J. B. Collins Photographs

Collection — Box: C (Small Photos), Folder: 1-2

Identifier: AppMs-0446

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The J. B. Collins Photographs collection consists of 79 black and white photographic images (4" x 5") on 20 contact sheets depicting serpent-handling church services at the Dolley Pond Church of God with Signs Following at Birchwood, Tennessee, and the Faith Tabernacle at LaFollette, Tennessee, circa 1945. Included are scenes of members being arrested at the Dolley Pond church and scenes at the Hamilton County Courthouse in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

There is also a circa 1947 booklet written by J.B. Collins and titled Tennessee Snake Handlers. Many of the photographs were used to illustrate this booklet.

Dates

Creation: circa 1945-1947

Creator

Collins, J.B. (James Bennett), 1917-2021 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The photographs are open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The photographs may not be reproduced or used for commercial purposes.

Extent

2.00 folder(s)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Immediate Source of Acquisition

J. B. Collins loaned his negatives to Thomas G. Burton in 1990 and Burton had contact sheets made as part of his research for his book Serpent Handling Believers. Collins agreed to donate the contact sheets to the archives in May 1994. In 1990, Collins also gave a copy of Tennessee Snake Handlers to Burton to give to the archives.