Mack King Carter papers, 1965-2013

Using These Materials Teaser

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:
Access note. Collection's Audiovisual Series contains original audiovisual media and requires reformatting prior to use. Contact Research Services to request access.
More about accessing and using these materials...

Summary

Creator:
Carter, Mack King and John Hope Franklin Research Center for African and African American History and Culture
Abstract:
Dr. Mack King Carter was the senior pastor of New Mount Olive Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale. This collection documents the ministerial, academic, and pastoral work of Dr. Mack King Carter, highlighting his theological development, pastoral leadership at New Mount Olive Baptist Church, and contributions to Black preaching traditions. It includes sermon notes, church records, personal correspondence, academic materials, and audiovisual recordings that reflect his influence on spiritual leadership in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Extent:
5.0 Linear Feet (5 boxes and 1 oversize folder)
Language:
Materials in English.
Collection ID:
RL.13138

Background

Scope and content:

This collection documents the ministerial, academic, and personal life of Dr. Mack King Carter, with materials spanning his seminary education through his pastoral leadership at New Mount Olive Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It includes sermon preparation materials, handwritten and typed notes, outlines, and reflections, capturing the evolution of his preaching style and theological ideas. Also present are drafts and notes for his published works. The collection features church administrative records, ministry manuals, and educational program materials from New Mount Olive, as well as personal correspondence, greeting cards, and commemorative items such as scrapbooks and photo albums. The collection also houses academic materials from his time at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Audiovisual recordings of sermons and religious events feature Dr. Carter and other prominent African American preachers, documenting preaching traditions and spiritual leadership in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

Biographical / historical:

Born in Ocala, Florida, Rev. Dr. Mack King Carter (1947–2013) was a nationally respected African American pastor, theologian, and educator. Carter was known for his expertise in biblical hermeneutics, the interpretation of scripture in its historical and cultural context, and homiletics, the art and structure of preaching. He earned degrees from Central Florida Community College (A.A., 1967), the University of Florida (B.A., 1970), and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div., 1976; D.Min., 1978), along with honorary doctorates from Bethune-Cookman College and Florida Memorial College. After pastoring several churches in Ocala, he joined New Mount Olive Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale in 1981 and became senior pastor in 1982, leading the church for 27 years, growing its membership from 4,000 to over 10,000. In 1994, he founded the Mount Olive Development Corporation (MODCO), which provided social services and affordable housing, and later established the Dr. Mack King Carter Enrichment Center. He was a sought-after speaker at national conventions and a lecturer at institutions such as Duke, Princeton, Howard, and Vanderbilt. He authored five books, including Interpreting the Will of God and Making Good Decisions (published posthumously). He retired in 2009 and passed away on October 3, 2013.

Acquisition information:
The Mack King Carter were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 2023.
Processing information:

Processed by Neal Shipe, June 2025

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2023-0106, 2023-0131

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into five series: Sermons; Writings; Church Materials; Personal Materials; and Audiovisual Recordings.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Access note. Collection's Audiovisual Series contains original audiovisual media and requires reformatting prior to use. Contact Research Services to request access.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the Rubenstein Library's Citations, Permissions, and Copyright guide.

Before you visit:
Please consult our up-to-date information for visitors page, as our services and guidelines periodically change.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Mack King Carter Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1g167