Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

George Nicoloff was a priest active in the Macedonian/Bulgarian Orthodox Church in the Detroit area from 1936 to 1991, and was a lifelong supporter of the movement for freedom and independence in Macedonia. His papers include his own sermons and religious writings, as well as records, papers and correspondence from St. Clement and St. Paul, the parishes where he served, and the Bulgarian Orthodox Diocese of the United States and Canada.

The George Nicoloff papers document the activities of a Macedonian/Bulgarian religious and cultural community in the late 20th-century United States. The papers are divided into five series: Personal Papers, Planners, Correspondence, Parish Records (St. Clement Ohridsky, St. Paul Macedono-Bulgarian Orthodox Cathedral) and the Diocese series.

Most of the correspondence and many other documents in this collection are written in the Bulgarian Cyrillic alphabet, and so could not be assessed for content at the time of processing. Correspondence in Bulgarian is included either at the back of general correspondence folders, or, when it exists in sufficient quantity and can be separated from the main body of correspondence, in separate folders. Folders containing material principally in Bulgarian have been so noted.

African Methodist Episcopal pastor with churches in Albion and Ann Arbor, Michigan. Collection includes sermons, biographical materials, materials related to history of the church, scattered minutes of meetings, newspaper clippings, and photographs.

The John A. Woods papers measure 1.75 linear feet. The majority of the collection consists of sermons (1.5 linear feet). Because most of the sermons are undated, their original order has been retained. Other significant files concern Bethel AME Church. An audio cassette captures the groundbreaking ceremonies for the new church in 1971, and a program documents the Burn the Mortgage Celebration service in 1989. Also found in the collection are miscellaneous church meetings minutes, dated 1982 and 1987.

The Biographical Materials folder includes biographical information about Reverend Woods, as well as letters of recommendation and/or appreciation, and tributes. Of importance are old school records, pastoral certificates and the program from Reverend Wood's funeral service on November 14, 1989. The Newspaper Clippings folder also contains a wealth of biographical information about Reverend Woods. Photographs date from circa 1930 and include images of Reverend Woods from a young man onwards, and pictures of groundbreaking and the completed Bethel AME Church. The Services folder contains programs of various services that took place in different AME churches. Miscellaneous material includes printed religious texts and a heavily annotated 1979-80 DBC Student Directory.