First Baptist Convention - Tahlequah, OK
Posted by: 
hamquilter
N 35° 54.949 W 094° 58.273
15S E 322139 N 3976406
This historical marker was placed by the Historical Commission of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma.
Waymark Code: WMY7BZ
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Date Posted: 05/04/2018
Views: 2
On the southeast corner of N. College Avenue and W. Downing Street this historical marker was placed by the Historical Commission of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma on Oct. 21, 1983.
The metal marker reads:
First Baptist Convention
in Indian Territory
Cherokee Assn. org. in Masonic Hall here Sept.
1869. Baptist Convention org. 1877. Assn. invited
Indian, black and white Baptists to convene June 1-2,
1883, in Baptist Meeting House c. 1 block N.E. of
this spot to form Missionary & Educational
Convention. Oklahoma's first Baptist Convention.
Indian University (Bacone College) founded by
A. C. Bacone 1880 at 320 Academy Street with 3
students, state's first school of higher learning,
moved to Muskogee 1885. Cherokee Baptist
Academy used Univ. Buildings 1886-1914. CHEROKEE
MESSENGER, state's first newspaper, founded c.
30 miles N.E. at "Baptist" (Breadtown) in July 1814.
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As a sidebar, the Baptist Convention of Indian Territory operated until November 9, 1908 when it reorganized into the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, with 882 churches at that time. They continued as a combined effort of the Northern and Southern Baptist organizations until 1914 when they aligned with the Southern Baptists. As of 2010, the Convention comprised of 1800 churches.