The Black History Commission of Arkansas awarded funds from the Curtis H. Sykes Memorial Grant program to a historic Bible conservation project.

A grant in the amount of $3,500 was awarded to the First Missionary Baptist Church in Little Rock to conserve and restore a historic Bible that has been a part of the church’s history for at least 125 years. This Bible was donated to the church by a Black Civil War veteran and was used by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during his sermon at the church’s 188^th anniversary in April 1963. After the restoration, the Bible will be included in an exhibit at the church.

The grant money will be used to repair and restore the Bible, research when it was published and learn more about the background of the man who made the donation.

The BHCA is affiliated with and advises the Arkansas State Archives and meets quarterly. The Curtis H. Sykes Memorial Grant Program supports African American historic and historical preservation and public programming projects in Arkansas. Grants are awarded year-round and past projects include historical research, exhibits, workshops, publications, oral history interviews, documentary films, and cemetery preservation and documentation.

(Photo: First Missionary Baptist Church)