"Messiah" in a "Blue Heaven": Yes, you might call New York headquarters a Blue Heaven. Father Divine is shown here with some of the blue-clad "angels." The Harlem Messiah's followers, 1,000 strong, gathered outside police headquarters this morning chanting "they can't jail God". The cops, however, do not hold with that belief.

Father Divine (c. 1876 -1965), also known as Reverend M. J. Divine, was an black spiritual leader from about 1907 until his death. His full self-given name was Reverend Major Jealous Divine, and he was also known as "the Messenger" early in his life. He founded the International Peace Mission Movement, formulated its doctrine, and oversaw its growth from a small and predominantly-black congregation into a multiracial and international church. Father Divine claimed to be God. He made numerous contributions toward his followers' economic independence and racial equality. He was a contemporary of other religious leaders such as Daddy Grace, Charles Harrison Mason, Noble Drew Ali and James F. Jones (also known as Prophet Jones).

On verso: manuscript title, International News Photos stamp, date stamp and typewritten label with title and date affixed.

Ferrotyped prints have a sensitive surface, usually shiny and thinner, because they are put through a press while still wet. Ferrotyping makes the surface of the photograph smoother. Light does not scatter as much on a smoother surface, so this increases contrast. That makes ferrotyped images better for press photography.

This object has the following keywords:

• Civil Rights Movements
• Father Divine
• Harlem
• Headquarters
• Injustice
• Male Portraits
• Police
• Racial Discrimination

• Image Dimensions: 7 15/16 x 5 5/16 in. (20.16 x 13.49 cm) Measured by Hudson, Karen
• Sheet Dimensions: 8 1/2 x 6 1/2 in. (21.59 x 16.51 cm) Measured by Hudson, Karen