W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library
The University of Alabama

Title:	John Collier Foster Papers, 1841-1892
Creator:	John Collier Foster, 1813-1892
Extent:	.4 linear feet
Collection Number:	MS0536
Provenance:	Gift of Fannie J. Foster, 1949 and Juliette Foster, 1952
Processed by:	Richard Brown and Donnelly Lancaster, 2003
Copyright Statement:	This collection may be protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law.
Preferred Citation:	The John Collier Foster Papers, W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library, The University of Alabama.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

· BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
· SCOPE AND CONTENTS
· SERIES DESCRIPTIONS 
· CONTAINER LIST

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH:

John Collier Foster was born on April 10, 1813, in Columbia County, Georgia. He attended The University of Alabama from 1834-1837. On November 2, 1838, he was baptized at Grant's Creek Baptist Church of Christ in Fosters, Alabama. In 1839, he married Emma Toole Prince, who died later that year.

John Collier Foster was ordained a Baptist minister at Grant's Creek Baptist Church of Christ on March 3, 1844. In 1845 he became the pastor of the same church, serving there until his death 47 years later. During this time he also served as the pastor to New Hope Baptist Church from 1846 to 1850 and from 1871 to 1890. On September 22, 1866, he was elected Moderator of Union Baptist Association, and he remained in this position until 1883.

On February 1, 1889, his house in Fosters, Alabama, burned to the ground. Many of the church records were lost in his house along with most of his extensive library. He then moved to the Hester House in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. On July 23, 1892, he died in Tuscaloosa, Alabama but was buried at Grant's Creek Baptist Church of Christ in Fosters, Alabama.

In 1847 he married Georgia Ann Maharrey who was the daughter of Joseph Pigott and Mary A. (Barron) Maharrey of Augusta, Georgia. The Fosters had eight children, of whom five married: Mary Ellen (married Dr. A.B.C. Nicholls,) G. Augusta, Mollie A. (married E.R. King), Fannie F., John Manly (married Kathleen Clark), James Henry (married Linda Van de Graff), Josephine (married Walter Patton) and Stella.

Sources:
Foster, Henry Bacon. History of Tuscaloosa County Baptist Association 1834-1934. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: Weatherford Printing Co., 1934.

Foster, Joshua Hill. A Brief Record of One Branch of the Fosters in Alabama. The Joshua Hill Foster Papers, the W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library, The University of Alabama

Owen, Thomas McAdory. History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography. V. 3. Chicago: S.J. Clarke, 1921.

Table of Contents

SCOPE AND CONTENTS

The John Collier Foster Papers contain material from 1841 to 1892 with the bulk ranging from 1889 to 1892. A large portion of the collection contains his sermons from his time at Grant's Creek Baptist Church of Christ and New Hope Baptist Church. In addition to sermons, the collection includes other material relating to the Baptist church in late nineteenth century Alabama, including Foster's daily journals of pastoral activities, membership letters, and printed material about Baptist doctrine.

The collection also includes material relating to John Collier Foster's wife Georgia Ann Maharrey Foster and the Foster family.

John Collier Foster was an older brother of Joshua Hill Foster whose papers are housed in the W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library.

The John Collier Foster Papers are arranged in four series: Correspondence, Church Material, Georgia Ann Maharrey Foster, and Foster Family.

Table of Contents

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS:

SERIES: INCOMING CORRESPONDENCE
There are two incoming letters to John Collier Foster. Correspondents include James J. Arnold, June 10, 1889 and M.J. Eddins, June 6, 1891.

SERIES: CHURCH MATERIAL
Sermons range in years from 1858 to 1892. Sermons are arranged according to where Foster preached-Grant's Creek Baptist Church of Christ, New Hope Baptist Church, and Lodge Hall-and according to occasion, including funerals. Two journals document Foster's daily pastoral activities from 1889-1892 and include information about church services and members' activities. Pamphlets and announcements relate to Baptist doctrine, mission work, and events. Also contained are programs from various events and services. The series also contains membership letters and biographical information about members.

SERIES: GEORGIA ANN MAHARREY FOSTER
The series includes incoming correspondence, 1841-1861. Most of the correspondents are family members. Invitations to teas, parties, and balls date from 1842 to 1846.

SERIES: FOSTER FAMILY 
The series includes a photocopy of genealogical information about the Foster family, 1649-1714, compiled and published by Blair Jones, Pell City, Alabama in Westbrook and Allied Families. This series also contains an ink and pen drawing of the family coat of arms and an undated manuscript by Ellen Foster, "Gen. Jackson's Campaign against the Creeks."

Table of Contents

CONTAINER LIST:

SERIES: CORRESPONDENCE
Box	Folder	Description
0634	1	Incoming correspondence, 1889, 1891
			Table of Contents
SERIES: CHURCH MATERIAL
Box	Folder	Description
0634	2	Pastoral activities journals, 1889-1892
	3	Sermons, Grant's Creek Baptist Church of Christ, 1866-1892
		Digitized material from this folder: "They Which Have Believed in God Must Be Careful to Maintain Good Works," October 14, 1891  "The Responsibility of Our Conduct Towards Others," April 19, 1891  Untitled sermon preached at Grant's Creek Baptist Church, October 20, 1889
	4	Sermons, Grant's Creek Baptist Church of Christ and New Hope Baptist Church, 1889-1891
	5	Sermons, Lodge Hall, 1889-1892
	6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15	Sermons, Lodge Hall and New Hall, 1889-1890 Sermons, "Farewell to New Hope," December 28, 1890 Sermons, various churches, 1858-1891 Digitized material from this folder: Untitled sermon, which begins with passage from John 6:37, used from 1858-1891 Sermons, special occasions Sermons, funerals, 1889-1891 Sermons, undated or unused Sermon notes Newspaper clippings Religious pamphlets and announcements Church members
			Table of Contents
SERIES: GEORGIA ANN MAHARREY FOSTER
Box	Folder	Description
0634	16 17	Incoming correspondence, 1841-1861 Invitations, 1842-1846
			Table of Contents
SERIES: FOSTER FAMILY
Box	Folder	Description
0634	18	Foster family genealogical information, 1649-1741
	19 20	Foster family coat of arms Manuscript by Ellen Foster
			Table of Contents