To H. Edward Whitaker
Author: King, Martin Luther, Jr. (Dexter Avenue Baptist Church)
Date: November 30, 1955
Location: Montgomery, Ala.?
Genre: Letter
Topic: Martin Luther King, Jr. - Travels
Details
After several years of construction, Whitaker’s New Hope Baptist Church was finished. Although King had declined an invitation to preach, he would eventually speak there in 1956.
Rev. H. Edward Whitaker
1122 Buffalo Avenue
Niagara Falls, New York
Dear Whit:
I have been intending to write you for several weeks now, but an extremely busy schedule has prevented it. I was very happy to get the picture of your church. It is simply beautiful, and you and your members are to be commended for such good taste. I can assure you that your one hundred-thousand dollars were well spent.
I am very sorry that I was unable to be with you on the dates we had previously discussed. I am sure that the fellowship would have been very rich indeed. However, I hope that it will be possible to come up for the special services during Holy Week. If such can be worked out I am sure that I can fit it into my schedule.
I am now the proud father of a little daughter. Her name is Yolonda Denise. She is now about thirteen days old, and she is keeping her father quite busy walking the floor. I hope every thing goes well with you and your family. Give all my best regards. Let me hear from you at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely yours,
M. L. King, Jr.
MLK:lmt
P.S. I am mailing the photograph of your church under separate cover.
Source: DABCC-INP, Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church Collection, In Private Hands.