may 1, 1948 - General Conference of the A.M.E. Church.

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In May 1948, the Twenty-Third Quadrennial Session of the General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church was held in First African Methodist Episcopal Church and Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas, May 5-9, 1948. First A.M.E. Church was the host church with Rt. Rev. Noah W. Williams, Episcopal Host and Rev. S.H. Lewis, Host Pastor. This was the first time that a General Conference had been held in Kansas City, Kansas.

“Ten Thousand delegates and visitors expected to attend General Confab with thirteen Bishops and officers from over the world to be here.” This was the headline in the April 30th issue of the Kansas City Call newspaper.
Because of racial Segregation in Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri in public accommodation, Blacks were not allowed to stay in hotels, motels nor eat in restaurants owned by whites. Mrs. Alma Alexander, member of First A.M.E. Church, was chairperson of the housing committee. There were some hotels in Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas, owned by African Americans. The vast majority of delegates and visitors were placed in private homes throughout the Greater Kansas City area. The nightly rate was two dollars per person.

There were an abundance of Black businesses in the Black community both in Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri. The restaurants achieved a high volume of business, and in Kansas City, Kansas, they were located in close proximity to Memorial Hall. There was a bank, movie theaters, dry cleaners, shoe repair shops, pharmacies, and beauty and barber shops, The cab companies on both sides of the river conducted high volumes of business. Some of the cab companies in Kansas City, Kansas were, Wyandotte Cab Co., Panama, OK Cab Company, United Cab Company and Brownie’s Cab Company.

The African American Community in Kansas City, Kansas was an integral part of this conference and did everything possible to ensure its success. The churches on both sides of the river were paramount to the success of the housing needs. Mrs. Alexander was highly praised for her success in seeing that all persons attending were accommodated with adequate housing. (K.C, Call and the official program of the conference)

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