Michael G.  (1973) box 2 folder 96
  • Foshee, Howard B.  (1978-) box 2 folder 97
  • Francis, C. Arthur  (1963-1964) box 2 folder 98
  • Freeman, Charles  (1970-1973) box 2 folder 99
  • Friday, William  (1974) box 2 folder 100
  • Ga-Ge  (1963-1985) box 2 folder 101
  • Gh-Gl  (1963-1984) box 2 folder 102
  • Gillespie, Mary  (1981-1984) box 2 folder 103
  • Glass, Ernest W.  (1963-1984) box 2 folder 104
  • Go-Gw  (1963-1984) box 2 folder 105
  • Godwin, Clarence E.  (1967-1968) box 2 folder 106
  • Gr  (1963-1985) box 2 folder 107
  • Graham, Billy (1918-2018)  (1963-1965) box 2 folder 108
  • Grant, James Marse (1920- )  (1963-1984) box 2 folder 109
  • Graves, Allen W.  (1963-1974) box 2 folder 110
  • Greene, R. Tom  (1963-1976) box 2 folder 110a
  • Greene, Vic, Jr.  (1965-1977) box 2 folder 111
  • Greenway, Fran  (1978-1982) box 2 folder 112
  • Griffin, Clarence O.  (1976-1984) box 2 folder 113
  • Grigg, Wendell Randolph  (1964-1975) box 2 folder 114
  • Groves, Earl  (1964-1984) box 2 folder 115
  • Ha  (1963-1985) box 2 folder 116
  • Hall, Dick H., Jr.  (1969-1974) box 2 folder 117
  • Hamrick, Shirley P.  (1973-1983) box 2 folder 118
  • Haworth, D. Swan  (1963-1978) box 2 folder 119
  • Hayes, Johnson J.  (1964) box 2 folder 120
  • Hays, Brooks  (1968-1975) box 2 folder 121
  • He  (1963-1985) box 2 folder 122
  • Heilman, E. Bruce  (1967-1971) box 2 folder 123
  • Hi  (1964-1985) box 2 folder 124
  • Ho  (1963-1985) box 2 folder 125
  • Hobbs, Herschel H.  (1974-1977) box 2 folder 126
  • Hobbs, Sara Ann  (1984) box 2 folder 127
  • Hollingsworth, Leon Howard  (1964-1967) box 2 folder 128
  • Hu-Hy  (1964-1985) box 2 folder 129
  • Hull, William E.  (1970-1982) box 2 folder 130
  • Hunt, James B., Jr.  (1978-1983) box 2 folder 131
  • I  (1963-1980) box 2 folder 132
  • Ja-Je  (1963-1985) box 2 folder 133
  • Janeway, Richard  (1976-1980) box 2 folder 134
  • Jo-Ju  (1963-1985) box 2 folder 135
  • Ka-Ke  (1963-1984) box 2 folder 136
  • Keaton, Larry  (1970-1980) box 2 folder 137
  • Ki-Ku  (1964-1984) box 2 folder 138
  • Kicklighter, R. W.  (1966-1969) box 2 folder 139
  • Killian, W. Harold  (1965-1981) box 2 folder 140
  • Kirkland, Paul  (1967-1983) box 2 folder 141
  • La  (1963-1984) box 2 folder 142
  • Lasater, Roberts C.  (1964-1984) box 2 folder 143
  • Lattimore, Ralph E.  (1963-1984) box 3 folder 144
  • Lawrence, John E.  (1964-1980) box 3 folder 145
  • Le  (1963-1985) box 3 folder 146
  • Li-Lo  (1963-1984) box 3 folder 147
  • Littlejohn, Adrain M.  (1963-1981) box 3 folder 148
  • Lolley, W. Randall  (1963-1985) box 3 folder 149
  • Ludlum, Lewis  (1970-1981) box 3 folder 150
  • Ma  (1963-1985) box 3 folder 151
  • McA-McC  (1963-1985) box 3 folder 152
  • McCall, Duke K.  (1964-1978) box 3 folder 153
  • McD-McK  (1963-1985) box 3 folder 154
  • McL-McW  (1963-1984) box 3 folder 155
  • Me  (1963-1984) box 3 folder 156
  • Mi  (1963-1985) box 3 folder 157
  • Mo  (1963-1985) box 3 folder 158
  • Mobley, Billy T.  (1974) box 3 folder 159
  • Moser, Edmond B., Jr.  (1971) box 3 folder 160
  • Moss, Zeb and Evelyn  (1973-1983) box 3 folder 161
  • Mu-My  (1963-1984) box 3 folder 162
  • Mullinax, T. Robert  (1963-1983) box 3 folder 163
  • Na-Ni  (1963-1985) box 3 folder 164
  • Neill, Meredith Whitfield  (1974-1984) box 3 folder 165
  • Nelson, Dotson M., Jr.  (1964-1977) box 3 folder 166
  • Newton, Robert L.  (1980-1982) box 3 folder 167
  • No-Nu  (1964-1981) box 3 folder 168
  • Norfleet, Frank Ford  (1972-1983) box 3 folder 169
  • O  (1963-1984) box 3 folder 170
  • Oates, Wayne E.  (1968-1979) box 3 folder 171
  • Orr, Elwood  (1963-1972) box 3 folder 172
  • Owens, M. O., Jr.  (1963-1982) box 3 folder 173
  • Pa  (1963-1985) box 3 folder 174
  • Pages, Chares D,  (1982) box 3 folder 175
  • Parham, Wallace E.  (1974-1985) box 3 folder 176
  • Parker, Wyatt and Cosette  (1974-1977) box 3 folder 177
  • Paschal, George Washington, Jr.  (1973) box 3 folder 178
  • Pattillo, Wesley M.  (1971-1976) box 3 folder 179
  • Pe-Pl  (1963-1985) box 3 folder 180
  • Po-Pr  (1963-1984) box 3 folder 181
  • Poole, William A·.  (1964-1983) box 3 folder 182
  • Poston, Eugene  (1963-1975) box 3 folder 183
  • Potter, C. Burtt, Jr.  (1964-1975) box 3 folder 184
  • Pu-Py  (1964-1984) box 3 folder 185
  • Puckett, R. Gene  (1982-1985) box 3 folder 186
  • Q  (1970-1983) box 3 folder 187
  • Ra-Re  (1963-1984) box 3 folder 188
  • Rauch, Marshall A.  (1963-1983) box 3 folder 189
  • Ray, Cecil A.  (1966-1982) box 3 folder 190
  • Reed, Marcus C.  (1964-1971) box 3 folder 191
  • Reid, Albert Clayton (1895-1988)  (1965-1972) box 3 folder 192
  • Rh-Ri  (1963-1985) box 3 folder 193
  • Ro  (1963-1984) box 3 folder 194
  • Robertson, Bill and Audrey  (1965-1976) box 3 folder 195
  • Ru  (1963-1985) box 3 folder 196
  • Rutledge, Arthur B.  (1963-1976) box 3 folder 197
  • Sa-Se  (1963-1985) box 3 folder 198
  • Sasser, Alan  (1982-1984) box 4 folder 199
  • Scales, James Ralph  (1967-1982) box 4 folder 200
  • Sessoms, Robert L.  (1963-1967) box 4 folder 201
  • Setzer, Peter  (1970-1985) box 4 folder 202
  • Sh  (1963-1983) box 4 folder 203
  • Shannon, Charles E.  (1968-1975) box 4 folder 204
  • Sherman, Cecil E.  (1974-1984) box 4 folder 205
  • Si  (1963-1985) box 4 folder 206
  • Simpson, Ralph  (1969-1970) box 4 folder 207
  • Sm-So  (1963-1985) box 4 folder 208
  • Smith, Budd E.  (1963-1970) box 4 folder 209
  • Smith, R. F., Jr.  (1967-1976) box 4 folder 210
  • Smith, T. C.  (1982-1984) box 4 folder 211
  • Sneed, Wilson W.  (1974-1981) box 4 folder 212
  • Sp  (1964-1985) box 4 folder 213
  • Sta  (1963-1984) box 4 folder 214
  • Stagg, Frank  (1973-1978) box 4 folder 215
  • Starnes, H. Cloyes  (1965-1967) box 4 folder 216
  • Starnes, Nane and Mabel  (1963-1978) box 4 folder 217
  • Ste  (1964-1984) box 4 folder 218
  • Stealey, Sydnor L.  (1963-1969) box 4 folder 219
  • Sti-Sty  (1964-1985) box 4 folder 220
  • Stokes, Colin  (1980) box 4 folder 221
  • Stokes, Henry Brown  (1964-1983) box 4 folder 222
  • Su-Sy  (1963-1985) box 4 folder 223
  • Ta-Ti  (1963-1985) box 4 folder 224
  • Taylor, H. Pat, Jr.  (1971) box 4 folder 225
  • To-Ty  (1964-1985) box 4 folder 226
  • Tribble, Harold Wayland  (1963-1973) box 4 folder 227
  • U  (1963-1981) box 4 folder 228
  • Upchurch, Ernest C.  (1963-1981) box 4 folder 229
  • V  (1964-1985) box 4 folder 230
  • Valentine, Foy  (1963-1977) box 4 folder 231
  • Wa  (1963-1985) box 4 folder 232
  • Wagoner, W. R.  (1964-1978) box 4 folder 233
  • We  (1963-1983) box 4 folder 234
  • Weems, John E.  (1972-1982) box 4 folder 235
  • Wh  (1963-1985) box 4 folder 236
  • Whaley, Harvey Thomas  (1963-1970) box 4 folder 237
  • Whitaker, Bruce E.  (1967-1983) box 4 folder 238
  • Whitten, Charles  (1965-1966) box 4 folder 239
  • Whitener, Basil L.  (1964-1968) box 4 folder 240
  • Wi  (1963-1985) box 4 folder 241
  • Wiggins, Norman Adrian  (1967-1983) box 4 folder 242
  • Williams, Craven E.  (1976-1984) box 4 folder 243
  • Wo  (1963-1984) box 4 folder 244
  • Woody, M. E., Jr.  (1969-1971) box 4 folder 245
  • Wr-Wy  (1963-1984) box 4 folder 246
  • Y  (1963-1985) box 4 folder 247
  • Yates, Kyle M.  (1964-1967) box 4 folder 248
  • Z  (1964-1984) box 4 folder 249
  • First name only  (1965-1982) box 4 folder 250

Summary Information

Repository

Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives

Title

A. Douglas Aldrich Papers

ID

MS444

Date [inclusive]

1958-1985

Quantity

4 record cartons

Extent

5.2  Linear Feet

Administrative Information

Publication Information

Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, 2023 September

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for researchers. 

Conditions Governing Use

The nature of the WFU Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The Archives and Special Collections of ZSR Library claims only physical ownership of most materials. The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to the U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. 

Preferred Citation

Allan Douglas Aldrich (MS444), Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. 

Related Materials

Other collections that contain materials related to Aldrich include:

• Baptist State Convention of North Carolina Reel-to-Reel Tapes Collection (MS611)
• Willis Richard Cullom Papers (MS26)
• John Allen Easley Papers (MS334)
• Dennis Walter Hockaday Papers (MS497)
• Middleton Family Family Papers (MS362)
• Harold Wayland Tribble Papers (MS291)
• President's Office. Harold Wayland Tribble Records (RG1.10)
• President's Office. James Ralph Scales Records (RG1.11)
• General University Organizations. Ecumenical Institute Records (RG13.1)

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Archives and Special Collections has audio of services that A. Douglas Aldrich led at Forest Hills Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C. Available online.

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