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D.C. Allen House of David Collection, 1795-1980 (majority within 1903-1980)

22 linear feet (in 24 boxes) — 69 volumes — 5 microfilms — 39.4 GB (online)

Online
D. C. Allen was a Three Oaks, Michigan book dealer and collector of material on the House of David, an adventist cult founded in England. The leader of this cult was Benjamin Purnell who made Benton Harbor his home and the site of his follower's business activities. The Allen collection (formerly housed at the Wyoming American Heritage Center) consists of most of the publications by and about the Israelite House of David, scattered manuscript materials mainly documenting the colony's business operations and court cases involving Purnell and the colony, and photographs and postcards depicting activities of the colony.

The collection gathered together by D. C. Allen includes published materials, manuscripts and other paper documentation, and photographs, postcards, and other visual materials. The published material consists mainly of books and pamphlets written by House of David founder "King Benjamin" Purnell and his wife Mary and others associated with the House of David. This collection was formerly stored at the University of Wyoming American Heritage Center.

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Manuscript Materials, 1904-1980

Online

The Manuscripts series is small and represents but a fragment of the papers and records that once might have been maintained by the people of the colony relating to their beliefs and to their business activities. Of greatest interest perhaps are those documents (briefs, testimony, and transcripts) relating to the various legal suits against Benjamin Purnell and the Israelite House of David in the 1920s. There is also fragmentary correspondence, some of which relates to the scheduling of the traveling House of David baseball team. This portion of the collection also includes clippings and other written materials about the colony, and miscellaneous items, such as calendars, business forms, menus, programs, and related items, which provide a sense of the economic enterprises of the colony.

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