John Gee

Black Historical Center

The John Gee Black Historical Center is a cultural and educational center to insure the preservation of tradition, culture, crafts, music and art of the African Americans in Southeastern Ohio and to educate our diverse people about African-American traditions and about the past and present contributions of African-Americans to this country.

Friday and Saturdays 10am - 3pm (Other Hours By Appointment)

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The John Gee African Methodist Episcopal Chapel was organized in 1818 by Barbara and John Gee; William and Eliza Napper; Leah Stewart; Nancy Belt; John Givens and Lorian Givens. For some years, this congregation met in a schoolhouse on Pine Street in Gallipolis. The first church structure was a modest house-like building that served them until 1866. At that time, a more ambitious structure was planned for a growing congregation.

John Gee, a skilled carpenter who built houses in Gallipolis, donated the land at 48 Pine Street for the first church edifice. During these times, Black Americans were usually buried in church cemeteries. But John Gee donated 4 acres of land at the end of Pine Street as a burial ground for the local black citizens. [Click for more info on the Colored Cemetery]

Samuel Humphrey donated the lumber and a team of horses to move the materials. Henry and Thomas Bell furnished the materials and did the plastering. 

The masonry work was done by Alexander Woody, John Black, George Toney and Jesse Devine who were not members of the church.

In the fall of 1868, the African Methodist Episcopal Church was dedicated. Sometime in the 1880’s, the chapel was named for John Gee, it’s first great benefactor and one of the principal founders.

CREATION OF THE JOHN GEE BLACK HISTORICAL CENTER, INC.:
For 180 years, services were held at the John Gee Chapel. But in August 1997, the last church services were held. The member/trustees (Dorothy and Robert Casey, Edna Casey and Alice Bufford) decided to donate the building to the black community to be used as a black historical center. Their desire was to create a living representation of the culture, heritage and contributions of Black Americans living in Southeastern Ohio.

In June 1998, the member/trustees of the Chapel called an organizational meeting of people who had expressed an interest in preserving the Chapel. They called the new organization the John Gee Black Historical Center, Inc., a non-profit Center, with the following purposes:

1. To establish a cultural and educational center to ensure the preservation of tradition, culture, crafts, music and art of the Black Americans in Southeastern Ohio.

2. To educate our diverse people about Black Traditions and about the past and present contributions of Black Americans to this country with emphasis on Southeastern Ohio.

3. To sponsor programs and displays, such as lectures, crafts, storytelling, artifacts and other items of interest.

membership

Please consider supporting the John Gee Black Historical Center through an annual membership and/or donation
The John Gee Black Historical Center is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization

Individual
 

$ 20

/year

Family (Household)

$ 35

/year

Churches or Non-Profit Orgs

$ 50

/year

Corporations
or Business

$ 100

/year

MEMBERSHIP: Complete Registration Form and then use donate button below to send payment

"It’s a great piece of our history"

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Address

P.O. Box 164, 48 Pine Street,
Gallipolis, OH 45631

Phone

740-578-9692

E-mail

info@johngeeblackhistory.com