calsfoundation@cals.org
August 12, 2010
In 1895, Elias Camp Morris became the first president of the National Baptist Convention, the largest denomination of black Christians in the United States. He held the post until his death in 1922. In 1877, Camp moved to Helena (Phillips County), where, two years later, he became an ordained Baptist minister. Also active in local business and Republican Party politics, he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention on several occasions.