Nation of Islam Muhammad's Temple records, 1972-1983, 2003
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Summary
- Creator:
- John Hope Franklin Research Center for African and African American History and Culture
- Abstract:
- The Nation of Islam (NOI) is a religious and political Black nationalist organization that was founded in Detroit in July 1930 by Wallace D. Fard (Farad Muhammad). Collection inclues sermons, training materials, Muslim-American newspapers, and a photograph of Fruit of Islam members.
- Extent:
- 1.2 Linear Feet
- Language:
- Materials in English.
- Collection ID:
- RL.11995
Background
- Scope and content:
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Collection comprises primarily typescript or photocopied materials prepared for in-house use in the period before Elijah Muhammad's death. Many were stored in three-ring binders. There are sermons written by Elijah Muhammad and Louis Farrakhan, a list of Elijah Muhammad's sayings, copies of a semi-regular monthly Temple newsletter, "The Great Message," and a single issue of the "Black Nation Information Bulletin" (April 1973). Also present is an orientation packet containing teachings and guidelines for new converts or members, especially intended for their first thirty days as Muslims. The packet holds answers to general questions, lists of dietary restrictions, guidelines for dress and appearance, as well as other directives for behavior, along with study guides, prayers, Arabic phrases to be learned, laws, instructions on authority and obedience, and suggestions for how to deal with non-believers as well as the dangers of addictions. Some items were prepared for use in prison systems.
The collection also holds a set of weekly ongoing training messages for the Fruit of Islam (F.O.I.), the organization's all-male paramilitary wing. Topics include military discipline, chain of command, and general security roles, obedience, submission, cigarettes, food and eating, even Christmas. There is a black-and-white group photograph of about 45 F.O.I. members, all dressed in a uniform of white, button-down shirt and bow tie. In addition, there are ten single issues of Muslim newspapers (mostly incomplete, dated 1975-2003), along with newspaper clippings. Acquired as part of the John Hope Franklin Research Center for African and African American History.
- Biographical / historical:
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The Nation of Islam (NOI) is a religious and political Black nationalist organization that was founded in Detroit in July 1930 by Wallace D. Fard (Farad Muhammad). In 1977 Louis Farrakhan rejected Warith Deen Mohammed's leadership and re-established the Nation of Islam on the original model created by Elijah Muhammad. He took over the national headquarter's Temple, Mosque Maryam (Mosque #2), located in Chicago.
- Acquisition information:
- The Nation of Islam Muhammad's Temple Records were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase in 2013.
- Processing information:
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Processed by Alice Poffinberger, January 2014, and Leah Tams, April 2022.
Accessions described in this collection guide: 2013-0205.
- Arrangement:
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Newspaper issues are arranged chronologically.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Subjects
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Contents
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- Restrictions:
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Collection is open for research.
- Terms of access:
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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.
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- Preferred citation:
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[Identification of item], Nation of Islam Muhammad's Temple Records, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
- Permalink:
- https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m10t76